living out rotary's motto 'service above self'
sunrise rotary vero beach invites you to join us !
Welcome to Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach!
We meet on Wednesday mornings at 7:00 a.m. (breakfast available at 6:30 a.m.) at the Riverhouse - 305 Acacia Road.
Chartered in 1989, Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach is made up of members of our community who volunteer throughout Vero Beach, Indian River County, the state of Florida and internationally under the motto 'Service Above Self.'
Some of our areas of focus indclude improving our environment, combating hunger, impacting the health and welfare needs of a variety of popultaions, providing education and job training, promoting peace, eradicating polio and so much more!
We are small business owners, corporate executives, non-profit leaders, government officials, as well as retired executives and professionals who meet weekly to share camaraderie, hear from speakers on important topics, and plan meaningful projects to benefit others.
SPEAKERS/PROGRAMS FOR OUR UPCOMING MEETINGS
September 20th Tom Hardy - Youth Journalist Program
September 27th Gina Melton - Junior Achievement
INTERACT CLUB NEWS
Rotarians Mike Murphy and Gail DeRoy with Interact students Sophie Schlaeper, Lindsay Dillahey, and teacher Mr. Doutrich at an event at IRCHS.
DISASTER RELIEF TRAILER
Sunrise Rotarians are pictured stocking the disaster relief trailers that are maintained by our Club. President, Justin Lefebure, (Bottom picture - Right) delivered the trailer to Mayo Florida (north west of Gainesville and East of Perry) to be used by Rotary clubs in the area to assist residents impacted by Hurricane Idalia.
*****UPDATE*****
Justin, and his wife, Michelle, delivered the second fully stocked trailer to Mayo, Florida.
ANOTHER COMMUNITY REFRIGERATOR
Sunrise Rotary partnered with other local agencies to establish another community refrigerator. Pictured above (L-R): Wanda Scott (Fridge Coordinator), Sue Flak, Sister Mary Jackson, Chief Touchberry, Pam O'Donnell, Debbie Martens, and Jill Brown at the grand opening of the Gifford Community Fridge.
ENCOURAGING FUTURE ROTARIANS
Rotarians Pam O'Donnell, Mike Murphy, and Gail DeRoy supporting Trent (past presidnet of the IRCHS Interact Club) and Lindsey (current president) during the Rotakids and Jurior Interact Orientation/Open House at Imagine Schools at South Vero.
CITRUS CLEAN UP
Brian, Pam, Gail and Cathy are pictued getting the rain garden in shape for the new school year. Sunrise Rotary sponsors the garden at Citrus Elementary.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Club members collected supplies for local schools over a period of several weeks. Pictured Left: Gail DeRoy delivers to Indian River County School District. Pictured Rigt: Pam O'Donnell delivers to Fellsmere Elementary.
POLLUTION MAPPING PROJECT
Sunrise Rotary is involved with the Ocean Research & Conservation Association’s Pollution Mapping Project on a regular basis. The most recent expedition Saturday included Rotarians Mike Murphy, Jack Diehl, Kathy Lindsey, Justin Lefebure. They collected samples from the lagoon then analyzed and reported their findings at ORCA’s Center for Citizen Science. The two lagoon sampling sites our members monitor on a regular basis are the areas behind the Riverhouse and the dog park. This sampling provides needed data to initiate and maintain conservation actions. The purpose of the poject is to educatte and engage community members in solving the problmes that lead to the degradation of the Indian River lagoon.
RIVERSIDE PARK CLEAN UP
A group of our Sunrise Rotarians spent their Saturday morning beautifying Riverside Park.
TREASURE COAST ELEMENTARY
Sunrise Rotary sponsored a Family Engagement Night for the Early Learning Program at Treasure Coast Elementary. Pictured helping serve dinner to over 100 attendees are Rotarians: Drew, Megan, Pam, Chris, Kristin, and Rob.
GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP
Members of our club helping with the Great American Cleanup.
Nationally - 14,056,283 pounds of liter and debris collected and 2,449,669 pounds of items recycled!!!
CAREER FAIR
Sunrise Rotarians, Pam O'Donnell, Wilfred Hart, and Gail Marcia DeRoy participated in a carrer fair at Treasure Coast Technical College.
SUPPORTING OTHER ROTARY CLUBS
Pam and Gene O’Donnell, Lyn Kenney, Wendy Orthober, Linda Scalco, Tom and Rita Groendyke, Bill and Patrice Stapleton, Mike and Kristy Murphy and Debbie Avery supported the Rotary Club of Port St. Lucie by attending their Motown fundraising event with proceeds benefiting their Haiti project.
MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH
A large number of willing Sunrise Rotarians turned out to help with our annual Mother’s Day brunch for the residents of St. Francis Manor. Members brought delicious homemade items for the buffet and donated money for door prizes. Everyone attending received one as well as had a chance to win one of four bonus door prizes. All the ladies received a carnation given by Brian and Leigh Carman. Everyone enjoyed the food, fun and fellowship.
GIFFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL
Bob McCabe, Wilfred Hart, Jane Burton and Markus Mueller presented laptop computers to eight (8) students at Gifford Middle School for their exceptional test scores including one student who had perfect test scores in math and reading!
INTERACT AWARDS
Pam O’Donnell, Gail Marcia DeRoy, Linda Scalso, Mike Murphy, and Rex Taylor presented Zone 34 Interact awards at Indian River Charter High School.
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
Sunrise Rotarians, Pam O’Donnell and Chris Steinkrauss, with Principal, Tosha Jones, and Assistant Principal, Kim Rahal, during Teacher Appreciation Week at Citrus Elementary School.
ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
Congratulations to (front row left to right) Judith Lennox, Chris Steinkrauss, Jane Burton, Mike Murphy, Lisa Gehin, (back row left to right) Justin Lefebure, Pam O’Donnell and Tarik Kawi our most recent Rotary Leadership graduates. Also pictured, Arthur Hodge, instructor, and Chairman of our Sunrise Rotary Foundation.
READING TO ELEMENTARY CHILDREN
To support Literacy in Indian River County, six of our club members read to 270 children in the Pre-K classrooms in six Vero schools. What a joy it was for the readers to share our passion for books!!! A very special thank you to Christine Steinkrauss and Barbara DuPont for championing the effort and shopping for all the books!
MORE ACTIVITIES AT CITRUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Rotarians Wilfred Hart, Pam O'Donnell, Gail Marcia DeRory, and Chris Steinkrauss attended the Buzz Fest supporting autism awareness at Citrus Elementary School.
OUR LATEST LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
Sunrise Rotarian, Mike Murphy, and prospective member, Bill Stapleton, recently installed a Little Free Library at the Fellsmere Community Fridge location.
SUNRISE ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATIONS
Sunrise Rotarian, Marty Lewis, presented awards to the Vero Beach High School recipients:
Colonel Jim Thompson Scholarship - Mary Catherine Amos, Ratajah Dawson, and Kara Malone.
Music Scholarship - Leon Dalglish (not present)
Sunrise Rotarian, Tarik Kawi, presented awards to the Indian River Charter High School recipients:
Colonel Jim Thompson Scholarship - Katie Harmody and Kale Tyson
Governors Interact Scholarship - Abigail Introcaso
Sunrise Rotarian, Dr. Ed Massey, preseented awards to the Sebastian River High School recipients:
Music Scholarship - Genevieve Presti
George C. Schroeder Scholarship - Briony Weragoda
Sunrsise Rotarian, Dr. Ed Massey, presented an award to the St. Edward's High School recipient Luna Rivera
21 Scholarships amounting to $26,000 were given to students in Indian River County this year by Sunrise Rotary.
CITRUS ELEMENTARY
Several of our Sunrise Rotarians attended the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast hosted by Citrus Elementary. Our club is very involved in numerous projects at the school throughout the year.
NEW MEMBERS 2023
CATHY PENDERLEITH
Cathy received a BS in Elementary Education from SUNY Oswego which included a year abroad in Madrid, Spain. Her first full-time teaching job was in Cashion, Arizona teaching English as a Second Language while also instructing the migrant farm worker parents ESL at night. She then completed certifications in Multi-Cultural Special Education and Bi-Lingual Education at ASU in Tempe, Arizona. After that, she obtained a certificate to teach at the Community College level and began instructing adults in ESL at night. She enrolled in the master’s program at Northern Arizona State University and obtained a degree in Educational Psychology and completed certification as a School Psychometrist. After 17 years, Cathy returned to New York where her family resides and continued teaching Spanish and ESL to inner city multi-cultural children. During her last ten years she returned to the elementary level ESL and ran the Student Government in a Micro-Society School.
MARTY KLEIN
Marty began his career in healthcare more than 40 years ago as a Podiatrist. His postdoctoral research and interests were in novel techniques to mitigate lower extremity amputations and healthcare technology, including biomedical image processing. His interest in healthcare technology and healthcare delivery drove an early career change. Much of the last 30 years has been spent supporting healthcare payer/provider organizations and healthcare technology companies; mostly consulting in labor arbitrage, analytics, and efficiencies. Marty was a member, past president, and Paul Harris Fellow in the Ronkonkoma Rotary Club (NY) in the 1980’s. Marty recently retired and he and his wife Leslie have been year-round residents of Vero Beach for over three years. They have one son, Ethan, who is a recent graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University and lives in Tampa. In his free time, you can often find Marty on the lagoon in one of his three kayaks.
