The Rotary Club of Miami, a club that sponsored the Rotary Club of Coral Gables decades ago, will be celebrating its 100th anniversary with a “Century of Service” Gala on Saturday, Mar. 25, at the Rusty Pelican Restaurant, 3201 Rickenbacker Causeway.
CBS 4 News anchor Eliott Rodriguez will serve as emcee for this night of nostalgia and fun. Adding the an already great program will be The Chase Band to cap off a great night of dining, dancing and fellowship.
Robin Shelly, past president and past district governor, with his wife and fellow Rotarian, Susan, are chairing the event along with club president Oliver Ruiz and his wife, Lissette.
Among the many sponsors supporting the event include the University of Miami, Goldsmith Family Foundation, FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Rick and Margarita Tonkinson, Malloy & Malloy PL, Sabadell United Bank, Shutts & Bowen LLP, and Lubitz Financial Group.
Expect a large crowd from other Rotary International District 6990 clubs to share this momentous event, including many Coral Gables Rotarians. For tickets and/or sponsorship, please visit the gala site at www.centuryofservice.org.
The Junior Orange Bowl’s annual gala took place at the East Hotel on Mar. 18 and was sold out. No surprise since the “Mad Hatter Gala” honored Bacardi, Barbara and Don Waters, and the Orange Bowl. All three honorees this year have played a significant role in the success of the Junior Orange Bowl as well as having an enormous impact on our community as a whole.
Another event coming up on Mar. 25 will be a fashion show/luncheon, the Gilded Lilies “Lilies Light Up Lives Luncheon.” Guests will be treated to a fashion show by Chico’s as well as a silent and live auction. Proceeds will benefit Easter Seals of South Florida.
Easter Seals provides services so that children and adults living with autism, Alzheimer’s and other disabilities can live, play, learn and work in their communities. Tickets are $50 per person. Cocktails and registration begin at 11 a.m., with lunch at noon. For reservations or information, call Shelley Daniel-Rutherford at 786-412-6334.
In other Rotary news, former Florida governor and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham spoke to the Coral Gables Club on Mar. 2. The Rotary Club of Miami also joined the Gables Club for that special meeting at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables.
Sen. Graham always captures the audience of 100 or so members with his stories about early Miami, his family history and, of course, some political insights. This meeting was no exception.
Among the many enjoying the meeting were Coral Gables Club president Steven Spann, Miami Club president Oliver Ruiz, Coral Gables Commissioner Jeannett Slesnick, Ron Gerstl, Bruce Kerestes, Reza Ray, Owen Freed, Robin and Susan Shelly, Dan Scipione, Dick Golden, Greg Martini, Bill Quesenberry, Carol Brock, Yolanda Woodbridge, Sally Baumgartner- Goodman, and Jack Witty.
Attention all nonprofits, the Hotel Colonnade’s “Scoops of Hope” Breakfast is scheduled for Wednesday, July 26. Tickets will be available soon to sell on consignment. Each participating charity gets to keep 50 percent of the amount collected and Give Kids the World gets the other 50 percent, because the Hotel Colonnade completely underwrites the amazing full American breakfast with ice cream for dessert.
Non profits wanting to participate as well as vendors wanting to reserve a limited number of table spaces for $150 each, may call Gloria at 305-284-7379.
Until next time, keep making each day count.
