April 27, 2017 Naples Gulf Shore Sunset Rotary Club Meeting

On Thursday evening, April 27, 2017, President Elect Jim Juliano led the  invocation and pledge. Sgt-at- Arms elect Olga Schultz collected happy bucks. President Elect, Jim Juliano introduced our speakers; Amy Lane, Director of Development Major Gifts for the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Naples  and Dr. Candace Ellis one of Bascom Palmer’s Naples  based  optometrists. They gave slide show presentations on who BPEI is and  what their specialties areas are. Bascom Palmer is a world class eye  research based organization, ranked  #1 in Ophthalmology based on reputation, by US News and World Report 15 times since 1990. They are  affiliated  with the University of Miami University and have 5 Florida locations. They have  been in Naples since 2001 at the request of NCH, to serve patient needs in the Naples community. The 21,00 sq-ft vision care and ambulatory surgical center is located on Rt 41 in Naples. BPEI  partnered  with the  Naples Children Education Foundation ( Wine Festival of Naples) to screen  20,000 Collier County children last year  for eye disorders  and treated  100 with challenging eye  disorders beyond just needing glasses. Some of their other world class services  include, the world’s first orbital vision research center in Miami to  find novel treatments for orbital disease,  the world’s  first center  dedicated to pediatric glaucoma helping young children see, and The Florida Lions eye bank that provides human corneas and other eye tissues to patients  needing transplant surgery. BPEI does not advertise, is privately funded  by donations, and will hold two fundraising events . A "For Your Eyes for Only" luncheon for women” in October 2017 and a gala reception at their Naples HQ in January 2018.

Mark your calendars, unless otherwise stated, all meetings are at the Hyatt House Hotel Naples

Wed morning May 3, 7:30 AM: Newborns in Need- Liane Sanson -  Founder

Wed morning May10, 7:30 AM: Collier County Sheriff’s Dept- Sgt Leslie Weidenhammer , mental health unit coordinator

Friday evening May 12, 530 PM :RI Atlanta convention meeting- Home of of Robbie Selby

Thursday evening May 18,6:00PM: Co Founding member Bob Hatter

Thursday evening May 25,6:00PM: Co Founding member George Leamon

Saturday morning, June 3: Paintball Tournament- In the Estates

Click here to check out our blog site: http://www.naplesgulfshorsunsetrotary.club/  which is managed by Co founding member Marcus Zillman who attended last evening- Welcome back Marcus

April 20, 2017 Naples Gulf Shore Sunset Rotary Club Meeting

On Thursday Evening, April 21, 2017, Kristen Petry led the Club in a beautiful invocation and the pledge.. Sgt. At Arms, Robbie Selby, collected happy bucks.  Robbie updated us on the Rotary Convention in June and Jon Titus updated us on the June 3rd Paintball Tournament.  Please ask your friends and contacts for sponsorships, teams and gift certificates.  More detailed info on the Tournament will be forthcoming soon.

President, Rob Samouce then introduced our speaker, Juliana Meek, Regent of Naples-on-the-Gulf Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).  The Naples Chapter has evening meetings and around 35 members. DAR is a non-profit social society that does lots of charity work including providing scholarships for girls.  To be able to be a member, a woman has to be an ancestor of someone who fought, or who assisted in the fight, of the American Revolution against the British.  The Chapter can help prospective members find out if their ancestry qualifies for membership and apparently more people qualify than one may think because of all of the generations that have passed since the Revolutionary War.  It looks like two of our members would probably qualify.  There is also Sons of the  American Revolution for men and Children of the American Revolution for kids. Juliana was a member of Everglades Society, Children of the American Revolution when she was a child and previously served as Chapter Regent for two years  at the Arlington House Chapter at the DAR headquarters at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C.