MILO THORNTON
Captain Milo Thornton served in law enforcement with the City of Vero Beach and St. Lucie County prior to joining the Indian River County Sheriff Office in November 2002. At IRCSO, he has served as a Sergeant in Uniform Patrol, Lieutenant of Criminal Investigations, Captain of Uniform Patrol, and Major of the Bureau of Administration. Milo has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Indian River Community College. He has also completed Chief Executive Leadership class and Command Officer Development Course from University of Louisville and Leadership Development from FDLE Leadership Academy. Milo has received the John and Reve’ Walsh, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Missing Children’s Award, and Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. He is active with numerous non-profit organizations in IRC. He was also by Governor DeSantis to the Board of Trustees of Indian River State College Board in 2022. In his free time, Milo enjoys playing golf and supporting our youth and high school sports teams.
BRANDY BUCKNER
Brandy is a co-owner of The Crab Stop Seafood Bar & Grill in Vero Beach and Sebastian. Additionally, she serves as the CEO of Sweet Desires Espresso Bar & Sweet Desires Dessert Lounge. In her professional career, Brandy has worked at Peace River Citrus Products for 20 years and currently holds a senior position with the company. She is actively involved in her community serving as the President of the Board of Directors for the Helping Hands Program of South County. She has also participated in the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class in 2019, the IGNITE 360 Business Mentoring Program in 2020, and weVenture's CEO Peer Group in 2023. Despite her busy schedule, Brandy prioritizes spending quality time with her loved ones. As a wife and mother, she cherishes her family, and also finds joy in the companionship of her Cane Corso Mastiffs, Bucky and Kalea, whom she considers her gentle giants.
BILL STAPLETON
Bill Stapleton served in many capacities during his thirty-five years with AT&T ranging from office mail clerk to Director of Marketing upon his retirement. In 1983, he began working on the consulting team of McKinsey and Company. He later became the founder and managing partner of the Stapleton Group, a consultancy focused on financially improving distressed and emerging companies. Bill also served six years as a commissioned officer in the Air Force. Until recently, he served as the Assistant Treasurer and Chairman of the Reception Committee for the Cleveland Clinic Hospital Auxiliary. Visitors to Vero Beach since 1986, Bill and his wife Patrice have been full-time residents since 2015. They will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary in June. They have four children and one granddaughter.
MARKUS MUELLER
Markus grew up near the city of Bonn, Germany. He enjoyed his education years and at age 16 qualified to be part of a student exchange program and was able to spend his junior year in Glandorf, Ohio. He completed preparatory school, attended a local college where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business and began working in the regional offices of Mercedes-Benz in Bonn. He also completed a 15month military training program. Markus immigrated to Columbus Ohio at age 25. He is a Certified Professional Insurance Agent working as a licensed insurance broker for property/casualty and life/health insurance. Markus and his wife, Teej, have lived in Vero Beach since 2015. They have one daughter, two sons and three grandchildren. They are active in their local church, and especially enjoy working in the food pantry. In their spare time, they like to travel and spend time with their children and grandchildren.
BARBARA HAMMOND
Barbara is one of the three original founders of The Learning Alliance, and currently serves as its Chief Executive Officer. She has a B.A. in Economics from Williams College and a master’s degree in Public and Private Management from Yale University. Barbara was formerly a consultant with Bain and Company in Boston and the Director of Strategic Planning for Shawmut Corporation in Boston. Prior to co-founding The Learning Alliance, she served as chairman of the Mental Health Association Board of Directors in Vero Beach where she spent 10 years developing their strategic planning and fundraising activities. A resident of Vero Beach with husband Tom since 1996, Barbara is the mother of two boys.
NANCY NITARDY
Nancy Nitardy moved to Vero Beach a year ago from Austin Texas to be closer to her mom (88) and dad (92) and, for the sunshine and beaches. In Austin, she spent twenty-one years in the Austin Independent School District. The first 6-yrs as the Program Director for the federal GEAR UP Grant. When the program ended, she continued at McCallum High School as the college counselor and golf coach for fifteen years Prior to Austin, she coached college swimming for fifteen years at Indiana University, Harvard University and Dartmouth College. Nancy is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in Education. She also is an eighteen-time swimming All-American while at USC. Since moving here, she has become a mentor to a 7-yr old through the Youth Guidance program and volunteers and writes grants for the Sally Wilkey Foundation. In her free time, Nancy enjoys playing tennis, pickleball, and golf and loves to travel and read.
