During a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Key Biscayne, club president Terry Nelson introduced Coral Gables Rotarian Rick Tonkinson as the morning guest speaker.
Despite the early hour, Tonkinson inspired the group with the story of his family’s connection to Rotary. Even before Rick was born, Tonkinson’s family has shared a connection with Rotary after his uncle Richard’s death at age 35 of polio two years before the polio vaccine was discovered. It is a vaccine now distributed throughout the world as part of Rotary’s mission to eradicate polio worldwide. In fact, Tonkinson spoke of his own trip to India to distribute polio vaccine. That trip later resulted in his son’s involvement as an emergency response team member for Shelter Boxes.
Tonkinson, a financial planner, is the incoming vice president of the Coral Gables Club and former president of the Miami Club. He is passionate about giving back to the community and Rotary’s efforts, something the Key Biscayne members certainly appreciated as that club had just completed its annual Arts Festival the previous weekend with numerous members volunteering countless hours.
The Rotary Club of Key Biscayne meets 7:30 a.m. every Friday at the Key Biscayne Yacht Club, 180 Harbor Dr.
