Welcome! We are glad that you have stopped by! Sunrise Rotary is an active club of about 70 members who take pride in their community. Through our service projects and fellowship, we are committed to making a difference.
 
We are pleased to invite you to our 17th annual Mia's Old Fashioned Italian Dinner on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019 from 5-9 pm at Fresco Pizza and Pasta in the Haile Village. Find out all the details at this page!
 
While you are visiting with us, look around the rest of the website and discover how we come together to create positive, lasting change, here and around the world. If you think you would like to find out more, be sure to visit our club's very active Facebook page. Perhaps you may wish to visit with us at our weekly breakfast meetings. We look forward to meeting with you!
 
Rory Causseaux takes the helm as new president of Sunrise Rotary for 2019-2020
 
Congratulations to our new president Rory Causseaux and members who have stepped forward as club officers for 2019-2020. Past District Governor John Brunner administered the oath of office to the incoming leadership during our annual transition dinner Thursday evening, June 27, at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. 
 
The slate of officers will be:
 
President: Rory Causseaux
President-Elect: David Coker
Vice President: Darleen Morgan
Membership Chair: Katie Floyd
Secretary: KC Cole
Treasurer: Darleen Morgan
Past President: Dorothy Zimmerman
Sergeant-at-Arms: Rick Medina
 
Board Members (Year 1 of 2)
1. Chuck Geiger 2. Bobbie Robinson 3. Chris Trowell
 
Board Member (Year 2 of 2)
1. Drew Boyd (Position previously filled by Rupa Lloyd) 2. Sherry Houston 3. Richard Williams
 
You can view lots more photos of the evening on our club's Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pg/gainesvillesunriserotary.
 
What a special experience we are helping create at Newberry High
By now we hope you've seen or heard about the great service project that Sunrise Rotary (actually, Rory Causseaux!) organized this past Saturday at Newberry High. By all accounts it was a great success! A good number of Sunrisers were joined by more than 60 students and faculty from the school to landscape the front entrance median with new plants. Thanks to the hard work of everyone involved we were all done by 11 am and enjoyed some pizza, drinks and good feelings about a job well done. (By Rory's account we consumed 5 dozen donuts, 2 cases of cokes, two cases of water, and 30 pizzas.) The rains have returned just in the nick of time too, to keep everything alive and well. If you want to see more, there are a zillion photos on our Facebook page, as well as a link to the TV 20 story that Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe arranged. 
 
We need to give credit where credit is due. First of all, thanks to Rory and Terri Causseaux whose special magic made everything happen. Thanks also to Tropic Traditions/Jim Fleming, Watson Construction/Doug Dabney, Bryce Burger Landscape, LLC/Bryce Burger and CHW/EJ/Sara for all they did to make this event over-the-top successful. And thanks to the students at Newberry, who made us remember what a special thing school spirit really is, and who have given us a chance to contribute in some way to making things better. Hopefully, this is just Phase I of a larger project to make over the school's entrance. We're keeping fingers crossed that we will be funded by the district grants program, and in that case, you'll be hearing again from us!
 
RYLA attendees successfully complete their four-day adventure at Stetson
 
Look closely in this group shot -- you may be able to spot the four high school students  our club sponsored to attend last week's Rotary Youth Leadership Awards experience at Stetson. It has been said that RYLA is an amazing experience of a lifetime and that it changes the lives of these young people. They participated in various community service projects, practiced the seven habits of highly effective teens, learned about public speaking and resume writing, and had a great time at a formal banquet and dance, all conducted in a positive and affirming environment. 
 
Fortunately there were lots and lots of photos taken of the event over its four days, and they are available at the RYLA District 6970 Facebook page. We wish to extend a special thanks to Byron Lewis with the Reichert House, who drove the Reichert House van that carried the students both to and from Stetson. We hope that we can meet up with the four students at some point this summer to hear more about their RYLA experience.
 
Rave reviews and terrific photos from the Cedar Key weekend!
Posted by Wayne Smith
 
Note: Many thanks to Teresa Davidson who took many pictures of the weekend and posted them to Facebook. Also many thanks to Wayne Smith for submitting this article! There are many, many more photos waiting for you there!
 
Our Cedar Key Weekend for 2019 was a resounding success. Fifteen Rotarians and Director Mike Allen of the Nature Coast Biological Station and wife Mendy enjoyed happy hour Friday afternoon at the Nature's Landing Condo housing Jim and Becky Cato and Mitzi Austin and Wayne Smith. The fellowship that Josh mentions each Thursday was thoroughly enjoyed. Dinner was wherever, but for us it was the Island Inn Hotel.
 
Saturday 25 Rotarians and friends assembled at 10 am at the Nature Coast Biological Station where we were hosted by Dr. Charlie Martin, estuarine ecologist. We began our tour on floor one where the aquarian was located with red fish (among other fishes), terrapins and a vicious-looking alligator snapping turtle were swimming and awaiting feeding time. Also on this level are the tanks supplied with filtered water from the Gulf for the wet lab work (see photo). Dr. Martin explained the mission of the Station and showed the fetch area for the work of the station which included the entire water sheds of the rivers feeding the Gulf in the reach from Wakulla to Hernando dounties. Much of their work is done off shore and at Seahorse and other keys in the area.
 
