June 2, 2015

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

Welcome,  Paul Frase

Paul Frase was born in Elmira NY.  He graduated from Syracuse University in 1988 with a BA in psychology.  Paul went on to play professional football in the NFL for 11 years.  He played 7 years with the New York Jets, 2 years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 year with the Green Bay Packers (which culminated in a trip to the 1997-98 Superbowl), and finished his career with the Baltimore Ravens in 1998.  Paul received the Ed Block Courage Award an unprecedented 2 times while in the NFL.  This award is voted on by other players, and honors one who has successfully returned to the field after sustaining a major injury or life challenge.

Paul joined the Lewis Search Firm in 2012, an executive search firm focused on the pharma marketing and healthcare advertising landscape. 

Paul and his wife Alison founded the Joshua Frase Foundation in 1996 to raise awareness and to fund research for an orphan disease called Myotubular Myopathy (MTM).  Their son Joshua succumbed to this disease just a few weeks before his 16th birthday.  Joshua’s legacy will be one of a cure for his peers, as the research is entering clinical trials soon.   To learn more about MTM, visit www.joshuafrase.org. 

Paul and Alison were blessed with the birth of their second child, Isabella Patrice on May 31st, 2001.  Isabella is Joshua’s only sibling.  Isabella is currently attending Landrum Middle School, is very active in sports, and excels scholastically in the AP program. 

Paul likes to share about how a boy from New Hampshire made it to the NFL, and more importantly, about the life lessons he’s learned from that journey, and from his son Joshua.  Paul’s talking points also include having a ‘never give up’ mentality, and being cognizant of the legacy you will leave behind.  

----Our Club in Action----

Congratulations to Lenny...  Our next Mayor...

Rotarian's take to the skies above Jacksonville...

Skip Booth, our resident aviation expert and pilot, takes Pierre up for a Memorial Day flight above the city.

Look, both hands on the yoke!

A perfect way to spend Memorial Day!

The President's luncheon...Past, Present and Future

Recipients of Our Fundraising Activities this year...
Family Promise of Jacksonville
BASCA
Episcopal Children's Services
Children's Home Society
Florida Dental Association
Women's Center of Jacksonville
Communities in Schools of Jacksonville
All Saint's Early Learning and Community Care Center

Charity presentations will be done at our June meetings.

Save the Date.....June 4th

What a fast Year! ... but we must bid Pierre his Adieu...

Going out with a Grand Slam!  For Pierre's farewell party, the Jacksonville Suns have offered Pierre the opportunity to throw the first pitch at the Thursday, June 4th game against Montgomery Biscuits.  Game time, 7:05pm, at Bragan Field Baseball Grounds.  Let's get as many Rotarians to maximize this opportunity and have some fun and fellowship while also bidding adieu to Pierre!

Tickets are $25.95 each and include a barbecue dinner with ribs, chicken, potato salad, baked beans, soda and a hat.  We have reserved the Palm Pavilion and tickets will be at the will-call window the night of the event.  Reserve your spot now by e-mailing Patti.   More on this great time at next week's meeting.  Let's get all our members to join us to bid our very active and engaged exchange student au revoir in style.

Rotary Minute- Week 47


This week DGE Fel and DGN Marshall, along with many Rotarians from District 6970, are packing their bags to attend the 2015 Rotary International Convention in Sao Paulo, Brazil. There they will join 20,000+ Rotarians from 534 other Districts that span the globe. There they will enjoy an experience like no other. People from different countries and different cultures all coming together on the grandest of scale to join leaders, exchange ideas and take action – action that will do good in their communities and throughout the world – action that will stimulate goodwill and fellowship – action that will foster peace and understanding. Action that would make Paul Harris proud!

To all District 6970 Rotarians who are making this journey, we wish you safe travels. We hope that you will return even better and more energized Rotarians. And we hope that when you return you will share this experience to encourage all of us as we continue to Light Up Rotary and Be a Gift to the World.

 Event Reminders:

June 18-21: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) will take place again this year on the University of North Florida’s campus. Each club should sponsor at least one, and preferably two, aspiring high school leaders to attend this life changing event.

June 26-28: Zone 34 Regional Seminar at the Hyatt Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida. All District and Club leaders are encouraged to attend. Look for more details soon on our District website.

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

Yours in service to Rotary,  
      Percy  
District Governor 2014-2015
Rotary International District 6970


Keep doing those wonderful things you do! Make it a great week!

May 26, 2015

No Scheduled Meeting on May 26, 2015

.....Remembering those who gave their lives for.....
.....this country on Memorial Day.....

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces.  The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the war.  By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who died while in the military service.  It typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.

Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.