MEGAN ROOT
Megan Root is a Vero Beach native and a 2009 graduate of Vero Beach High School. She attended the University of South Carolina for her undergraduate studies. In 2016 she received her Juris Doctor and Certificate in Public Interest Law from The University of Alabama School of Law where she received multiple accolades for her service to the community, including the honor of Order of the Samaritan. Megan is a member of the law firm of Collins Brown Barkett where her practice focuses on civil litigation and guardianship law. Megan is an executive board member of the Saint Lucie Bar Association and the Young Lawyers’ Division of the Indian River County Bar Association. She is a founding member of the Gifford Legal Services Clinic. She is a licensed Zumba fitness instructor and a devoted cat and kitten foster mom with the local humane societies. In her spare time, Megan enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her husband, Craig, and her tailless cat, Boo.
ANDREA KAUPAS
Andrea Kaupas is a board-certified family physician who recently opened her own primary care office, Coast 2 Coast Healthcare, in Vero Beach. She was raised in northern Michigan but her medical training allowed her to experience life outside of the mitten state attending Kansas City University of Medicine, and completing specialty rotations in North Carolina, Delaware and New York. She returned to Michigan for her residency. She also participated in medical missions to Peru, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. Upon graduating residency she moved to Traverse City, MI and was a partner in a practice for over 10 years. Andrea and her husband have five-year-old twin boys and a German shorthair pointer named Piper. They moved to Vero Beach in January 2020 in pursuit of more sunshine. When not working, they enjoy being outdoors, travelling, running, and anything to tire out the boys.
JORDAN LULICH
Jordan J. Lulich is a licensed Florida Attorney who concentrates his practice in the areas of Real Property and Business. A large part of his practice entails the issuance of title insurance as he is an authorized title insurance agent for Old Republic National Title Company. Jordan is also a licensed Florida real estate instructor and enjoys presenting classes and seminars to real estate agents. Additionally, he provides instructional opportunities to real estate brokerages on law related topics. Jordan graduated from Indian River Charter High School and holds a Bachelor’s Degree and Juris Doctorate from Florida State University. In his free time, he serves on the Board of the Indian River Charter High School, has completed numerous half marathons, 10k races, 5k races, and enjoys time competitively racing.
CONRAD "JIM" KUSEL
Jim grew up in Miami, attended Wake Forest University (’80), and Northwestern University School of Dentistry (’84). He joined his father’s dental practice in Port St. Lucie and soon after his brother Brian did as well. He joined Rotary in July of 1986 and has belonged to three different clubs – the Rotary club of Port St. Lucie, the Rotary Club of Vero Beach Sunrise and the Rotary Club of Havre, Montana. He has served in several positions in Rotary including president, as a board member, and as treasurer. He has been very active in numerous service projects at all three clubs. He and his wife, Karen, have been married 40 years and have three sons. James and his fiancée live in Naples, Italy where he is a Lieutenant Commander in the USN. Gregory and his wife live in Gainesville where he works as an environmental engineer for AECOM. Nathan and his wife live in Kissimmee where he works as a planner for the Transit and Transportation Department of Osceola County. Jim has semi-retired and he and Karen have relocated from Montana to Palm City.
NEW MEMBERS JULY - DECEMBER 2022
♦ Get to know these members by clicking on their picture ♦
CLARE MESHOT HARRISON BENNETT BOB HILDRETH
KYLE CASTLE KRISTIN JEWELL LYN KENNEY
ROTARY MEANS BUSINESS
Rotary Means Business meets the first Thursday of each month
7:30 - 8:30am
Baci Trattoria - 1918 14TH Avenue
Contact a Sunrise Rotarian for your invitation
Rotarians are welcome!
Rotary Means Business encourages Rotarians to support the success of their fellow Rotarians by doing business with them, and by referring others to them.
NEXT MEETING IS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5th, 2023
UPCOMING EVENTS
♦♦♦ SEPTEMBER♦♦♦
25
Membership Committee Meeting
26
Environmental Committee Meeting
28
Christmas Parade Committee Meeting
♦♦♦ OCTOBER♦♦♦
7
Oktoberfest - Vero Beach Community Center - 5:00 p.m.
