Welcome Donovin Darius

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

WE MEET AT RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY

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

Meet Donovin Darius

Donovin Darius was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1975.  He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School where he received a full scholarship to play football at Syracuse University.  He was a record-setting defensive player — setting the team record for tackles – and graduated in 1997 with an Exercise Science and Coaching Degree. In 1998, he was selected 25th overall in the NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars – the highest pick ever by the team for a Defensive Back.  He was blessed to have played Strong Safety with the Jaguars at an elite level for 10 years.  Darius is in the NFL record books as the first to be labeled a “Franchise Player” three consecutive years.

As a 1st Team Pro-Bowl alternate and a 10 year NFL veteran, Darius was an 8-year Player Representative for the NFL Players Association and 4-year Player Association Vice-President where he was elected by his teammates to work for player’s rights, safety and ever-improving working conditions. In Darius’ spoken words, “It was an honor and privilege to be able to play on such a large platform and represent so many men and their families.”  Darius retired from the NFL in 2007 but in 2011, he signed a one-day ceremonial contract with the Jaguars to retire as a member of the team.

In 2010, Darius founded Next Level Training and Performance, where the vision focuses on character, athletic and spiritual development.  With numerous programs, Next Level Training & Performance develops persons of all skill levels and age levels through various camps, clinics and motivational speaking sessions.  He has developed programs with the same methodology that he utilized to advance his own career and deliver his own professional success.

Some of the notable programs that are in demand are the Catch/Cover/Conditioning Football Camps and Clinics, Speed & Agility Clinics and his Summer Youth Football Camps.  Darius is also working with adults in his Women’s Fitness classes and is currently developing long-term programs to enhance the off-season youth sports and increase conditioning and techniques of youth football players overall.

His motivational speaking engagements cover a variety of topics including Leadership, Relationships and Teamwork and he has booked many academic, corporate and non-profit events all around the country and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  His wide appeal and personal, transparent delivery style make him a favorite with clients that want to be impacted in a short period of time. 

Donovin also established the Donovin Darius Foundation in 2011 as a means to give back to the community that gave him so much support as an NFL player. Programs include free sports clinics featuring exclusive tours of EverBank Field, on-field agility and speed trials and motivational talks.

Donovin is a devoted Man of God and Christian who seeks to share his faith, knowledge and experiences with everyone in the hopes of encouraging and developing men and women to live out their God-given purpose.

Meet New Member

Dr.  Leandra Dopazo

Dr. Leandra Dopazo is an orthodontist in the San Marco area.  She and her husband Abe have two extraordinary children, Lucca and Enzo. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, enjoying the beach, cooking and traveling to Brazil to visit family.

Mark Your Calendar 

Rotary Foundation Seminar - August 18th:  Rotary Foundation Seminar at the Thrasher Horne Center in Orange Park on College Drive.  Breakfast and lunch are provided and the club pays for anyone who would like to attend.

Recap of the July 31st Meeting

Greeters:  Doug McCullough & Neil McGuinness

The Pledge of Allegiance & Prayer:  Mary Goldsmith

Craft Talk:  PP John Callender

Introduction of Guests:  PP Dean Scott

Family of Rotary - Member Update:  Mary Alice Phelan

Literacy Mentor Program Update:  Richard Dow

Technology Update:  Joe Miller

Guest Speaker Introduction:  PP Robert Harris

Speaker: Mike Weistein

 Mike Weistein spoke about his experiences with the legislative process in Tallahassee.

Welcome Mike Weinstein

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

WE MEET AT RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY

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

Meet Mike Weinstein

Mike Weinstein was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2008 serving District 19. He serves as a prosecutor and the Executive Director for the State Attorney’s Office.

Previously, Mike was President of Take Stock in Children, a position he formally accepted on September 2, 2003. Take Stock in Children is a scholarship and mentoring program that has purchased more than $90 million in scholarships, serving more than 13,000 low-income children in Florida.

Prior to joining Take Stock in Children, he served as president and CEO of the Jacksonville Super Bowl Host Committee, a private, an organization responsible for developing, organizing and implementing Jacksonville’s plan for Super Bowl XXXIX. Weinstein led the team responsible for developing the city’s successful bid application for the 2005 game.

With more than 30 years of financial and management experience, Weinstein has devoted much of his leadership and expertise to the public sector. In 1996, he was appointed by Mayor John Delaney to serve as executive director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, an agency comprising 12 divisions dedicated to economic development.

Operating with the corporate philosophy that economic development molds and shapes our community’s future, his leadership negotiating with private companies brought Jacksonville more than $2 billion in private capital investment and created or retained more than 20,500 jobs from 1996 – 2001.

