Rotary eBulletin - Oct 19, 2020 (Oct 19, 2020)

October 19, 2020

This Week's Program:

Kenneth Parker - FSGA Update

Presented by Rotarian Keith Smith

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Meetings continue to be held at

Hillsborough Community College

and are simulcast on Zoom.

Please adhere to HCC's requirement to wear a mask upon entry and exit of the campus building.

Click the link below to join the Zoom meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/2854668727

Meeting ID: 285 466 8727

PLEASE NOTE THAT ZOOM NOW REQUIRES A PASSWORD TO LOGIN.

The password is rotary if you are logging in with video, or 201531 if you are calling in.
Please only activate your audio when prompted.

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Last Meeting's Program:

Jake Austin - City Referendum

Christine Miller - Amendment #2

Rotarian Tom Schaub presented Monday’s Program, which was Jake Austin, President of the Plant City EDC/Christine Miller, President of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce/Nancy Millan with the Hillsborough County Tax Collectors.

Jake Austin spoke on the Ad Valorem Tax Exemption.

How does the program work?

New or expanding companies applies for Exemption.
Company must meet state/local qualifications

-But for (must be a competitive project)

-Jobs

-Industry

-Average wages and benefits

-Capital Investment

-Sales Factor

-Geographic Bonuses (Brownfield)

3. Tiered Program-program can exempt 50-75% for 5-10 years ( typically 5)

4. If qualifications are met, city drafts agreement and ordinance for commission consideration

5. City Commission has full discretion

6. If approved, the company can take advantage of exemption after agreement terms are met

7. Compliance is conducted every year the exemption is in effect

*Program only exempts new improvements (not currently on the tax rolls)

Christine Miller/ Chamber updates and Amendment #2

Christine’s presentation covered what the Chamber has been doing, what we’ve learned, and how we move forward.

She spoke on advocacy through Federal, State, County and City Legislation, the Chamber’s regional approach and delving into the MOU ( Memorandum of Understanding) and finally the State and National Approach.

Christine also spoke on Amendment 2- which a article on Statewide ballots which seeks to gradually increase the State minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026.

--submitted by Kayla Drawdy

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Club & Member News

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Save the Date!

Saturday, November 7, 6:00 pm

"Fall Couples Cookout"

A Rotary Social and Fundraising Event

Tickets are $100 per person.

Net proceeds will support the high school scholarship program.

Contact any Rotary Club officer or purchase your tickets at the next meeting.

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Reading Center Update from "Boz"

Fellow Rotarians, please see the recent email below from Stephen Pingree:

Subject: Books for PFVFI Reading Center---a year later !

Hi Dennis,

I thought you and your Rotary colleagues might enjoy a glimpse of the Reading Center you have so thoughtfully helped with your book donations.

Although the Covid 19 has closed down the schools, we at the Reading Center have been working with 16 of our kids by taking books to their homes and visiting each kid with a one on one reading, English and math tutorial. Our Kiddos (we call the kids) love to read and have almost gone through all the available books for their reading levels. In fact, one of our 11 year old Kiddos, Anafe, has been holding “neighborhood class” to teach the younger siblings and neighbors reading and English. We gave her many of the beginning reading books for “her” kiddos.

We’re sorry to miss you for the Medical Mission this year. If you folks are still willing and able, we would very much appreciate another Balikbayan box full of books for the Reading Center. Beginning readers through early teenager will be appropriate.

Please feel free to contact me if you need further information or have questions.

Maraming salamat po, mahalo, and thank you,

Stephen P. Pingree, JD

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Member Birthdays

David Delph

October 3

Donald Thomas

October 3

Dennis Digamon

October 8

Tom Davis

October 18

James Boyd

October 23

Mac McGrath

October 24

Marcus Caswell

October 28

Join Date

Aaron Davis

October 7, 2002

18 years

Taylor Clark

October 14, 2019

1 year

Don Stine

October 16, 1989

31 years

Sophia Hyde

October 31, 2016

4 years

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