Upcoming Programs:   

3/21  Victoria Register, Square Foot Gardening

We had another exciting meeting last week that set the stage for this week's program - the Youth Achiever Program. It is always a special event as we celebrate our young people.  Since 1994, our Club has worked diligently to raise funds to support the students and their schools.  Because we believe in our youth and realize that they are our future, we have established a scholarship program available to them to further advance their education. I would like to thank our YAP sponsors and volunteers who have helped us make the Youth Achiever Program a success.

In addition, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our members who contributed money to the Sunshine Fund for Jay Cann last week. Jay has been a long-time member and has supported our Club for many years. In fact, for 17 years, he's been a Chairman of the YAP Golf Tournament and has helped us raise thousands of dollars for our charity. Jay has a big heart and we love him!

I was humbled and proud to announce at the end of our meeting last week that just in one day we've raised over a $1,000 for our friend Jay. It's why our Club is so great - we make the Southside of Jacksonville a better place to live, we support our charities, we do business with each other, and we build long-lasting friendships...  And, of course, we help our friends when they need us the most.  Jay and Lynn Cann need our help and we will continue raising money for them. If you can help them financially, please make your donation payable to the SBMC Charity for Jay Cann. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated!

I'd like to conclude my message this week with a quote from an American author Dean Koontz "Some people think only intellect counts: knowing how to solve problems, knowing how to get by, knowing how to identify an advantage and seize it. But the functions of intellect are insufficient without courage, love, friendship, compassion and empathy."  

Galina Schott,

2012 SBMC President

What a wonderful 2012 Tallahassee trip this year.....the busload of 18 pulled out of the San Jose Country Club at the crack of dawn to arrive at the Governor's Mansion for our guided tour. We were shown the "public" wings of the beautifully restored mansion as well as the gardens before heading to the Capitol Building. House staff greeted us outside the office of Representative Lake Ray and we were granted an audience with Rep. Ray during which we discussed such topics of interest like the Mayport Ferry, Jaxport, the overall "meat" of this session and JDEC.

We then scurried over to the Senate Building and waited for Senator Audrey Gibson who was en route to Chair a Senate Committee Meeting. We huddled in the hallway with the other political fringe and it was like waiting on Michael Jackson to walk to the stage (without the light bulbs). However, once Harry Peltz announced who we were, Senator Gibson took several moments to chat with us, create photo opportunities and sincerely express her gratitude for our activism in the political process.

We all had a fine lunch and a breather at the Capitol cafeteria and then off to the Old Capitol building for an educational tour of the faithfully restored capitol building and museum. It was onto the East Gallery of the House building to watch our legislative process in "action". Rep. Charles McBurney and Rep. Lake Ray had the Speaker of the House introduce us to the floor and we all stood for recognition as SBMC MEMBERS before we whisked ourselves to Rep. McBurney's office for a close encounter of the political kind. Charles gave us 30 minutes for an overview of this session and a heads up on things to come - as well as continuing to express his gratitude for our presence there at the Capitol and the support this club has given him over the years.

Our next stop was an audience with CFO Jeff Atwater for a lively discussion re: the political process, an amendment as it applies to massage therapist and acupuncturists, the functional and political role his office plays and his background and interests. He was very friendly and interested in our group, and of course he was invited to drop in and speak to us sometime in the future.

One more task on the agenda was our tour of the Florida Supreme Court building; and after an invigorating lecture on the process and history, we all got to pose in the seats of the Supreme Court Judges and play "Judge Judy or Judge Roy Bean" (as appropriate). Then down the road to a fabulous and fun meal at Andrew's Grill and Bar in our own sumptuously appointed private room. Back on the bus for the ride home where we kept ourselves entertained with charades and other parlor games, our own version of the liars club as well as taking a really good opportunity to get more closely acquainted with our club members.

Many thanks to Harry Peltz who relentlessly pulled together the agenda and kept us all on track; Duckworth Construction for their sponsorship of our version of the Florida "bar" and all the members who joined us on our trip to the Capitol. We are already making plans for next year.... I hope you will join us.

Angie Tekin

80th Anniversary 2012 Commemorative edition of the SBMC Directory will be available at our meeting on Wednesday, March 14th.  Please see Barbara Buzby to get your copy.  One directory per member please.

Teacher for a Day -- March 29, 2012