During our meeting November 25, 2019, we will recognize Brian Stenberg as our Featured Rotarian for November 2019. Brian is Partner and Vice President of The Greenfield Group, Inc. and Greenfield Properties, Inc. His company provides comprehensive commercial real estate services to medical professionals. He grew up in Hollywood, Florida and earned bachelors in public relations at the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications. We hope to hear more about one of our newer members currently serving as our club treasurer.During our meeting November 25, 2019, we will recognize Brian Stenberg as our Featured Rotarian for November 2019. Brian is Partner and Vice President of The Greenfield Group, Inc. and Greenfield Properties, Inc. His company provides comprehensive commercial real estate services to medical professionals. He grew up in Hollywood, Florida and earned bachelors in public relations at the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications. We hope to hear more about one of our newer members currently serving as our club treasurer.
During our meeting Monday November 18, 2019 we learned more about Guardian Ad Litem Program in Palm Beach County from Volunteer Recruiter Christie Geltz. A guardian ad litem (GAL) is a court-appointed guardian who supports the rights of a child in legal proceedings as part of a team working through the court system. The position is created by the court system in cases where children are abused or neglected. Christie told us that "volunteers advocate for needed services for the child, report to the judge, case manager, and attorney via written reports or testimony and monitor the case from beginning to end. With a GAL, a child is half as likely to languish in the foster care and child welfare system and more likely to find a safe, permanent home."
She also told us that In Palm Beach County, there are approximately 1,700 children in the system at this time. It does not require special skills to be part of Guardian ad Litem, but one should have good common sense, the heart and desire to help abused and neglected children, and willingness to contribute time with commitment for several months, possibly a year or more. There is a brief two day introduction and training sequence plus many online reference materials to prepare GAL volunteers. Part of the preparation also includes background checks and reference checks.
With some examples of experiences and descriptions of situations involved in GAL cases, Christie helped us understand how rewarding this service can be. She also explained that the involvement is about 12 hours per month requiring visits with the child for opportunities to recognize the child's current attitude and concerns; also visits to the home where the child resides to recognize conditions and possible needs or concerns. The GAL volunteer is expected to visit with the child at least once ever 30 days; following a visit, reports are required so appropriate records are maintained and issues can be referred to appropriate agency or individual for follow-up.
Someone interested in helping children may also volunteer for the affiliated Speak Up for Kids program. Speak Up for Kids’ is a 501(c3) non-profit with the sole purpose to support the GAL program and its mission through fundraising, grants, community events and awareness presentations. Volunteers are needed for Marketing, Website Management, Administrative, Special Events and Media Relations.
Christie is a graduate of Queens College with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Communications.
During our weekly meeting Monday November 18, 2019, 
Honorary Member Robin Barkes briefly introduced our club sponsored FAU HS 2020 Model UN Delegate Hannah Storrs. The FAU High MUN group is planning to attend the Ivy League Model United Nations Conference (ILMUNC) on January 30 to February 3, 2020. This conference is being held in the historic city of Philadelphia , PA.
Honorary Member Robin Barkes briefly introduced our club sponsored FAU HS 2020 Model UN Delegate Hannah Storrs. The FAU High MUN group is planning to attend the Ivy League Model United Nations Conference (ILMUNC) on January 30 to February 3, 2020. This conference is being held in the historic city of Philadelphia , PA.Hannah thanked us for our support of the Model UN program and especially for her opportunity to attend the event early next year. She told us that she is in the 11th grade at FAU HS with a double major in Political Science and English; and she looks forward to this participation as an opportunity to learn skills for a career in Political Journalism. During the MUN event in Philadelphia, she expects to participate in the World Bank Economic and Social Council discussing affordability of social protection programs and austerity measures in Argentina. Hannah is currently the President of the FAU HS MUN Chapter so she looks forward to bringing back additional value to this chapter after the event early in 2020. In addition to her interest in MUN, she is an Ambassador in Girl Scouts and Concertmaster in Youth Orchestra.
We're proud to sponsor your participation in the ILMUNC in January and February 2020, Hannah!
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It was nice to see past member Victor Smirnow visit us again at our meeting November 18, 2019. Victor is in town briefly traveling from his home in Brazil. We hope he may return to the states and rejoin our club some day; members who remember his active and enthusiastic participation in the club enjoyed reminiscing with Victor. Great to see you again, Victor! Hope to see you again soon when your in town.