Annual Decoration Days for particular cemeteries are held on a Sunday in late spring or early summer in some rural areas of the American South, notably in the mountain areas. In cases involving a family graveyard where remote ancestors as well as those who were deceased more recently are buried, this may take on the character of an extended family reunion to which some people travel hundreds of miles. People gather on the designated day and put flowers on graves and renew contacts with relatives and others. There often is a religious service and a picnic-like "dinner on the ground," the traditional term for a potluck meal in which people used to spread the dishes out on sheets or tablecloths on the grass. It is believed that this practice began before the American Civil War and thus may reflect the real origin of the "memorial day" idea.

Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day; Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans.

Reflections of Arlington National Cemetery...

Arlington House

Grave Site with American Flags

A Cemetery Road lined with Grave markers

The Old Guard transports the flag-draped casket of the second Sergeant Major of the Army George W. Dunaway who was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Never Forget, Forever Honor

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

Club Happenings ... Save the Date - June 4, 2015

Going out with a Grand Slam!  For Pierre's farewell party, the Jacksonville Suns have offered Pierre the opportunity to throw the first pitch at the Thursday, June 4th game against Montgomery Biscuits.  Game time, 7:05pm, at Bragan Field Baseball Grounds.  Let's get as many Rotarians to maximize this opportunity and have some fun and fellowship while also bidding adieu to Pierre!

Tickets are $25.95 each and include a barbecue dinner with Ribs, chicken, potato salad, baked beans, soda and a hat!  We have reserved the Palm Pavilion and tickets will be held at the will-call window.  Sign up for tickets with Patti.  More on this great time at next week's meeting.  Let's get all our members to join us to bid our very active and engaged exchange student au revoir in style.

Rotary Minute- Week 46


Last week was a great week for Rotarians here in District 6970. Our District Conference and Assembly brought many of us together for good information, fellowship and fun. But the past few weeks have been horrific for our Rotarian brothers and sisters in Nepal. Two major earthquakes have wreaked havoc in that country.

To assist the victims of this disaster, please consider an individual or club contribution to our District’s Disaster Relief Fund. Make checks payable to Rotary District 6970; under remark indicate “Nepal Disaster”.  Mail your check to our District office: P.O. Box 47195, Jacksonville, FL 32247. We will deposit the funds over the next week and send 50% of the amount collected directly to ShelterBox; and the other 50% direct to Disaster Aid USA. In both cases all funds we send will be designated exclusively for aid to Nepal. 

Event Reminders:

June 18-21: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) will take place again this year on the University of North Florida’s campus. Each club should sponsor at least one, and preferably two, aspiring high school leaders to attend this life changing event.

June 26-28: Zone 34 Regional Seminar at the Hyatt Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida. All District and Club leaders are encouraged to attend. Look for more details soon on our District website.

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

Yours in service to Rotary,  
      Percy  
District Governor 2014-2015
Rotary International District 6970

Remember, we always need blood!

 

Keep doing those wonderful things you do! Make it a great week!

May 19, 2015

Election Day Today!

.....Get out and VOTE.....


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

Welcome,  Steve Betz

 President, Danis Construction

Steve received his B.S. degree in Construction Management from the University of Cincinnati in 1986.  He joined Danis as an intern in 1984.  From 1986 to 2000 served in various capacities including Surveyor, Project Engineer, Superintendent, Estimator, Project Manager and Project Executive.

In 2000 Steve was promoted to President of the Southeast Operation and relocated to Jacksonville Florida. Notable project achievements in Jacksonville include the following projects:

•    Ribault Clubhouse Restoration
•    Nemours Corporate Office
•    Vistakon Distribution Center
•    Blue Cross/Blue Shield Recreation Center
•    Southpoint Surgery Center
•    Farah & Farah
•    Jake Godbald City Hall Annex
•    Regional Training Centers – Camp Blanding
•    Mayo Clinic’s Gabriel House of Care
•    St. Vincent’s Patient Access Redesign
•    Ronald McDonald House Addition/Renovation
•    Anheuser Busch Dining Facility
•    Jessie Ball duPont Center

Steve is a past member of  Associated Builders and Contractors of North Florida Board of Directors 2000 – 2002, American Heart Association Board of Directors 2010 – 2014, American Heart Association Executive Leadership Team 2010 – 2014, Downtown Rotary Club

Steve is a current member of NAIOP (National Association of Industrial and Office Properties) and Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Trustee.


Save the Dates.....May 21st and June 4th

Charter Night for the Rotary E-Club of Northeast Florida...

Thursday, May 21st from 6:15pm to 8:30pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church located 7190 US-17 in Fleming Island (Clay County - just south of Orange Park). It's Charter Night for our brand new Rotary Club, the Rotary E-Club of Northeast Florida. Charter nights are very special events within a Rotary District - mainly because we don't get too many new clubs each year!

