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Today's Events:

Past President Ed Fischer presiding

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

INSTALLATION BANQUET

Friday, June 20, 2008

at the home of Annie Goodrich, 7125 Sunset Drive

RSVP NOW

as the caterers are in need of a head count.

Past President Linda Kaplan reported on Rotary Intl and RCSM international efforts: 

First is a CNN news story she watched on the number of Korean refugees housed in camps in Thailand and how proud she was to see that Rotary had stepped in to help the refugees.

“Karen Refugees a 'Forgotten Story'”

By David Challenger of CNN

06/06/08 03:09 AM, EDT

Story Highlights

~ Mae La is situated about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of the Thai town of Mae Sot

~ The camp currently holds 43,000, and has been in operation for almost 25 years

~ Conflict is considered by many analysts as the longest-running civil war in the world

MAE SOT, Thailand (CNN) -- Nine refugee camps stretch along western Thailand's border with Myanmar, but Mae La, with a population of 43,000, is by far the largest.

"I came to the camp 10 years ago after the army burned our village and took our rice," one young mother told me.

Most of the camp's residents arrived after being forced to flee their homes due to the violence in Myanmar, as documented by the United Nations.

The refugees' stories were often identical: Direct military attacks by the Myanmar army, forced labor, destruction of homes and food crops, and enslavement.

The camps are overseen and run by the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), a union of 11 international non-governmental organizations that provide food, shelter and non food items to refugees and displaced people from Myanmar, also known as Burma.

The Mae La camp is situated about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Mae Sot, a Thai border town known for its cross-border trade in gems and teak, and more recently, as the home to the Sylvester Stallone movie character, John Rambo.

The first view of the camp is spectacular -- hundreds of wooden houses with roofs made from leaves dot the lush, hilly landscape, as limestone cliffs rise steeply in the background. VideoTake a video tour of the camp and listen to refugees.

There were no guards and little fuss while entering the camp, which somewhat reflects the plight of these displaced people.

The conflict between the Myanmar government and the Karen and other ethnic groups such as the Karenni, Mon and Shan is considered by many analysts as the longest-running civil war in the world. Yet, according to TBBC director Jack Dunford, it has become a "forgotten story."

The recent storm that hit Myanmar's delta region, killing at least 78,000, has raised the question of whether border camps will be inundated with new refugees.

But Saay Tae Tae, a coordinator with the Karen refugee Committee, believes it would take months, if at all.

"The Delta is where most of the Karens live, but it would be very difficult for them to get here. Travel is very restricted by the army, and the people have no money to pay for transport," Saay said. "It will take four or five months until we see the real picture."

Mae La, which sits about five kilometers from the Myanmar border, is huge -- one expression of its age; the camp has been running for almost 25 years.

The camp's population is mainly made up of families of farmers and low-income workers, while religious lines are more or less evenly divided between Buddhists and Christians.

Some of the violence has followed them, such as when the Myanmar army attacked Mae La in 1997. Since then, it's been peaceful, though according to TBBC, tensions rise every dry season -- the preferred time of activity by the Myanmar army.

But while refugees have escaped direct violence, other problems exist. There's little or no employment, education for children is minimal, and boredom is rife. Camp dwellers not only have to deal with the horrors of their past, but the grim outlook of their future.

Despite this, the people at the camp appeared stoic, and carried with them a sense of humor and pride. They welcomed strangers into their homes, openly told their stories and for the most part, seemed resilient.

The young mother told me. "But if the situation in Burma changes, I hope to go back to my county."

Find this article at:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/27/thai.karen/index.html

Secondly, providing potable water overseas.  RCSM is sending a check for $ 2500 to fund a well in Haiti under the safewaterplus program

Three years ago a group of Rotary Districts partnered with World Vision and Haiti Outreach with the goal of building something substantial.  The Safewater project began to drill 141 wells and and build 1,200 latrines in the Central Plateau in Haiti. The project is a combined partnership between Districts 5950, 5960, 7020(Haiti), with World Vision and Haiti Outreach.

Death rates in the targeted Haiti project area ranged as high as 23% for children under the age of five, mostly from contaminated water.  As of December 2006, 80 wells have been drilled and 475 latrines have been built.

"After they drilled the well,

                        the Children Stopped Dying."

                              Dominican Grandmother --1998

FAQs from www.safewaterplus.org

How much does a well cost?

A: $5,000 - Rotary International matches a donation of $1,250 and the combined donation is matched by World Vision totaling $5,000.

Q: How many people are served by each well?

A: An average of 250-300 people.

Q: What type of hand pumps is installed?

A: Mark II and Mark III pumps from India.

