August 12, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting

The August 12, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting was called to order by President Carl Thome and followed by invocation and pledge. After dinner President Thome updated the club members with current happenings and events as related to local and district Rotary activities. Attendance was excellent with everyone enjoying the new meeting location.

Why are you a Rotarian? What does Service Above Self mean to you? How can you get more involved? Hear answers to these questions and more from Rotarians around the world with Rotary Minute. Each month, we’ll feature a new video about a topic of interest to you.

August 5, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting

The August 5, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary meeting was held at our new location of The Naples Tennis Club and Resort. The meeting was called to order by President Carl Thome followed by Innvocation and Pledge Alligance. After dinner President Thome discussed the latest happenings within the Naples Sunset Rotary as well as happenings within the District. It was announced that the District Governor will be visiting our club on September 9, 2010 for his annual visitation. The club adjourned at 7:50pm.

July 29, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting

The Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting of July 29, 2010 was a Ladies Night and was called to order by President Carl Thome. After the invocation and pledge dinner was served. President Thome introduced Rotarian Brady Young who delivered a report on The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Meeting last Saturday in Cape Coral. The District meeting was attended by 200 plus Rotarians.


President Thome then inducted our newest member Charles Ashback sponsored by Past President and current Assistant Governor Zillman.


Our program was introduced by Past President Zillman introducing Naples Sunset Rotary's Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Jimmie Shubert who gave the club an excellent presentation on his previous year's activities including setting up a computer center in Ghana, Africa. Jimmie will be attending his PhD studies in New Zealand starting in June of 2011.

Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting July 22, 2010

Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting of July 22, 2010 was called to order by President Carl Thome with innvocation and pledge alligance. Dinner was served with a general discussion on Rotary activities.

This Saturday we will be attending The Rotary Foundation Meeting in Cape Coral for all clubs in District 6960 and will give a report on the meeting in an upcoming blog posting.

When our Rotary International President, Ray Klinginsmith, selected his theme for 2010-2011, he arrived at his theme after reviewing all the RI themes of years past. President Ray decided he wanted a brief theme that would fulfill two objectives – explaining Rotary to non-Rotarians and validating the work of Rotarians. The words he selected to describe Rotary’s current mission and highlight our achievements are what we do best: “Building Communities, Bridging Continents”. The below video highlights his speech covering his 2010-2011 Theme for Rotary International:

Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting July 15, 2010

The Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting was called to order by our 2010-2011 President Carl Thome. Carl had just returned from San Diego, California and mentioned his visit to various Rotary Clubs in that area. President Carl also discussed the additional use of Sgt-of-Arms activities and advised all members to not forget to wear their Rotary pins as well as to read the latest issue of Rotary Magazine. Our program was introduced by Rotarian Adoni Kokkinos and included Collier County Public Schools Gifted Department Supervisor Irene Benfatti discussing the mission of the Gifted Department. Their mission is to provide an educational program which encourages intellectual development, nurtures curiosity, stimulates a passion for rigor and challenge, and develop throughout the student’s academic career the desire to become a responsible, contributing citizen of the multicultural world. She also discussed the philosophy of the Gifted program. Gifted individuals exhibit abilities, talents, and interests which indicate exceptional potential. As students they require an educational program which is differentiated to accommodate their special strengths and skills. She also introduced two teachers who were actively participating in the delivery of the current Gifted program in elementary, middle and high schools. Additional information about the Collier County Public School's Gifted Programs are available by clicking here.

Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting July 8, 2010

The Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting for July 8, 2010; was called to order by President Elect Herb Buck and followed by Invocation and the Pledge Allegiance. The meeting then continued to dinner followed by a general round table discussion among members. The meeting adjourned at 8:00pm .

Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting July 1, 2010

The Naples Sunset Rotary meeting for July 1, 2010 was not observed due to the holiday period. The next meeting Thursday July 8, 2010 will be at the Collier Athletic Club and will feature comments on club activities and goals for 2010 - 2011 year.

June 24, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting

The June 24, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting was a Ladies Night and featured the installation of our 2010 - 2011 Naples Sunset Rotary Officers and Board Members. The installation was presented by our 2008-2010 President Marcus P. Zillman. The following are our 2010-2011 Officers: President Carl Thome, President Elect Herb Buck, and Secretary/Treasurer Gary Moore. 2010 - 2011 Board of Directors include: Adoni Kokkinos, George Leamon and Robert Bodine. Past President Zillman was awarded a placque with gavel for his two years as President and now serves as the 2010 - 2011 Assistant Governor of TRF for Rotary District 6960.

June 17, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting

The June 17, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary meeting met at Naples Bath and Tennis Club with a club assembly discussing the upcoming club activities. It was noted that next week the club will be back at the Collier Athletic Club with Ladies Night and the induction of our 2010-2011 officers and board members. The induction will be led by Past Presidents Zillman and Moore. The Naples Sunset Rotary Club's year starts on July 1, 2010. It was also noted that due to the July 4th activities we will not have a July 1st meeting.