This is also a great fun & fellowship experience and a super way for us to welcome new Rotarians into our District.  PLUS - as an added bonus we are fortunate to have Rotary International Director Robert Hall joining us that evening. It's not often we get the chance to hear from an RI Director in person. If you know anything about RID Robert, you know he's a great Rotary leader and speaker, and an all-around good guy. So let's show him a little D6970 respect and be there with him for the Rotary E-Club of Northeast Florida's charter night.

And if the foregoing is not quite enough to get you out of the house to attend - consider the food we'll be serving that night which is being prepared by none other than our own Nonie Larson - D6970's caterer extraordinaire! If you've experienced the gourmet feasts at our RLI events, then you know I am not exaggerating.  Enough said - check it out at  http://eclubnefl.clubexpress.com and register to attend. 

What a fast Year! ... but we must bid Pierre his Adieu...

Going out with a Grand Slam!  For Pierre's farewell party, the Jacksonville Suns have offered Pierre the opportunity to throw the first pitch at the Thursday, June 4th game against Montgomery Biscuits.  Game time, 7:05pm, at Bragan Field Baseball Grounds.  Let's get as many Rotarians to maximize this opportunity and have some fun and fellowship while also bidding adieu to Pierre!

Buy tickets with seats in section 110 - that way we can all sit together. More on this great time at next week's meeting.  Let's get all our members to join us to bid our very active and engaged exchange student au revoir in style.

In Case you missed it last week...

Rotary's Interact Club in Action - Fund Raising

Rotary Minute- Week 45


Wow! What a weekend we just had in St. Augustine taking part in the fun and fellowship at our District Conference and Assembly. My heartfelt thanks go out to all Rotarians who attended – and there were a lot of you!  Your energy and engagement were a beneficial boost to all concerned.  And my deepest gratitude goes out to all of the Rotarians who helped plan the event and who lead the sessions.

If you missed this year’s District Conference and Assembly, you really missed out. But if you miss next year’s District Conference and Assembly, then you will really be missing out. We will be going back to Flagler College in St. Augustine again next year. And you know what; it’s only going to get better. So here’s my suggestion if you did not attend this year. Talk to one of your club members who did and ask one simple question: Was it worth it? My bet is the answer will be resounding YES! So be there next year for sure to light up your Rotary battery and have some fun doing it.

Event Reminders:

June 18-21: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) will take place again this year on the University of North Florida’s campus. Each club should sponsor at least one, and preferably two, aspiring high school leaders to attend this life changing event.

June 26-28: Zone 34 Regional Seminar at the Hyatt Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida. All District and Club leaders are encouraged to attend. Look for more details soon on our District website.

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

Yours in service to Rotary,  
      Percy  
District Governor 2014-2015
Rotary International District 6970

Remember, we always need blood!

 

Keep doing those wonderful things you do! Make it a great week!

May 12, 2015

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

Welcome,  Raul Carrasco

 CSX, Director of International Sales

CSX Corporation, together with its subsidiaries based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation's leading transportation suppliers. The company’s rail and intermodal businesses provide rail-based transportation services including traditional rail service and the transport of intermodal containers and trailers.

Overall, the CSX Transportation network encompasses about 21,000 route miles of track in 23 states, the District of Columbia and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Our transportation network serves some of the largest population centers in the nation. Nearly two-thirds of Americans live within CSX’s service territory.

CSX serves major markets in the eastern United States and has access to over 70 ocean, river and lake port terminals along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, the Mississippi River, the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway. The company also has access to Pacific ports through alliances with western railroads.

CSX moves a broad portfolio of products across the country in a way that minimizes the effect on the environment, takes traffic off an already congested highway system, and minimizes fuel consumption and transportation costs.

Rotary's Interact Club in Action - Fund Raising

Last Week's Meeting and Snap Shots...

Jacksonville Armada CEO, Steve Livingstone has a bright outlook for his Team and Jacksonville!

 

Pierre gives us a great presentation on his Home Country - France!

Northeast Florida has their 1st Rotary e-Club

Rotary Minute- Week 44


The future is here! In Weekly Minute #34 I asked if there was an E-Club in your future. Well it’s now official. Sandra Hartley is the charter president of our District’s first E-Club. Its official name is the Rotary E-Club of Northeast Florida. The website is fully operational. Go to: eclubnefl.clubexpress.com

Rotarians in our district can attend E-Club of NE Florida meetings to do their make-ups.  And you are encouraged to join in the conversations with their members.

If you are a visiting Rotarian wishing to make up a meeting with this club, please select the tab in the left menu entitled "Member Signup".  Sign in as a "Visiting Rotarian" to get started. Once in, click "Next" at the bottom of the Member Interest page.

