Today's Events:

President-Elect Bill Enright substituting for President Mike Mills presided

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

John Sorgie reported that the first week’s winner of Football Mania was our very own President Mike Mills.

PDG Roy Gonas reminded everyone of the September 29, fishing trip hosted by the Hunting & Fishing Rotarians. They are bringing aboard disadvantaged children from the North Miami PAL group which is comprised of over 50% girls. The Hunting and Fishing Rotarians need female anglers to help as the event is a catch and release.

For more details or to volunteer, contact Fabio Fernandez at:

<fernandezfabio@bellsouth.net> or call Fabio at: 305-476-8338. Sandwiches will be provided.

Diana Phillips is still welcoming your efforts to enroll sponsors for the upcoming South Miami Rotary Art Festival. She reported that Community Newspapers will be printing the programs for the Festival but, in addition to other areas where volunteers are needed, we need someone with artitistic skills to design the program. Diana will E-mail the membership on the other positions available. Check out the Art Festival’s website: <www.southmiamiartfest.com>.

Social Networking at the Club’s new  MYSPACE page: 

<www.myspace.com/southmiamirotaryclub>

$$$ PRINTER CARTRIDGES FUNDRAISER $$$

We are accepting empty inkjet cartridges for recycling.    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

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:       

• 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 effort

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

Programming Chair 2007-08:  Roy Gonas
Members responsible for programming by month:
September - Marty
October – Bob
November – Suzanne
December – Bill
January – open
February – Wendy
March – Otto          
April – Ann   
May – Ed

Today’s Speaker

September Program Chair Marty Rosen introduced today’s speakers Lieutenant Colonel Scott Kneller, Battalion Commander of then US Army Recruiting Battalion and Mr. Harvey N. Spigler, Chief of Advertising and Public Affairs for the Recruiting Command. In spited of technical difficulties in showing a DVD, LTC Kneller enlightened the Club of today’s unique challenges to recruiting as well as dispelling some common misconceptions held by the general public. His Recruiting Command encompasses all the recruiting stations from Palm Beach County to Puerto Rico. Unlike the Vietnam era, today’s jails are not being emptied of convicts willing to serve. Another misperception is that the Army has lowered their standards. In fact, re-enlistment bonuses of up to $75,000 and college education supplements of $75,000 have combined to make today’s all volunteer Army far more intelligent than in the past. He reported that the 1^st Armored Division has 100% retention rate on reenlistments. The one area where the Army has changed requirements is then maximum age at entry. Today, the Army is accepting recruits up to age 42.

LTC Kneller elaborated on the PAYS program (Partnership for American Youth Success) – a military and business partnership. An example is a firefighter wishes to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). He could enlist in the Army, where he would receive training as a combat medic, then return to his civilian job having saved the employer the expenses involved in training plus provide the employer with an experienced employee.

LTC Kneller pointed out that recruiting in major metropolitan communities had its difficulties, which are greater here in South Florida. There is a very high dropout rate from schools. While these young people could earn their GED while in the military, they still need to qualify educationally; and they aren’t. This in a state where our Governor labels himself as the Educational Governor. Add to this the large of immigrant population who do not speak English; and the problem is compounded.

You can help by encouraging young people to stay in school. Veterans can tell positive stories about military life and everyone needs to go out of their way at airports, train stations, bus terminals and on the streets to say thank you fo people in uniform.