Today's Events:

President Mike Mills presiding

 opened today’s meeting welcoming everyone to the first meeting of 2008 and wishing everyone a Happy New Year

Hank Langston, RCCG,

PDG Bill Isais,
&
Robbie Graham

December 24, 2007

My fellow Rotarians,
It is with great sadness that I must inform you of the passing of one of our fine members, Maxene Graham.
I would encourage you to call Robbie (305-385-5982) as he looks forward to receiving calls and encouragement from South Miami Rotarians. Keep Robbie and the memory of all the fine work that Maxene has done for Rotary in our thoughts.

Michael S. Mills

The funeral was Friday, January 4, 2008 @ 11am at Mt. Nebo - Kendall – Chapel. Her son, Robbie Graham, thanked the members who attended and spoke at her funeral and presented the club with a donation of $75.00 to The Rotary Foundation in memory of Maxene.

Typically, a tombstone has three main portions: a name, a date and a brief message. There are actually two dates, one of birth and one of death. The message gives a bit of information about the deceased, such as "loving husband and father." So what is the most important thing on the tombstone? It is not the name, the message or the dates, but what is between the dates--a dash, as it represents the entirety of life from birth until death. 

Maxene’s dash was filled with caring, love and hope for us all.  As a Rotarian she wished to pay back the community with goodness.  We offer her our thanks for this service.  We will always remember her bright smile during meetings and the care she took when preparing inspirational words for our invocations.  We were lucky to have known Maxene Graham. – ed.

Today’s Invocation paid tribute to Maxene.

Dear District 6990 Rotarian,

I wish to take this time to thank you for your service to Rotary and humankind in 2007. I also look forward to working with you in making 2008 a great year for you and your club.

I ask that you make sponsoring a new member one of your New Year resolutions. I know it will bring more meaning to that individual, as well as you, to know others have more hope and more opportunities for a better life because of your membership in a Rotary Club.

I wish you and your family a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Peace.

Yours in Rotary to Show Rotary Shares

Governor Jim Norton 2007-2008
Rotary International District 6990

Email: governorjim@aol.com
HPhone: 954-389-5896
OPhone: 954-217-1165

FOOTBALL MANIA

John Sorgie gave an update on the results of The club earned more money this year than in previous years, which he announced at last night’s board meeting:  approximately $2,600!!

Saturday & Sunday, FEBRUARY 23 – 24, 2008
Our #1 Fundraiser
The South Miami Rotary Art Festival

www.southmiamiartfest.com

Diana Phillips reminded everyone the Arts & Crafts Festival would be coming up soon and that everyone was required to participate.

Sunday, February 3, 2008 at 10 am

A POLICE ESCORTED BICYCLE RIDE FOR FAMILIES

Where:  Ponce Middle School (across from UM)
When:  9:30 Registration; 10 am Ride
What:  Coral Gables Holiday Bike Ride

Bring helmet, gloves and water!

Contact: Dr. Patricia Pardinas, 786-423-0900

Friday & Saturday, February 2 & 3, 2008 
Rotary Leadership Institute

 Further information can be obtained via the RLI Sunshine Division website at www.RLITraining.org  You may also register online there for the RLI session(s) being conducted in Weston at American Intercontinental University on February 2 and 3, 2008.  

 You are encouraged to review the brochure and website at your convenience, and then circulate this information to everyone in your Rotary club.  We look forward to seeing you at AIU in February.

http://www.rlitrain ing.org

Visit the club’s NEW MYSPACE page:

www.myspace.com/southmiamirotaryclub

We have over 60 friends…

Hampton Booker:

Spare change fundraiser: Toss your coins into the jug at the Sgt. Of Arms table & make a wish!!!

We are accepting empty inkjet cartridges for recycling.    Bring them to the meetings or take a postage-paid plastic envelop home –  ask Mike Mills

Recycle ~ Reuse ~ Renew

DID YOU MISS A MEETING ‘CAUSE YOU WERE AWAY?

Our club goal is 100% Attendance!

