June 29, 2017 Naples Gulf Shore Sunset Rotary Meeting

On Thursday, June 29th Past-President Rob Samouce gave the invocation and pledge.  Past Sgt. At Arms Robbie Selby then collected happy bucks.  Rob then introduced our guest speaker, Mick Moore of the North Naples Rotary Club.  Mick, owner and proprietor of the very excellent Turtle Club gave a great presentation on the Tanzanian Water Project that our club contributed $5,000 to this last Rotary Year.  The 100K plus project involved matching grants from District, RI and 5 Clubs in Maine in addition to North Naples and our Club participation.  The project involves solar powered water wells and distribution lines in rural Tanzania and will bring clean water to around 500 families along a back road in the Tanzania outback. The project should be completed and up and running by the end of this year and then a phase II costing around 35K is contemplated to extend the distribution lines to serve more needed.

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

No Meeting July 5th

Wednesday Morning July 12th, 7:30 a.m.:  TBD

Thurs. Evening July 20th, 6:00 p.m.:  Club Assembly

Thurs. Evening July 27th, 6:00 p.m.:  TBD

June 22, 2017 Naples Gulf Shore Sunset Rotary Club Installation of New 2017-2018 Officers Dinner

On Thursday, June 22^nd we had our changing of the guard installation dinner at Cooper’s Hawk.  In attendance were about 25 members/spouses/significant others and our new Assistant District Governor for Area 1, Julie Pedretti.  Walter Douglas led us in the invocation and pledge. President Rob Samouce gave a recap of our last Rotary Year wherein we raised over 21 thousand dollars from the Winewalk, Flag and Maple Syrup Sales and the Paintball Tournament.  We donated the monies to 8 deserving causes: Collier County Community Resources, Blessings in a Backpack, Young Life, Guatemala School of Hope, Shelter Box, Tanzania Water Project, Polio Plus, and the Rotary Foundation.

Rob thanked last year’s directors for their service to the club and then awarded New Rotary Member of the year to Olga Schultz, Board Member of the Year to Jon Titus and Rotarian of the Year to Robbie Selby.

Rob then gave the oath of office to new Club President, Jim Juliano. Jim then swore in his new Board, Officers and Committee Chairs. The new Board is:  Dough Haughey, John Paul, Gabby Marvin, Jon Titus, Bill Towers, Olga Schultz (Sgt. At Arms), Mikael Groendahl (Secretary), Jim Davidson (Treasurer), Rob Samouce (Past-President) and Mel Drury (President-Elect). Social and membership co-committee chairs are Anne Towers and Robbie Selby. Thanks to all for stepping up to the plate.

Jim then told us of RI emphasis for the new year including, new member participation, member engagement, and increase fundraising. Please let Jim know we all have his back to make this new Rotary Year an excellent one.

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

Thurs. Evening June 29, 6:00 p.m.:  Tanzanian Water Project

No Meeting July 5th

Wednesday Morning July 12th, 7:30 a.m.:  TBD

Thurs. Evening July 20th, 6:00 p.m.:  Club Assembly

2017 Rotary International Convention

On Saturday, a total of 12 of us (Club Members and Spouses/Significant Others) flew to Atlanta for this year’s International Rotary Convention to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the RI Foundation along with around 40,000 others in the Rotary Family.  The Rotary Foundation’s first contribution was $26.50 in 1917 and has since contributed over 3.4 Billion Dollars to needy around the world.

We were serenaded in Centennial Park by country singer Ricky Skaggs, we listened to Bill Gates pledge $450 Million Matching Dollars to finally wipe out Polio in the next 3 years which will cost an estimated $1.5 Billion (only 5 reported cases so far this year!), we heard about what Ashton Kutcher and others are doing to stop human slavery worldwide, we found out from Coca Cola’s CEO how it is keeping up with world changes,  we were mesmerized by Ambassador, Andrew Young’s review of the history of Atlanta and we saw Jack Nicholas say that Golf is “just a game” but taking care of family and helping others is what is really important.  

Everyone in the group attended lots of break-out sessions and meet new friends from all over the world in the House of Friendship.  We will have to share our Convention Rotary Moments with the other club members.

Changing of the changing of the guard dinner is coming up on Thursday evening,  June 22^nd at Coopers Hawk.  If you have not done so yet, please e-mail Jim ASAP and let him know if you will be at the dinner and who will be joining you: jdud99@yahoo.com. 

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

Thurs. Evening June 22, 6:00 p.m.:  Changing of the Guard Dinner- Coopers Hawk

Thurs. Evening June 29, 6:00 p.m.:  Tanzanian Water Project

June 7, 2017 Naples Gulf Shore Sunset Rotary Meeting

On Wednesday Morning, June 7, 2017, Sgt. At Arms, Robbie Selby led the Club in an inspiring invocation and the pledge. Robbie then collected happy bucks.  Mel Drury gave us a wrap up of the Paintball Tournament where we netted over $4K for our Foundation charities. Fun was had by all-the Roofcrafter’s team came from behind to win the paintball tourney and the team of Kim Davidson/Jon Kukk won the corn hole tourney.  President, Rob Samouce and Robbie mentioned the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta coming up starting Saturday wherein we have about 14 club related folks going and Rob and President-Elect Jim Juliano went over the changing of the guard dinner on Thursday evening,  June 22^nd at Coopers Hawk.  Please e-mail Jim ASAP and let him know if you will be at the dinner and who will be joining you: jdud99@yahoo.com. 

Rob Samouce then introduced our speaker; Paula DiGrigoli, Executive Director of the NCH Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition. (Coalition)  The Coalition is a group of over 50 local organizations and businesses working together tackle three issues adversely impacting Collier County youth: obesity, drowning and unsafe sleep (SIDS).  Drowning is the leading cause of death of children age one to four and suffocation (sleep related death) is the leading cause of death for children less than 1 year of age in Collier County. The Coalition distributes the life jackets at the beach parks, conducts swim lesson and water smart (Stewie the Duck and Josh the Otter) classes throughout the County and put together the largest swim class in the world (over 1,300 participants-Guinness Book of World Records at the County water park). For more info go to: safehealthychildren.org

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

Sat. June 10 thru Thurs June. 15: Rotary Convention-Atlanta

Wed. Morning June 14, 7:30 a.m.:  Club Assembly

Thurs. Evening June 22, 6:00 p.m.:  Changing of the Guard Dinner- Coopers Hawk

Thurs. Evening June 29, 6:00 p.m.:  Tanzanian Water Project