June 10, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting

The June 10, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary meeting featured Elizabeth Gronlund, Safety Director, Hyperbarics Bonita Wound Healing Center that is part of the HCH Healthcare System. Elizabeth was introduced by Naples Sunset Rotary member Adoni Kokkinos, Program Chairman. The Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers at the NCH Would Healing Center are used for the following clinical indications: a) Chronic Refractory Osteomyelitis, b) Osteoradionecrosis, c) Decompression Illness, d) Gas Gangrene, e) Acute Traumatic Peripheral Ischemia, f) Acute Peripheral Arterial Insufficiency, g) Preparation and Preservation of Compromised Skin Grafts, h) Progressive Necrotizing Infections (Necrotizing Fasciitis), i) Crush Injuries and Suture Reattachments of Severed Limbs, j) Diabetic Foot and Low Extremity Ulcer, k) Soft Tissue Radionecrosis - Proctitis - Cystitis, l) Gas Embolism, m) Actinomycosis, and n) Acute Carbon Monoxide Intoxication. The presentation was well received with numerous questions. Additional information is available by clicking here.

June 3, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary Club

The June 3, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting featured speaker was Maria Wassef, Executive Director of Marias Cupcakes for the Homeless. Maria was introduced by Naples Sunset Rotary member Adoni Kokkinos. Maria explained that she started this project one year and three months ago and it has grown to serving birthday cupcakes to over 63 homeless shelters located throughout the United States with 14 volunteers. The tremendous growth has absolutely amazed Maria and now she is looking to help even more homeless by supplying more and more birthday cupcakes. This is truly a great project that is helping those who truly need help during this time of our economy. Many questions were asked and our Naples Sunset Rotary was truly impressed both with her original idea and her contstant passion to obtain the goals to help the less fortunate!

At the 5:00pm Naples Sunset Rotary Board meeting it was approved that we would not schedule any speakers for the months of July and August 2010. The President Elect 2010-2011 position will filled by Herb Buck.

May 27, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary

The May 27, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary meeting was one of our very casual meetings prior to the Memorial Day holiday. Members enjoyed a wonderful filet meal while discussing the latest happenings both locally, nationally and internationally. The meeting adjourned at 7:50pm. There will be a board meeting at 5:00pm next Thursday June 3, 2010 directly before our regularly scheduled meeting.

May 20, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting

The May 20, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary meeting featured Dr. Helena Sturnick introduced by club president Marcus P. Zillman. Dr. Sturnick is a leadership and transition specialist who has been the turn-around President for five universities and colleges, a Vice President for the American Council on Education and Director of a national office for leadership development in Washington, D.C. . Recipient of numerous global and national leadership awards, she has presented seminars and keynote addresses in nine countries, cofounded a major leadership development program in Sweden and consulted with the United Nations on global leadership issues. She is the cofounder of the recently founded Entrepreneurial Society of Naples (ESON). Dr. Sturnick discussed the many facets of successful thinking in today's new economy and described in detail the steps required to accomplish successful thinking. She also used a number of excellent examples including detailed scientific verification of results that can be achieved through successful thinking. Her PowerPoint presentation concluded with question and answers from Club members. All members enjoyed her presentation very much knowing that positive thoughts in today's economic environment is one of the major keys to a successful business.

An upcoming Naples Sunset Rotary board meeting was announced that will take place on June 3, 2010 at 5pm at Collier Athletic Club prior to our regularly scheduled meeting.

Rotary International District 6960 Annual Conference

May 13 - 15, 2010 was our Rotary International District 6960 Annual Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida at the Tradewinds Resort. The conference was very exciting with many new opportunities and statistics about Rotary's growth in the involvement in local communities throughout the world. Numerous projects were discussed and examples from throughout the world were shown. The Russian GSE Team gave an excellent presentation. We also witnessed numerous excellent speeches and presentations. The higlight of the conference for Naples Sunset Rotary was the receipt of the Governor's Award of Merit for 2009-2010 as well as the 2009-2010 Presidential Citation Award.

May 13, 2010 Naples Sunset rotary Meeting

The May 13, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary meeting featured speaker was Pam Fultz, Director of Community Relations of The Terraces at Bonita Springs. This to be constructed in Bonita Springs, Florida lifecare retirement community by SantaFe Senior Living, will be offering all the conveniences you want and the protection for the future that you will need. Complete with Mediterranean inspired residences, a host of premium services and amenties, and the estate preservation of lifecare. Pam showed us a powerpoint presentation giving statistics and very interesting facts about lifecare in general and The Terraces in specific. Construction of The Terraces, which will feature maintenance-free, independent living in 150 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes, is anticipated to start in 2011. A number of questions were asked after her presentation which was enjoyed by all. Additional information is available by clicking here.

May 6, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting

The May 6, 2010 Naples Sunset Rotary Meeting fatured speaker Officer William J. Gonsalves, Naples Police and Emergency Services and Police Coordinator with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Officer Gonsalves was introduced by Naples Sunset Rotary Member and Member of CERT Robert Short. C.E.R. T. is a group of concerned citizens that is organized and receives seven weeks of training that enhances their ability to recognize, respond to, and recover from a major emergency or disaster. Previous emergency experience is not required. The seven-week course is free with all books and materials provided. Officer Gonsalves discussed CERT and that participants received specialized training in the following areas: a) Fire Safety and Suppression, b) Disaster Medical OPerations, c) Light Search and Rescue Operations, d) Team Organization, e) Incident Command System, f) Disaster Psychology and g) Terrorism. The club enjoyed the presentation and a number of questions were asked. Additional information is available by clicking here.