November 26, 2013

NO MEETING ON NOVEMBER 26, 2013

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 

Membership Update

What a Connected Group!  If you look at the boards at the entrance to the weekly Rotary Luncheon, you may have noticed that about half of the Companies /Organizations have someone's initials or name next to it. This means that one of our fellow Rotarians knows someone at that company who may be a good Rotary candidate.  It is impressive to us that our members are so connected with the broader community that we have possible Rotary candidates at about half of the company names on the board.

As you arrive for lunch each week, please focus your attention on those Companies where we have not yet identified a potential Rotary Candidate. We would love to see a Rotarian's initials next to EVERY COMPANY /ORGANIZATION on the board. Now that would really be a feat! Please give it some thought and fill in the blanks.

Christine Goldsmith. Co-Chair, Membership Committee
Neil McGuinness, Co – Chair, Membership Committee

Salvation Army Bell Ringing

Please sign-up to participate in our annual Salvation Army Bell Ringing event November 27th.  We need to have 3 or 4 people at each time slot.  To volunteer contact Casey Martin at martin2533@bellsouth.net or call him at (904) 273-5379

Family of Rotary

Congratulations!

 Ron, Brycen and Kim Patrick are happy to introduce Matthew and Reid Patrick.

Reid and Matthew Patrick

Matthew Ryan Patrick (5 lbs 9 oz) and Reid Alexander Patrick (5 lbs 12 oz) are identical twins and arrived on November 1^st. Born at 34 weeks, both were in the NICU for a brief stay and are now home and doing wonderfully.

A note from Ron and Kim - As some are aware, in August we rushed to Miami to be informed both boys were classified at Stage 3 of Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome. At the time of the operation, we learned Matthew was on the verge of cardiac arrest and, without medical intervention, Reid would have likely passed away shortly thereafter. Thanks to a brilliant fetal surgeon, lots of bed rest and more overnight hospital stays then you can count on one hand, our TTTS survivors are true miracles. We couldn’t be more thankful to have been given the opportunity to add them to our family.

 Minutarian Update, Week 21

Message from DG Art:

Like all great organizations, Rotary is always training and coaching up our next great group of leaders. Congratulations to District Governor Elect Percy for completing the first phase of Club Presidents Elect training.

To our Veterans, thank you for your service! We thank you not just on Veterans Day, but each and every day.

Many of you will be canceling your meetings next week, due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. We will be giving thanks for many things: families, friends, health, our wonderful country, prosperity, and yes Rotary. Please accept my personal thanks for everything you do. Most of us in Rotary are blessed with a great deal, and we choose to share some of our treasure, our time and our talents with others. For us, Rotary is our service vehicle of choice. A number of clubs and club members will be donating food, spending time serving food at shelters, delivering meals to those home bound and in need, and countless other projects of sharing. Happy Thanksgiving!

December 15th is the Jacksonville Jaguars / Rotary Game Day. 

We are excited about celebrating our ten year anniversary with the Jaguar/Rotary relationship. The Jaguars are going to be making a special announcement game day about all the money this partnership has raised. The Jaguars are committed to making this a win/win relationship for Rotary and the Team.

We need to do our part to keep this relationship going and that means selling tickets. Remember our club gets $15.00 of every ticket purchased through our District Website.

The Jaguars were the first to agree to an arrangement like this with Rotary and got the NFL to approve the sale of tickets to their games allowing us to keep $15.00 of each ticket.  At the time, this had never been done; we need to continue to sell tickets so that we can maintain this unique relationship.  We have raised well over $100,000 while enjoying fellowship at the football games. 

A Suite Jaguar Invitation / Auction  
Owner Shad Khan has given us two seats in the owner's suite to auction off for the December 15th Jaguar/Rotary Game Day! 

Description:

Have the football experience of a lifetime when you and a guest receive tickets for a Jaguars home game experience in the Owners' Suite at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium December 15th, 2014.  Your invitation includes two owners suite tickets, VIP parking pass and two pre-game field passes.  All guests must be 18 years or older. This unique experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that any football fan is sure to love! Surprise a loved one or splurge on yourself. All proceeds will be sent to The Rotary Foundation for the End Polio Campaign in the name of the winning bidder; your contribution will also count towards Paul Harris Fellowships. The Silent Auction begins NOW and ends Midnight, December 6th. Send your bid to cyndecovington@gmail.com , the winning bidder will be contacted on December 7th.

November 19, 2013

Welcome Brent Bolick, Branch President Clear Channel Outdoor

WE MEET AT RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY

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

Meet Brent Bolick

Branch President Clear Channel Outdoor

With a new ordinance before the city council on regulating billboards, it is not only important and fair, but the policy of Rotary to hear both sides of the issues. So this week we have Brent Bolick, Branch President of Clear Channel Outdoor to outline the industry efforts to help the Jacksonville community through Amber Alerts, crime watch notices and providing an inexpensive means for small businesses to advertise.

