Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch News 12.8.22

Emma Johnson

Dec. 7: Wine Down Wednesday social at 5:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at McGrath's Irish Ale House, on Lakewood Main Street RSVP by Dec 5 with Lang Wooddy at lang66@comcast net

Dec. 15: Annual election of club officers and board members during the noon meeting at Lakewood Ranch Country Club

Dec. 28: Club board meeting, 6 p m at the River Club at Waterlefe, 995 Fish Hook Cove, Bradenton; meetings are the last Wednesday of each month. Info: President Carmen Spagnola at carmenspag1@gmail.com.

January: Date TBA; members Karin McLoughlin and Paul Hoenle and their spouses host their annual sunset beach party on Siesta Key. More details coming soon.

Jan. 14: 8:30 a m to 4 p m Rotary Leadership Institute Parts 1, 2 and 3 plus Graduate Level sessions in northern and southern district locations; registration info on DACdb

Feb. 23: Save the date for the club's annual Books For Kids luncheon

Feb. 25: Save the date for the District 6960 Foundation Gala event; details coming soon.

March 9 12: District 6960 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards; details to come.

March 18: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p,m. Rotary Leadership Institute Parts 1, 2 and 3 plus Graduate Level sessions in northern and southern district locations; registration info on DACdb

April 22: District Assembly and Master Class University; details to come

May 13: 8:30 a m to 4 p,m Rotary Leadership Institute Parts 1, 2 and 3 plus Graduate Level sessions in northern and southern district locations; registration info on DACdb.

May 27 31: Rotary International Convention, Melbourne, Australia; details to come.

June 15 18: Save the dates for the District 6960 Conference at Hyatt Regency Cocnut Point, Estero; details to come.

AMAZON FUNDRAISING: Shop at smile amazon com and 0 5% of eligible purchases will be donated to the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch no fees, no extra cost. Click here to select our club as your charitable organization and help us continue to do good! Every little bit helps.

NEED HELP WITH DACDB? Anyone who needs help using DACdb for various functions, especially when registering for meetings and events, can contact club member Christi Womack Villalobos for a tutorial. Learn now how to also update your profile and see what is happening throughout District 6960.

Susan Hubbell 12/20

Terry Byce 12/23

Sally Waldo 12/23

PAUL HARRIS FELLOW AWARDS PRESENTED: In the photo at left, John Bodenburg, our club's Foundation Chairman, above left, presents member David Jack, center, with his first Paul Harris Award and certificate at the Dec 1 meeting President Carmen Spagnola, right, is all smiles during the presentation In the photo at right, Immediate Past President Mark Midyett accepts his PHF+5 award from Carmen Our board at its Nov 30 meeting decided to begin awarding each past president a PHF upon the completion of their presidential year. Mark is the first recipient.

Registration is open on DACdb for the club's annual holiday party the evening of Dec 8 at the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club (There will be no noon meeting that day ) The dinner cost is $62 per person, and there are four meal options to choose from during the registration process Registration is due by noon Tuesday, Dec 6 Social time with hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be begin at 5:30, and dinner will be served at 7 It's optional, but you might want to participate in the lively White Elephant gift exchange People who want to play along bring one wrapped awesome/bad/campy/new/used/funny or gag gift (that could go to anyone in the group) Those who bring gifts take turns selecting a gift Ask Steve Kelle what he ended up taking home last year Could it make a surprise return this year?

Books For Kids nominated for chamber award

Our club’s Books For Kids program was named a finalist in the Civic Partner of the Year category for the Manatee Chamber of Commerce’s Business & Education Partnership Awards Breakfast.

The Oct. 7 event at Parrish Community High School, was postponed due to the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, but has been rescheduled to 3 to 5 p.m. Jan. 17 at Southeast High School, 1200 37th Ave E , Bradenton The awards program will take place in the school’s auditorium, and light refreshments will be provided

Tickets are $25 for chamber members and $30 for non members RSVP by contacting Jenny Szink at JennyS@ManateeChamber com or 941 748 4842, ext 235

BIKING TO END POLIO: The Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay’s Gene Jones is planning and hosting fundraising bike ride to benefit ending polio The event on Dec 10 starts at 8 a m Be at 11163 Roseate Court , Sarasota, by 7:45 at the latest This is the Sandhill Preserve home of Rotarian Rich Scissors; he needs to notify his community’s gate attendants who will be participating Let him know if you will participate by calling 410 493 7962 or emailing richscissors@gmail com The ride will be about 25 miles plus on the Legacy Trail with a stop at Café Evergreen We plan a leisurely pace The ride will end early in the afternoon Here is the ride itinerary For more information or to donate, click here To follow the event on Facebook, click here

VOLUNTEER TO HELP RENOVATE HOMES TO GIVE TO DESERVING VETERANS

Our Next Mission completed all of the hurricane repairs in the past couple of weeks for units ONM has renovated over the past few years The leadership team met earlier with the CEO of Habitat for Humanity, which is getting two or three homes returned to them One needs extensive repairs, but the other two need painting, cleaning, flooring and some cabinetry work The estimated time frame is 30 to 45 days on these ONM offered to help

The owner gave ONM a home on Lot 63 in Pescara Lakes, 570 57th Ave W , Bradenton, where ONM has worked the past few years The home suffered some hurricane damage, but has "solid bones" and will become a veteran's new home We made substantial progress last week on the interior, patching walls and painting, framing the bathroom, plumbing, and installing a split air conditioning unit From Dec 5 to 9, we hope to finish the bathroom and install kitchen cabinet bases We work from 7:30 to 11:30 a m

If you would enjoy working on the projects and engaging in fellowship, please join us Every skill level is needed and appreciated!

If you would like to participate in these efforts onsite work or ramp installation contact Lakewood Ranch Rotarian Terry Byce (terry byce@verizon net or 703 627 7765) or Greg Kisella (text 850 585 1698 or gkiselaonm@gmail com) Bob Feller, who spoke to our club in June, is still actively involved

To learn more about ONM, visit the website by clicking here

The Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch will again be collecting wrapped shoeboxes to donate to Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee to distribute to seniors in our community. We will collect boxes until Dec. 15, either at our Holiday Party on Dec 8 or our luncheon meeting on Dec 15. Please review instructions below and on the next page. Sybil Porter