After a very successful season for the “World’s Largest Youth Festival,” the Junior Orange Bowl Committee invited members, friends and sponsors to an installation dinner on Mar. 31, at the Miami Springs Country Club.
Past JOBC president John Admire installed the following officers for the 2009-10 season: Marti Bueso, president; Brian Seits, president-elect; Jim Borgmann, immediate past president; Dallas Brown, vice president; Don Slesnick III, vice president; Charles Knight, treasurer, and Enid Miguez, secretary. Past president Rex Russo then took over the podium to install the newly elected board, two of whom also are past presidents, John Admire and Barbara Waters. Also installed to serve with them on the board were Dr. Randy Groh and Nancy Little.
JOBC secretary and chair of the Queen’s Pageant Committee, Enid Miguez, was announced as the Jim Charlton Member of the Year Award winner with the late Jim Charlton’s widow, Chris, on hand to help present the coveted award.
The Rotary Club of Coral Gables awarded the Martin Hughes 2009 Citizen of the Year Award to David Lawrence Jr. at a luncheon meeting on Apr. 2. Lawrence is a Coral Gables resident and former publisher of The Miami Herald. The Rotary Club’s president-elect-elect, Sally Baumgartner, regaled the crowd with Lawrence’s achievements that are long and impressive, noting that he is a hero to all of the children in South Florida because of, among a long list, his efforts with the Children’s Trust.
RCCG past president Frank Sexton chaired the search for this year’s Coral Gables Citizen of the Year, named for fellow Rotarian the late Martin Hughes, whose widow, Angie, also attended the affair as a guest.
In other Rotary related news, on Saturday, Mar. 28, the Rotaract Club of Coral Gables and its visiting twin club from East Nassau in the Bahamas hosted a Bahamian Festival at the Overtown Youth Center (OYC). Students learned about Bahamian geography and culture, identified the islands of the Bahamas on various maps, and participated in arts and crafts — making Bahamian flags, fish and flowers using national colors. OYC students and the Rotaractors also shared a traditional Bahamian meal — peas ‘n’ rice, curried chicken, and johnny cake.
Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club designed for students or young professionals dedicated to community service, international understanding, leadership training and professional development. The Coral Gables and East Nassau clubs are part of a global network of over 7,000 Rotaract clubs in about 163 countries, and the two signed a twin club agreement in June 2008 pledging joint service and fellowship. Rotaract Coral Gables meets every Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., upstairs at JohnMartin’s, 253 Miracle Mile. The full schedule of events is available at <www.coralgablesrotaract.org >.
Speaking of JohnMartin’s , hundreds gathered there on Friday, Apr. 10, to help them celebrate their 20th Anniversary with 20-cent beers. Congratulations on 20 great years. Until next time, keep making each day count.
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