Prior to this position, Weinstein served as Director of the Administration and Finance Department under both the Austin and Delaney administrations. In this capacity, he was responsible for an operating budget of $129 million and a staff of 586 full-time employees, labor negotiations, and the development of the River City Renaissance Bond initiative. He also participated in negotiations and management of the city’s stadium lease, which led the National Football League to award Jacksonville the 30th NFL expansion franchise.

Weinstein also spent 15 years in law management as the executive director of the State Attorney’s Office, and six years as a college lecturer, where he published several articles on management. He was also a partner at Harris, Guidi, Rosner & Mordecai, P.A., where he specialized in government and environmental issues.

Weinstein earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Hartwick College in New York, a Masters of Science in criminal justice from California State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida. He has also completed two years of Doctoral Studies in criminology at Florida State University.

A strong proponent of equal higher educational opportunities, Weinstein is a Trustee of Florida Community College at Jacksonville and previously worked with Florida A&M University to raise money for scholarships for Duval County students.

He is also a member of the Police Athletic League and Florida’s First Coast Crime Stoppers. He is a graduate of the 1985 Class of Leadership Jacksonville and served on the board of the Air Service Development Task Force. He serves on the Board of the Salvation Army. He was a member of Downtown Rotary and volunteers his time with the Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI) and the North Florida Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

He and Sara, his wife of over 34 years, have three children, Scott (Meg), Daryl (Mandy) and Danielle (Aaron) and three grand-children. Mike and Sara are active members of Christian Family Chapel in Mandarin.

Mark Your Calendar 

Rotary Leadership Institute - August 4th:  Rotary Leadership Institute Training at Orange Park - St. Johns River Community College from 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  Register on line and support our Leadership Development goals at http://www.rlitraining.org/
Rotary Foundation Seminar - August 18th:  Rotary Foundation Seminar at the Thrasher Horne Center in Orange Park on College Drive.  Breakfast and lunch are provided and the club pays for anyone who would like to attend.

Recap of the July 24th Meeting

Greeters:  Dinkins Grange & Doug McCullough

The Pledge of Allegiance:  Toula Wootan

Prayer:  PP Lee Mercier

Introduction of Guests:  PP Gary Wilkinson

Received a Blue Badge:  Lynn Betros

Family of Rotary - Member Update:  Mary Alice Phelan

Web Site Update:  Joe Miller

Guest Speaker Introduction:  PP Robert Harris

Speaker: John Delaney

 

John Delaney, President of the University of North Florida, spoke about the state of UNF.

Welcome John Delany, President of UNF

Tuesday July 24, 2012

WE MEET AT RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY

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

Meet John Delaney
President of the University of North Florida

John A. Delaney became UNF’s fifth president in 2003. In that capacity, he oversees a campus of more than 16,000 students, 600 faculty and more than 1,000 staff. The 1,381 acre campus in Northeast Florida is considered a driver in the region, with an annual economic impact of nearly $1 billion. Each year, 4,000 students graduate from UNF’s five colleges: the Brooks College of Health, the Coggin College of Business, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction and the College of Education and Human Services. 

Under Delaney’s direction, UNF reaffirmed its commitment to students, by offering individualized attention and offering transformational learning opportunities. The University of North Florida is also known for its flagship programs, areas where UNF leads the nation. Flagships include Community Nursing, International Business, Transportation & Logistics, Coastal Biology, Music and Nutrition.
 

UNF is currently undergoing the biggest construction spree in its history. The University recently opened the $86 million Osprey Fountains residence hall, the $50 million Student Union, the $27 million College of Education and Human Services building, and the $39 million Biological Science Building. Construction is almost complete on the new Student Wellness Complex and a new cafeteria. All new construction on campus reflects UNF’s commitment to the environment and many new buildings are LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified.

Delaney is considered UNF’s chief fundraiser, nearly doubling the University’s privately-funded endowment.  The Power of Transformation campaign is currently underway, with a goal of raising $110 million.  

Delaney’s presidency continues a distinguished career as a public servant. He served two terms as mayor of Jacksonville, the country’s 13th largest city, spearheading major initiatives including The Better Jacksonville Plan, a $2.2 billion improvement plan that gave the city new public facilities and other amenities. He also created the Preservation Project, a massive land conservation program giving Jacksonville the distinction of having the largest urban park system in the United States. Prior to that, he served as the chief assistant state attorney, the number two prosecutor for Northeast Florida and as the general counsel for the City of Jacksonville. He has served on numerous non-profit and corporate boards. 

