Last Weeks program was provided by Rotarian Marcus Caswell. Marcus’ guest speaker was the Director of the Lakeland Linder Airport, Gene Conrad. Mr. Conrad spoke to us about the Lakeland Linder Airport and its vision for the future. The airport is experiencing exponential growth and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down! Located in the heart of Florida along the I-4 corridor Lakeland Linder Internaitonal Airport (LAL) is midway between Tampa and Orlando with easy access to I-4 via the Polk Parkway. Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL) is always on the move with an eye on enhancing and expanding their capabilities, capacity, and offerings to the aviation community. Over the past 10 years alone more than 200 million dollars have been invested into infrastructure at LAL including a new Air Traffic Control Tower, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Station, Taxiways, Ramps, and Runway Rehabilitation. The I-4 corridor's growth as a major distribution center for companies such as Publix, Amazon, Saddlecreek, and Walmart placed new demand on LAL for MRO and Air Cargo facilities. To meet this demand the airport is developing approximately 42 acres in the northwest sector of the airport for large air cargo aircraft operations and maintenance hangars. Construction of the entrance taxiway to the new development was completed in April 2018. In addition to ramp areas and taxiways associated with the development. Hangar and air cargo processing sites will be cleared, graded, and have utility services added so they may be developed quickly for future tenants. As the terminal ramp approaches a failing status the airport is replacing the ramp areas and lead-in taxi-lanes to accommodate future commercial aircraft. Portions of the ramp will be replaced with concrete to handle larger air carrier aircraft over a longer period of time reducing wear and tear and prolonging the life of the pavement during heavy commercial aircraft operations. Lakeland Linder Airport is home to the world famous NOAA Hurricane Hunters. The economic impact to the region is over $574 Million (2019 FDOT Economic Impact Study) and is FAA Part 139 Certificated Airport (capable of accepting air carrier aircraft). Over 125,000 aircraft operations annually, 112th busiest airport in the United States. Over 240 based aircraft including 42 jets / turbo prop aircraft. The airport is also home to the Central Florida Aerospace Academy and Polk State College - Aerospace programs. The Internship Program at LAL is designed to provide an all-around introduction to professional airport management and operations at a public use airport. Duties generally include airport management functions, airfield operations, airport maintenance activities (including operation of maintenance equipment), airport finance and budgeting, marketing and public relations, aircraft rescue and fire fighting, and other special projects. Students may also receive academic credit for their participation in the program and are encouraged to reach out to their academic adviser for more information. Those interested in the program are asked to e-mail lakelandairport@lakelandgov.net at least one semester prior to the desired internship time frame. LAL has entered into an agreement with Amazon to provide ramp space, parking for 7 jets, and a sorting facility for package distribution to the region. LAL is poised to become a major player in the airport industry. -submitted by Mike Arndt
Our new District Governor will be meeting with the officers and directors on Monday at 11 before our regular meeting. Please plan to attend if at all possible.
The annual meeting of members of the Plant City Rotary Foundation, Inc., will be held at our regularly scheduled meeting on July 8.As a member of the club, you are a member of the foundation.Please be sure to attend this meeting.
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Louis Alvarez is our new Program Chair! Please notify Louis of you upcoming speakers atlalvarez@bhvconnect.com
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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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Rotary and ShelterBox celebrate the power of partnershipEvanston Ill., Rotary International announced on 3 June a three-year partnership renewal with its disaster relief project partner, ShelterBox. For almost 20 years,
Rotary announces US$100 million to eradicate polioEVANSTON, Ill. (June 10, 2019) — Rotary is giving US$100 million in grants to support the global effort to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that once paralyzed
Rotary’s 110th annual convention concludes; one of Hamburg’s most multicultural, non-profit gatheringsMore than 26,000 registrants representing 3,605 Rotary clubs in 170 countriesRotary commits US$102 million
mytaxi donates proceeds from rides to RotaryHAMBURG, Germany (31 May 2019) — To multiply the impact of the 25,000 Rotary members expected to attend the service organization’s international convention 1-5 June, mytaxi will donate all
A special report prepared for Rotary International by the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies estimated the value of Rotary member volunteer hours at $850 million a year.
