Featured Speaker for July 19th Meeting: Olena Hall, Olga & Volodymyr Vermiichyk Update on Ukraine Olena Hall was born in Ukraine in 1986 and moved to the U.S. in 2015. She earned her masters degree in Philology (The study of language) from Volyn National University in 2008.  She worked as a school teacher in Ukraine until she moved to the United States.  Since arriving in the U.S. Olena has spent time raising her now 15 year old son and 6 year old daughter as well as working for several years as a Paraprofessional helping children learn the English language. She has also spent time advocating for Ukrainian causes including organizing supply drives to send Aid to Ukraine. She enjoys advocating for Ukrainians and talking about Ukrainian culture and language. Olga & Volodymyr Vermiichyk (Olena's parents) - were both born in Ukraine. They have lived in Ukraine since their birth until the present day.  [...]

Featured Speaker for July 26th Meeting: Christopher S. Bernier, Ed.D. Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier was sworn in as Superintendent of Schools of the School District of Lee County on May 16, 2022. With nearly 100,000 students and 13,000+ employees, Dr. Bernier will lead the 9th largest school district in Florida and 32nd largest in the U.S. His priority as Superintendent is to lead with a student-centered philosophy and ensure that the district’s strategic plan will meet the academic and social emotional needs of our students. Dr. Bernier also plans to prioritize the district’s budget to ensure that the district is being fiscally responsible and good stewards of taxpayer dollars. The district's core values will guide Dr. Bernier's leadership: Excellence Integrity High Expectations Accountability Belief in Students Professionalism Prior to Lee County, Dr. Bernier served as the Chief of Staff for the Clark County School District (CCSD) in Las Vegas, Nevada, the fifth largest [...]

Featured Speaker for August 2nd Meeting: Angela Katz Executive Director Angela Katz is an Executive Director at LARC, the Lee Association of Remarkable Citizens. Established in 1954, LARC Inc. is a training center for success that provides support services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. A highly accomplished strategic fundraising and development professional, Katz joined LARC as director of development and communications in 2016. Her responsibilities included fund development, internal and external communications, marketing, and advancing community and business partnerships. Prior to LARC, Katz established her own company, Angela Katz, LLC, specializing in fundraising strategies for non-profits. She was the development director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida for four years. Katz transitioned into non-profit work after retiring from a successful career as a Regional Vice President with PartyLite Gifts. She was responsible for strategic direction and training for a sales leadership team of more than 300 [...]

Featured Speaker for August 9th Meeting: Priya Ahluwalia Rotary Club of Babcock Ranch - President Priya Ahluwalia is a true entrepreneur at heart. She has over 14+ years of professional experience in multiple sectors (startups, teaching, and nonprofits). She specializes in strategy, business, life mentoring/coaching, and business development roles across early-stage startups. She is the Founder of MoAloo Ventures (a venture capital firm), where the firm brings ideas to life. MoAloo Ventures help incubate startups and assist them in launching in the market. She has two Masters's degrees (Chinese Language and English Literature) with a Bachelor's in Business Administration. Priya is fluent in English, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, and Punjabi, with some proficiency in Japanese. She has personal and professional experience in China, India, and the United States. Priya loves to teach Chinese and Hindi language, travel the world with her best friend (husband - Mohit), and paint in her free time. Priya joined Rotary in May [...]

Featured Speaker for August 16th Meeting: Jordan Brown FBI Special Agent - Speaking on Terrorism Jordan Brown began his career with the FBI in Jacksonville, FL, in 2017 as an Intern. For the summer of 2017, Jordan worked on various violations, including criminal and national security matters. At the conclusion of the internship, Jordan was hired full-time as an Operational Support Technician for the Jacksonville Field Office of the FBI. Jordan continued his work in Jacksonville until 2019, when he was selected for New Intelligence Analyst training in Quantico, VA. Upon graduation, Jordan was assigned in Huntsville, AL, at the Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center where he worked with scientists to disseminate intelligence pertaining to Improvised Explosive Devices recovered throughout the world. In June 2021, Jordan began training as a New Agent in Quantico, VA. Upon graduation from the Basic Field Training Course, Jordan was assigned to work White Collar Crime in Fort [...]