He and his wife Gena have four children.

 

 Welcome New Member Jim Casey

Jim is the owner and President of a leading investigative firm specializing in internal and complex investigations, due diligence for mergers and acquisitions and FCPA, Cyber security and investigations, senior executive background profiles and related services.  Jim maintains a network of experts (about 250 former FBI agents located around the world) in the areas of financial forensic accounting, cyber forensics, physical security, electronic countermeasures, and surveillance.  

 
Jim has a Bachelor's in political science from James Madison University; a Masters in criminology from Indiana State University and a Graduate Diploma in International Relations from the University of London.

 
Jim and his wife, Sandy, reside in St. Johns, FL.  They have four children

 

July is National Hot Dog Month!!

Your roving reporter did an assessment of the  Board meeting  attendee’s favorite hot dog toppings and the results are below:

President Jim-mustard

Executive Secretary Patti- coleslaw and mustard

Dinkins-mustard and coleslaw or sauerkraut

PE Harlan-“through the garden”

Tom-mustard, onion and coleslaw

Richard-onion and mustard

Mary-ketchup and mustard

Ken Weiss-dark mustard and coleslaw

Maureen-mustard, onion and relish

PP Robert Meek-chili, cheese and onions

Randy-mustard, ketchup and sauerkraut

Juan-mustard and ketchup

Ed- chili and mustard

Doug Matthews-Parliamenta

Neil- spicy mustard and sauerkraut

Chris- mustard and relish

Bea-mustard and onion

PP Vicki-lynne- onions, mustard, pickle, neon relish, tomato, and hot sport peppers

Presentation 

of the 

President's MVP Award 

to

Wayne Young

Recap of the July 17th Meeting

Greeters:  Dinkins Grange & Jim Casey

The Pledge of Allegiance & Prayer:  PP Dean Scott

Introduction of Guests:  PE Harlan Bost

Rotaract Update:  President Kathy Phillips

Rotaract meetings are the 2^nd & 4^th Thursday evenings each month

6:00 p.m. at Square One

New Member Introduction:  Rick Mullens

New Member Charge:  Past President Robert Meek

New Member:  Dr. Leandra Dopazo

Family of Rotary - Member Update:  Mary Alice Phelan

Guest Speaker Introduction:  PP Robert Harris

Speaker: Rick Mullaney

Rick Mullaney, the founding director of Jacksonville University's Public Policy Institute, spoke about the institute.  The program is the first of it's kind in the state of Florida.  It includes degree programs,  community programs and mid-career and professional programs.

 

Welcome Rick Mullaney, Esquire

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

WE MEET AT RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY

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

 Meet Rick Mullaney 
JU Public Policy Institute

Rick Mullaney is a local attorney and former General Counsel for the City of Jacksonville. As General Counsel from 1997 to 2010, Rick was the chief legal officer for Jacksonville’s $4.5 billion a year consolidated government, and head of a 40-lawyer public law office. Prior to serving as General Counsel, Rick served as Chief of Staff to former Mayor John Delaney, City attorney and advisor to the Austin administration, as a prosecutor for ten years, and a business litigator for the Carlton Fields law firm.

Rick grew up on Jacksonville’s Westside off of 103rd Street and Jammes Road. He graduated from Forrest High School in 1973, where his father taught for 21 years after serving in the Navy for 22 years. Rick attended the University of Florida for undergraduate school, receiving a George Smathers debate scholarship and graduating Phi Beta Kappa and number one in the College of Arts and Sciences. In law school at the University of Florida, he was Executive Editor of the Law Review.

Following graduation in 1980, Rick practiced business litigation with Carlton Fields – Florida’s largest law firm at that time — before joining the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit in 1982. A prosecutor for ten years, he was recognized statewide for his work in creating Florida’s first Repeat Offender Court for career criminals, and for his work in creating and leading the State Attorney’s Homicide Unit. During his years as a prosecutor, Rick also taught business law at the University of North Florida and lectured in more than 20 states on violent crime and criminal prosecution.

In 1991, the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association named him Prosecutor of the Year for the State of Florida.

Rick joined the General Counsel’s Office in 1991 during the Austin administration, serving as chief of the Tort Litigation Department and legal advisor until being named Chief of Staff by former Mayor John Delaney in 1996. As Chief of Staff for Mayor Delaney, he led the creation and adoption of the City’s first comprehensive Code of Ethics and the creation of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC), which consolidated 23 entities into one organization. He also played a key role in the successful effort to get City finances in order in the 1990s by freezing salaries, cutting ad valorem tax rates, reducing starting salaries for some public employees, and changing the City’s approach to compensation.

