Last weeks program was provided by Rotarian Mac McGrath and was introduced by Kayla Drawdy. Our guest speaker was Craig Miller, President of the Tampa Bay chapter of “Rotary Means Business (RMB)”. Craig is president of Full Throttle Advertising. He currently serves as president of the Rotary Club of New Tampa and is vice chair of membership of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. RMB Tampa Bay encourages Rotarians to support the success of their fellow Rotarians by doing business with them, and by referring others to them.Today Rotarians are embracing the original foundations of what the Rotary Club was based on as we adhere to the Four Way Test. Rotary Means Business Tampa Bay, Inc. is formed as a Florida Not-For-Profit Organization – designation Networking Organization – for the purpose of promoting higher business standards and practices among member professions and trades; conducting community outreach in keeping with the aims and ideals of Rotary International, enhancing communication between members in Tampa Bay and Rotary.Rotary Means Business is a Fellowship of Rotary International. Today Rotarians are embracing the original foundations of what the Rotary Club was based on as we adhere to the Four Way Test. This fellowship operates in accordance with Rotary International policy, but is not an agency of, or controlled by, Rotary International. In addition to being a high level networking group, RMB focuses on involving the “Rotaract” program and getting the youth more involved in Rotary as they are our future. RMB is a worldwide organization and the networking opportunities are endless. Aside from doing business with other Rotarians, RMB brings new members to Rotary. RMB Tampa Bay holds 4 major events each year and 4-6 mixers/socials a year believing that “quality over quantity” is best. RMB puts members in touch with the “decision makers” of businesses. There are currently 28 members in the Tampa Bay chapter and “charter” memberships are available. For more information take a look at their website: www.RMBtampabay.com-provided by Mike Arndt
Club News
Club Social Friday September 28th
Our club will be holding a social at the 1916 Irish Pub Friday Sept. 26th at 5:30 pm. Plan now to be there to enjoy some Rotary fellowship. All are welcome, it's an excellent event to bring prospective members as well. See you there!
Preparations are underway for the our club's second biggest fundraiser of the year. We need everyone to pitch in for this great event. Sponsorship opportunities are available and needed. Please see President Jodi and Doug Watson for more information.
Kayla Drawdy is the new Program Chair! Please notify Kayla of you upcoming speakers at 763-1821 or kayla@htitle.com
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From Our Members
sunrise, Folly Beach / Charleston, SC
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Have any news you would like to share? Do you have a new position at work? Family news? Any news you would like to share with club members and bulletin subscribers? E-mail to Bill Wicker
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You are free to go, I was told by the deputy as he unlocked the steel door of my cell. It was late summer in 1965 and while cycling across the United States, I had discovered that at no cost I could lodge in jails. After being booked, I was ushered into a warm, dry
cell which often included breakfast the following morning. But while lodging in O’Neil, Nebraska, the jailer’s words bothered me. You are free to go, implied that until then, the freedom to leave had not been an option. That was a jolting realization for a teenager
growing up in the socially unrestrained 60’s, in a country founded on the principles of freedom, and having nearly reached the point whereby I would receive all the liberties conferred upon those who make it to adulthood. After all, I was not a criminal, just a
teenager on a very slim budget needing to get back to Massachusetts for the start of my senior year in high school. The fact is, despite my beliefs, I had voluntarily placed myself in a situation whereby I was not free to leave until it was authorized.
Upon reflection, I realized that many people (myself included) voluntarily incarcerate themselves thereby foregoing life enriching opportunities. It may be an unfulfilling job, with steel bars in the form of a pension plan or health benefits they can’t fathom parting with. Or perhaps they’ve convinced themselves their life will finally begin at their retirement party. Their bucket list expands as they put off healthy-pleasures. I witnessed a poignant example of a person incarnated in a cell of his own making when I met a cyclist near El Paso, Texas. He shared with me his dream to complete the same ocean to ocean ride I was in the midst of. When I asked why he hadn’t, he had a list of reasons: too old, too many responsibilities, couldn’t take time off from work etc. He was two years younger than me and I didn’t hear a single excuse that couldn’t be dealt with. Over the years, I’ve harbored some of the same thoughts while planning my next adventure. However, I’ve learned that if you really want something badly enough, there’s nearly always a way. Alas, for some when the clarion call, You are free to go, is finally heard, the opportunity may no longer exist. As we near the end of the first quarter, many clubs are making good progress in their quest to achieve the Rotary Citation. However, in doing so some presidents want to follow the advice of Rotary International President, Barry Rassin, who is encouraging clubs to be creative when recruiting new members or conducting their meetings. Yet some are being blocked by influential members convinced the club isn’t ready for change, or who conclude the idea won’t work without even trying. Chances are, those
individuals are imprisoned in a cell comprised of nothing but their own beliefs. This is a new Rotary year and your club is free to try any reasonable approach to achieving its goals.
Mark Twain was right. Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the tradewinds in your sails.
Climb every mountainA Rotaractor ventures deep into her native Uganda with a polio vaccination team as part of Rotary’s newest virtual reality film, Two Drops of
Our worldMission to eliminate hepatitisIn 2010, Humberto Silva was getting ready to travel from Brazil to South Africa to watch his country’s soccer team play in
Rotary announces US $96.5 million to end polioEVANSTON, Ill. (August 15, 2018) — Rotary today announced nearly $100 million in grants to support the global effort to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that once paralyzed hundreds of
