What is Rotary?
The Rotary Club of St. Petersburg turned 100 years old on January 2, 2020. The club was one of the first 200 clubs chartered by Rotary International (today there are over 35,000 clubs worldwide). It was founded by former St. Petersburg Times editor, William Straub and other community leaders.
We’re an international SERVICE club with 1.2M members worldwide, not a social club. Being a social is a byproduct of what we do to help our community and those less fortunate throughout the world.
If you are looking for ways to engage with business men and women committed to serving our community and our world we invite you to become one of 1.2 million Rotarians around the world by joining The Rotary Club of St. Petersburg, the largest and oldest service club in our community.
We invite you to visit us at our Friday meetings at noon at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club (also being broadcast via ZOOM) . It would be our pleasure to have you as a guest. If you would like more information, contact us today!
Club News
Our program today was an update on Bayfront Heath, recently acquired by Orlando Health.
Lorraine Parker, Chief Nursing Officer,
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg; Assistant Vice President
Lorraine Parker, MSN, RN, CENP, is the chief nursing officer at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, leading the hospital’s nursing vision, strategic direction and delivery of care. She is focused on continually enhancing the culture of providing quality patient care that is evident at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg.
Thank you for taking care of us Paula
Our program today was about St. Petersburg's historic Sunken Gardens. Our members attended the meeting in person at the Yacht Club and on Zoom,
Steve Viti is a docent and a master gardener at St. Petersburg's Sunken Gardens. After tending his own South Florida gardens for 30+ years, Steve obtained his Florida Master Gardener Certificate and began doing volunteer work at local botanical gardens, first at Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach and then Sunken Gardens beginning in 2018 as a docent. Steve greatly enjoyed giving his regular weekly docent tours for approximately two years before the pandemic hit and looks forward to its end so he can get back to giving tours at one of Florida's most beautiful gardens. Steve lives in St. Petersburg with his wife Nancy Dahlberg.
It was a great program! Thank you Steve 🌸
This is a hidden jewel in Saint Petersburg. Bring your family!
sprotary.org/rotary-run/?fbclid=IwAR1125m-A-Lcae0bTgtC1z3HZNFCb6Ur-vLxS_fpGBfVnPUrywZZtm5KypU
Rotary Run / Walk for the Roses is Set for Sat. May 1. Sign up the entire family for a good time and a good cause. Register at the link above.
Thanks to all who attended all who attended the club social on March 23 at Sea Salt Restaurant at Sundial. We had a great turnout and it was a perfect evening to be outdoors. It was also the debut of our new Rotary inflatable logo. Thank you Devika Srivastava for organizing such an great event.
Congratulations to St. Petersburg Police Department's Annual Ned March/Bud Purdy Award Recipients:
Sergeant Thad Coffin and Sergeant Chad Fite
Sergeants Coffin and Fite are continually responsible for successful investigations and lifting SPPD to new levels of experience, expertise and efficiency.
They are the utmost example of what younger officers should strive to become.
St. Petersburg is a better place to live, work and play having these men in charge of protecting and serving the city.
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Rotary Club of St. Petersburg, FL has sponsored this award every year since 1952.
This prestigious award is presented each year to an officer or sergeant who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments during his or her career at the St. Petersburg Police Department.
The award was established by Mr. Ned March, who joined the Rotary Club of St. Petersburg in 1941. It is said he had two great loves in life - the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Rotary Club. He personally funded these awards for ten years.
The award was recently renamed the Ned March/Bud Purdy award in recognition of former St. Petersburg Chief of Police E. Wilson "Bud" Purdy, who was a friend of Ned March.
Mr. Purdy, who was a Rotarian since 1955, passed away on February 13, 2014 at the age of 94.
Congratulations to two of St. Pete's Finest!
Who is the under cover cop on the left?
Rotary Community Grant Applications Now Available
The proceeds of the St. Petersburg Rotary Club Trust are distributed each spring to qualifying organizations as grants for various projects. These grant applications are now available for local non-profit organizations. The deadline for application is April 1, 2021
sprotary.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Rotary-grant-application-revised-2021.pdf
Rotary’s Guiding Principles
Rotary’s guiding principles have been developed over the years to provide Rotarians with a strong, common purpose and direction. They serve as a foundation for our relationships with each other and the action we take in the world.
We channel our commitment to service at home and abroad through five Avenues of Service, which are the foundation of our club’s activity.
4 Way Test
- Of the Things we think, say and do: is it the truth?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
5 Avenues of Service
1. Club Service
2. Vocational service
3. Community Service
4. International Service
5. Youth Service-New Generations Service
A Word
From Our President
Greetings Fellow Rotarians and Website Visitors:
The 5-year Rotary International “Plan of Action” starts with the Mission Statement: TOGETHER we see a world where PEOPLE unite and take action to CREATE lasting CHANGE across the globe, in our communities and within ourselves. Together – People – Create – Change.
The Rotary Club of St Petersburg has a mission this year to create change. But “it takes a village” and WE are that village in St Petersburg! Join our village to be in Service Above Self!
At our weekly Zoom meetings on Friday at noon, we hear from fellow Rotarians, community leaders and speakers from around the world. Use the “Contact Us” button to request the Zoom Meeting ID and password. Additionally, at our meetings we are enlightened about the ever-changing landscape of downtown St Pete, both politically, socially and architecturally.
This pandemic caused a total “pivot” for people and businesses alike. As Rotarians of Action, we share a strong sense of purpose. As “People of Action” WE are effective problem-solvers. Today, what can you do for the common good? Whether it’s a phone call or heavy lifting of boxes at the Free Clinic service project, ALL hands-on deck as we help to re-shape our today into a greater, more positive and inclusive future!
Your Rotary task for today: Say something nice to someone to brighten their day!
Have a positive, exciting week!
– Liz Heinkel
