Calendar of Events

Welcone Alan Verlander

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

WE MEET AT RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY
Lunch begins at noon - Meeting begins at 12:30 p.m.
Meet Alan Verlander
Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment
City of Jacksonville

In April of 2012, Alan Verlander was named Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment for the City of Jacksonville.  His role oversees all sporting operations and events in the City, including being the direct liaison with the Jacksonville Jaguars on all City related issues.  In addition, he oversees special events for the city and the film and TV office.  The last of his duties will be the oversight of all city sporting facilities including the management contract.
As Director of Athletics for Jacksonville University from 2005-2012, the fortunes of the athletics department changed drastically as the programs gained in stature and prominence in the community and recognition nationwide. 
In his tenure at JU, JU laid claim to 41 conference or state championship titles and made 29 appearances in NCAA Tournaments. Additionally, the football program won the Pioneer Football League title for the first-time ever in 2008 and again in 2010 finishing with a 10-1 record, finishing the year ranked in the top 25 for the first time in the school’s history. 
A highlight in his first and fifth year (2006 & 2010), JU hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, with Verlander serving as the Tournament Director both times. 
Through private fund raising, more than $12 million was spent during his tenure updating and constructing new facilities. 
Verlander also led the effort in returning JU basketball to the "Downtown" area, as the Dolphins now call the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena their home. Since moving the home games to the Arena in 2006, JU has seen its average attendance double since his first season and season ticket sales have tripled since that time as well. 
In addition to facility and program upgrades, Verlander worked hard to get all 21 teams successful in the classroom as well. Upon his hire, 10 teams were under the 925 NCAA APR (Academic Progress Rate) bar. In 2012, only one team will be below the 925 mark. 
In the spring of 2008, under Verlander’s guidance, JU announced the addition of two new varsity sports -- men’s and women’s Lacrosse. The men’s team is the first Division I team in the state with women’s team becoming the second. Both seasons were successful in 2010, with the women’s program winning the National Lacrosse Conference Championship with an undefeated record. In 2011, a nationally televised event was created and sold (Moe’s Southwest Grill Classic) on ESPN which featured Duke, Notre Dame, Georgetown and JU. The game was played at EverBank Field, home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, as JU athletics worked with the city of Jacksonville to promote the event. 
Nationally, Verlander served on the NCAA Recruiting and Personnel Issues Cabinet, which sets and monitors all NCAA legislation for recruiting and personnel Issues. He also has served on the Executive Committee within the Atlantic Sun Conference and currently chairs the membership committee. 
Verlander, 40, is a Jacksonville native who worked at the University of North Florida and with the Gator Bowl Association before leaving the First Coast in 1997. He is a 1990 graduate of the Bolles School and his grandfather, Ash Verlander, served as Chairman of JU's Board of Trustees from 1982-85. 
Verlander spent five years as Associate Athletic Director for External Operations at Samford, where he oversaw the Samford Athletic Foundation, facility improvements, the corporate partnership program, ticket sales, athletic media relations, marketing & promotions, broadcast operations, licensing & merchandising and the Bulldogs' official athletic web site. 
During his tenure at Samford, the Bulldogs saw dramatic increases in individual and corporate giving, as well as record attendance and ticket sales in nearly every sport. Samford-branded merchandise also experienced record growth, while the Bulldogs' television, radio and Internet coverage was enhanced and expanded to include football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, women's soccer and volleyball. 
Prior to working at Samford, Verlander spent two years as national sales executive for Host Communications in Atlanta, where he was responsible for securing corporate partners for the Southeastern and Big 12 Conferences, in addition to all colleges and universities represented by Host. 
Verlander was the director of marketing and promotions for the Gator Bowl Association in Jacksonville from April of 1995 until July of 1997. He directed all sales of corporate sponsors, which totaled more than $1.8 million, while also managing game operations and serving as a liaison with NBC as well as the Atlantic Coast and Big East Conferences. 
Verlander graduated with his B.A. in speech communications from Samford in 1994, where he earned three varsity letters in baseball. He obtained a master's degree in Strategic Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University in 2007. He and his wife, Bonnie, have four daughters: Abby (15), Kate (12), Maggie (10) and Mary (9).




Congratulations Stephen Wilson!

Stephen Wilson, Ken Wilson's son attended the Bayatta Regatta in Philadelphia.  He won a 3rd place medal in rowing and placed in archery.  Rowing and archery are two programs that are part of the Adaptive Sports and Recreation at Brooks.  Stephen also works at Brooks. 

  



Recap of the September 25th Meeting
Greeter:  Casey Martin
The Pledge of Allegiance & Prayer:  David Bissell
Craft Talk:  Ed Morales
Football Update:  Jeremy Miller
Blue Badge Recipient:  Leandra Dopazo
Fellowship & Attendance Initiative Update:  Dean Scott
Membership Initiative Update:  Ron Patrick
Introduction of Visitors & Guests:  Harlan Bost
Guest Speaker Introduction:  Doug Johnson
Speaker:  Jeannie Blaylock

Jeannie Blaylock spoke to the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville about "Buddy Check 12", a program to help women and men overcome breast cancer through early detection.

Welcome Jeannie Blaylock

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

WE MEET AT RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY
Lunch begins at noon - Meeting begins at 12:30 p.m.

Meet Jeannie Blaylock
Anchor on First Coast News


Jeannie Blaylock is a weekday anchor on First Coast News at WTLV/WJXX in Jacksonville, Florida, and also serves as their "Healthwatch" reporter. Jeannie co-anchors the weeknight 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts of First Coast News

Jeannie graduated as valedictorian from Cape Central High School in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She holds a BA and triple major in English, communication, and art from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri (a suburb of Kansas City). She graduated summa cum laude in 1982 and completed part of her undergraduate work at Oxford University in England. She also studied at the BBC in London. 