Q: What type of drilling rig is used?

A: Both water rotary and hammer tool methods are used.

Q: How deep are the boreholes?

A: Drilling depth ranges between 150 and 250 feet.

Q: Is travel to Haiti safe?

A: Yes - Volunteer safety is our primary concern. Every precaution is taken to assure the safety of all our volunteers.

Q: How much does a volunteer trip cost?

A: Trip costs average $1,500-1,800 per person.

Q: What types of volunteer projects are completed?

A: Building school desks, school building repairs, house building from sticks and stones, soccer fields, painting, etc.

SOUTH MIAMI ROTARY ARTS FESTIVAL

Saturday & Sunday, February 21 – 22, 2009

From Diana: 

The plan on the committee meetings is to physically keep them to a
minimum.  Some such are necessary, and I am hoping to find a date/place in July that is convenient to most of you (volunteer?)  Others would be scheduled closer to the event.

Please let me know if you can no longer serve on the committee, keeping It in mind that we need everybody to

1) Make use of our best brains, 

2) Get all tasks assigned, and

3) Have enough members so that a goodly number will be able to attend our meetings.

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 & PDG Roy Gonas introduced

Prof. Larry Lapin, Director

Professor of Choral Ensembles

University of Miami’s Studio Music & Jazz Vocal Program

Frost School of Music

P.O. Box 248165

Coral Gables, FL 33124-7610

305 284-2161 ext 7920

http://www.music.miami.edu/programs/msj/msj.html

Prof. Lapin, who has degrees in Music Composition and Arranging, started his career as a piano player in saloons. He is now celebrating 40 years teaching.

He pointed out that prior to 1980, most University Music Schools focused on classical music, and that UM pioneered degree programs in music ensembles including jazz, studio singing, jingles, and other non-classical degrees.

Today’s focus is on versatility across all singing genres, so that graduates can earn a living until they become a super star. Prof. Lapin pointed out that music education at the university level is important if you ever want to become a superstar.

He noted that female graduates have a better opportunity than males because they’re older than the teenagers who buy the modern music tapes and CD’s. Another observation he shared with the membership is that applicants to the singing majors are stronger on melody as compared with instrument players, whereas instrument players are stronger on sight-reading music than vocalists.

Since launching the singing program, UM singers have won numerous Student Music Awards and compared them in stature to the Athletic Awards which get greater press coverage.

Noting that once, education was the realm of society’s moneyed elite, as was the study of the Arts. Today, however, it is required at the high school and university undergraduate level.  

SAVE THE DATE:

Thursday, March 12, 2009, will be a concert at the campus’ Gusman Concert Hall of the Jazz Vocal Ensemble.

The teacher is also and forever a student! Copy, imitate, then innovate.

—Larry Lapin

What would you say are the outstanding highlights of your professional life?

1. Participating in the design, proposal and implementation of the first university degree-granting jazz vocal program in the country

2. Playing two tunes with Sarah Vaughan and my quartet at the Playboy Club in Miami

3. Playing synthesizer on Jon Secada’s Spanish-language CD Amour, which won a Grammy

4. Playing a concert for a class I was teaching with one of my all-time idols, Gerry Mulligan

5. Being appointed to the faculty of the FSOM in 1968

What advice would you give an aspiring young musician?

Music is not about “you” or “self.” Dedicate yourself to the art—to music; the rest—financial success and acclaim will follow.

Which music do you listen to in your car? (or What’s on your iPod?)

Mose Allison; Bach; Bartók; Counr Basie; Brahms; Beethoven; Wayne Bergeron; CJB; John Coltrane; Miles Davis; Bill Evans; Herbie Hancock; Coleman Hawkins; Hi-Los; Jobim; JV1; George Martin; Raul Midon; Neville Brothers; New York Voices; Charlie Parker; Jaco Pastorius; Sonny Rollins; Singers Unlimited; Tchaikovsky; Weather Report; Yellowjackets

Pianist, composer, arranger and educator Larry Lapin includes performances with jazz greats such as

* Gerry Mulligan

* Bobby Shew

* Johnny Smith

* George Duvivier

* Sarah Vaughn

in addition, he has appeared with such show business personalities

* Rich Little

* Phyllis Diller

* Cab Calloway

* Tony Bennett

Larry’s arrangements and orchestrations are being performed by professional and school groups all over the country, most recently by Peter Nero and the Philly Pops Orchestra.

As professor of jazz studies and director of the studio music and jazz vocal program at the University of Miami, his students and student performing groups have garnered 26 awards in 22 years from Downbeat Magazine in DB’s annual student music award competition.