We've finished all our events; we've had our last weekly meeting for 2015. The Main Ballroom at San Jose County Club will remain silent for the next 2 weeks. This is our member's opportunity to spend time with those who mean the most to us, and reflect on all that our Club accomplished this year.
In November of 2014, I contacted our SBMC members who work with a non-profit agency in town. I asked them to come up with a project that we could work on together in 2015, and included a nominal budget that SBMC would contribute to help accelerate this initiative.
From this, we completed:
1) A landscaping project with Pine Castle to beautify the front of their campus.
2) Worked on the construction of a new house for Habijax recipient.
3) Sponsored a 'Jaxon De Ville' appearance for the Community Hospice Caregivers Expo.
4) Accumulated 500 care packages and a summer cookout for the homeless with City Rescue Mission.
5) Donated to the Angelwood Fashion Show, which helped that organization with their efforts for those with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and spinal bifida.
6) Worked with Warrior City in organizing/sponsoring a motorcycle ride and concert at the Jacksonville Landing, for our veterans.
7) Held a Reverse Job Shadow with Junior Achievement for students at Southside Middle School, to help encourage them with their futures.
We also had some great guest speakers at our weekly meetings: Tim Cost (Jax University), Mark Lamping (Jaguars), Wayne Wood (author and Jax historian), Peter Rummell (Healthy Town), Bill Warner (Amelia Concourse d'Elegance), Don Fox (Firehouse Subs), Dr. Nikolai Vitti (Duval County Public Schools), Jerry Holland (Supervisor of Elections), and the crew from Helmets and Heels radio program, were some of our more memorable meetings!
We also had a number of political debates between city council, mayoral, and sheriff candidates.
And of course, all the other projects our Club works throughout the year:
--Youth Achiever Program cookout for elementary school crossing guards.
--SBMC Car Show.
--Yuletide on the Southside.
--Jr. R.O.T.C. Charity Clay Shoot.
--Jags Tailgate Party/Game.
--Children's Christmas Shopping Spree.
--SBMC Deep Sea Fishing Trip.
--Monthly Golf Outings.
--YAP Charity Golf Classic.
--Meet A Members.
--SBMC/Jax Sheriff's Office Awards
--Caring Chefs.
--Past President's Day Celebration.
--The Players (Championship)
--Veterans Day Float and Parade.
--Past President's Texas Hold'em Tournament.
I hope every one of our members had an enjoyable and fruitful year with SBMC. Hopefully, you see the value in our organization and will continue to support our efforts in 2016.
I hope you had a Happy Hanukkah. And wish the rest a Merry Christmas, a Happy Kwanzaa, a Happy Yuletide, Festivus (for the rest of us), and a Happy Boxing Day (Canada).