GFLSCI NEWS
Greater Fort Lauderdale Sister Cities International Monthly Newsletter
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February / March 2009 Edition
Join Us at this Special Complimentary Event !
Grand Opening and Scholarship Fund Benefit Party
For more information, click here
Top Stories
Dear Mayor Jim Naugle, Farewell and Thank You!
Greater Fort Lauderdale Sister Cities International has been honored by your outstanding service as a City Commissioner and as the longest serving Mayor in history for the City of Fort Lauderdale . You have contributed not only to the local prosperity of the City, but you have also helped with your outstanding leadership and diplomacy for the development of international trades with other countries around the world, not only through Sister Cities projects, but also with other international organizations. We thank you for your devoted and sincere commitment and wish you well in your new endeavors.
Fighting Deforestation in Haiti - "A Dollar, A Tree" Program
Greater Fort Lauderdale Sister Cities International's Environmental, Humanitarian and Haiti Committees have joined forces with One Village Planet (click here to view website) to combat the environmental crisis in Haiti. The Committees have created a program, which will allow one tree to be planted in different areas in Haiti for every US dollar donated. The Program, called "A Dollar, A Tree", has the ambitious goal to reforest Haiti by planting 23 million trees per year.
According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), only 1.5 percent of Haiti is still forested. This percentage has considerately diminished since 1923, when 60% of Haiti was still forested. Dominican Republic, which shares the same island as Haiti, is 28% forested. An 1997 activity data sheet from the USAID entitled Improve Agricultural Productivity and Environmentally Sound Resource Management (Ref. 521- SO04) stated that 30 million trees are cut down annually. One Village Planet lead agronomist, Mr. Guy Mathieu, estimates the number of trees harvested in the past decade to 23 million trees per year. Deforestation in Haiti is mainly caused by the unsustainable harvest of trees for fuel and construction needs. Without trees, there are no more barriers to prevent flooding. Erosions problems prevail while detrimental effects to the soil hinders agriculture. It comes as no surprise, when experts tie poverty in Haiti to environmental degradation. Haiti has been declared the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere by the World Bank.
Our plan is simple. The "A Dollar, A Tree" program aims to lead a movement that will deposit more trees in Haiti than are withdrawn each year. GFLSCI and One Village Planet will apply the model of Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, to focus efforts in rural Haiti, especially amongst women, to achieve a sustainable village based approach to environmental restoration.
Deforestation in Gonaives � Photo Courtesy of One Village Planet
Effects of Floods Caused by Deforestation � Photo Courtesy of One Village Planet
The �A Dollar, A Tree� Program seeks to forest the following five locations in Haiti: Labadie, Derac, Phaeton, Acul and Cap Haitien using 10 different types of fruit and forest trees such as Chadek, Avocado, Lime, Mango, Orange, Cochen, Acacia, Oak, Lucenia, and possibly, Mohagony if available.
A new nursery will be created at Habitation Jouissant on Mont Joli to serve Cap Haitien. Our team has witness the solidarity present in villages in Haiti to contribute to this cause. The photo below depicts the effort of an entire village, where young and old habitants participated in planting the trees. Each person was given two mango trees to plant on community-owned land and will be responsible for watering his or her own trees. Each person was also given two mango trees to plant and nurture in their own immediate environment. Part of our mission is to give the rural communities both the means and the education on environmental sustainability.
Entire Villages Working in Solidarity to Reforest Haiti
The program has also the goal to create awareness both nationally and internationally about the consequences of deforestation on Haiti. The Committees plan to do outreach at Sister Cities events and in different schools throughout Broward and Miami-Dade County to raise funds.
To make a donation and for more information, please click here to go to our website.
Farm Tools For Haiti Program
Farm Tools for Haiti � A joint project of the Haiti, Humanitarian, and Environmental Committees.
In 2008, numerous natural catastrophes struck throughout Haiti. Hurricanes Gustav, Hannah, and Ike all flooded and practically destroyed the City of Gonaives and other towns in northern Haiti. In addition to the lives and homes that were lost, many farmers lost their tools and crops. The Farm Tools for Haiti Program will provide farmers and day workers in Haiti the means to regain their livelihood. Funding for this program will provide shovels, picks, hoes, axes, plows, and other hand tools to people affected by last year�s catastrophes.
