Last week’s program was presented by Rotarian John Haney.John’s guest speaker was Ed McKinney with the Florida Department of Transportation discussing the Tampa Bay Express Project.Express lanes are new lanes added to existing interstate routes. Simply, these new lanes work as toll roads in the middle of interstates. They are separate, and only these new ones are tolled. The amount you pay goes up and down in real time depending on traffic conditions. This allows the express lanes to operate without congestion and reasonably anticipate a travel speed of 45 miles per hour or higher. You only use them when you want to and don’t have to use them at all, but when you need to get somewhere on time – like to make your flight at the airport or pick up a child at day care – you can pay for the commute and expect an on-time arrival.Overall, these express lanes will help reduce traffic time and traffic congestion for everyone. The express lanes offer an optional solution for a congestion-free trip and reliable travel times. Cities in Florida and across the country have opened express lanes. Miami has been operating express lanes for almost five years and customers often exceed 50 miles per hour – even during rush hour. Fort Lauderdale and Orlando are currently building express lanes in their communities. Nationally, express lanes have shown great success in areas such as Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.The Tampa Bay Express Project has been in the works for over 20 years and is important to everyone in our region.The total cost estimate for the project is $3.3 billion. Tampa Bay is currently the 7th worst city for congestion, based on size, in the country and 9th worst city for congestion of any sized city.Our region is growing with a projected growth of 48% by 2040 and a 56% growth in employment.Pasco county is projected to grow by 97% with a 200% growth in employment!All these people will be using our roads by 2040 increasing our traffic tremendously!The TBX has involved the community in the planning process and has made many community commitments, sound walls, parks, urban design, etc. to ensure the project meets community’s expectations.The project is still in the development and environment stage with a completion date 2030-2040.Check out www.tampabayexpress.com form more information.-submitted by Mike Arndt
Club News
Stand Up Board Meeting
There will be a short stand up board meeting after Monday's meeting.
Mark your calendars for Friday, November 11th, at 6:30pm! Here is a list of the scheduled participants:
Beverly Littlejohn & Ivan (SFBH)
Chase and Sasha Wetherington (HCSO)
Bryson Keel and Ashlyn Yargrough
Alex Aponte and Partner (Festival)
Emily Topper and Partner
Kayla Drawdy and Kenny Griffin
Shaun and Crystal Bryant
Nancy Egbert and Mike Johnston
Jillian Wilder and Jason Turner
Dr.Maira Estrada and Partner
If you know any of these dancers, please thank them for their participation!
Program Chairman John Haney is our program chairman. Please notify him regarding upcoming speakers and programs. Call 813-716-5108 or email John at jhaney@acebid.com
Calling for your news! This is your newsletter. If there is news you would like to share with your club (new job? a birth? employment opportunity? club projects? anything you think other members or subscribers to our bulletin would find interesting or useful) then please e-mail it to your bulletin editor.
Share the Rotary News! If you know anyone that would like to receive our E-bulletin, let them know they can sign up for it on the home page of our website www.PlantCityRotary.org. They just need to go to the bottom of the left hand column, click on sign up for newsletter and fill in their name and e-mail address. You can also forward them this newsletter and they can use the link at the bottom of the left column.
Calling for website sponsors! It is our goal to have enough sponsorship from members of the club to make our website and these e-bulletins self-supporting. If you enjoy these electronic updates and appreciate our club having a presence on the website it's time to step up. For the low fee of $50, your business ad is not only included in each of these e-bulletins and on the website pages, these ads are active links that take you to your business's website. Don't have a business and still want to help, we can include an ad thanking you for your sponsorship. For more information emailBill Wicker.
Even as parts of Haiti were still recovering from a catastrophic 2010 earthquake, Hurricane Matthew tore through the impoverished island country Tuesday, leaving hundreds dead and many more homeless.
The Category 4 storm has affected an estimated 330,000 people in Haiti, including 6,400 who have been moved to temporary shelters. Extensive damage to main bridges and other transportation networks have left some areas cut off and vulnerable. Torrential rains have resulted in flooding and landslides. And contaminated water supplies threaten to lead to a surge in cholera cases and other waterborne...
Nigeria’s health minister, Isaac Adewole, said on Friday that his government is determined to rid the country of polio again. New cases recently landed Nigeria back on the list of countries where the disease is endemic.
Adewole met with Rotary leaders at Rotary International World Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA, to discuss Nigeria’s recent efforts to stem the outbreak.
All three of the country’s cases were detected in the northern state of Borno, which was under the control of Boko Haram militants until recently. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the virus has been...
On 1 October, RI President John F. Germ declared Samuel F. Owori Rotary International's president-nominee.
The Nominating Committee for President selected Owori, a member of the Rotary Club of Kampala, Uganda, in August. He will be elected at the 2017 RI Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and will become president on 1 July 2018.
Read more about Owori
Nigeria reported three cases of wild poliovirus in the northeastern state of Borno in August of this year. Following the World Health Organization's confirmation of these cases, the country returned to the list of polio-endemic countries. The other polio-endemic countries are Afghanistan and Pakistan.
These are the first cases detected in the country since July 2014, and while this news is disappointing for all Rotary members, we are confident that Nigeria can defeat polio. Rotary provided $500,000 to assist immediately with the outbreak response, and an emergency response plan has been put...
Rotary was recognized on 17 September on public television's fifth annual American Graduate Day program for its work with San Diego-based Monarch School, a K-12 school for homeless youth. The Rotary Club of San Diego, California, USA, was applauded for its work mentoring Monarch's students, keeping them on track to graduate, and helping the school to continue thriving during tough economic times.
Monarch School CEO Erin Spiewak appeared as one of the show's guests, along with Monarch Alumnus Cynthia Valenzuela, who attested to the positive, life-changing experience Monarch School gave her and...
Stand Up Board Meeting