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

Thurs. Evening Apr 27, 6:00 p.m.:  Miami Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Wed. Morning May 5 7:30 a.m.:  Newborns in Need

Wed. Morning May 10 7:30 a.m.:  Collier County Sheriff’s Department

Thurs. Evening May 18, 6:00 p.m.:  Co-Founding Club Member Bob Hattemer

Thurs. Evening May 25, 6:00 p.m.:  Co-Founding Club Member George Leamon

Saturday Morning, June 3:  Paintball Tournament- In the Estates

April 12, 2017 Naples Gulf Shore Sunset Rotary Meeting

On Wednesday Morning,  April 12th, 2017, Olga Schultz led the Club in the invocation (in Russian) and the pledge (in English). Sgt. At Arms Robbie Selby collected happy bucks.  Sandy Harter then let us know about a thank you e-mail from the Director of the Centre of Hope in Guatemala, Geoff Doppenberg, for the $2,000 our club donated to the Centre that was much needed and spent on Windows for the School and for Therapy Equipment.  Jon Titus then updated us on the 6/3/17 Club Paint Ball Tournament we will be having. Please ask your friends and contacts for sponsorships, teams and gift certificates.  More detailed info on the Tournament will be forthcoming soon.

Robbie then introduced our guest speaker and her friend, Linda Wallace, Chapter Leader of the Southwest Florida Chapter of The Compassionate Friends (TCF). TCF is a non-denominational nationwide organization for people who have lost a child, sibling, or grandchild of any age under any circumstances. Susan Shaw, TCF member also joined us.  The members, from all walks of life and ages, meet a few times a month at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church and the YMCA.  The main mission of TCF is to support the family members of children, brothers, sisters and grandchildren who have passed with their grieving. 

If you, or someone you know, has lost a child, sibling or grandchild you may want contact TCF or share TCF with them.  For more info go to:  https://www.compassionatefriends.org/wcl-service/the-compassionate-friends-southwest-florida-chapter/

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

Thurs. Evening Apr 20, 6:00 p.m.:  Daughters of the American Revolution

Thurs. Evening Apr 27, 6:00 p.m.:  Miami Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Wed. Morning May 5 7:30 a.m.:  Newborns in Need

Wed. Morning May 10 7:30 a.m.:  Collier County Sheriff’s Department

Thurs. Evening May 18, 6:00 p.m.:  Co-Founding Club Member Bob Hattemer

April 5, 2017 Naples Gulf Shore Sunset Rotary Meeting

On Wednesday Morning,  April 5th, 2017, President Rob Samouce led the Club in the invocation and the pledge. Sgt. At Arms Robbie Selby gave us a recap of last week’s Boccie Social at Wyndemere in honor of founding Club member Bob Hattemer.  Fun was had by all and the Wyndemere staff turned us into Boccie experts and they were very accommodating.  Rob then reminded us that we have a few American Flags left for sale (only $25) and he distributed the awesome Stowe Vermont Maple Syrup to those in attendance (at least 2 bottles each per member-only $15 each bottle).  Let Rob know if you need a Flag or more Syrup.  The British Invasion District conference in Sarasota is coming up end of May and then early June many from the Club will be going to the National Rotary Convention in Atlanta.  Robbie announced that at some point there will be a special meeting of those going to Atlanta to go over last minute details and what we will be doing.  Paintball is still set for June 3^rd.  Robbie then collected happy buck.

Rob then introduced our guest speaker Meredith Chase, Director of Development from Youth Haven.  Youth Haven is over 45 years old in Naples and houses children and youth from age 6 to 18 as an emergency type halfway house for the kids before they are assigned to a foster home or similar facility.  The average stay there is over 100 days now. Youth Haven has two cottages (girls and boys), 51 beds and is always full.  They are building a third cottage for 16 additional beds.  The facility is manned by around 60 staff members 24 hours a day so the kids are being well taken care of during their crisis time of need.  They can always use volunteers and donations.  They are having their 30^th annual golf tournament on May 8th.  Go to www.youthhavenswfl.org for more info.

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

Wed. Morning Apr 12 7:30 a.m.:  Compassionate Friends

Thurs. Evening Apr 20, 6:00 p.m.:  Daughters of the American Revolution

Thurs. Evening Apr 27, 6:00 p.m.:  Miami Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Wed. Morning May 5 7:30 a.m.:  Newborns in Need

Wed. Morning May 10 7:30 a.m.:  Collier County Sheriff’s Department