Today's Events:

President  Michael Mills  presiding

ROTARY THEME 2007-2008

We welcome all of our Visitors:

Hank Langston, from RCCG
Juan Bernell, Wealth Mgr Bank United (Raquel)

and
Denise Speller,  Shops of Sunset (Diana)

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

Having a hot time at the party!

A wonderful Installation Banquet -  the music + drinks + dancing were fantastic

For all of their helping hands, Mike warmly thanks:
 Donna Gaines, Dan McCrea, John Sorgie, Diana Phillips, Stan Zeltsman, Ed Fischer on the dance floor, and this time remembers to mention his thanks to the Judge…

Dan McCray – Master of Ceremonies

Induction of our Prez

If this is Stan, who’s taking the picture?

See:   http://imageevent. com/szelts  for all of the photos

DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S VISIT

Please mark your calendars for the District Governor's visit to our club on August 14th. On that Tuesday, the Board and Committee Chairs should arrange to be at Bernie's to meet with DG Jim Norton one hour prior to the regular meeting (11:15am). During this hour, we'll apprise Gov. Jim of our plans for the year and receive very valuable advice on how to be more successful.

I realize that this takes another hour out of that business day, but I assure you that it will be rewarding. Jim is very positive, inspiring and motivational. Thanks in advance – Prez. Mike

INTERACT UPDATE:

Hello, Rotarians:

Sometimes we miss a bit of very satisfying information, unless we have an ally with an eye out, in this case Josie Adamack, faculty sponsor for the South Miami Senior High Interact club.  Please read, on page 3-B of the Miami Herald (July 7, 2007), the story headlined "Students connect to fight apathy." 

Binsen Gonzalez, 19, was an Interactor at South Miami, attended RYLA, and was club president his senior year.  He was also involved in the Youth Ethics Initiative, originally cosponsored by D6990, and designed their logo. Further, Binsen was a Silver Knight nominee from his school who won honorable mention.

Binsen gets the credits, but we are proud of him and the community service he is still pursuing with Generation Engage, a nonpartisan group created to combat political apathy in youths.

Diana Phillips

Interact liaison

Rotary Club of South Miami

Posted on Sat, Jul. 07, 2007

Students connect to fight apathy

BY ANDRES AMERIKANER

Bryan Quadros reads the Wall Street Journal every morning, watches the news on the BBC and says Richard Nixon is his favorite U.S. president -- but, he says, only because of his foreign policy during his second term.

Still, the 19-year-old economics major at Miami Dade College doesn't settle for being well-informed. He wants his fellow students along for the ride.

Quadros is among the students leading the arrival of GenerationEngage, a nonpartisan group created to combat political apathy in youths, to South Florida.

The group kicked off its new chapter Friday night at Miami Dade College in front of about 150 people with a videochat featuring former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

''Miami represents what America will look like in the coming century,'' Justin Rockefeller, a co-founder of GenerationEngage, said via phone from Colorado, where Powell was appearing. ``We want to provide access to young immigrants who are especially in need of access to the American political process.''

GenerationEngage has thousands of members in chapters such as New York City, Raleigh, N.C., Richmond, Va., and now South Florida. They have received significant financial support from the Knight Foundation, which was among the reasons they chose to come to Miami.

The group hosts videoconferences, featuring speakers such as Bill Clinton, Al Gore and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and a handful of young people at each location are given the chance to ask questions.

Every year, more and more students are volunteering at MDC's Center for Community Involvement, which seeks to combine service and learning, said the center's director, Josh Young. Still, their lack of interest in political life is scary, he said.

The arrival of GenerationEngage, which will be housed permanently within MDC's Wolfson campus, may help change that.

''One experience like that for a student that hasn't been involved in things like that before can be the tipping point,'' Young said.

''It has to start here,'' said Binsen Gonzalez, 19, who is studying interactive communications and graphic design at MDC.

He'd like to get presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to appear at one of the group's events.

''It's that connection that we need so desperately, that will break the ice and engage people,'' Gonzalez said.

OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES…

Karen Dorfman, our club's long-time friend, has lost her grandson Ken (Kurtis's older brother.) He died in Tampa, and there is to be a service Monday 7/9/07 at Woodlawn in Miami. In the past, Ken, as well as Kurtis, had worked with us on the Festival.  Our hearts are with Karen and her family…

Karen Dorfman
13610 SW 73 Streeet
Miami, FL 33183
305-382-6331

and

Roy’s Brother John, an Alabama Rotary Club President in Alabama, who was recently installed into office – died one week ago at home.  We are truly saddened by your very close family loss.

SAD NEWS….

From:  Doug Weinman  

It is with much dismay, after much contemplation, that I must submit to you and the club my resignation.   Unfortunately, I find it harder and harder to make it to club meetings on a regular basis, and no longer feel I can justify dragging down our attendance records.  Being a member of the South Miami Rotary Club has always been a source of great pride and pleasure and I will surely miss all the wonderful people I have come to know through the years.  I will only look back at this time with warm and fond memories.

From:  President Mike

I know I speak for the entire club, especially those that've known you for a while, when I say that while we understand the reason(s) for your leaving, we appreciate all you've done for us, the RYE kids and the world of Rotary and we will surely, and sorely, miss you. Of course, you are always welcome to pay us a visit and we hope you'll call upon us if the need arises. And, in closing: Go Buckeyes!!!

UPDATING THE MEMBERSHIP ROSTER:

I am in the process of updating the roster and would like to hear from anyone who would like me to edit their current information. If you have moved, changed jobs, have a new email or cell phone, please let me know.  Those of you who attended today's meeting and edited the roster I distributed

need not respond.

Thanks!
Doreen

COUNCIL ON LEGISLATION CHANGES AFFECTING MEMBERSHIP

The 2007 Council on Legislation adopted 97 items, 59 of which were enactments that change the RI constitutional documents. All policy changes take effect on 1 July. Some of the changes that affect membership administration are summarized below. (Each adopted enactment is identified by number so you can easily locate it in the Report of Action.) 

ATTENDANCE

·                     07-11: The club board can cancel a club meeting for commonly recognized holidays.

·                     07-14: Club members are required to attend or make up 50 percent rather than 60 percent of regular meetings in each half of the Rotary year. 

·                     07-334: Assistant governors are excused from the requirement of attending at least 30 percent of their own club's regular meetings in each half of the Rotary year. 

CLUB MEMBERSHIP

·                     07-42: Rotaractors who have ended their Rotaract membership within the preceding two years and have been accepted into a Rotary club are exempt from paying a club admission fee.   

·                     07-57 and 07-330: Clubs can elect Rotary Foundation alumni into active membership, even if the classification of the alumnus is filled.

·                     07-329: Clubs can elect into active membership people with good reputations in the community who have demonstrated a commitment to service and the Object of Rotary through personal involvement in local affairs. 

DUES

·                     07-283: RI per capita dues will be US$23.50 per half year in 2007-08, $24.00 per half year in 2008-09, $24.50 per half year in 2009-10, and $25.00 per half year in 2010-11. Dues will remain at $25.00 per half year until changed by the Council on Legislation. 

·                     07-287: For each new member, clubs will pay prorated per capita dues until the beginning of the next semiannual period for which dues are payable. The amount payable for each full month of membership will be one-twelfth of the per capita dues.

The Manual of Procedure will be updated with all revised constitutional documents and mailed to all

Seats are between first base and home!

CARTRIDGES FUNDRAISER $$$

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

Mike Mills

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

Visit www.rotary6990.org to find a club to make up an absence.
Attendance credit for a 30-minute interactive club Web site activity offers an alternative to making up a meeting at another club. To earn this credit, Rotarians log on to the site, read up on a range of subjects, post comments, & submit a form to the club secretary.

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

Roy Gonas, Programming Chair introduced 

Jeff Zavac, Saxiphonist and Music Teacher at the Lighthouse for the Blind

Jeff classed up our luncheon with the  pleasing sounds of his sax as we entered the room.  

and Today’s Speaker:    

Virginia Jacko, President and CEO

Lighthouse for the Blind

601 SW 8 Ave, Miami, FL  33130 (305) 856-2288 http://www.miamilighthouse.com/default.asp

A few weeks back we heard a speaker discuss lighthouses located around our country.  Today we hear about another lighthouse, one that inspires hope, confidence, and independence. 

