South Miami Rotary has moved its lunch meetings to the Elks Club in South Miami at 6304 SW 78 Avenue. They have also taken advantage of the new venue to hold happy hours and on September 17, gathered enjoying Dixieland Jazz night there with fellow Rotarians.
Among the many attending this music filled evening were Rotarians from South Miami and other clubs including Jeff McNabb, Zilkia-Maria Denis, and Maria and Michael Kesti, to mention a few.
This active Rotary Club will be starting a new outreach program distributing dinners to the children being assisted bu the South Miami Branches program though Mia Corradino, the club’s Community Service Chair, and Laurie Kahn, who serves on the board and is Co-Chairing the South Miami Rotary Art Festival. The Rotary Club of South Miami meets the 1st, 2nd, and the Tuesday of each month and visiting Rotarians are always welcomed. Lunch is $21.
In other news, an impressive Veterans Outreach event, sponsored by Senator Manny Diaz, Jr. , from District 36, was held on September 13, drawing hundreds of veterans who enjoyed food, music, goodie bags and an opportunity to learn from the more than over 67 Federal, State and local agencies and organizations participating such as the Social Security Administration, Veterans Hospital, Florida Department of Children and Families, United States Housing and Urban Development, Home Financing Center, and the GFWC Coral Gables Women’s Club there with information on their free Children’s Dental Clinic, to name a few. The agencies also included Universities, Colleges, Banking, Support services such as Fishing with America’s Finest. This day long event was orchestrated by Judith Ruiz, Legislative Assistant/Chief of Staff to Senator Manny Diaz, Jr., and included an inspirational video and program that left many in the crowd with goose bumps.
Among those attending included Florida Lt. Governor Jeanette Nunez; Captain Danny Burgess, Director of the Florida Veterans Affairs; Florida Senator Tom Wright, Chair of the Florida Military Affairs Committee; Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart; State Representative Brian Avila who just return from the National Guard Reserve; and Senator Rene Garcia. The event was held at the Milander Center for Arts & Entertainment in Hialeah whose Mayor Carlos Hernandez graciously offered the lovely venue.
In other club news, the Alzheimer’s Walk, to be held November 16th at Museum Park, was the beneficiary of the Coral Gables Woman’s Club’s September 10th Gringo Bingo fundraiser hosted by Clutch Burger bringing in more than $1,100.00 for the Walk. The monthly event is always a party scene with music by DJ German and emceed Clutch owner Steven Bradley; however, this time it was an even bigger party than usual because it was attorney Lillian Ser’s birthday. Lillian, who lost her mother to Alzheimer’s, took advantage of the event to support the Alzheimer’s Association and celebrate her birthday taking most all the seats for her crowd of friends. It was the first time ever there was dancing at a bingo game but with Germain’s music it could not be helped. Next up on October 1, Gringo Bingo will benefit the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bells Run in December. Look for more fun as that is also the birthday of DJ Germain who has, like Steven Bradley, donated his services every month to support the CGWC’s charitable causes.
Until next time, keep making each day count.