Brent Block spent 25 years growing up in the Indianapolis area and attended Wabash College, where he graduated in 1991 with a degree in Political Science.  Upon graduation, he became involved in local, state and federal campaigns as a political fundraiser for candidates who were successfully elected to the Indianapolis Mayor’s Office, the United States Senate and the Indiana Secretary of State’s office.
 
In 1994, he joined the City of Indianapolis’ transit authority, IndyGo, as a Community Affairs Manager.  In 1996, he joined Universal Outdoor as an Outdoor Advertising Account Executive and soon after was named the Public Affairs Manager tasked with both local Public Affairs initiatives and management of the IndyGo transit advertising contract.  In 2000, he was promoted to Senior Account Executive and Public Affairs Director by Clear Channel Outdoor (formerly Universal Outdoor and then Eller Media).
 
He has actively served on several community organization Boards including Crimestoppers of Central Indiana, the Indianapolis Humane Society and the Penrod Society.  He served as the Board President of the Indianapolis Humane Society from 2004-2005.  In 2006, he accepted the position of Vice President of Sales for the Jacksonville Division of Clear Channel Outdoor and relocated to the First Coast with his wife Amy and daughters Sophia (now 12) and Olivia (now 7).  While serving as Vice President of Sales in Jacksonville, he was the liaison to the Florida Outdoor Advertising Association (FOAA) regarding public service initiatives for organizations such as FLDE and also acted as a point of contact for both the Justice Coalition and the Salvation Army for various public service initiatives.  

In September of 2010, he was promoted to Branch President of Clear Channel Outdoor in Jacksonville.  He is currently involved with public service initiatives utilizing their recently deployed digital billboard network with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, First Coast Crimestoppers, the FBI, FDLE via the Florida Outdoor Advertising Association, the Duval County Supervisor of Elections, Duval County Emergency Management, the Jacksonville Humane Society, First Coast Homeless Pets, the Sulzbacher Center and the Police Athletic League.
 
Brent is the recipient of the Outstanding Citizen Award by Duval County Sheriff John Rutherford at the Justice Coalition’s 2011 Ted Hire’s Legacy Dinner for contributions made towards public safety via our digital billboard network.  He serves on the Board of Directors for First Coast Crimestoppers and the Jacksonville Humane Society.

Million Dollar Dinner

Foundation Month

November is Foundation month, a time for Endowment support and awareness.   There will be a $1,000,000 dinner this year in the Zone to honor any Rotarians in the Zone that make an outright gift or a bequest of $10,000 or more.  Our Rotary Zone encompasses Georgia, Florida and all of the Caribbean.  It will be held in Sarasota, Florida on February 8th, and of course we are looking forward to our District being represented at the dinner.  The featured speaker will be the President of Rotary International, Ron Burton.  Additionally, the Vice President of Rotary International, Anne Mathews will also be speaking. There will be entertainment and an opportunity to enjoy a very special evening.

When making a bequest or an outright gift, you can control where the money goes. You can designate as part of the gift how you want the funds spent.  Literally, you can give it to polio, to any area of focus, or any of the many other areas in which Rotary is active. This is your opportunity to leave a legacy that coincides with your Rotary passion.

While the aim of a $1,000,000 dinner is to raise a million dollars, that is no longer our goal as we surpassed the number in the first quarter of this Rotary year with $1,129,000 in gifts and bequests.   There are additional gifts already in the pipeline.   Bequest gifts are painless as we are gone, and they do not have any effect on your spouse if set up properly.

The dinner is for new gifts in this 2013-14 Rotary year.   This is new gifts of $10,000 or greater, not new major donors.  Existing major donors can step up to the next level, and attend the dinner as well.

For more information, please go to our website www.Rotaryzone34milliondollardinner.org 
 
Send the completed applications to either Bill Woulfin or Debra Lowe (see the website for applications).

Board News

 The Board of Directors has approved Meredith Porter for your consideration into membership.  Meredith's classification is Finance/Banking-Bank Marketing.  Her sponsor is Stevan Jones.  Anyone having an objection, please submit it in writing to the Board within ten (10) days. 

Gingerbread Project

The Gingerbread project still lives, and serves to put the Historical Society in the black.  Our club has stayed involved, after giving the event birth over 10 years ago.

Your help is needed to set it up on Friday, November 22. One crew will start at 8:00 a.m. to get things ready for the big crew at 8:30 a.m.   With a good size crew the tasks should be completed by 10:00 a.m.

If you have a tape measure, some gloves, and a screw driver/screw gun, you are almost overqualified.  Most of all, we need your hands to set up tables, string extension cords, setup our big lego-like walls, and decorate Christmas trees, among other things.

Please contact Mike Darragh, if you can make it.  Making this event Fun & Fast depends on having a large number of volunteers.   Thank you!