After being appointed General Counsel in 1997, Rick played a leading role in creating The Preservation Project and The Better Jacksonville Plan. As General Counsel, Rick recruited experienced and talented lawyers from the private sector, making the General Counsel’s Office one of our communities’ best law firms. He also developed ethics training programs for public officials and formed a municipal law clinic for second and third-year law students, providing substantial legal services to the City at no cost to taxpayers.

In the courtroom, Rick’s achievements include successfully defending the right of Duval County students to say a prayer at their high school graduation ceremonies. Arguing before all 12 judges of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, he persuaded the Court to reverse its original decision against prayer by a margin of 10-2, creating a landmark case for school prayer.

Rick is a nationally-regarded expert and speaker on consolidated government, and is “AV” rated by Martindale Hubbell. In 2003, he was named Lawyer of the Year at the Jacksonville Bar Association’s annual Law Day Luncheon. Subsequently, as Chairman of Jacksonville’s Telecommunications Master Plan Task Force, he received IT Florida’s statewide award for innovation in technology. He received the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville’s Good Government Award in 2004 and was named a Top Government Attorney by Florida Trend magazine in 2009.

Rick serves on the Board of Directors for four non-profit organizations. He is Chairman of the Board of St. Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation, Vice-Chair of the Board of Gateway Community Services, and serves on the Boards of St. Vincent’s HealthCare System and the Timucuan Trails Parks Foundation (formerly Preservation Project North Florida). He also serves on the ALS Regional Council. He is a graduate and member of Leadership Jacksonville and Leadership Florida. Rick and his wife, Lynn, have three children: Taylor, Richie, and Katie.

Mark Your Calendar 

Blood Drive - July 17th: The Blood Alliance Mobile will be at our meeting from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Please Donate!!!

Board Meeting - July 17th:  The South Jacksonville Rotary Board Meeting will follow the regular meeting.  Attendance counts as a make-up.  All members are welcome.

Rotary Leadership Institute - August 4th:  Rotary Leadership Institute Training at Orange Park - St. Johns River Community College from 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  Register on line and support our Leadership Development goals at http://www.rlitraining.org/

On-Line Rotary Roster

Check out the on-line Rotary Roster at http://www.rotaryroster.org/

The "Getting Started" steps are easy.  Once you are on the main page, there is a "Log-in" box on the left of the screen like the image below.  The steps are on the main page and also documented below for your convenience.

• Log in with the email address you have on file with your club.
• Click the Activate My Account link and follow the instructions about how to create and register a password.
• You will be emailed a link that will authenticate your continued access to the Rotary Roster. Follow the simple instructions for your first time use. 

Recap of the July 10th Meeting

The Pledge of Allegiance:  Dinkins Grange

Prayer:  Past President John Callender

Introduction of Guests:  Past President Ken Weiss

Greeters:  Bob Massey, Jr. & Dinkins Grange

Speaker: President Jim Lanahan

President Jim Lanahan shared his vision for the South Jacksonville Rotary Club's 2012-2013 year.  Highlights from the presentation include:

• Our theme for the year is "Peace Through Service".
• Rotary: "A worldwide network of inspired individuals who translate their passion into relevant social causes to change lives in communities." 
• Introduction of club officers.
• Club Goals for 2012-2013:
• A net gain in 4 or more new members
• 100% participation in the Rotary Foundation
• Leadership Development Goals: 1.) 3 members to attend Rotary Leadership Institute 2.) 2 members to attend Foundation Seminar  3.) 6 members to attend the District Conference
• Club Activities for 2012-2013:
• Major Fund Raiser:  A roll out of the final plan in the next few weeks
• Support the International Polio Campaign: We are very close to eliminating polio!
• Rotary Youth Exchange: Sponsor another student
• Interact: Youth Speech Contest
• Outside Organization Cooperation: The Salvation Army Bell Ringing
• Dictionary Project
• Two Blood Drives
• Clean Water Project
• Rotaract Club: Joint Meeting with Rotaracters
• Two New Initiatives:
• Enhanced Literacy Program:  Adopt a kindergarten class and support with mentoring, reading, supplies, etc.
• San Marco Initiative: Support roundabout construction at intersection of Landon Ave & San Marco Blvd. to include a monument using this year's Rotary International theme, "Peace Through Service".
• Develop a 3 to 5 Year Strategic Plan: 1.) Long term signature project 2.) Long term source of funds 3.) Membership development plan
• Rotary Club of  South Jacksonville:  "We are a local network of inspired individuals who translate our passion into relevant social causes to change lives in our communities."