Rotary International requires that visiting Rotarians who plan to use our club for a make-up spend a minimum of 20 minutes in the site. The program portion of the meeting will provide you with the 20 minutes you need.  However, you are invited to visit the entire meeting. A minimum donation of 5.00 is required and must be separate from any additional contribution. To donate more, please go back to the main menu and click on the Donation link.  Make your contribution in the “miscellaneous” category. To receive credit for your visit, please print your $5.00 receipt to give to your club secretary. More information available at District Conference.

Event Reminders:

May 8-10: District Conference and Assembly at the Flagler College campus. Mark your calendar for a weekend of interesting, informative and inspirational sessions, and a lot of fun Rotary fellowship.

June 18-21: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) will take place again this year on the University of North Florida’s campus. Each club should sponsor at least one, and preferably two, aspiring high school leaders to attend this life changing event.

June 26-28: Zone 34 Regional Seminar at the Hyatt Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida. All District and Club leaders are encouraged to attend. Look for more details soon on our District website.

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

Yours in service to Rotary,  
      Percy  
District Governor 2014-2015
Rotary International District 6970

Remember, we always need blood!

 

Keep doing those wonderful things you do! Make it a great week!

May 5, 2015

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

Welcome,  Steve Livingstone

 Jacksonville Armada, President

Steve Livingstone is the president of Jacksonville Armada FC. He came on board as the first employee of Jacksonville’s new professional North American Soccer League team in October 2013 following 17 years of leadership in the National Football League, the last eight of which he spent directing in the areas of business development, sales and marketing for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Prior to immigrating to Jacksonville in 2005 from Scotland, Livingstone was the team president and general manager of the Scottish Claymores in the NFL Europe League.  Steve began his professional sports career in media and journalism, where he was a sportswriter and editor with a number of national media outlets from 1991-1996.

With the Jaguars, Livingstone directed the club’s business development and marketing efforts from 2005-2013, during which he established the Champions Club, a highly successful fan volunteer program which assisted the team in selling and renewing over 10,000 season tickets.

More recently, Livingstone has built the Armada FC front office from scratch and directed the successful brand and competitive launch of the club, which debuted in front of 14,000 against the MLS Philadelphia Union at EverBank Field on February 7, 2015.

An optimistic amateur golfer in rare moments of free time, Steve is married to Jeanine and the couple have two daughters, Erin and Olivia.

Northeast Florida has a new Rotary e-Club

Since Rotary E-Club of Northeast Florida is now official and we are sure our web site is fully operational, Rotarians in our district can attend our club meetings to do their make-ups.  Also, we encourage them to join in the conversations with our members.

Here is the address again:   http://www.eclubnefl.clubexpress.com
Here's the instructions:  These are found on the home page of the club site.

Visiting Rotarians:   If you are a visiting Rotarian wishing to make up a meeting with our club, please select the tab in the left menu entitled "Member Signup".  Sign in as a "Visiting Rotarian" to get you started. Once in, click "Next" at the bottom of the Member Interest page.  This information is for members only.

Rotary International requires that visiting Rotarians who plan to use our club for a make-up spend a minimum of 20 minutes in the site. The program portion of the meeting will provide you with the 20 minutes you need.  However, you are invited to visit the entire meeting.

A minimum donation of 5.00 is required and must be separate from any additional contribution. To donate more, please go back to the main menu and click on the Donation link.  Make your contribution in the Miscellaneous category.   

To receive credit for your visit, please print your $5.00 receipt to give to your club secretary.

Great Job South Jax Rotary!!! 

Chris Bouton recruited 10 donors who registered at today's blood drive, and we collected 9 units of blood (one donor was deferred). She met her goal of 8!!! Congrats and thank you to all donors who gave for saving 27 local lives with their gift of life donations!

Your Rocking Rotarians and Patrick Davies who recieved 42 pints of blood during a liver transplant at Mayo a year and a half ago. Today he GAVE his second pint!!

Remember, we always need blood!

Rotary Minute




Event Reminders:

May 8-10: District Conference and Assembly at the Flagler College campus. Mark your calendar for a weekend of interesting, informative and inspirational sessions, and a lot of fun Rotary fellowship.

June 18-21: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) will take place again this year on the University of North Florida’s campus. Each club should sponsor at least one, and preferably two, aspiring high school leaders to attend this life changing event.

June 26-28: Zone 34 Regional Seminar at the Hyatt Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida. All District and Club leaders are encouraged to attend. Look for more details soon on our District website.
For more on these and all other events in District 6970, please go to www.rotary6970.org.

Yours in service to Rotary,  
      Percy  
District Governor 2014-2015
Rotary International District 6970

Keep doing those wonderful things you do! Make it a great week!