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<title>Rotary Ramblings – May 15, 2007</title>
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<div id=cover-sheet>"Ramblings" written by Susan Miller<br>
Thanks Susan!
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<p class=MsoTitle><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Rotary Ramblings – September 4, 2007</span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><u><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p><span
style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Called to order by President Kurt after a particularly delightful array
of piano pieces performed by our own <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Bruce Williams</st1:PersonName>.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Invocation was given by <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Lyn Huckle</st1:PersonName>.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Steve Rich led us (in Jimmy’s absence) in songs “Rotary”
and “Smile”.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>No birthdays or anniversaries.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Craig Hammett stood in for Harvey Brown and acknowledged our one visiting
Rotarian and the Rotarians who made up both online and the traditional way.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Fred Bonardi gave a very upbeat stock report – nice to have good
news for change.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>New Sargeant-at-arms committee member, Mike Campbell, collected $71
from a variety of sources including “start of football”,
“beautiful day” and more.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Kurt made several announcements – reminder of next Board of
Directors meeting next Tuesday 7:30am.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Scholarship meeting immediately after today’s meeting.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Membership and Foundation Meeting in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Ft.</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Pierce</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>
– <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Steve Bates</st1:PersonName>, Kurt Godfrey,
Jan Powell, Betsy Owens, <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Bill Adams</st1:PersonName>
and Vishon are attending.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
Deb Farrell announced that the Children, Hope and Horses bowling night is this
Saturday from 2-4 pm. Will be a lot of fun and support a great cause.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Steve Bates</span></font></st1:PersonName> introduced
today’s speaker. Richard Machek, member of the Florida House of
Representatives. He is a 6<sup>th</sup> generation Floridian who was originally
elected in 2000 and was reelected in 2002, 2004 and 2006. He has been a leader
regarding issues concerned with water resources, environment and preservation.
He spoke regarding the tax situation. Unfortunately, the bills currently
before the House are being reviewed and passed along partisan lines. </p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>House Bill 1B is the one that proposes immediate relief by rolling back
to the 2005/2006 tax levels with a 3% cap on homestead. However, the Counties
are required to make cutbacks, and this 3% cap does not allow for portability.
(ie. If you sell your home, your new home is at current tax rates – not
2005/2006 levels with the cap. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>House Bill 4B is regarding the super save our homes issue whereby the 1<sup>st</sup>
$200,000 value of the home is valued at 75% reduction and the next $300,000 is
an additional 15% reduction before taxation. The downside of this bill is that
to accommodate this, there will be loss of services including funding for
education. Also, there is a time constraint, so after a period of years, the
tax savings will be erased, and if a homeowner goes with the super homestead
exemption, you cannot go back to the old exemption later.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Finally, House Bill 5B is regarding the special election. This bill
voting for the January 2008 election was passed unanimously – because
there was a tradeoff. In order to get the paper trail that everyone wants, the
legislators had to vote for this bill. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>September 18<sup>th</sup>, they will be reviewing the budget. At this
point, there is a substantial deficit. The question was posed regarding
honoring class size – this is being done. Also the question about PIP
insurance. This insurance requirement expires October 1<sup>st</sup>. The
legislators are looking to get it extended one year to allow them to review it
during normal sessions. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Bill Adams</span></font></st1:PersonName> did not win
the pot from the green hat.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Respectfully submitted,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Sue Miller</span></font></p>
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