2010 may newsletter
2010 MAY NEWSLETTER
Note: The Calendar of Events now has its own page. Click on Calendar in the Top Menu.
CONTENTS
- May Luncheon
- From the President
- New Member Bio: Pina Ackerman, Mili Orsini, Christine Jarchow Sjoblom
- Grapevine: News and Notes about WEC Members
- Book Club
- Cannon Circle
- GEM
- WEC Table and Reservation Policies
- New Slate of WEC Board of Directors
- Closing Thought
- WEC Board of Directors
- Luncheon Dates
- Membership Attendance
MAY LUNCHEON
Date: Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Time: 11:30 Networking; 12:00 Luncheon
Place: Tower Club, 28th floor
One Financial Plaza in the Regions Bank Building
Click here for directions
Program Speaker: Dr. Barry Barker, Environmental Scientist and Professor
Member Business Showcase: Meryl Charnow, John Hancock Financial Services
Guest Cost: $30. Guests must RSVP in advance.
Menu:
Grilled Mahi-Mahi with a fruit salsa
or
Grilled Chicken with a fruit salsa
Save room for dessert: Chocolate Cake
Quote: When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves. ~David Orr
GUEST SPEAKER
Dr. Barry Barker, Environmental Scientist and Professor,
Nova Southeastern University
Internationally published photographer and author of over 30 travel books.
Topic: Protecting the Environment and Endangered Species
Dr. Barry W. Barker is an Associate Professor in the Farquhar College of Arts & Sciences at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He teaches in the Department of Math, Science, and Technology and is primarily responsible for the Environmental Science, Introduction to Geography, Conservation of Natural Resources, and Biogeography courses taught in both the day and evening undergraduate programs.
Dr. Barker has a Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University in Zoology, a Master of Education degree in Marine Biology from University of Delaware, a PhD in Counseling Psychology from Sussex College of Technology, a "post-doctorate" Masters of Science degree in Human Geography from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an EdD degree in Instructional Technology and Distance Education.
With a background in teaching, business, and travel, he teaches environmentalism and geography by instilling within his students a spirit of individual responsibility to actually resolve problems. He teaches his environmental science students how to create the social instruments within our society to take action, investigate, confront, and solve many issues, both in South Florida, as well as on the NSU campus. In 2004 he was one of four nominees for Professor of the Year, a university wide award.
Another area of interest is the Geography of Ecotourism in third world and developing countries. His travels in the past ten years have taken him to over 100 countries. He and the group of professional travel writers and photographers who accompany him have been "guests of state" in over a dozen countries, he has shot over 80,000 photographs, his photographs have appeared in several national and international magazines, and has published 30+ books and CD-ROM photo travel "books."
In addition, other burning areas of curiosity resulting from his travels and contacts with a multitude of cultures from around the world are the issues of biodiversity and human rights, i.e., how societies treat their citizens, both individually and collectively. He has two active areas of research. The first examines how people in third world and developing countries view animal biodiversity. Dr. Barker has established and is currently maintaining a field research station in the Cloud Forests of the Amazon located near Baños, Ecuador, in the San Martin Zoological Gardens. Here, he brings together students and professional photographers to help zoo personnel create an understanding with the local population about the importance of protecting endangered animal species.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Explore…that was the word we introduced at our retreat last June. I hope you all have been able to explore something in your life this year, whether it was exploring friendships or taking up a new hobby. Many of us explored (aka got out of our comfort zone) salsa dancing. We had a great time, no matter how adept we were at the dance steps. Please see Susan Kingsley for more information on Casa Salsa or to get a pass for a free class.
We had two Cannon Circles this month…the first at the Ft. Lauderdale Yacht Club hosted by Martha Lord and Maggie Smith. We felt like we were in a tropical oasis and enjoyed the ocean breeze, delicious food and wonderful company. Melissa Rapkin and Sande Kaskel hosted the other Cannon Circle at Melissa’s company, Willow Wood. We learned about independent living, assisted living and the memory community. We took a tour and discovered that all of us would love to live there! Sande informed us about long-term care insurance and how the new legislation makes it easy and affordable.
At our April meeting, we introduced our new board—congratulations ladies. Deb McLaughlin introduced everyone to the Duncan Center. Many of us had been there two years ago for the retreat and had a wonderful time there. Our speaker, Sharlyn Lauby, discussed LinkedIn and other social media…judging by the number of questions and requests for her presentation, it’s a topic on everyone’s minds.
Please don’t forget to mark your calendar for the retreat, Saturday June 5th. Jan Bullard has a
fantastic day planned and it’s a great way to get to know your fellow members and relax!
NEW MEMBER BIO: PINA ACKERMAN
Read all about Pina’s biography in our new WEC blog! Feel free to comment on her member profile and personally welcome her to WEC! Click here to read more …
NEW MEMBER BIO: MILI ORSINI
Read all about Mili’s biography in our new WEC blog! Feel free to comment on her member profile and personally welcome her to WEC! Click here to read more …
NEW MEMBER BIO: CHRISTINE JARCHOW SJOBLOM
Read all about Christine’s biography in our new WEC blog! Feel free to comment on her member profile and personally welcome her to WEC! Click here to read more …
THE EXECUTIVE GRAPEVINE: NEWS AND NOTES ABOUT WEC MEMBERS
Click on the link to read all the great news about WEC members. This is the best part of the newsletter … don’t miss it. Click now !
