Calendar of Events

February 23, 2016

Lunch is served at Noon, Meeting begins at 12:30pm

Welcome Admiral Mark P. Fitzgerald, USN Retired

Admiral Mark Fitzgerald was born in Winchester, Mass., and graduated from Northeastern University, Boston in June 1973. He was commissioned in 1973 and retired from active duty in December 2010.  He currently consults with numerous defense and commercial maritime and aviation companies.  He is Chairman of the Boards of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation and the Association of Naval Aviators and appointed by Governor Scott as a member of the Florida Defense Support Task Force.  He holds a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Systems Engineering from the University of West Florida (1975) and attended the Naval War College, Newport, R.I (1983-84).

From November 2007 to October 2010, he was Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples.  Fitzgerald with operational responsibility for NATO missions in the Balkans, Iraq and the Mediterranean, and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa, responsible for providing overall command, operational control, and coordination of U.S. Naval forces in the European and African Command.

Selected for flag rank in September 1998, he was deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, commanded Joint Task Force Determined Response in Aden, Yemen (2000) and Carrier Group 8 / Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001-2002). He served as director, Air Warfare, Director, Naval Warfare (2003-2004), and Commander, 2nd Fleet/Director, Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence (2004-2006). In December 2006 he was the director, Navy Staff in the Pentagon.

Fitzgerald flew the A-7E Corsair II during numerous sea tours and commanded VA-46 (1990-1991) aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) leading the first Navy strike on Baghdad during the opening hour of Operation Desert Storm. He assumed command of Carrier Air Wing 14 (1994-95) while deployed to the Persian Gulf aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) supporting Operation Southern Watch. 

During his career, Fitzgerald was assigned as deputy commander, Joint Air Force Component Commander for Provide Promise Yugoslav Operations and assistant commander for Deny Flight NATO operations (1993) and executive assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (1996-98).

Fitzgerald’s awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3 awards), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (4 awards), Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat V (2 awards), Bronze Star (2 Awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Air Medals, and numerous individual, Campaign and Unit awards as well as numerous foreign awards. He has logged over 4,800 flight hours and has over 1,100 carrier arrested landings from the decks of 13 aircraft carriers.  


Trivia Questions of the Week:
1.  During World War I she was a spy who worked for both the French and the Germans. In 1917 she was executed by the French. Today her name refers to a seductive double-dealing woman. Who is she?
2.  Snow flakes have what geometrical shape?
3.  George W. Bush was the second person to follow in his father's footsteps as President of the United States. Who was the first son of a President to become a President?
4.  What is the most powerful hand in poker?
 Answers at the bottom. 

Rotaract News!   
Rotaract meets at River City Brewing Company on the second and fourth Thursdays.

Satellite Club News!
Satellite meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month! Upstairs at San Marco Indochine.  5:30pm social and 6:00pm meeting.
  • The satellite speaker on Feb 22 is Jerry Holland, Duval County Property Appraiser and Supervisor of Elections
For more information - Visit the new Facebook Site:

Rotary Satellite Club of South Jacksonville

Oratory Speech Competition Finals Highlights - February 18th
The Rotary Oratory Final Competition concluded on February 18th with 5 outstanding competitors.  The judges had a tough job and the close range of score totals told us we had selected the best the First Coast had to offer.  After all was said and the scores tallied, Stevin Smith, Paxon School for Advanced Studies took home the Grand Prize.  Nathan Veatch, St. Augustine High School was the runner up.







Club President David congratulates all the Finalists.   



All 5 of the Southside Speech Contestants did a fabulous job!  We were honored to have had the opportunity to hear from them.
Stevin Smith with his family and friends.
Stevin Smith, Paxon School for Advanced Studies (left) took home the Grand Prize.  Nathan Veatch, St. Augustine High School was Runner-Up.

Thanks again to all our Finalists!
Westside Regional - Stevin Smith – Paxon School for Advanced Studies (Duval) 
St. Augustine Regional - Nathan Veatch – St. Augustine High School (St. Johns) 
Orange Park Regional - Auriel Haack – St. Johns Country Day School (Clay) 
Fernandina Regional - Jalicia LewisStanton College Prep (Duval) 
Southside Regional - Sean MorrisonAtlantic Coast (Duval)
 
Rotary Club Of South Jacksonville - Upcoming Events:
Social Opportunity...

South Jacksonville Rotary Club and Satellite Club Social
Irish Whiskey, Bourbon and Scotch tasting  

WHEN: Thursday February 25th.
TIME: 5:30 arrivals, 6:15 start tasting
WHERE: The Blind Rabbit ---- 901 King St, Jacksonville, FL 32204


Irish Whiskey, Bourbon and Scotch tasting.  Three of each types of the drinks mentioned will be displayed and talked about by the vendors. They will provide homemade chips for the group and we can add additional appetizers. 

The cost will range $25-$35 depending on the number of people.  We may opt for additional food.  The venue will hold 40 comfortably, and we can rearrange if need be. 

RSVP to Randy Gordon at rgordon4824@yahoo.com.


February Service Opportunity...


The Undie Campaign
Dignity U Wear provided brand new clothing to over 200,000 people in need last year. Underwear is the most requested item. To provide more people with basic human dignity and to meet the incredible need, Dignity created The Undie Campaign.

DONATION REQUEST: During the month of February 2016, please bring BRAND NEW socks and underwear to any meeting. We will collect and donate them to Dignity U Wear for those who need them most!

SERVICE EVENT: In addition, we have an opportunity for nine (9) club members to volunteer to sort clothing: Saturday, March 5, 2016 from 9am – 12pm.
Contact Robyn Watson if you are interested in volunteering!


Stay Tuned... more service events coming soon!

February 18, 2016 Final event for the Rotary Oratory Competition at UNF, 6 pm
March 5, 2016 from 9am - 12p Dignity U Wear Event 
Jun 1, 2016 - Alhambra Dinner Theatre

Around the Room Shots from the Speech Oratory Final Competition Ceremony:


Auriel Haack and Family

Jalicia Lewis and Family

Sean Morrison and Family

Nathan Veatch and Family
Week 33 Rotary Minute... Our District Governor's Message:  


LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROTARY FOUNDATION CENTENNIAL 

The Rotary Foundation turns 100 in 2016-17! Our Foundation stands at the forefront of humanitarian service, having supported thousands of projects to provide clean water, fight disease, promote peace, and provide basic education — as well as the historic project dedicated to eradicating polio worldwide.  To learn more about the history of The Rotary Foundation, use this really long web address, it is worth the effort:


https://www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/rotary-foundation/history-rotary-foundation

Purchase a copy of the Centennial Commemorative book, some End Polio Now pins or brochures & promotional items for your next event via shop.rotary.org.   Shop Rotary dot org is a great place to find many Rotary resources.

 UPCOMING EVENTS:

February 20, 2016: Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) – St. Johns River College - Orange Park
February 23, 2016 - Rotary's Anniversary (RI Founded February 23, 1905)
May 13-14, 2016: District Conference and District Assembly in St. Augustine

For more on these and all other events in District 6970, please go to www.rotary6970.org.

Yours in service to Rotary,
Fel
Fred“Fel” Lee
District Governor 2015-2016

Trivia Questions Answers:
1.  Mata Hari  2.  Hexagonal  3.  John Quincy Adams  4.  Royal Flush: 10, J, Q, K, A of the same suit.