We wish to thank the sponsors of our club’s newsletter! Click on our fellow Rotarians  business cards & visit their website:

Today's Events:

President-Elect Pansy Graham presiding

Mark Kram, Rabbi for Temple Beth Or (Miami’s only Reconstructionist congregation) – Mike Newman

Harry Barsch, former member of SMRC

Patricia Pardinas, member of CGRC

~Peter Wendshuh has been recognized as one of the top 50 doctors in FL! – Bob Straile

~Baptist Health was named top 100 employers by Forbes – Bill Enright

~Happy to be back with all my buddies – Past President Dan McCrae

* * * A N N O U N C E M E N T S  * * *

Mike Mills was presented with a

Paul Harris Fellowship + 2 pin.

Thank you Mike for your continued assistance to world peace and health through the Rotary Foundation.

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Football Mania 2008-09 is OVER

$2,121.00 was raised!!

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Monday, February 2, 2009, 6:00 p.m.

RCSM Board Meeting

Board meetings are open to all members. If any Board members are unable to attend, please let Bill Enright know asap.

The Rotary Foundation of South Miami’s Board meeting will be immediately following the Club Board meeting.

Angelique Millis:

American Cancer Society, Community Representative for South Miami.  We fund advocacy and service through Relay for Life event on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6, 2009 at Ludlum Elementary. 

She is in the process of putting together a committee if you are interested in  volunteering for this worthy cause.

Ed Fischer:

In Monday’s Miami Herald’s Business Monday announced Past District Governor Owen S. Freed, senior counsel at Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, has been elected chairman of the Board of Directors of Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 4:30 AM

Volunteers needed to number the booths on Sunset Drive

John Sorgie, Team Captain

Team from 2008: 

Carolyn Smith, Bill Enright,  Bob Straile, Ellen Book,

Mike Newman

Mark your calendars:

SOUTH MIAMI ROTARY ARTS FESTIVAL

Saturday & Sunday, February 21 – 22, 2009

Diana Phillips:

Our special thanks to Rotarian Lakitsia Gaines:  today's mail  brought her sponsorship check for State Farm Iinsurance for $5,000

Sign up sheets for scheduling two time slots for the Art Show  on Saturday and/or Sunday.  One must be opening and one must be closing.
~~ this money allows our club to offer future scholarships~~

www.southmiamiartfest.com  (official site)

ON THE INTERNATIONAL ROTARY FRONT:

From:  Leatrice (Lee) Phares, DGE  Rotary District 6990

Hi Everyone,

It was quite an exciting day here at the Governor-elect International Assembly in San  Diego. Bill Gates started the morning off with a wonderful speech and then surprised everyone with an addition $255 million donation to the Rotary Foundation Polio Plus program!!!  Of this amount, $100 million is another challenge grant to Rotary to be fulfilled by 2012. The other $155 million is a straight donation. What an inspiration and motivator he was to us this morning!!!

From:  Noelle A. Galperin

This is just the type of announcement we wanted to hear on the eve of the District 6990 / Zone 34 National Immunization Day Trip to India! 

Luis Ortega and I leave on Tuesday to lead 45 participants from across the globe - Australia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, California, Indiana, Georgia, Illinois, and Florida - to Chandigarh, India to participate in the NID.  Joining us is a Polio Media Specialist from RI and an international reporter who will cover our experience. 

On February 1st, we will work side-by-side with health care workers across the Indian nation in vaccinating 183 million children 5 years and under for polio.  We are so excited we can hardly wait to get on the airplane.  Thanks to everyone, particularly Marcy, Yoli, Jim, and Steve Danner, for your ongoing support in making this trip a reality for our District and for our old & new friends from around the world!

ON THE POLIO PLUS FRONT:

This is another historic day for Rotary. Our organization was honored today to host philanthropist Bill Gates, Jr. at Rotary's International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA.

Speaking to 2009-2010 District Governors-Elect, Bill Gates, Jr. congratulated Rotarians on the success of the partnership between Rotary International and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to raise funds for polio. To date, Rotarians have already committed more than US$60 million toward the original US$100 million Gates challenge grant awarded in November 2007.

In another welcomed development today, the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) pledged £100 million (US$150 million) and the German government is giving an additional ?100 million (US$130 million), both to the GPEI. Contributions from the U.K. and Germany are separate and will not count toward Rotary's match of the Gates Foundation challenge grant.