If you miss a meeting, it can be made-up within 2 weeks, before or after, of the missed meeting date.

For online make-ups:

http://www.rotary.org/newsroom/downloadcenter/pdfs/eclub_list.pdf

For make-ups anywhere around the world when traveling internationally: http://rotary.org/support/clubs/index.html

NOTIFY DOREEN REITNAUER, SECRETARY, OF ALL MAKE-UPS:   dhiker217@aol.com

Programming Chair 2007-08:  Roy Gonas
Members responsible for programming by month:
January – Roy
February – Wendy
March – Otto
April – Ann
May – Ed

2007-08 RCSM OFFICERS

To send an E-mail to the Rotary Club of South Miami’s Board of Directors, board@southmiamirotary.org

South Miami Rotary Club:
www.southmiamirotary.org

Rotary District 6990:
www.rotary6990.org

World Organization:
www.rotary.org

Mission Statement

THE 4-WAY TEST OF THE THINGS WE THINK, SAY OR DO:       

• Become connected to your community.
• Work with others in addressing community needs.
• Interact with other professionals in your community;
  assist with RI's international humanitarian service efforts.
• Establish contacts with an international network of professionals.
• Develop leadership skills, Involve family in promoting service efforts.

Renewing or Joining
To Renew ($250) or to become a New Member ($300) contact
Asaad Massoud, at www.racharters.com

Fundraisers
Interested in putting together a fundraiser? Contact Club Service Chair Linda Kaplan at lindakaplan@lk.com

Today’s speaker was introduced by …Programming Chair Roy Gonas

Dr. Ellen Prager, Chief Marine Scientist

Aquarius Reef Base, Key Largo

Dr. Ellen Prager works at the world’s only under sea research station. This extraordinary undersea laboratory is home to a

fascinating array of ground-breaking underwater research projects.  

Dr. Prager earned her Masters and Ph.D. at LSU and served as the Assistant Dean of the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science before joining the Aquarius Reef Base. Dr. Prager has also authored of several books on oceanography.

With three fourths of the earth’s surface covered with oceans, Dr. Prager lauded the value and mystery of the oceans pointing out that in 2003, Florida’s Ocean and Coastal Economies generated over $420 Billion and shoreline counties contribute 70% of all employment, population, and housing in the state on only 56% of Florida’s land area. Florida is also the nation’s sport fishing capital generating in 2001, $4 Billion in related sales, more than $1 Billion in wages and salaries, and some 80,000 jobs. Additionally, U.S. consumers spend more than $50 billion annually on seafood and in 2006, commercial fish in Key West was valued at $54 Million. Adding to the value of the ocean here, over 22 million people visit Florida’s beaches each year adding more than $18.9 billion to the economy, employing over 440,000 people and generating state sales tax exceeding $500 million.

The ocean also provides tremendous health benefits with a number of drugs that are harvested from Bryostatin (marine invertebrate), Discodermolide (sponge), and Ecteinascindin (sea squirt). Annually, Florida exports more than 25,000 sea slugs, which are used around the world in medical research.

Dr. Prager showed slides of how the Reef Base sits under the water, what the scientists go through to enter and exit the underwater lab and how it has been used by the US Navy to test scuba equipment and is used by NASA as well, since aquanauts go through the same training as astronauts.

She lamented that the US government invests only $700 million on ocean science as compared to $17 billion on space exploration. Particularly when the ocean is suffering from degraded waters that emanate

excessive nutrients brought upon by pollutants (Oil, sewage, toxins, etc), harmful algal blooms, and sediment contamination.  Another concern is that of compromised resources, including fishery declines, coastal habitat loss, and invasive species.  She also touched on the conflicts between man and nature pointing to coastal population growth, land Use, natural hazards and climate change.

            Solutions, she said, were dependant on funding for sufficient and sound science research, Science-based Decision Making; effective, adaptive and precautionary management, as well as an engaged and informed citizenry. To learn more about the ocean and what’s happening, Dr. Prager suggested visiting two websites: <www.conchreefdata.net> and <www.uncw.edu/aguarius>.

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