Stanford Band & Rotarians Welcome 2011

By Gloria Burns….

JOBC Executive Director Mark Pidal and Coral Gables BID Executive Director Mari Gallet with friends at King Mango Strut Parade on December 26.

King Mango Strut, the crazy-funny-Coconut Grove annual parade, came early this year with participants showing up the day after Christmas for the marching rivalry that always surrounds this event. (Key to participation: spoofing almost anything and everything!). Activities started up at the corner of Commodore Plaza and Main Highway with Grand Master C. Buzz Fleischman of WLRN ‘South Florida Arts Beat’ Radio Buzz hosting a Little Miss Mango Pageant for kids five-to12, winning contestants riding on the first parade float before thousands lining Grove streets, including such notables as Coral Gables BID Executive Director Mari Gallet & Hubby, and JOBC Executive Director Mark Pidal with girlfriend, Yvette. Mangos were in abundance, of course, with even the BP Gulf oil disaster ridiculed by this lively bunch.

A myriad of parties and fundraisers opens New Year’s with the Junior Orange Bowl Committee wrapping up their internationally- acclaimed tennis tournament and golf invitational. Held for the first time a year ago, a parade on January 2 again featured local bands including South Miami Senior High School as well as out-of-staters, headed by the Stanford University Marching Band, here for the Discover Orange Bowl Game on January 3 at Sun Life Stadium.

GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club begins the year preparing for its annual Casino Night fundraiser at their clubhouse, 1009 East Ponce de Leon Blvd. in the Gables, set for February 5, 2011. Keeping prices low in consideration of the economy, tickets are only $30 per person with a cash bar, perhaps the best deal in town as fundraisers go with lots of entertainment, gaming, silent auction and great food. Best of all, the event benefits the Club’s free children’s dental clinic helping youngsters throughout Miami-Dade who need dental care they could not otherwise afford after falling through cracks in the welfare system. Sponsorships are still available as well as tickets to the event, call Pam at 305 667-1722 for details.

A Wine Tasting and Auction combination Thursday, February 17, benefits the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), set for 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Villa Woodbine, 2167 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove. Wines from Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe are the feature with catering by Bill Hansen Catering. Tickets are $75. For info, sponsorships or tickets, contact Alice Horn at 888- 896-7776 or e-mail southflorida@nfte.com.

In other organization events, South Miami Rotarians and others from District 6990 are invited to Rotary Night on January 15 with the Panthers at Bank Atlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale. The hockey game starts at 7 p.m. but Rotarians start at 5 p.m. with $50 tickets providing Coach Club access and its all-inclusive buffet and bar, plus a Hockey 101 Discussion, arena our and parking! If not a Rotarian and you want to attend, contact a South Miami Rotarian to join the fun while local Rotarians may contact Christine Lindfield at lindfield@bellsouth.net or tel. 954-782-0357.

Until next time, keep making each day count.

If you would like to submit information for this column, please send your news via email to gloriagalburns@aol.com.


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A graduate of the University of Florida with a major in Spanish, Burns has an extensive background in advertising, marketing and reciprocal trade, travel , non profit consulting and management. Before joining Miami's Community Newspapers as a columnist and marketing specialist, Gloria was the Executive Director of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee (6 yrs.) and first Executive Director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation (14 yrs.) and the Pinecrest Community Foundation (1 ½ yrs) . Burns' volunteer activities led her to become a columnist for Community Newspapers writing Gloria’s Gab, that focuses on the non-profit activity, and a host of an online show, Gloria's Gab LIVE. Gloria serves the board of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables as Civic and Charity Chair, and is involved in the club's International Committee. She is an active Life Member of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee and is Secretary of the Merrick Festival. She serves on the board of directors of the Coral Gables Woman' Club as Publicity Chair and also coordinates the club's monthly fundraiser for various charities with Gringo Bingo at Clutch Burger. In addition, Gloria participates in numerous other charitable events and is a member of the Business Forum Group, Profit Inc., the Greater Miami Festival & Events Association and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. In other volunteer activity, Gloria helps Miami Christian School with fund-raising and PR; is an Ambassador and volunteers for events for A Safe Haven for Newborns. She is an active member of the Music Ministry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church where she enjoys singing in the choir every weekend.