The infusion of funds is crucial if the world is to finally be rid of polio, a crippling, sometimes fatal disease that poses the highest risk to children. Although the initiative has reduced the number of polio cases by 99 percent over the past two decades, the wild poliovirus still persists in four countries -- Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan -- and imported cases from these endemic countries threaten other developing nations.

Your continued participation in this effort is crucial to making it a success.  The Rotary International Board of Directors and the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation have unanimously agreed to accept this challenge grant to ensure the success of the PolioPlus program. Rotary and the Gates Foundation intend for their funding partnership to set an example for the rest of the world. We feel confident that this extraordinary partnership
will serve as a catalyst for further donations from others to help us realize the dream of a polio-free world.

When Rotary entered the fight against polio in 1985, we promised every child a world free from the threat of polio. We are almost there.  This funding agreement between Rotary and the Gates Foundation is a huge step forward, bringing us even closer to our goal.  Success is our only option.  Together we can End Polio Now.  For more information, please visit www.rotary.org

Dong-Kurn Lee, Rotary International, President 2008-09

Jonathan B. Majiyagbe, Chairman of the Rotary Foundation Trustees, RI, 

Kathy Miller, Foundation Chair

 RCSM HAS MATCHING FUNDS FOR ROTARY INT’L

FOUNDATION UP TO $150 PER MEMBER

At Dec 31 the District’s total is $102,610.  Half-way through the Rotary Year, this is where we stand.  Remember - our APF goal for this year is $360,000.  It brings to mind the word and concept rededicate.  The second half is always the "home stretch."  We can do it -- Yes We Can!!

Because of all you do -- the world is a better place.  Is there a higher calling? 

Arnold Galpern

Credit Cards ~ Cash ~ Personal Checks ~ Money Orders ~ all accepted!

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David Jacobs

Entertainment Books

Save time / Save money!

GIVE THEM AS HOLIDAY GIFTS!

$30 per book for discounts all over town. 

COUPONS VALID UNITL 11/09

Coupons include Miami City Ballet – Keys Dive Center – TCBY – Cold Stone Creamery – and hundreds more.  Our club earns half of the proceeds

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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

Mark Your Calendars
January 24, 2009 – February 22, 2009		Inbound GSE Team from the Phillipines The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for business people and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas. RI District 6990 is looking for 5 GSE team members for this year’s trip to Quezon City in the Philippines, which is RI District 3780. Deadline for applications is December 8th, 2008. Click here for application form. For more information, contact GSE Chair Yolanda (Yoli) Woodbridge at 305-301-5024 or email her.
February ?		Polio National Immunization Day Interested in participating in a District 6990 Polio National Immunization Day Trip to India in February 2009?
February 21st & 22nd 2009		The 14th Annual Upper Keys Rotary Club Gigantic Nautical Flea Market An event as unique as the Florida Keys, admission is free to the public. www.giganticnauticalfleamarket.com / 305-453-3802
February 19th – 23rd 2009		District 6990 District Conference Do you know it’s time to think about 2009? Yes, RI District 6990’s Conference is February 2009. There is a special promotion available only until May 10, 2008, so it’s not too early to make your plans. Click on the thumb nail on the right to read about the Carnival Cruise for February 2009!
February 21st & 22nd 2009
February 24th–March 24th  2009		Outbound GSE Team to the Phillipines
March 5 – 7, 2009		ALL Florida PETS  in Orlando
May 2, 2009		Rotary Leadership Institute  American Intercontinental University 2250 N Commerce Pkwy Weston, FL 33326
June 21 – 24, 2009		RI Convention - Birmingham
Meeting Functionaries
Invocation:	Ed Fischer
Pledge:	Carolyn Smith
Guests:	John Sorgie
Happy $:	Doreen Reitnauer
Door Prize:	Doreen Reitnauer (donated by Dr. Mike Newman)
$$$ $6/$251 Prize K of Hearts	Raquel Hickey
4Way Test	Hampton Booker
Future Speakers:
February 3, 2009	Kathy Kramer, LCSW - Children's Bereavement Center
February 10, 2009	Carol Dubnikoff   - Handwriting Secrets
February 17, 2009	Gregory Gay -   Identity Theft
February 24, 2009	TBA
May 5, 2009	Leonard Mondschein   - Elder Law Attorney

President:  Bill Enright
bill@handsonmiami.org

President Elect:  Pansy Graham
pansygraham@bellsouth.net

Vice President: Mike Mills
millsmike@aol.com

Secretary:  Doreen Reitnauer
dhiker217@aol.com

Treasurer: David Jacobs
david@jnccpas.com

Sergeant at Arms:  Azam Malik
azam@sdsol.com

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 mission of Rotary International, a worldwide association of Rotary clubs, is to provide service to others, to promote high ethical standards, and to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

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

Benefits of Being A Rotarian (Membership)
Rotary membership provides the opportunity to:

¨       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 ($275) or to become a New Member ($325) contact

Asaad Massoud, at www.racharters.com

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

.TODAY’S PROGRAM....