In Haiti, a man with a tool is never without work.
Our Humanitarian, Environmental and Haiti committees received a pilot project grant of $6,000 from Lay Missionaries of Delray Beach, Florida. Funds will be used to purchase, ship, and distribute tools to local organizations identified and pre-qualified by the Sister Cities Haiti Committee in Cap Haitien.
Hosean International Ministries, a USA � HAITI mission, has offered to donate ocean transport in early March for some of the tools for this Sister Cities project.
The recipient organizations in Haiti include farmers� cooperatives, food for work programs, a women�s village cleanup group, and other volunteer groups performing rural public works projects. The image below show food distribution at a �Food For Work� program in Gonaives, Haiti, the area hit hardest by last year�s hurricanes. Our committees will soon be donating tools to this program as part of the �Farm Tools For Haiti� project. The work program is organized by the Ebenezer mission in Gonaives. It employs hundreds of local people on rural public works projects and pays them with food provided by the World Food Program. The more tools the mission has, the more people they can employ. We are proud to be able to contribute to this program.
Food Distribution at a "Food for Work" Program in Gonaives, Haiti
We are also collaborating with the Unity School of Delray Beach whose students raised money to purchase seven solar ovens, which will be distributed for them to small rural schools in our Sister City, Cap Haitien, Haiti.
This program needs corporate sponsorship and assistance from corporations, foundations, agencies and individuals interested in promoting grassroots sustainable economic development and empowering people living in extreme poverty.
We also accept used hand tools locally that are in good condition. Look through your garage to see what you can contribute! We would like to thank Glenn Robinson and Mike Jackson from Iron Bridge Tools Inc. for their generous donations of tools.
To make a donation and for more information, please click here to go to our website.
Exploring the South Seas at Meet the Board Event
Greater Fort Lauderdale Sister Cities International hosted their first Meet the Board Event of this year on February 9th from 6pm-8pm at the Mai Kai Restaurant and Lounge in Fort Lauderdale. This event was a great opportunity for members to mingle, network and meet our team for 2009.
Marianne L. Winfield, President of GFLSCI, talked about all the great activities, programs and events that we have planned for this year. Nuccia McCorrmick, Chairman Emeritus, presented the �Board Member of the Year� Award to our Special Events Chair, Marcus Koch, for all his hard work and dedication in organizing our great events.
Marcus Koch, Special Events Chair and Board Member of the Year
The Humanitarian, Environmental and Haiti Committees were also present to introduce the �A Dollar, A Tree� and �Farm Tools for Haiti� Programs with the help of two awesome student volunteers. GFLSCI would like to thank Erin Murphy from Olsen Middle School in Hollywood, Florida and Diana Kennedy from Michel Krop High School in North Miami for their help and support with the programs.
From Left: Steve Holmes & Dan Warren, Environmental Chairs,
Tony Marcelli, Humanitarian Chair and Dr. Lissa Jean-Pierre, Haiti Chair
Many thanks to Susan Marcelli, Manny Arroyo, Jennifer Gomez and Cesar Monteverde!!! Without the help of our remarkable volunteers, this event would not have been possible. We would like to also thank all our loyal members for attending this gathering and welcome all our new members who registered this year. Last but not least, we would like to extend our gratitude to Captain Richard Andolina and the great team at the Mai Kai Restaurant and Lounge for helping us make this event most memorable. The Mai Kai Restaurant is located at 3599 North Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. The Mai Kai Restaurant offers some of the most original tropical drinks in town and appetizing hors d�oeuvres were served at the event. To find out more about their award winning cuisine and their nightly Polyneasian revue, you can click here to go to their website. Hope to see you all at our next Meet the Board event!
Meet the Board Event at the Mai Kai Restaurant and Lounge
Club Italia Opening at the Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show: A New Alliance is Born!
Every Year, The Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show continues to represent one of the most important event in Miami. The 2009 Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show was held February 12-16 in Miami Beach.
One notable event which marked the Boat Show this year, was the Opening Ceremonies of the Club Italia Lounge hosted by the Italian Trade Commission on February 12th. This inauguration proved to be very special as it included the signing of a Proclamation of Joint Cooperation between The Italian Marine Industry Association (UCINA) and Show Management, organizers of The Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show.
