January 26, 2017 Naples Gulf Shore Sunset Rotary Meeting

On Thursday evening, January 26, 2017, Kevin Hutchison led the club in the invocation and pledge. Sgt. At Arms, Robbie Selby, then followed with happy bucks,  visitor introductions and announcements about our upcoming Social event at Wyndemere in March and the Atlanta trip in June to attend the RI  convention. Activities and logistics to the convention are being planned by Robbie and Anne Towers.

A visiting Rotarian form Switzerland, Arthur Bowliger and  his  business partner Thorp Freemen a former  Rotarian from Vermont, summarized Rotary activities  at the 100+ member NewGand Club.

President Elect, Jim Juliano, introduced Guest Speaker Aimee Schlehr,  CEO /Executive  Director of the Naples ART Association, who spoke about her vision to strengthen NAA’s roots in the  community: to  continue supporting  and promoting artists and to inspire new audiences ( particular  focus on  young  children  in Naples  schools) to discover and create art. She then introduced Amy Kessler ,Volunteer Services  Manager at NAA,  who described the upcoming sponsored ART exhibits NAA will  sponsor in February (Cambier Park)  and  March (5th Ave). Amy  mentioned the need  for  volunteer help to  manage  donation collection points, and asked if anyone might be interested.

Mark your calendars, unless otherwise stated, all our meetings are at Hyatt House Naples.

Wed. Morning Feb 1, 7:30 a.m.:  Collier County Chief Hearing Examiner Speaker

Wed. Morning Feb 8, 7:30 a.m.:  Polio Plus Speaker

Thurs. Evening Feb 16, 6:00 p.m.:  CCCR Speaker

Thurs. Evening Feb 23, 6:00 p.m.:  Love a Child Speaker

January 19, 2017 Naples Gulf Shore Sunset Rotary Meeting

On Thursday Evening, January 19th, 2017 Ryan Benson lead us in the invocation and pledge followed by happy bucks, visitor introductions and announcements by President Rob Samouce. Rob then introduced our guest speaker, Teresa Shaw, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County.  She was also joined by Boys & Girls Club Board Members Jose Baez and Jim Kemp (picture attached).  Teresa Shaw, originally hailing from Virginia and North Carolina gave an excellent presentation about the local Boys & Girl Club located on Davis Blvd.; and now with a campus in Immokalee. The local Club serve more than 3,000 youth age 6 to 18 after school and in the Summer.  The Club’s vision is to “provide a work-class Club experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters their doors, with all members on tract to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle.”  Their 5 core program areas are: education & career development; the arts; sports, fitness & recreation; character & leadership development; and health & life skills. 

January 11, 2017 Naples Gulf Shore Sunset Rotary Club Meeting

On  Wednesday Morning, January 11th, 2017 we had our second meeting of the New Year.  Kevin Hutchinson lead us in the invocation and pledge followed by happy bucks and visitor introductions by Sgt. at Arms, Robbie Selby.  President, Rob Samouce, then gave an update on searching for a new venue for our annual Paint Ball tournament and Robbie discussed our next Social at the end of March and preliminary club plans for the International Rotary Convention in Atlanta in June.

Rob then introduced our guest speaker, Greg Turchetta, Executive Director of Communications and Community Engagement for the Collier County Public Schools (CCPS).  Greg and his team is responsible for district-wide communication with 45,000 students, parents and 7,5000 employees (largest employer in Collier County).  Prior to working with CCPS, Greg had an award-winning 21 year news career as a News Director in Fort Myers, Atlanta, Orlando, Seattle, and Austin.  He was Executive Producer & Assistant News Director here in Southwest Florida for NBC2 and ABC7. 

Mr. Turchetta presented a well-made video showing all the facets of CCPS and then a power point presentation of facts and trends in the local School System.  In the last 10 years the school district has morphed from a majority white student population to a majority Hispanic student population and at the same time has grown 14 percentage points in its graduation rate to now graduating 82% of the CCPS Students! Achievement programs such as Cambridge and Advance Placement has grown significantly and high school students are introduced to College Programs at FGCU and area Technical Schools. The takeaway from the presentation is that we in Collier County have one of the best Public School Systems in the State of Florida that keeps getting better every year.  We should all be very proud of our Collier County Public Schools.

Mark your calendars, unless otherwise stated, all our meetings are at Hyatt House Naples.

Thurs. Evening Jan 19, 6:00 p.m.:  Boys and Girls Club Speaker

Thurs. Evening Jan. 26, 6:00 p.m.: Naples Art Association Speaker

Wed. Morning Feb 1, 7:30 a.m.:  Collier County Hearing Examiner Speaker

Wed. Morning Feb 8, 7:30 a.m.:  Polio Plus Speaker

January 4, 2017 Naples Gulf Shore Sunset Rotary Club Meeting

On  Wednesday Morning, January 4, 2017 we had our first meeting of the New Year.  Melvin Drury lead us in the invocation and pledge followed by happy bucks and visitor introductions by Sgt. at Arms, Robbie Selby. President, Rob Samouce, then inducted into the Club our first new Member of the year, Brian Willett, with his sponsor Melvin Drury.  Brian is VP of Operations of Dale Carnegie Training recently relocated from Kentucky and is married to his lovely wife Jennifer. Please welcome Brian.

Our guest speaker, Mike Dalby, CEO of the Naples Chamber of Commerce told us all about the Chamber.  It has over 1,600 members promoting smart business growth in Collier County.  Mr. Dalby has been CEO of Chambers of Commerce for the last 23 years after a career in the Air Force.  He worked with chambers in Utah, New Mexico, Texas, Indiana and Ohio and grew up in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Mike went over the networking advantages of being a member of the Chamber and gave an overview of all the things the Chamber does in promoting future leaders in the Community.  He then discussed the challenges of providing housing for workers in the Naples Area which is needed to keep up with the expected explosive growth as having workers commute from Lee County is not a lasting solution.     

Mark your calendars, unless otherwise stated, all our meetings are at Hyatt House Naples.

Wed. Morning Jan 11, 7:30 a.m.:  Collier County Public Schools Speaker

Thurs. Evening Jan 19, 6:30 p.m.:  Boys and Girls Club Speaker

Thurs. Evening Jan. 26, 6:00 p.m.: Naples Art Association Speaker