She started her news career in 1982 at KTAB-TV, the CBS affiliate in Abilene, Texas. In 1985, Jeannie began working at WTLV. Most recently, she recently anchored our local coverage of the 2012 Olympics on-site in London.

In 1992, Jeannie created "Buddy Check 12", a program to help women overcome breast cancer through early detection. She started doing Buddy Check with her mother in Missouri. Now, the program has grown to reach more than 540,000 local Jacksonville women and 1,000,000 women internationally. The program has saved more than 145 First Coast women from dying from the disease. Television stations in more than thirty other U.S. cities are imitating Jeannie's "Buddy Check 12" program.

Jeannie has received numerous awards including twelve Emmys, two Edward R. Murrow Awards, and a Peabody. She won the Peabody Award in 1994 for her contribution in the creation of "Buddy Check 12". She was the first person in Jacksonville to earn a Peabody.

 The Four-Way Test

                     The October 30th meeting will highlight the Rotary Four Way test:
  1. Is it the Truth?
  2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
  3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
  4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Neil McGuinness
On First Coast News

Neil McGuinness is interviewed regarding an initiative to name the barrier island from Mayport to Vilano Beach.  Neil is the author of the book, The Beaches.   The following link provides additional information: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/article/272108/483/Barrier-island-from-Mayport-to-Vilano-Beach-has-no-name


PP Odette Struys
Spotlighted by IABC

PP Odette Struys is the member spotlight by International Association of Business Communicators. 

http://www.iabcfirstcoast.com/news/item/56-member-spotlight-odette-struys


Mary Goldsmith
In the Jacksonville Business Journal

Mary Goldsmith is listed in the special report "Women of Influence" in the Sept 7 issue of the Jacksonville Business Journal
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/print-edition/2012/09/07/woi-goldsmith-understands-people.html



Joy Hardaker to Retire

Congratulations to Joy Hardaker with the recent announcement of her retirement!










 Another Engagement

Congratulations to Scott Keith on the recent announcement of his engagement!
More Football Updates
From PP Vicki-Lynne

Gus watched the USC game, then Gabriella consoles him after a very depressing outcome!





               Recap of the September 18th Meeting
Greeters:  Jeremy Miller & Dinkins Grange
The Pledge of Allegiance & Prayer:  Neil McGuinness
Introduction of Visitors & Guests:  Doug Johnson
Family of Rotary - Member Update: 
Mary Alice Phelan
Guest Speaker Introduction:  Doug Johnson
Speaker:  Kevin Winslow, M.D.


Kevin Winslow, M.D. , Director of the Florida Institute for Reproductive Medicine, spoke to the South Jacksonville Rotary Club about " Preembryo Genetic Diagnosis/Screening".
 

Welcome Dr. Kevin Winslow

Tuesday, September 18, 2012


WE MEET AT RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY

Lunch begins at Noon - Meeting begins at 12:30 p.m.

 Meet Dr. Kevin Winslow

Kevin Winslow, M.D. has been the Director of the Florida Institute for Reproductive Medicine for over 21 years.  Dr. Winslow completed his residence in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Florida Jacksonville, his Reproductive Medicine/Infertility fellowship was at the renowned Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, the birthplace of modern reproductive medicine.  Dr. Winslow is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility and his special interests are in vitro fertilization and fertility preservation.  Dr. Winslow is a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine as well as a member of the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology. He has served as the President of the Florida Society of Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility. Dr. Winslow is a Clinical Professor of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of Florida, Jacksonville. He has been inducted into Strathmore’s Who’s Who in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Physicians. Under Dr. Winslow’s directorship the Florida Institute for Reproductive Medicine has had over 10,000 babies born.  The Institute was named one of the top ten reproductive medicine programs in the nation by Child Magazine in 2005.  In 2011 the Institute was awarded the designation “Center of Excellence” by United Healthcare because of its high pregnancy rates and low multiple birth rates.  The Institute has been featured in People, Child, Conceive, Pink, Self and Woman magazines as well as on NBC, ABC, BBC News and the Today Show. 



Literacy Mentoring Partnership
San Jose Elementary

Below are the steps for all volunteers to complete the application on line:
Rotary Attendance & Fellowship Initiative

In need of a make up?!  Longing for Rotary fellowship?!  Feeling social?!  Then join PP Dean as he visits West Jacksonville Rotary Club on Wednesday, September 19 at 12:30 pm.  Speaker will be our own, Skip Booth.  Cost is $13 and can be billed to your account (Thanks, Patti!).  Next up, Christine Goldsmith will be leading a group to North Jacksonville Rotary Club on Friday, September 28 at 12:30 pm.  Their club always has a special visitor from the zoo on the last Friday of the month.  Cost for lunch at North Jacksonville is payable at the door.  If you’re up for an evening event, join Christine on October 5th at 7:00 pm for Brew at the Zoo, a project of the North Jacksonville Rotary Club.  This food, drink and entertainment festival is sure to be a great time.  Cost is $50 in advance (by October 3rd) and $75 afterward.  Spring for the $10 VIP upgrade for an extra special experience!  Each event counts as a make up and will most certainly be a good time.  Please call, email or talk to PP Dean or Christine Goldsmith if you’d like to be a part of the Rotary Attendance & Fellowship Initiative! 

  • Recap of the September 11th Meeting
  • Greeter:  Doug McCullough
  • The Pledge of Allegiance & Prayer:  PP Jay Plotkin
  • Introduction of Visitors & Guests:  Doug McCullough
  • Family of Rotary - Member Update: Mary Alice Phelan
  • Guest Speaker Introduction:  PP James Chansler
  • Speaker:  DG John Brunner
Paul Harris awards and multiple pin donors were recognized at Tuesday's meeting