Ms. Jacko is blind, but she is one of the most farseeing person you’ll ever meet.  She spent 24 years at Purdue U. vocational training and came just 6 years ago to the Lighthouse. Since then the facility has expanded to assist 35% more people.  She has a finance degree from Loyola University and a graduate degree from Purdue in Financial Counseling and was thus Instrumental in getting a $1.1 million matching grant to enhance services and the facility.  She’s been honored by many boards with many awards. 

Ms. Jacko and her guide dog, Tracker, have been tireless am­bassadors for the Miami Lighthouse. She is also  a Rotary Club of Miami member. 

Ms. Jacko praised Jeff Zaback who she says makes the lighthouse what it is.  He has a Masters Degree in Jazz and is probably the finest sax musician in the country. 

The LIghthouse produced a 75th anniversary music cd.  This project was led by a man blinded by a bad cataract surgery who was despondent until he found the Lighthouse.  Instrumental Magic – is the CD of songs of contemporary blind artists.  The vocal is replaced by sax plus background tracks.  Jeff’s Hit the Road Jack is ITunes #1 version  Each CD is $15.98 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Miami Lighthouse for the Blind.                                        http://www.henrystonemusic.com/store/hsmstorenewrelease.htm

This CD was created by clients in the music program at the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in collaboration with world-renowned record producer Henry Stone. Mr. Stone, who underwent rehabilitation at the Lighthouse in 2005, remains actively involved as a volunteer and mentor. By purchasing a CD, you are supporting the Lighthouse’s innovative music programs.

The Lighthouse’s music program started two years ago.  Computers now level the playing field for the blind.  A piano keyboard is plugged into the computer. In the past, the blind could not read sheet – but now scanners will read the notes. 

Excel, Word, email, search the internet.  Software such as JAWS which reads text.  Clients in the Lighthouse program are getting jobs writing jingles and as sound engineers. 

Children’s Trust partnered with Lighthouse and now sighted talented high school students are working with the teens who are blind. 

In 1931, the Miami Rotary Club + Lions founded Lighthouse after hearing Dolly Gamble speak. A blinded WW1 veteran was touched by her request to have a place for the blind to congregate to produce Braille.  The Lions purchased the land + 30 X 30 bungalow house. 

Today, it has grown into a 35,000 sq feet in a three story bldg.  Mothers of blind babies and children up to age 6 use the top floor. 

48% premature births 24-28 weeks result in blindness (poor retina development) and deafness.

All new in the last couple of months:
* Summer Camp for ages 6 – 14.
* 14 – 18 year olds camp
* Sound studio producing CD’s
* Fitness Center

After a few weeks into the 3 month program:  Trained to walk down the street with a cane, put on make-up, sew, cook, life is transformed, confidence and independence returned to you.

Lighthouse started Baskin Palmer Institute for $800,000 purchased the land. 

Depressed and devastated are transformed – ready them for the job market

103 year old man came to the Lighthouse.  Someone dropped him off.  Wants to read the Miami Herald.  Family gone – sold pocketbooks in NY, low vision assessment with Macular Degeneration – with magnifying tools can use what is left.

Funding is 25% division of Blind Sv.  The Lighthouse’s net assets are $14 million which is bigger than Goodwill Industries Miami and equal to Camlllas House

Miami Lighthouse serves 1,700 people annually but there are 67,000 severely blind or visually handicapped in Dade County and this facility is also supposed to be serving Munroe County

The best classroom ratio is 10 blind children to 1 Special Ed teacher.  However, in the state of Florida only FSU offers this certification curriculum.  Only 15% of children in program are Braille users. The others lack spelling and punctuation.  We need to be able to be able to provide distant education courses so there are more teachers. Ms. Jacko is launching a large campaign for this state of the art facility to begin to grow our own teachers. 

If you need their services as an adult, the three month course leads you towards an independent life.  The time frame however, depends on your cognition.  You gain the  confidence to succeed through repetition.

Services