Read all about the exciting adventures of our WEC members in our new blog! Feel free to comment on any post that strikes your fancy!
Read the Grapevine, news and notes about our members…
BOOK CLUB
We welcome all members to join us for our next Book Club meeting scheduled for 6:30pm, Monday, June 14th, as we will be reading “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett. The group will meet at Rose White’s home. Those attending are asked to bring a dish to share and she will provide beverages. If you are coming, please RSVP to Rose White at rosewhite@allstate.com.
More about “The Help” from Publisher’s Weekly:
“What perfect timing for this optimistic, uplifting debut novel (and maiden publication of Amy Einhorn’s new imprint) set during the nascent civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and, anxious to become a writer, is advised to hone her chops by writing about what disturbs you. The budding social activist begins to collect the stories of the black women on whom the country club sets relies and mistrusts enlisting the help of Aibileen, a maid who’s raised 17 children, and Aibileen’s best friend Minny, who’s found herself unemployed more than a few times after mouthing off to her white employers. The book Skeeter puts together based on their stories is scathing and shocking, bringing pride and hope to the black community, while giving Skeeter the courage to break down her personal boundaries and pursue her dreams. Assured and layered, full of heart and history, this one has bestseller written all over it.”
All WEC members are invited to become “Bookies”, where women meet in each other’s homes once a month to share in the love of books. Please contact Rose White at loveyouu@aol.com for more information about WEC’s monthly book club meetings.
CANNON CIRCLE
Along with the monthly luncheons, members also get together in a more informal atmosphere during the year. These evening socials are called “Cannon Circles” and are hosted at members’ homes or businesses. The Cannon Circle is named for Past President Shirley Cannon who was known for her gracious and uplifting spirit.
MEET, MINGLE & MUNCH
WITH YOUR WESTON BUNCH
Please join Ronnie Halpern & Rose White
For the May Cannon Circle
Wednesday, May 26th
6 – 8:30 PM
Wine, mimosas, & refreshments – Good food & good conversation
at
Ronnie Halpern’s
1011 Trailmore Lane
Weston, Fl. 33326
954-349-6363 home
RSVP no later than Friday May 21-please
Ronnie Halpern Ronnie@RonnieInteriors.com
Rose White rosewhite@allstate.com
GEMS: “Greet, Eat, Meet”
Formed in November 2002, members of WEC who choose to get together for an informal meeting are selected at random in small groups to greet, eat and meet. A Lead person is selected to set a time and place for breakfast, lunch, dinner or whatever. This is a great opportunity to get to know each other on a more personal level. If you would like to be a host, please contact Liz Mendel, GEM Coordinator at dolphintravelinc@aol.com or at her office, Dolphin Travel Inc., 954-351-2002.
This is a great opportunity to get to know each other on a more personal level.
WEC TABLE AND RESERVATION POLICIES
We have several club policies which we need to remind everyone:
Regarding items on the tables at the luncheons, the only things permitted are: official club business such as flyers about social events, items from the speaker, and items from the member doing the business showcase. Thank you for your cooperation.
RSVP to luncheons…Any member who fails to cancel a luncheon reservation within 48 hours or who fails to attend a reserved luncheon, will be billed at the current rate by VP of Finance. Each member will be entitled to one courtesy “no-show” per club year.
NEW SLATE OF WEC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jan Bullard – President
Jenny Kelly – Past President
Karen Rowe – President Elect/VP Finance
Marsha Broadwell – VP Membership
Laurina Anderson – VP Corporate Records
Kathleen Ryan – VP Community Involvement
Pam Morgan – VP Internal Involvement
Susan Kingsley – VP Events
CLOSING THOUGHT
There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed. ~Mohandas K. Gandhi
WEC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Jenny Kelly,
Ritter’s Printing 
Past President
Vanessa Koutalidis
Ambassador Committee
Cannon Circles
Business Showcases Island City Chiropractic 
President Elect/
VP Membership
Jan Bullard, Membership Committee
Membership Luncheon
Directory, Webmaster JP Financial Services 
VP Corporate Records
Diana Fairbanks, Corporate Records
Historian, By-Laws Committee Coldwell Banker Agent 
VP Finance
Karen Rowe, Budget, Dues Collection
Fort Lauderdale Acupuncture, Inc. 
VP Community Involvement
Chadia Meroueh
Mentorship (FX) Program
Women Empowering Women (WEW)
Community Outreach
Public Relations Auto Tech and Body 
VP Internal Involvement
Pam Morgan
Programs Committee
Greetings Committee
Newsletter, Book Club Body Centered Psychotherapy 
VP Events
Susan Kingsley
Social Committee
Fun raiser or Fund raiser
GEM Events www.susankingsley.biz 
LUNCHEON DATES
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
MEMBERSHIP ATTENDANCE
The membership requirement is to attend a minimum of five (5) club events every year in order to maintain regular membership. This is calculated on a fiscal year basis (i.e. August-June, not calendar year).