Thursday’s meeting is at the Haskell building in Riverside at 6pm, and dinner at The Loop in San Marco will follow.

ABOUT ROTARACT Rotaract Club strives to develop and enhance its member’s commitment to the community and his or her own personal growth. Community service activities mixed with social opportunities encourage members to learn to work – and to play – as an individual and as team, facilitating collective growth. To find out more on how to become a member visit our website at www.jaxrotaract.org. We’re also on facebook at Rotaract of Florida’s First Coast.

2009-2010 Rotary International recognition of Rotaract outstanding projects recipients

• International: Rotaract Club of Manila (District 3810, Philippines) for “Response and Relief Program” (to collect and distribute relief supplies, provide medical assistance, and raise funds to rehabilitate two learning centers for residents of five communities affected by Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in the region of Manila,
Philippines)

• Africa Districts: Rotaract Club of Quatre Bornes (District 9220, Mauritius) for “Let’s Change Their Future” (to provide bathing facilities and items, nutrition education, vitamin-rich foods, and school uniforms to 400 impoverished students at Serge Coutet Government School in Baie du Tombeau, Mauritius)

• Asia Pacific Districts: Rotaract Club of Chung Yuan (District 3520, Taiwan) for “Rotary Promises We Achieve” (to raise $10,000 in Taipei, Taiwan towards the global campaign to eradicate polio)

• Europe Districts: Rotaract Club of Izmir-Göztepe (District 2440, Turkey) for “Clean Sea Project” (to raise awareness of the need for and benefits of safe water and sanitation among 7,600 children in 47 primary schools in Izmir, Turkey)

• Latin America Districts: Rotaract Clubs of Puebla de los Ángelos, Puebla Centro Histórico, Puebla Industrial, and Chilpancingo de los Bravo (District 4180, Mexico) for “Centros Rotaract de Iniciación Technológica para Niños Indígenas (Rotaract Technology Centers for Indigenous Children)” (to provide four computer labs and remodel one school dormitory serving 300 indigenous youth in the region of Puebla, Mexico)

• South Asia Districts: Rotaract Club of Women’s Christian College (District 3230, India) for “Stree Suraksha” (to create awareness of domestic violence with the general public in Chennai, India)

• United States, Canada, and Caribbean Districts: Rotaract Club of Florida’s First Coast (District 6970, USA) for “Black Tie and Blue Jeans Gala” (to raise $22,000 for a school serving special needs children in Jacksonville, Florida)

Below is the text of the letter from Mr. Kenny.

1 May 2010

To Those Attending
The 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Rotaract Club of Florida’s First Coast

Dear Rotaractors:
I would like to extend my special welcome to the Black Tie and Blue Jeans Gala where you will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Rotaract Club of Florida’s First Coast.

Your presence tonight in Jacksonville—simply the fact that each of you has chosen to take the time and travel to be at this gala celebration, in itself says volumes about who you are. As Rotaractors, you’ve chosen to spend your time talking about subjects such as water, health, hunger, and literacy. You’ve chosen not to spend time on yourselves, but on others. You’ve chosen to spend it in service. I am proud to have you as part of Rotaract, and proud to have Rotaract as part of our organization.

As the poet Byron wrote, the days of our youth are the days of our glory. And in Rotaract, the days of your youth are the glory of all of Rotary. You are the future of Rotary, and you are the future of your communities. What you choose to do, what you choose to make of yourselves, will not only affect yourselves. It will affect us all.

As you celebrate this important milestone in your club’s history, remember the responsibility for Rotaract (and Rotary) is yours. And once the gala celebration is over, dream great dreams of Rotaract service. And go back to your club and sponsor Rotary Club to discover how to achieve them. The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands.

Sincerely,

John Kenny
President, Rotary International

The annual Black Tie and Blue Jeans Gala will be held Saturday, May 1 at the Southlight Gallery, 100 North Laura Street, Jacksonville, Florida. Tickets are $50/person and can be purchased at jaxrotaract.org.

The Big Fun Foundation, Inc., 501(c)(3) is a charitable organization that raises funds to create activity boxes, “Big Fun Boxes,” that are donated to children in hospitals around the country. Knowing from 26 years of experience with her son, Grant’s health issues, regardless of the reason for the hospitalization, it is a stressful time for children and their families. Big Fun Boxes are given to children for any illness or injury. To date, 6,250 Big Fun Boxes have been given to 71 hospitals in 31 states and more than 75 hospitals await Big Fun Boxes for their patients.

Prior to concepting and developing The Big Fun Box in 2005 with her late son, Grant, Jo Anne was a copy editor and brand manager at Citibank in Jacksonville. Through this experience, she gained much knowledge in product development and branding, which have allowed the Foundation to own four trademarks for The Big Fun Box.

Since the February 2009 death of her son and co-founder, Grant Prather, the work of The Big Fun Foundation is dedicated to his inspiration and spirit.

After Jason speaks, Nathan Riska will provide our member craft talk.

Anyone is welcome to attend our membership meetings. We look forward to seeing and introducing ourselves to guests. We meet at the Haskell building in Riverside at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.

After Lucy speaks, Elizabeth Minneci will provide our member craft talk.

After Steven speaks, David Bravo will provide our member craft talk.

As the director of the society since 1996, she oversees the organization’s projects, including restoration of the 1879 Merrill House and the society’s restored headquarters and million dollar restoration, the National Register Old St. Andrews.  She oversees what she believes is the most important work of the society, its archival repository, as treasure trove of documents and photographs of area history.

Emily has taken an active role in local history publications.  She spearheaded a reprint of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1873 book, Palmetto Leaves.  She wrote the grant to provide seed money for the society’s award-winning publication, The Great Fire of 190l, and she is a contributing editor to the book. Among her credits is the acclaimed Jacksonville Family Album which she wrote and edited along with noted author Wayne Wood.

After Emily speaks, Carter Rosenbloom will provide our member craft talk.

Anyone is welcome to attend our membership meetings. We look forward to seeing and introducing ourselves to guests. We meet at the Haskell building in Riverside at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.