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. 23, at the Miami Springs Country Club. Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick II, a Junior Orange Bowl past president, installed the following individuals for the 2010-11 board of directors: Brian Seits, president; Dallas Brown, president-elect; Marti Bueso, immediate past president; Richard Naue, vice president; Don Slesnick III, vice president; Robert Bueso, treasurer; Kate Swain, secretary; Charles Knight, director; Enid Miguez, director; J.R. Steinbauer, director, and Peter Tolmach, director.
Seits is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, formerly Wachovia, where he has worked for 11 years. Among the highlights of the evening were the presentations by Queen Marilyn Rodriguez and Princesses Madison Nasser and Kamelah Jones, all three of whom addressed the crowd to talk about their experience as part of the 2009-10 Royal Court and having the honor of attending almost every event.
In addition, a very surprised JOBC board vice president and former chair of the Parade Committee, Don Slesnick III, was announced as the Volunteer of the Year Award winner. Don Slesnick III has been a part of the Junior Orange Bowl Committee since 2005 and has been a key figure in the development of some of the most important Junior Orange Bowl programs. Bueso received a standing ovation and was presented with very special gifts from Seits. Bueso’s year as Junior Orange Bowl president was marked by the hands-on implementation of many new strategic ideas and progressive thinking.
The Bank of Coral Gables, sponsor of the Junior Orange Bowl Parade Float- Building Contest, presented the awards to the groups that creatively put together the best two floats seen in the 61st annual parade. There to present the cash awards to the winners was Marela Valladares, senior vice president and branch manager for the Bank of Coral Gables. Among those receiving the awards for Best Community Float were Dalmatian Rescue and the City of Hialeah.
The events and programs hosted by the Junior Orange Bowl Festival would not be possible without the support from sponsors: Miami Children’s Hospital, Miami- Dade County, Orange Bowl Committee and City of Coral Gables. Alberto Romeu Photography donated its services for documenting the special night.
The next event on the Junior Orange Bowl calendar is the Apr. 20 kickoff and theme unveiling, where Seits will reveal the artwork and logo that will carry the theme of the 2010-11 Junior Orange Bowl International Youth Festival.
For more information, contact the Junior Orange Bowl Committee at 305-662-1210 or go online to < www.jrorangebowl.com >.