FELLSMERE COMMUNITY FRIDGE
The following article was recently published in the Sustainable Events Network and features Sunrise Rotary members Sue Flak, Gail DeRoy and Linda Scalco. Many other club members, community volunteers, and agencies work tirelessly on the Fellsmere Community Fridge project to make it a sustainable project that benefits those in need.
Volunteerism - Meet the Fellsmere Fridge and Gail Deroy and Linda Scalco
Francis Purvey (Administrator) on 7 Feb 2023 8:44 AM
What happens when eliminating food waste and community volunteers collide? Change that can unite communities for the better.
Thank goodness for volunteers - in hospitals, airports and at events, food pantries and almost everywhere in most communities. In essence the world and many populations rely on volunteers to survive.
When Sue Flak, a SENFC Board member and Sunrise Rotary Club of Vero Beach member presented the concept of a Community Fridge to her fellow Rotarians and the city leaders of Fellsmere, Florida (near Vero Beach). She received immediate support - and even a donor for the fridge itself. It opened officially on February 26th, 2022 so will soon be celebrating its one year anniversary.
What is a Community Fridge? Quite simply it typically is a household size refrigerator. Sometimes with a pantry. In communities with known food insecurity, food is positioned in an easily accessed and safe location. Food items are donated, and food items are used with the mantra “Take what you need, leave what you can.” Sue Flak shared the purpose of a community fridge “to reduce food waste, build stronger communities and promote equal access to healthy food.”
And now meet Gail Deroy and Linda Scalco, also members of the Sunrise Rotary Club and avid volunteers for the Fellsmere Fridge. They deliver food, some donated and some paid for out of their own pockets. According to Gail, “As a special education teacher in Rhode Island before retiring and moving to Vero Beach, I have always appreciated that not all people have the same opportunities. Now, when I drop off food at the Fellsmere Fridge and see happy faces coming to take some food, it is heart warming and with huge self satisfaction”. Linda, a former school counselor in New Jersey, added, “I really feel what gratitude is all about and feel it in my heart on every visit”.
They both acknowledged there are many volunteers supporting the Fellsmere Fridge and are happy to be involved. “Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry has been particularly supportive,” added Linda. While the corporate donors list is long, Gail recognizes a few regular donors - Publix, Panera, the Food Pantry of Indian River County, and the Shining Light Garden Foundation. These help to ensure that community needs are met by the community, allowing us all to benefit in the rewards of depleting food waste.
INTERACT CLUB
Our Interact Club recently held a bake sale and raised $207 for Little Birthday Angels!
SUNRISE ROTARY COMMITTEES
Community Service
Chair - Debbie Avery
Environmental
Chair - Sue Flak
Health & Wellness
Chair - Linda Scott
Interntional
Chair - Rick Root
Literacy
Chair - Wendy Orthober
Membership
Chair - Robyn Stone
Public Image
Co-Chair - Deb Avery
Co-Chair - Deb Perez
Rotary Means Business
Chair - Darrell Horn
Scholarships
Chair - Ed Massey
Vocational
Chair - Tracy Carroll
Youth
Chair - Mike Murphy
The Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world.
Our mission
The mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
What impact can one donation have?
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For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected from polio.
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$50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness.
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$500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for children.
Help Your Community!
Consider being a part of our dynamic club serving Vero Beach, the state of Florida, and beyond.
Contact a Sunrise Rotarian & find out how you can become a Member!
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
Vero Beach has a new Little Free Library. Thank you Marty Lewis, Past President, Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach, for constructing and installing this at the Environmental Learning Center.
4-WAY TEST WORKSHOP
Sunrise Rotary held a 4-Way Test workshop for the 8th grade class at Imagine School South Vero on Friday the 20th of January. The objective of the workshop was to help the students learn how to handle and solve personal predicaments as well as make good choices using the Rotary 4-Way Test. This is the second year we have conducted the program at the school.
WOMEN IN ROTARY
HELPING AT HALLSTROM
Several Sunrise Rotarians were out bright and early participating in the Hallstrom Conservation Cleanup. The 100+ acres around the Hallstrom Farmstead were purchased by Indian River County and are being restored as a nature preserve and green space. The County expects the 93-acre conservation area around the Hallstrom House to be open to the public sometime in early 2023.
GIFFORD YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Several Sunrise Rotarains and many community members recently attended the Gifford Youth Orchestra gala.
The GYO offers a refuge from the mundaneness that can blunt the creative energy that lies dormant in many. It provides an education experience and training in various cultural and performing arts, including music, drama, dance, and the vocal arts. It is a place that encourages exposing talent within, and a place where any child can walk in and know that they are welcomed and loved…….and that they matter.
