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Today's Events:

President Mike Mills presiding

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

President Mike opened today’s meeting with a moment of silence for those in our military who’ve paid the ultimate price for ensuring our freedoms.

He then reported receiving several Thank You letters for the Club’s support.

One was a stack of thank you letters from the children at South Miami Middle School who received the dictionaries.

Another was from Colonel Lettie Bien for our contribution to Fisher House

Another from Take Stock in Children for our contribution

And lastly for our support of the water wells project in Haiti

Mark your calendar

Friday, June 20, 2008

Installation Banquet

at the home of Annie Goodrich

7125 Sunset Drive.

RSVP is required!

Monday, June 2nd, 6pm at First National Bank of South Miami.

Rotary Club of South Miami

2007-08 and 2008-09 Board Meeting

The Foundation Board meeting will convene immediately after. Please e-mail millsmilke@aol.com any agenda items or if you are unable to attend.

Monday's meeting will be a joint meeting of the the outgoing and incoming (2008-09) Boards.  Please plan to attend.

SOUTH MIAMI ROTARY ARTS FESTIVAL

Saturday & Sunday, February 21 – 22, 2009

President Mike reminded everyone that we still need sponsors for the Art Festival and Past President Linda Kaplan added that now is the time to ask as many organizations are now planning their budgets for the coming year.

www.southmiamiartfest.com  (official site)

 www.myspace.com/southmiamiartfest (unofficial site)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Miami_Rotary_Art_Festival (wiki encyclopedia article)

$$$ PRINTER CARTRIDGES FUNDRAISER $$$

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

2007-08 RCSM OFFICERS:

President:  Michael Mills
millsmike@aol.com

President Elect:  Bill Enright

bill@handsonmiami.org

Vice President: Linda Kaplan

lk@lindakaplan.com

Secretary:  Doreen Reitnauer

dhiker217@aol.com

Treasurer: David Jacobs

david@jnccpas.com

Sergeant at Arms:  Hampton Booker

Hg262@bellsouth.net

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 ($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

Program Chair Hampton Booker introduced Pinecrest cardiologist

Dr. Harry Aldrich, MD

Dr. Aldrich spoke of a personal tragedy and where it led him. The tragedy occurred when his nine-year old son was diagnosed with leukemia and required a bone marrow transplant. As it turned out, no one in his family was a match and no match could be found in the entire country. Using his knowledge of the medical field, he began researching the subject and learned of a new way of attacking leukemia using the stem cells from discarded umbilical cords – different from the controversial stem cell taken from placenta.

Following his son’s three months of treatment at the University of Minnesota, where the research was being conducted, his son is now in remission. From this, Dr. Aldrich embarked on a new crusade. The difficulty of finding a matching donor, especially complicated by South Florida’s diverse multi-cultural community makes the need for umbilical stem cell availability imperative.

His mission, with the support of South Miami Hospital, is to establish a database of DNA characteristics from umbilical cords normally discarded after birth. The cords can be frozen, then thawed when there is a donor match. As it is now, if the DNA doesn’t match the recipient’s DNA, the body rejects it, creating more devastating illness. Many people, concerned about the potential need for the future, often have their own umbilical cords privately stored at special facilities.  However, Dr. Aldrich points out that even within families, only 30% match. Today, there are 60,000 to 100,000 stored worldwide at these private banks. These private banks charge an initial cost of $2,000 and $100 per year thereafter. He noted that of these, less than 1% are ever used.

With the availability of Cord the potential of finding a match for those in need is far greater, however, the expense comes not in the freezing for future use, but in the testing for DNA qualities.

Dr. Aldrich is pleased that South Miami Hospital has set up the Collection center for cord blood and that his son is recovering well and looking forward to returning to school and being with his friends.