The Junior Orange Bowl Committee (JOBC) gathered at the Miami Springs Country Club in March to inaugurate the 2011-12 board of directors.
The Installation and Awards Banquet, an annual event for the Junior Orange Bowl, serves to welcome individuals, both old and new, to the committee and to acknowledge those who have contributed throughout the year. The gathering welcomed more than 80 attendees including Junior Orange Bowl past presidents, City of Coral Gables officials, the Royal Court Queen and Princesses, event chairs and directors, and a large turnout of officers, board members, and volunteers.
President Brian Seits bestowed three Special Festival Sponsor Awards to the City of Coral Gables, Miami Children’s Hospital, and the Orange Bowl Committee. Executive director Mark Pidal also honored a variety of other festival sponsors with plaques of appreciation for helping make the 2010-11 Junior Orange Bowl Festival a success. Sponsors included the South Florida Writers Association, The Giving Tree, Bacardi, The Floridean, Pitman Photo Supply, WPBT2, Bowl Games of America, Miami Dance Project, Title Sports Drink, Maday Kennedy, and Alberto Romeu.
Several committee chairs then gave presentations to recognize various individuals and groups for their generous efforts and outstanding dedication to the JOBC.
Parade chairman Peter Tolmach awarded plaques to the float winners of the 62nd Junior Orange Bowl Parade. The honors went to: Officer Snook (Best Use of Earth Friendly Design), Team Row (Best Use of Parade Theme), Miami Children’s Hospital (Best Use of Creativity), Bird and Bee Removal (Bank of Coral Gables Best Community Float Grand Prize), Homestead Rodeo Association (Bank of Coral Gables Best Community Float Runner-Up), and WPBT2’s Curious George (Grand Marshal).
Abby Dresnick and Barbara Waters of the tennis committee presented Cathy Nordlund with the Outstanding Volunteer Award. Enid Miguez, Royal Court chair, honored Queen Leia Schwartz and Princesses Valerie Katz and Sloane Rice for their excellent commitment to representing the JOBC as goodwill ambassadors.
One distinctive honor, the James Charlton Outstanding Service Award, was presented by outgoing JOBC president Brian Seits to longtime volunteer, Kate Swain. Swain, who teaches second grade at Coral Gables Preparatory Academy, has been involved with the JOBC for 10 years, volunteering for such events as Sports Ability Games, Scholar Athlete Award, Golf, and Parade.
She also has contributed countless ideas towards the improvement of the Junior Orange Bowl’s reach in the community; one of which is the potential addition of a robotics event. Additionally, she has graciously served on the board of directors as secretary, a role she will continue to hold in the coming year.
Like James Charlton, Swain has dedicated her life to educating children. She has made an impact at various institutions throughout South Florida.
City of Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick, swore in the 2011-12 board members, which included Don Slesnick III (president elect), Robert Bueso (vice president), Peter Tolmach (vice president), Kate Swain (secretary), Nancy Little (treasurer), Brian Seits (immediate past president), Maggie Hill, Clark Jones, Chuck Little, and Enid Miguez (directors). Slesnick also swore in Sam Burritt as a new active member; two new associate members, Carla De Maria and Cecilia Zamora-Stevenson, and new life member Art Rauch.
Mayor Slesnick then swore in Dallas Brown as the 41st Junior Orange Bowl president. Brown replaces Seits, who gave an inspiring parting speech on his term. Brown, who is a current City of Coral Gables facilities superintendent, boasts an impressive 10-year history with the Junior Orange Bowl, acting as chair to events such as the 5K Run, Cross Country, and the Junior Orange Bowl Parade.
His “behind the scenes” volunteer work includes serving on the committee’s board of directors and acting as a liaison between the JOBC and the City of Coral Gables. The mayor concluded by presenting a key to the City of Coral Gables to Seits.
As per tradition, the evening culminated with the ceremonial passing of the gavel from all past presidents in attendance to Brown. Those who participated in the passing of the gavel included Don Slesnick II, John Admire, Jeannett Slesnick, Barbara Waters, J.R. Steinbauer, Linda Brown, Chuck Little, Rex Russo, Corinne Steinbauer, Jim Borgmann, Marti Bueso, and Brian Seits.
The Junior Orange Bowl Festival is possible with the support of the City of Coral Gables, Miami Children’s Hospital, Orange Bowl Committee, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Cultural Affairs Council, Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.
The JOBC Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that serves the community of South Florida and the Youth of the world by providing opportunities for wholesome, competitive and multi-cultural experiences. For more information, call 305-662-1210 or visit the website at www.jrorangebowl.org.