We then visited the third floor which is be completed to house offices and work space for program expansion. Afterward we descended to the second floor where the offices and administrative facilities are located. Our last stop was in the conference room where Dr. Martin gave an overview of the research and outreach programs of the station ranging from sea grass ecology; impact of sea-level rise on the vegetative and faunal populations; and aquacultural clam industry and emerging oyster culture.
 
We walked to Duncan's on the Gulf for a lunch provided at half cost by Mike Duncan, owner. After lunch we had a scintillating presentation by Dr. Ken Sassaman , Hyatt and Cici Brown Professor of Archeology at UF. He began by speaking about the native populations in the area and their burial grounds and how sea level changes over the millennia had shaped their location and sometimes movement. Sea level changes have moved occupation from Atsena Otie Key to Cedar Key where inhabitants now reside. He discussed the early cedar industry that provided stocks for pencil manufacturing and how railroads and hurricanes shaped the movement of development. He then discussed how such changes will continue to shape development in the habitation of the Cedar Key(s). His goal is to develop a virtual reality program to be available at the Cedar Key Museum for peering into the future with differing climatic and sea level scenarios.
 
After the presentation we had some personal time before reconvening at Laraine and David Teiss's Cedar Key home . There was fishing and a lot of socializing with delightful snacks culminating with viewing the Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses. Two pots where sold to game-of-chance hopefuls for which there were four winners--two temporary and two permanent. After coming down from the hype we had a delightful dinner prepared by chef David with covered dish accompaniments. All were then on their own. Some slept in and had breakfast at Annie's on the way home.  As was said many times, "A good time was had by all."  And, we have a recommendation for next year!
 
Many Sunrisers turned out for Motown Memories at MK Rawlings
2019 Motown Memories at MK Rawlings
 
2019 Motown Memories at MK Rawlings
 
2019 Motown Memories at MK Rawlings
 
A big crowd of Sunrisers turned out last Thursday evening to groove along with 'Motown Memories' at MK Rawlings Elementary, and to see what a huge difference our contribution of sound and stage equipment is making to the student performers. The center's director, Sharon Kuchinski (who's directing the youngsters from just below the stage) even joined us for our social afterward at the Red Onion. Our contribution helped purchase the wireless microphones the singers used, as well as the sound board pictured above, and the spotlights. Now we get to write up the report that we'll send along to Rotary District 6970, along with a lot of pictures that tell more of this story. By the way, it all began back in the spring of 2018, when Leslie Wooten took it upon herself to write a District 6970 grant that made the contribution possible. Many thanks to Leslie, a member who has dedicated a lot of precious time and effort to MK Rawlings over the years. You've helped make the 2019 version of Motown Memories very special indeed. 
 
Today's dedication of the BJ and Clark Hodge Playground was terrific!
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2019 Kanapaha Playground Dedication
 
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The rains tried, but they could not dampen the friendly smiles and warm thoughts evident today at the dedication ceremony of the BJ and Clark Hodge children's playground at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. A large crowd turned out to hear remarks from a number of individuals whose lives have been touched by the generosity of the Hodge family. We were especially gratified by the presence of Mrs. BJ Hodge and her children, who really seemed to enjoy the very obvious affection all of us had for Clark. We are posting lots of photos on the Sunrise Rotary FB page at https://www.facebook.com/gainesvillesunriserotary/, as well as the video that we showed at the luncheon. Of course you can also see photos on the Sunrise Flickr page at https://flic.kr/s/aHsmw3tYMU.
 
At this week's meeting you'll have the chance to hear all about it. Special thanks are in order here for Cleve Cooper and Rick Medina for overseeing the construction, to Bobbie Robinson who threw one terrific luncheon, to the friends of Clark who shared their precious and thoughtful memories with us, and to our friends at Kanapaha Gardens who have allowed us to share the legacy of Clark and BJ Hodge for many years to come. 
 
16th annual Mama Mia's is in the Books! 
 
A big thank you to all the Sunrise Rotarians who pitched in and helped pull off another successful Mama Mia's. Our Mama Mia's chair, Rick Medina, deserves a long, sustained round of applause for going above and beyond to keep us all moving in the same general direction . . . the finish line! We are there, so here are a few items to mention as we cool down from the half marathon we all just ran:
  • We're trying to wrap up the financials asap. If you have any uncollected sponsorships or ticket sales, try to bring those monies to our meeting this week. Bobbie Robinson and John Verkler have sent our reminder emails as well.
  • We've uploaded some photos of the event to our Facebook page, which you are encouraged to view and share out with your friends. We have even more at in our online photo album at this link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gainesvillesunriserotary/
  • Be thinking about next year's program. Would you like to step up and help get it organized for us?
 
 

Good Morning!

We meet Thursdays at 7:00 AM
Hilton UF Conference Center Hotel
1714 SW 34th St.
Gainesville, FL  32607
United States of America
 
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Upcoming Events
 
Upcoming Speakers
Dr. Ken Sassaman, UF Anthropology Dept
Oct 24, 2019
A History Runs Through It: Nine millenia of human experience along the St. Johns River
Mama Mia's Run Through
Oct 31, 2019
Breakfast at Fresco Pizza and Pasta
Richard Doty
Nov 21, 2019
Part 2: Florida by the Numbers
View entire list...
 
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