South Miami Rotarians are already gearing up for the next club year and have recently elected the following new slate of officers and board: Doreen Reitnauer, president; Raquel Hickey, president-elect; Pansy Graham (current President), vice president; Brett Trembly, secretary; Don Streaker, treasurer; David Jacobs, Sergeant-at-Arms; and board members Fabio Fernandez, Lakitsia Gaines, Asaad Masoud, Mike Mills, Charles Ruiz de Castilla, Britt Steinhardt, Karen Vassell, and Felipe Vidal.
In other news, South Florida welcomes the New Year with a multitude of awesome events. The Orange Bowl Committee has lots of great events in the final planning stages culminating with The Fedex Orange Bowl Game on January 5, Land Shark Stadium. This game is a must for college football fans…those, that is, who are not flying to the Sugar Bowl to watch, with some sadness, UF’s Tim Tebow and the Gators’ most winning group of seniors play their final game as Gators.
Speaking of sad Gators, the President of the Gator Alumni Association and Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, Mark Trowbridge lost a bet on the SEC Championship game with Chamber Chairperson UM’s Sarah Artecona, an Alabama alum. After the Gator’s first loss of the season to Alabama, Mark paid off the bet with a performance at the Chamber’s December meeting wearing Alabama attire and singing the Alabama fight song with Sarah. Even Gators fans found the display hilarious and showed that Gators are truly good sports.
As of this printing, of course, “The U” will be playing in the Champs Sport Bowl in Orlando, on December 29. Let’s hope for a winning outcome for this home team.
The Jr. Orange Bowl Tennis Tournament has completed another fabulous season of exciting tennis and heads turn now to the Jr. Orange Bowl Golf Invitational and the Jr. Orange Bowl Basketball Tournament wrapping up on December 30. Of course, an event that showcases thousands will be the big JOBC Parade in downtown Coral Gables on January 2, 2010. For more information on any of these events, go to jrorangebowl. com or call 305-662-1210.
Further north, at a grand dedication ceremony for the YMCA Village of Allapattah Family Branch, Congresswoman Carrie Meek thanked Miami Rotarian Rick Tonkinson for his $5,000 donation to support the Village. Tonkinson, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), has worked with several families in Allapattah, Miami Gardens, North Miami Opa-locka and South Miami for the past 18 years.
Finally, Hands on Miami is looking for volunteers on Saturday, January 9, 2010, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., to help revitalize and beautify Centro Mater School. This Little Havana institution needs help in transforming the school into a place students and staff can be proud to attend. Willing participants will be asked to paint, add artistic murals, and even create a tricycle trail. Minimum age limit: 6 years old. For more information, send an email to andrea@handsonmiami.org .
Until next week, keep making each day count and have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Gloria Burns is Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Pinecrest, a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization, as well as a columnist for Community Newspapers.
Keeping abreast of community activities is a challenge. If you would like to submit information for this column, please send your news via e-mail to
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