Tuesday, October 23, 2012
WE MEET AT RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY
Lunch begins at noon - Meeting begins at 12:30 p.m.
The Rotary Club of Mandarin will join us for this meeting-be sure to wear your team colors!!
Sam Kouvaris
Sports Director/Managing Editor, WJXT
A native of Baltimore and a
graduate of the University of Maryland, Sam Kouvaris began his broadcasting
career in Charleston, S.C., as the sports director at the ABC affiliate, WCBD.
He also worked as a sports
reporter in the Washington/Baltimore area. In June 1981, Sam joined WJXT,
formerly the CBS affiliate in Jacksonville, and was promoted to sports director
in March 1982. On Jan. 1, 2000, Sam was given additional duties as managing
editor of the sports department at WJXT.
As sports director/managing editor,
Sam's responsibilities include the presentation of the daily newscasts and the
leadership of the sports department. Along with the news director and general
manager, he helps determine the sports coverage policy throughout the year.
Sam's play-by-play experience
stretches from football to polo, and he has called events for CBS, NBC, ABC and
ESPN. A three-sport varsity athlete in high school, Sam also participated in
football and baseball in college and on the semi-professional level. He still
stays active in sports as a tri-athlete and the occasional fantasy baseball
camp. As part of his sports coverage, Sam has tried out for the Jacksonville
Tea Men and the USFL Jacksonville Bulls. He served as voice of the Tea Men of
the NASL in 1983.
A popular feature on WJXT's
Channel 4 News at 5:30 p.m. is "Stump Sam." Viewers are invited to
send in their sports questions to see if they can "stump Sam." Sam
has maintained about an 80 percent correct answer rate since the feature's
inception in 1990.
Sam also maintains a
sports-themed Web site -- SamSportsline.com
-- with current sports information, as well as personal commentary.
Sam calls his experience flying
Navy tactical aircraft the highlight of his career. After a promotional flight
with the "Blue Angels," Sam completed six weeks of training from the
U.S. Navy at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Cecil Field, and was qualified
to fly in the FA-18. He has done stories with several squadrons in the Atlantic
Fleet and has one carrier arrested landing and launch.
His sports commentaries can be
heard twice each day on WFYV-FM in Jacksonville and on the syndicated Lex and
Terry radio show, which is broadcasted throughout the country.
A member of the Pro Football
Hall of Fame selection committee, Sam is one of 38 electors asked each year to
vote on candidates eligible for induction into the hall. He also is a
designated voter for the Heisman Trophy and the College Football Hall of Fame.
Sam is an Emmy Award winner and
has won the Associated Press Broadcast Award, as well as other honors,
including Sportscaster of the Year by numerous organizations. Music and drama
are among his hobbies. Sam plays several musical instruments, including the
trumpet and guitar. He has appeared as the lead vocalist for the St. Johns
River City Band at several "Big Band" concerts.
He serves on the Board of
Directors for numerous charities in North Florida and is active at St. Joseph's
Catholic Church. Sam lives in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville with his wife.
Together, they have three children.
The 4-Way Test
The October 30, 2012 meeting will focus on the 4-Way Test. The following link has essays about the 4-Way Test written by children: http://thefourwaytest.com/
James Chansler Receives Benefactor Award
PP James Chansler recieved the Rotary Foundation Benefactor Award during the South Jacksonville Rotary Clubs meeting October 16, 2012. The Benefactor Award is given when someone includes the Foundation in a will or other estate
plan, or makes a special gift or commitment to the Foundation's Permanent
Fund. James is also a sustaining member of the Foundation's Annual Fund.
Neil
McGuinness Moving to Residential Real Estate
A recent Wall Street Journal article indicated
that the housing crisis was ended according to both Wells Fargo and J.P.
Morgan. It probably isn’t a coincidence that Neil is selling his Murphy
Business Brokerage Franchise and joining his wife Kathie in her residential
real estate business at Keller Williams Atlantic Partners in Jacksonville
Beach. They will be doing business throughout the greater Jacksonville area and
their website is www.JacksonvilleNeighborhood.com
Kathie currently has listings or recent sales in
areas ranging from the horse country near Cecil Field to Northside to
Riverside/Avondale to Del Webb Ponte Vedra (Nocatee) and through The Beaches
communities.
Effective November 1, 2012, Neil will be a Realtor
with Kathie at Keller Williams but will continue his role as chairman of the
board of the SEI Private Trust Company in Oaks Pennsylvania, a national thrift
with $200 billion in custody assets. In addition to being a member and board
member of Rotary of South Jacksonville, Neil is a board member of Semper
Fidelis (Marine Corps veterans organization), a board member of The Beaches
Area Historical Society and a member of the estate planning Council Northeast
Florida.
Past President Odette Is On The Air
Past President Odette Struys was on the air the week of October 15th encouraging listeners of WJCT to support public broadcasting.
Recap of
the October 16th Meeting
Greeter: Christine Goldsmith
The Prayer & Pledge: Doug McCullough
Benefactor Award Recipient: PP James Chansler
Blue Bade Recipient: Kevin Hyde
Literacy Project Update: President Jim & Richard Dow
Introduction
of Visitors & Guests: Juan Gutierrez
Sports Update: Jeremy Miller
Guest
Speaker Introduction: David Bissell
Speaker: Rick Catlett
Rick Catlett, President of the Gator Bowl Association, spoke to the South Jacksonville Rotary club about the association and answered questions from club members.
