The Fremont Club Experience

January 22, 2012

Join us Tuesdays, 12:15 p.m., at Hugo's Cellar inside

The Four Queens Hotel & Casino, 202 E Fremont St, Las  Vegas, NV.

Las Vegas Skyline and Rotary Title

 

Greetings!   

 

At our weekly meeting, we welcomed Gary Soresman, guest of PP Roger Tabor (02-03), Nannette DiMascio, guest of PE Lane Kay, AG Randy Pote of North Las Vegas Rotary Club, and former LV Fremont Rotarian Adam Keith, brother of our featured speaker, Simon Keith. President Dulcinea thanked Jackie Oxley for her outstanding meeting team and reminded everyone of the deadline for the RYLA applications. Greg Clemens and Marilene Nevins have offered to assist PP Allen Puliz (04-05/06-07) with the RYLA project. Fundraising Chair Robin Smith reminded everyone to get out and fill up the Big Game boards - Club visits are very important. LV Fremont Rotary Block party co-chair Carla Smith presented the names of the three charities being considered as our featured charity at the event and passed out ballots for votes. The winning charity will be announced at the next planning meeting. PP Roger Tabor requested housing assistance for 7-11 kids from the Dominican Republic during the upcoming Mayor's Cup weekend in February. Housing is needed for 3 days and 3 nights, as well as transportation to and from the games. Please contact International Chair Steve Reiter if you are able to assist. PP Laura Fitzpatrick issued a cross-fine for the lack of recognition for RI's major part in Polio eradication in a recent KNPR program (see breaking news below about RI's fundraising milestone), PE Lane to Simon Keith for being Lane's son's first soccer coach, and PP Linda Bertuzzi (10-11) to Robin Smith for texting a Saint's win last Saturday, which turned out to be false.

 

Simon Keith StoryFormer LV Fremont Rotarian, Simon Keith, was born in 1965 in Lewes, England and moved to Victoria, BC Canada in 1967. Simon played at the University of Victoria for the Vikings soccer team where in 1984 he was diagnosed with myocarditis, a deterioration of the heart muscle and given 6 weeks to live. In 1986 Simon was the recipient of a heart transplant done in Papworth Hospital outside of London [1] by Dr. Mohsin Hakim. After recovering, Simon moved to Las Vegas in 1987 where he played soccer for the UNLV Rebels with his older brother Adam. Simon has the distinction of being the first athlete ever to have played professional sports after having undergone a heart transplant and was the number one overall pick in the 1989 professional soccer draft by the Cleveland Crunch of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). Simon also played professionally for the Victoria Vistas, the Winnipeg Fury and the Montreal Impact of the Canadian Soccer League. Simon is now the CEO of the Simon Keith Foundation where he is devoted to increasing organ donor awareness and educating transplant recipients. Simon is one of the longest living heart transplant recipients and has lived the majority of his life with his second heart. Simon's 25 year journey with his new heart culminated recently with his first ever meeting of his donor's family in England where Simon learned that his young donor, only 17, was also a soccer player. Simon's heartwarming and unbelievable story is now documented in his book The Simon Keith Story - The Beat Goes On.

 

 

 

 Committee Reports 

  

Las Vegas Fremont Block Party

 

Fremont Street skyline

The planning meeting for the upcoming Las Vegas Fremont Rotary Block Party was alive with ideas and plans for the event on Friday, April 27.  As with last year's extravaganza, everyone is being asked to commit to selling/purchasing 10 tickets, mimimum.  Every member is also requested to solicit sponsors and donations for the raffle prizes.  The next planning meeting is Thursday, January 26, at Steiners.  If you aren't chairing a committee, or yet signed up for one, contact Co-chairs Robin Smith or Carla Smith to get involved.  It's going to be a great time!!!

  

Birthday Bash 

 

An energetic group of kids gathered for their January birthdays at the Agassi BirthdaysAgassi Club last Wednesday ready to party and enjoy their pizza, cake & ice cream. Joined by Rotarians Jackie Oxley, who spearheaded the event, Jackie's friend Jennifer Capprillo and PP Linda Bertuzzi (10-11), the kids were more excited than usual, giving us a few dance demonstrations (which we were smart enough not to try) and great songs. They tore into their birthday gift bags, which were brimming with school supplies, toys and gift cards. These bags continue to be assembled by Robin Smith, and the contents continue to grow due to the generosity of many of our Club members! The next party will be on February 15th.