Salvation Army Bell Ringing

Please sign-up to participate in our annual Salvation Army Bell Ringing event November 27th.  We need to have 3 or 4 people at each time slot.  To volunteer contact Casey Martin.  Current volunteers are:            
10-12 am    David Bissell, Chris Bouton       
12-2 pm    Richard Dow,        
2-4 pm    Jerry Hanks, Charles Hyatt       
4-6 pm    Pepe Hill, Flip Gonder       
6-8 pm    Casey Martin, John Callender, Joe Whitaker

Dictionary Project

Sticker Fun!!!

Minutarian Update, Week 20

Food, Fellowship And Fun?
Rotarian Nonie Larson of the Fleming Island Club, and all the clubs of Clay County, have been raising funds this year using area restaurants willing to share an evening of dining for a percentage of revenue to fight polio. The past few months have generated $800.

Manny’s Bistro on November 25th is the next opportunity. For more information, contact any Fleming Island Club member.

Congratulations to the Rotary Club of New Smyrna Beach as they participated in the ‘World’s Biggest Commercial’, in honor of World Polio Day.

Recent Events
•    St. Augustine Rotary: annual fellowship event at the St. Augustine Rod and Gun Club.
•    Deland Rotary: their first Glamour and Gore fundraiser.
•    Gainesville Sunrise: took over a local restaurant and raised funds.
 

All were a great successes.
 

Food, Fellowship And Fun. 

November 12, 2013

WE MEET AT RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY

Lunch begins at noon - Meeting begins at 12:30pm

  Wounded Warrior Project Program

The Wounded Warrior Project is a veterans’ service organization that offers a variety of programs, services and events for wounded veterans of the military actions following the events of 9/11/2001. It operates as a nonprofit organization with a mission to "honor and empower Wounded Warriors" of the United States Armed Forces.

Our Speakers 

 Jeff Robertson, Dean of Students 

After graduating high school in Palm Coast in 2000, Jeff joined the Marine Corps. During his tenure, he was deployed to Turkey for Operation Northern Watch in 2002, and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2005.  After being honorably discharged he attended the University of Florida where he earned a BA in English and a Master’s degree in management. He has served as  the Dean of Students at Wounded Warrior Project since September 12 ^th,   2011.

Chris Rick, Track Manager 

 Chris retired from the Navy, as a Master Chief, after 21 years of service in June 2003. He holds a bachelor of science in business administration degree and is currently enrolled in a graduate program at UNF in nonprofit management. He helped to develop the Wounded Warrior Project TRACK program, when he was hired in July 2008, as the dean of students. He was promoted to TRACK manager in April 2011 

 Our Two Wounded Warrior Guests 
Specialist Bill Schnarr 

Bill served as an Infantryman in the US Army from 12/2009 – 3/2013.  He was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 12/2009 – 12/2010, for which he received the Army Commendation Medal.  He comes from Montgomery City, Missouri. 

PFC Kevin Crowder 

Kevin is a Jacksonville native and retired Artilleryman from the US Army, which he served in from 1/2008 – 10/2012.  He was deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, for which he received the Army Commendation Medal. 

Supporting our Foundation thru Amazon

A simple way to help our club! 

On-line shoppers who use Amazon can designate a (very) small percentage of the proceeds from their purchases to a 501(c)3 of their choice. Simply shop thru smile.amazon.com instead of Amazon; select Rotary Club Of South Jacksonville Charities Inc from a list of charities, and 0.5% of the purchase price will be donated to the Foundation.  It may not seem like much, but the cumulative effect might be considerable, especially with holiday shopping underway.

Interact Minute 

The Wolfson HS Interact Club is up and running.  The club has exploded in numbers and there are more than fifty students who have paid their dues for the year.  They meet twice a month and have an incredible faculty advisor, Gwen Hoza. 

Their first service project is collecting gently worn clothing for the Clara White mission. The project will last the entire month of November. They are planning a winter festival as a fund raiser and will be looking to our club for some volunteer help.

They meet at 2 pm the first and third Monday of each month at Wolfson.  Attending their meetings does constitute a make up!

Minutarian Update, Week 19

 November is Foundation Month. Remember, we can’t do good in the world with the money contributed by our members, until your club sends it in. If you are in need of a Foundation Speaker this month, please go to the District Website, Speakers Bureau Tab.

Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE)

Student interviews - Nov 16th & 17th 

November is also exciting for Youth Exchange. We need your help to interview over 40 candidates for a position in our Outbound roster for the Rotary year 2014-2015. We will be accepting 20-25 students from District 6970. All Rotarians are invited to participate in the student interviews, Saturday & Sunday, November 16, 17. The interviews will be held at St Johns River State College in St. Augustine. For further information, times, and registration information, please check the District website.

We need as many volunteers as we can get. Please be sure that you are there to help us select next years outbound students.

 Volunteers can log onto the www.ryeflorida.org website and sign up for when they can help. 

Once on the site open up District 6970, Under the November 2013 Calendar.. open the link to sign up to volunteer to help us.