South Miami Rotary Newsletter

We have all joined Rotary for one reason or another. Some of us have been Rotarians for weeks; others for months and some of us have been Rotarians for years. If asked what we know about Rotary, some of us may know very little, while others know more and still there are others among us who possess a great deal of knowledge about Rotary, yet, don’t have the opportunity to share that knowledge.

Today we are going to learn a great deal about being Rotarian from our speaker in his talk entitled, “The Ideal Rotarian!”

Our speaker is our very own Ed Fischer. A Rotarian since 1982, Ed is a past president of the RCSM and a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. Over the years, Ed has served the club as Bulletin Editor, Program Chair, Public Relations Chair, Membership Chair, Director of Club Service, and Director of Vocational Service. Additionally Ed has served District 6990 as Chair for the Membership Education and Retention Committee, the District’s Foundation Committee, the Planned Giving Committee and has been a presenter at the District Convention, the S4TL program and President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS.)

As most of you know, professionally, Ed wears two hats. He is Vice President of Speak Out, Inc. – a marketing communications and training company – and an Adjunct Professor for Florida International University’s Speech Communications Dept. Ed holds a Bachelor of Professional Studies Degree from Barry University and a Master of Science in Adult Education/Human Resource Development from Florida International University. When it comes to Rotary, Ed says, “that which you share, multiplies; that which you withhold, diminishes!”

What is Rotary?
Business or professional with a feeling of obligation to give back to the community. World peace through understanding.
Mission:
To promote the concept of service as a worthy endeavor.
To strengthen and expand Rotary in communities around the world
To fosters unity among member clubs

•	Clubs support the member
•	District supports the clubs
•	The international organization supports the districts.

History:
Founded by Chicago in 1905 by Paul P. Harris
1908 – 2nd club in S. Francisco
1910 – Winnipeg, Canada
1987 – Women were invited
1993 Diana Phillips was the first woman president of our RCSM.

Rotary is the largest service club but Lions is the oldest.

OBJECTIVES

•	The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
•	Maintain high ethical standards in business.
•	Application of the ideal of service in personal business and community life
•	Goodwill, understanding, and peace through a world fellowship

Four-Way Test
of the things we think, say and do… Herbert J Taylor in 1932
Thinking about other people’s interests…

Rotary Foundation:

•	Ambassadorial Scholarships – up to $27,000 obliged to bring US culture to their host country + when they return they talk about their experiences within the district
•	Group Study Exchange – team leader + 4 or 5 non Rotarians between ages of 25-40 within various professions to learn about their jobs and network
•	University Teaching Grants – teach a course abroad.
•	3-H Programs – Health, Hunger and Humanity ex. During an African drought Rotarians taught irrigation techniques

Polio Plus – Raise $855 million by 2005. Need $186 million
97% of world is polio free

College and Young Professionals Club: Rotaract
High School Club: Interact

Local Achievements:

•	Everglades National Park – Rotary Club of Miami
•	Jackson Memorial Hospital
•	Canal Clean-ups
•	After-school House – established by RCSM

Avenues of Service

•	Club
•	Vocational
•	Community
•	International

MEMBERSHIP

•	You cannot just join – you must be sponsored for membership
•	Must be in a professional, proprietor, executive or managerial position
•	Meet attendance requirements for weekly meetings
•	47 clubs in the 6990 district

ATTENDANCE
60% of club’s regulars meetings in a 6 month period
30% at home club per 6 month period
Stay for at least 60% of the meeting to avoid “eat and run”

CLASSIFICATION
Represents a cross section of the community
Ensures diversity of interest
Classification is a loan

OBLIGATIONS
Weekly attendance
Paul Harris Fellowship - $1,000 going to the RI Foundation
Participation in club activities

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE PROJECTS
School bus to Jamaica
Medical Supplies to Costa Rica

ONLINE
South Miami’s website:
www.southmiamirotary.org

South Miami Rotary Club’s Myspace page
www.myspace.com/southmiamirotaryclub

Rotary District 6990 website:
www.rotary6990.org

Rotary International
www.rotary.org

Join our Club’s Yahoo Groups and join the District’s Yahoo Groups in order to get interesting behind-the-scenes info. Ask Ed how.

Our welcome toJacobs and Carney, CPA’s as our newest newsletter sponsor.

Click on our generous sponsor's business cards to visit their website:

As a holiday present to our club’s foundation:

Felipe Vidal donated a DVD player + a laptop

so we will always have equipment for our programs’ speakers