Past President of the Rotary Club of South Miami & Asst District Governor

Dan McCrae, President, CEO and Founder

Florida Voters Foundation

~Winner ACLU of Florida’s 2008 Nelson Poytner Award for Advancement of Civil Liberties

~Coauthor of Principles and Best Practices for Post Election Audits and author of White Paper (FL) on    Post-election Audits.
~Takes the message across the country through the media about post election results.

~Assisted in drafting post election audit legislation for Florida

~Former Governmental Affairs Chair, Miami Dade Election Reform Coalition
~Regular witness at federal, state and local levels on elections and post-election audits.

Future of voting:  locally Dan started 2 nonprofit foundations a 501.C3 and a 501.C4

What is an election?

• It is the voice of the people:  that seems obvious at first but it’s the metaphor of what it should be and how it succeeds or fails.  It is a voice heard from all, recorded by government.

We’ve made improvements at the presidential level
MN last vote is  famously close and contested in court.
Other elections around the country had procedures fail.  Audits and recounts affirmed or reversed decisions. 
Top Changes to make the process better: 

1- Defend paper ballots – the migration back to paper ballots for 33 states costs tens of millions of dollars.  Touch screen DRE’s with no paper have counts that cannot be verified.  Touch screens were a knee jerk reaction to the presidential debacle.  The legal definition of a paper ballot is still in flux. Electronic transmission is being lobbied to the states by the federal government

2-Internet voting is unsound and unsafe at this point in time. There are fundamental threats to data being breached which cannot be mitigated.

3- Make audits meaningful – there must be checks for equipment operating properly.  Current FL provisions are weak and watery.  No chance for our elections to be audited

4 - Restore recounts - recounts are stopped as “too difficult.” We only count problem ballots – over and under counts.  Elections are vulnerable to this.

5-Certification deadline / extension of the election – county supervisors certify the elections so quickly that they cannot properly do their work.  Legislation should meet 4 weeks instead of 2 weeks after the election.

6-Make early voting easier – goes on too long, way too expensive, equipment and transport exposed to threats.  There needs to be a standard and tiers to election based on past performances of voter’s expected turn out.   We need to save $ and serve the public better.

7- No match no vote.  When new voters registered, the id was matched to driver’s license or social security databases.  The U.S. has the most hostile environment to voter registration.  Universal registration in the standard in the rest of the Western world. It would increase voter turn out

8- Automatic restoration to voter and civil rights of those who have served their sentence for a felony conviction.

9 - Transparency – no public hearing to internet voting plan. Administration of voting is not apparent. Crist and Obama issued executive orders about transparency and openness in government.  It’s more than public policy it is security.  It raises public confidence. 

Redistricting / gerrymandering – constitutional amendment in the works – districts that look like salamanders.  Guys in charge make the maps of convenience.

2002 central statewide voter databases – track our name and address – where we vote, which ballot style we receive – making you eligible.

Open primaries regardless of your party affiliation – FL doesn’t have partisanship built into the registration. 

Absentee ballots – didn’t want to see additional growth of votes in this method.  Greatest error rates and easily schemed with such as domestic coercion.  No second chance voting if there is a mistake on the ballot.  It won’t be given back to the voter for a re-scan.  In the western US – Oregon is 100% vote by mail.  It’s on the rise in some FL counties up to 50%
Ecuador has mandatory voting.  It’s Dan’s opinion, that it is not appropriate to force the public to tell the government what to do.  Not voting is also an expression of what you want. 

Gold standard is the paper ballot with the ability to track it with audits.
MN is amongst the straight forward in the US – good recount laws, good audits
Elections are mission critical they cannot be done over.  You cannot recreate an election. 
Add none of the above added to ballots? 
FYI: 
Mayor Robaina announced his intention to run for the Senate. 
State of the City Address at SM Hospital tonight from 6pm – 8pm