          
                                              2011-2012 RI theme                                               
  
   Save the Dates   

January 24 - NO MEETING
January 24 - "Get Motivated" at Thomas & Mack
January 26 - LV Fremont Rotary Block party meeting - Steiners, 5:30 pm
January 31 - Phil Kohen, "Vegas Unwrapped" radio personality
February 7 - Board Meeting,
February 7 - Annette Whiteside - World Affairs Council
February 19 - NID in India
February 28 - Past Presidents Day
April 27 - Las Vegas Fremont Street Party
May 19 - Superbuild in Tecate, Mexico
 

Club Calendar           District 5300 Calendar

  
INTERESTED IN SPEAKING? If you or someone you know is interested in making a presentation at our regularly scheduled luncheons, please contact Chair Lane Kay at [email protected] 
                                                                                            
   District 5300 & RI News

      

   Polio Update

 

Rotary Polio Images

As we approach the National Immunization Day in India on February 19, and despite a stagnant global economy, Rotary clubs around the world have succeeded in raising more than US$200 million in new funding for polio eradication, nearly six months earlier than the deadline. The fundraising milestone, announced on January 17th at Rotary's annual International Assembly in San Diego, was reached in response to a $355 million challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. All funds have been earmarked to support polio immunization activities in countries where this vaccine-preventable disease continues to paralyze children. "We'll celebrate this milestone, but it doesn't mean that we'll stop raising money or spreading the word about polio eradication," Rotary Foundation Trustee John F. Germ told the annual conference of Rotary leaders. "We can't stop until our entire world is certified as polio free." 

 

"In recognition of Rotary's great work, and to inspire Rotarians in the future, the [Gates] foundation is committing an additional $50 million to extend our partnership," said Jeff Raikes, chief executive officer of the Gates Foundation. "Rotary started the global fight against polio, and continues to set the tone for private fundraising, grassroots engagement and maintaining polio at the top of the agenda with key policy makers."

 

Since 1988, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99 percent, from about 350,000 infections annually to fewer than 650 cases reported so far for 2011. The wild poliovirus now remains endemic - meaning its transmission has never been stopped - in only four countries: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan. However, India on January 13 marked a full calendar year without a case, paving the way for its removal from the endemic list. The last 1% will be the toughest part of this journey.

 

 

Congratulations Rotarians for continuing to support RI's mission of a Polio-free world!

To our members:

Articles are due by the end of business each Thursday.  If you send articles, please make sure they are word format, and all pictures must be jpeg format.  Thank you for all of you who take the time to contribute - this is your newsletter and we need your help.
Volume 3, Issue 25
Rotary Service above Self
RI Bangkok
In This Week's Newsletter
Upcoming Calendar
District 5300 & RI News
Club Leadership
Birthday & Anniversaries
Captain's Duties

 Club Leadership

President
Dulcinea Almazan
President Elect

Lane Kay 

Secretary
Mike Clayson
Treasurer
Al Guida, Jr.
Past President
Linda Bertuzzi
Public Relations
Gary Prater
International
Steve Reiter
Membership
Michael Woodfield
Fundraising/Polio
Robin Smith
Foundation
Drew Levy
Projects
Rob Goldstein
Vocational
Allen Puliz
Club Administration
Marilene Nevins

Birthdays & Anniversaries 


Roger & Amy Tabor
January 7

Butch Benda
January 12

Albert Guida, Jr
January 19
  
If we have missed your special event, let us know

  Meeting Captain

                  
NO MEETING
January 24
Mason Workman
January 31
Steve Reiter
February 7
Paul Bell
February 14
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The Four Way Test

 

Of the things we think, say or do

 

1. Is it the TRUTH?

 

2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?

 

3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

 

4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

 

Fremont Club Editor
Las Vegas Fremont Rotary Club