Wednesday Meeting

Featured Speaker for March 1st Meeting: Doris Colgate Co-Owner, President & CEO Before joining the advertising department of Yachting Magazine in 1967, Doris had never been on a sailboat. However, after taking a Learn to Sail course at Steve Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School and then a sailboat racing course run by Steve Colgate, Doris became hooked on sailing – and Steve Colgate – who she married in 1969. Doris joined Offshore Sailing School full-time as its Vice President In 1970, became President in 1978, and CEO/President in 2001. The Colgates grew Offshore Sailing School from a one-branch, two-instructor, two-boat operation into the industry leader with more than 150,000 graduates. Doris launched the National Women’s Sailing Association to create more awareness of sailing among women and help women build confidence in their sailing skills, spearheaded You Can Sail Escapes to provide all-women sailing programs, launched the sailing-mentoring program for at-risk girls AdventureSail, and established [...]

Featured Speaker for March 8th Meeting: Judie Baker-Basil Owner Judie Baker-Basil moved to Pine Island, Florida, in May 2014 with her husband, Mickey Basil. She owns Basil's Bottle and Glassworks, located in Flea masters Flea market. Prior to moving to Florida, she lived in the Washington, DC, area where she co-owned J & F Associates (a safe company). She is a Certified Safe Technician. Other career roles included sales training and opening new branch offices as a Vice­President for WMI, an international sales company. In 2017 Judie met Shawn Gilstad, co-founder of Charlotte County Imagination Library (in 2011), an affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. This program intrigued Judie, as she had studied Biology and Special Education at Towson State University and has a passion for child development. Over the next few years, Judie learned more about the Imagination Library program, which mails a free book to preschool children every month until they [...]

Featured Speaker for March 15th Meeting: Lucrecia Garcia Youth Services Chair Lucrecia Garcia was born and raised in Venezuela. She studied Political Science at the Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV)and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Administration. After working for a couple of years at an Advertising and communications company in Caracas as an information department coordinator, she decided to move to the USA. In September of 1994, she landed in Chicago to study English at Concordia University. After a few months, she continued her English language studies at Truman College. In the summer of 1998, she moved to Miami, FL, where she started and continued practical learning in accounting, specifically bookkeeping. From 1998 through 2007, she worked for different companies as Officer Manager and Bookkeeping Clerk. Her two children, Christopher and Alyssa, were born in Miami. In 2007 Lucrecia had the opportunity to move to Fort Myers, where two of [...]

Featured Speaker for March 22nd Meeting: Bryon Wilfert Consulate General of Mongolia Bryon Wilfert has Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Toronto and a degree in public administration from St. Lawrence College in Kingston. In addition, he is an Accredited Municipal Clerk. He taught history and political science at Havergal College in Toronto from 1977 to 1997. The Honourable Bryon Wilfert has served more than ten years as the Chair and other Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group (CJIG) posts. He has contributed significantly to enhancing the relationship and promoting mutual understanding between Japan and Canada through interaction between both countries’ inter-parliamentary groups. In June 2011, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, Japan’s second-highest honor, by Emperor Akihito to recognize these outstanding contributions officially. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Crowne [...]

Featured Speaker for March 29th Meeting: Rob Spicker Assistant Director Rob Spicker is the Assistant Director of Media Relations and Public Information for the School District of Lee County. He serves as the primary spokesman for the School District and is involved in all District communication efforts, social media, video production, and community outreach. Prior to joining the School District, Rob was a broadcast journalist for 27 years. He spent 10 years waking up Southwest Florida as the anchor of WINK News This Morning on both WINK-TV and WXCW. Rob helped lead WINK News This Morning to unprecedented ratings success. Rob and his wife have three children and have called Fort Myers home since 2007. He is Board Vice President for the Animal Refuge Center in North Fort Myers, which is Southwest Florida’s largest no-kill shelter. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza [...]