Featured Speaker for August 23rd Meeting: Katie Butte Education Assistant - Holocaust Museum and Cohen Education Center After graduating in 2021 from the Universität Potsdam (Germany) and University College Dublin (Ireland) with a double Masters in International War Studies focusing on the Holocaust, Katie moved from Germany to Fort Myers to be closer to her family. Since moving to SWFL, Katie has joined the Education Department at Naple’s Holocaust Museum and Cohen Education Center where she channels her passion for teaching the lessons of the Holocaust into student and adult tours, creating interactive programming, consulting on exhibits, and carrying out research. Katie is passionate about sharing her knowledge and inspiring the community to learn more about the Holocaust and being an Upstander in their own community. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower Drive, [...]

Featured Speaker for September 6th Meeting: Alfred Current District 6960 Governor Alfred Current was born and reared in Gastonia, North Carolina. He graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne University located in Hickory, North Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976. He was accepted into the management development program with JB Ivey and Company, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, a retailer now known as Dillard’s. He later moved to the wholesale side of clothing as a manufacturer’s representative for ladies’ apparel. A Church fundraising project put him into the BBQ catering business which then led him to opening a brick-and-mortar BBQ restaurant. Alfred served on several boards while in Gastonia including the Gaston-Lincoln Area Mental Health Board, Gaston County Chapter of the American Red-Cross and Gaston Residential Services-a non-profit advocacy and provider of residential group homes for those with disabilities. He was elected to serve a four-year term on the Gaston County Board of Education [...]

Featured Speaker for September 13th Meeting: Ted Sottong CEO - Pickup The Ball Ted has been a Rotarian for over 25 years, and has been a member of the Fort Myers Sunrise Club since 2004.  He is a local architect and founded Pickup the Ball, Inc. in 2012.  Through that organization, he has connected with young men from stressed areas to help empower them to lead their communities with the goal of transformation.  Ted enjoys sports photography in his spare time, along with adventurous travel and making pasta when time permits.  Ted thinks black Air Forces are dress shoes and he gave all his ties away, so in his mind, he dressed up for this occasion. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower Drive, FL, 33907 Can't Make it? [...]

September 20th Meeting: Club Assembly Get to Know the Members This week's Rotary Club of Fort Myers Sunrise club meeting will feature the members of the club as the guest speakers. Get to know their hobbies, their backgrounds, and some fun facts! Featured members will be: Dilman Thomas, Jerry Hall, and Robin Gretz. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower Drive, FL, 33907 Can't Make it? Join our Zoom Meeting - 2 Ways to Join ONE Click on the link to our ZOOM ROOM below. With this method you can join via a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet or phone. If you use a desktop or laptop you can use your regular browser or download the Zoom App for your computer. If you plan [...]

Featured Speaker for September 27th Meeting: David F. Hoel, PhD Lee County Mosquito Control District - Malaria Update Dr. David Hoel was born and raised in Columbia, S.C., attended high school in Oklahoma and served 3 years in the Army as an ammunition specialist. Afterwards, David attended Texas A&M University, graduating in 1986 with a B.S. in entomology and later with an M.S. in 1993 with a specialization in mosquito biology. In 1994 he received a commission as a Medical Service Corps Officer in the U.S. Navy, serving as a Medical Entomologist from 1994 to 2017. He deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and served for 2 years as an entomology researcher and department head of the Vector Biology Research Program at the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center #3 in Cairo, Egypt. He completed a PhD at the University of Florida in 2005 studying the bionomics of Aedes albopictus while [...]

Featured Speaker for October 4th Meeting: Don Thomas Gift of Life of Florida Don was born in Rochester, New York. Don & Sue have been residents of Cape Coral Florida since 1981. He is a Major Donor to the Rotary Foundation, Sustaining Member, and both Sue and Don are benefactors. He is a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Cape Coral Goldcoast, was the Charter Secretary, and is a Past President of his club. Don was District Governor of 6960 in 2010-2011 and was a delegate to the Council on Legislation 2016. He is an Alumni of the Rotary Foundation. Don was President of Gift of Life of Florida 2016 - 2018. Both Don and Sue are on the Board of Directors. He is a Charter member of the Rotary Leadership Institute Sunshine Division, Discussion Leader and was Director of Training Development. Don was honored to receive the District 6960 “Service Above [...]