Rotarians bring family fun, celebrate ‘Service Above Self’

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South Miami Rotarians will be holding the club’s annual Art Festival, Feb. 21-22.

While the Coconut Grove Art Festival is monstrous, South Miami’s is much easier to negotiate with ongoing music, great art and a delightful family experience.

Branches’ Laurie Kahn, who serves on the South Miami Rotary board and is co-chairing the South Miami Rotary Art Festival, was a recent guest on Gloria’s Gab LIVE.

In other Rotary news, everyone is invited to join the Rotary Foundation of Coral Gables on Feb. 27 at Coral Gables Congregational Church for an amazing concert. The club is celebrating its 80th anniversary with a special performance by internationally acclaimed and award-winning pianists Paul Posnak and Anita Castiglione who are residents of Coral Gables. The pianists’ duo piano performance will include masterpieces for one piano, four-hands, featuring sparkling sonatas by Mozart and Francis Poulenc; the hauntingly beautiful Impressionist Mother Goose Suite by Maurice Ravel; a lyrical row by the great Black American woman composer Florence Price; dazzling Cuban Danzones by Ernesto Lecuona; and George Gershwin’s brilliant, swinging Cuban Overture.

Tickets, at $75 per person, include a reception in the Fellowship Hall with wine and appetizers at 6:30 p.m. before the show at 7:30 p.m. Sponsorships with preferred seating and program recognition are available.

Proceeds will benefit the many charitable organizations supported by the Rotary Foundation of Coral Gables including such notables as Shake-A-Leg, Coral Gables Woman’s Club’s Children’s Dental Clinic, Alfalit, and Military Veterans programs. This performance promises to be one you will not want to miss.

In other South Florida Rotary news, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, the Rotary Club of Pinecrest will hold a fundraiser to support Pediatric Oncology patients and their families with its Taste of Pinecrest. More than 15 area restaurants will offer samples of their favorite dishes.
Additionally, local businesses have provided gift cards and items for a raffle and a silent auction. The fun will begin at 6 p.m. and wrap up by 9 p.m.

Finally, the young adult and youth ministries at Our Lady of Lebanon were on constant call at the church’s Annual Lebanese Festival. Hundreds of children and young adults volunteered and participated in the performances with professional entertainment added to the mix. It was a weekend of fellowship, fun, food, music, dancing including a fire show and more.

Among the organizers of this amazing festival were event co-chair, Norma Jean Abraham and vice president of the Maronite Young Adults Christopher Abi Daoud, who were guests on my show recently to share ways this annual activity brings everyone in the congregation together to support their community outreach and mission.

Check out these coming events:
Now through Apr. 30 – Pharaoh Immersive Experience presented by South Florida PBS; for information visit www.southfloridapbs.org
Now through June 30 – The Titanic Immersive Experience presented by South Florida PBS; for info visit www.southfloridapbs.org
Feb. 21-22 – 40th annual SOMI Rotary Art Festival, Sunset Drive in Downtown South Miami; Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; music and dancing, free admission
Feb. 25 – Pinecrest Rotary “Taste of Pinecrest” with 15 restaurants serving samples, from 6 to 9 p.m., at Evelyn Greer Park, to benefit pediatric cancer patients. Ticket price is $50, visit https://shorturl.at/WAIwo
Feb. 27 – Rotary Club of Coral Gables Piano Concert to benefit the club’s international outreach, Coral Gables Congregational Church, 6:30 p.m. reception, 7:30 p.m. concert; tickets are $75 per person, RSVP to rotarycoralgables@gmail.com
Feb. 28 – 135th anniversary Gala for Coconut Grove Woman’s Club, 6 p.m. cocktails, 7 p.m. dinner and program
Mar. 7 – The Villagers Garden Tour, check in at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 11295 SW 57 Ave., Pinecrest; Boutique is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with Rita’s pop up cafe
Mar. 7 – Miami Children’s Museum “Be A Kid Again” Gala
Mar. 13 – The Women’ Fund Power of the Purse Luncheon, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Jungle Island, info@womensfundmiami.org
Apr. 8 – American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, 8 p.m., at St. Thomas University.
May 9 – Coral Gables Woman’s Club’s Mothers Day Tea, 1009 E. Ponce de Leon Blvd.; visit www.coralgableswomansclub.org

In closing, remember to count your blessings, share a kind word and a smile, and make a difference.

 

 

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A graduate of the University of Florida with a major in Spanish, Burns has an extensive background in advertising, marketing and reciprocal trade, travel , non profit consulting and management. Before joining Miami's Community Newspapers as a columnist and marketing specialist, Gloria was the Executive Director of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee (6 yrs.) and first Executive Director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation (14 yrs.) and the Pinecrest Community Foundation (1 ½ yrs) . Burns' volunteer activities led her to become a columnist for Community Newspapers writing Gloria’s Gab, that focuses on the non-profit activity, and a host of an online show, Gloria's Gab LIVE. Gloria serves the board of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables as Civic and Charity Chair, and is involved in the club's International Committee. She is an active Life Member of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee and is Secretary of the Merrick Festival. She serves on the board of directors of the Coral Gables Woman' Club as Publicity Chair and also coordinates the club's monthly fundraiser for various charities with Gringo Bingo at Clutch Burger. In addition, Gloria participates in numerous other charitable events and is a member of the Business Forum Group, Profit Inc., the Greater Miami Festival & Events Association and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. In other volunteer activity, Gloria helps Miami Christian School with fund-raising and PR; is an Ambassador and volunteers for events for A Safe Haven for Newborns. She is an active member of the Music Ministry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church where she enjoys singing in the choir every weekend.