Signing of the Proclamation between Show Management and UCINA
An official delegation from Italy took part in the opening ceremonies. The delegation consisted of The Honorable Adolfo Urso, Undersecretary of State of International Trade for The Italian Ministry of Economic Development, Ambassador Umberto Vattani, President of The Italian Trade Commission, and the Mr. Anton F. Albertoni, President of the Italian Marine Industry Association.
The Club Italia Inauguration Ceremonies also featured a flag raising and ribbon cutting ceremony, an introduction presentation from Undersecretary of State, The Honorable Adolfo Urso, a press conference with CEO and Chairman of Show Management, Mr. Efrem Zimbalist III, as part of the speaker�s panel, and an a photography exhibit by Nautica Editrice entitled From Dolce Vita to Myth � Italian Shipbuilding: A Success Story.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Opening of the Club Italia Lounge
Ms. Nuccia McCormick, Chairman Emeritus for Greater Fort Lauderdale Sister Cities International, was given an opportunity to speak after the press conference where she promoted The City of Fort Lauderdale as well as The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. A gift was also presented on behalf of the City of Fort Lauderdale and Mayor Jim Naugle, to Undersecretary of State, The Honorable Adolfo Urso.
From Left: The Honorable Marco Rocco, Consul General of Italy for Miami, The Honorable Adolfo Urso, Undersecretary of State of International Trade for The Italian Ministry of Economic Development
and Nuccia McCormick GFLSCI Chairman Emeritus
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts Presents A Very Special Offer to GFLSCI Members
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) presents a very special 2 for 1 offer to GFLSCI Members for tickets to Dance Brazil on March 10 at 8:00 pm. There will also be two complimentary master classes on Monday, March 9. The BCPA is delighted to provide this opportunity to the membership of Greater Fort Lauderdale Sister Cities International as part of their collaboration to advance the Broward Center�s role as the �Cultural Embassy� of Broward County. Members were sent the details of this offer via email. If you are an active GFLSCI member and have not received the email, please click here to request the details.
Get Involved with our Committees
Did you know that there are many different ways that you can get involved with our Sister Cities programs and activities? We have 16 Sister Cities and each one of them needs your support in a country of your choice (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, England, Ghana, Haiti, Israel, Italy, Panama, Taiwan, Turkey, Venezuela). Our Supporting Chairs (Special Events, Marketing, Cultural, Medical, Technology, Membership, Education, Humanitarian, Environmental, etc�) are also looking for committee members. Get involved with the Youth Ambassadors Program and their Scholarship Program, learn how technology and medicine benefit one another, express your creative side through arts and culture, volunteer at one of our events and much more...For more details on how to participate, please click here to send us an email or call (954) 828-4536.
Raffle, Raffle, Raffle!
Know any business that would like to donate a gift certificate or have any new items to donate? GFLSCI is now collecting items that can be used as prizes for our raffles and silent auctions to raise funds. For more information and to make a donation, please click here to send us an email or call (954) 828-4536.
Upcoming Events
Grand Opening and Scholarship Benefit Party!
When : Tuesday, March 10th, 2009, 6pm-8pm
Where : Q Lighting, Fans & Design
4220 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, 33308
Cost : Complimentary
Q Lighting, Fans & Design is hosting a Grand Opening Party to benefit Greater Fort Lauderdale Sister Cities International's Youth Ambassadors Program. Network, enjoy hors-d'oeuvres & cocktails and support the Sister Cities Scholarship Program! Join us. It's complimentary! RSVP by March 9th. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT
Ascot Race Day at Gulfstream Park
When: Saturday, April 18th, 2009, from 12pm-6pm
Where: Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino,
901 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale, FL 33009
Cost : Members: $47.50
Non-Members: $57.50
Greater Fort Lauderdale Sister Cities International in collaboration with The British American Chamber of Commerce presents Ascot Race Day at Gulfstream Park. In the great tradition of Royal Ascot Race day, the focus changes from racing to fashion, as women get the opportunity to wear their most superb hats. The day will start with a Champagne Reception followed by a luncheon at the Ten Pound Restaurtant located inside Gulfstream Park. So come enjoy the race as well as the hats and learn more about our Sister City, Sefton in England. More information will be posted soon on our website. Save the date in your calendar!
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