Early Saturday November 30, 2019 the Orangetheory Fitness Half Marathon & 5K Event will raise funds primarily for Boca Police Athletic League. Rotary Boca Raton Sunset will also earn funds for vocational awards and other club projects while serving refreshments and assisting with event operations. In preparation, we are still seeking donations, some refreshment items, and especially additional volunteers to help with race services. Volunteers must show up by 5:15 am at Spanish River Park on A1A using drive entry for Coast Guard Headquarters immediately south of Spanish River Blvd.Some additional refreshment items include oranges, and grape juice. Please contact Lupe Eyde.
To assist with race services, please click here for volunteer registry. Students can earn community service hours for this activity.
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During our weekly meeting Monday, 11/4/2019, we honored our Florida Atlantic University High School 2019-20 Rotary Scholar for November Ciara O'Neill. The FAU HS Rotary Scholar of the Month is selected by the FAU HS staff in recognition of character, ethics, morality, community service, and academic achievement. Our sponsor for Ciara is Rotary Boca Raton Sunset Executive Secretary John Ross, Thank you John.As expected, Ciara told us about her dual enrollment experience working toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Sciences while completing requirements for graduation from FAU HS in spring of 2020 and expecting to complete the BSCS degree the following spring. With a bit of humor, she first explained why she has a very Irish name but not so Irish appearance. Ciara grew up with two loving parents, Gerry and Mary O'Neill and an older sister, Marina. She told us that like her sister, also bearing Asian appearance, looking different than mom and dad (or that name didn't match appearance) did not seem important; rather she was focused on enjoying life and working hard to succeed. 
She went on to say "Speaking of success, I also have to attribute some of my own to that fact that I am surrounded by talented friends and classmates at FAU High School." She thanks FAU HS for her decision to pursue computer science. She mentioned that her older sister is especially talented with art and music and she also wanted to be able to be creative, but didn't have the same talents. Instead she found joy in math and science, and in 10th grade at FAU HS she learned from a friend about cool things you could make by knowing how to program; that combined with experiencing a presentation related to artificial intelligence and neural networks sparked her interest in computer science as an opportunity for her to apply her talents in math and science.
Along the way she realized an additional opportunity to partner with her sister by using her own newly acquired knowledge using computer tools to develop a business to combine both their talents. This turned out to be a much greater learning experience as they both discovered the myriad of details in the logistics of delivering product to consumers. Together they are progressing in the promotion of Marina's talented services and art as well as producing product for delivery via the small artisan business web site: MarinaXStudios.
Ciara also told us about the rewarding experience of serving others by tutoring math for fellow students and helping physically disabled students succeed a
cademically. She continued telling us how much she enjoyed the interesting study of Mandarin that helped her better understand the Chinese culture through the overseas immersion experience with the US Department of State National Security Language Initiative for Youth program.
cademically. She continued telling us how much she enjoyed the interesting study of Mandarin that helped her better understand the Chinese culture through the overseas immersion experience with the US Department of State National Security Language Initiative for Youth program.FAU HS Rotary Scholar chair Sam Khazem concluded the honors by gathering sponsor John, parents Gerry and Mary, FAU HS Director of Guidance David Kelly, and our Honorary Member FAU HS Interact Advisor Robin Barkes to present the framed certificate to FAU HS Rotary Scholar for November 2019 Ciara O'Neill.
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During our meeting October 28, 2019, we recognized Melissa Bhatnagar as our Featured Rotarian for October. She talked to our club about her early family life, her career, some of her avocational interests, and her participation in our club projects. Melissa joined our club June 17, 2019, with classification Pharmacist; and she was sponsored by Executive Secretary John Ross, our featured Rotarian for last month.Melissa Bhatnagar is a patient safety professional and licensed pharmacist with over 15 years of diverse experience in the healthcare industry. Melissa recently joined Modernizing Medicine Headquarters in Boca Raton, as Director of Patient Safety. Modernizing Medicine is a software company that develops specialty-specific electronic health record (EHR) technology,
Her experience also includes 10 years at a medical malpractice insurance company in NYC focused on improving patient safety and leading a physician office practice risk reduction initiative for a consortium of large academic medical centers including Johns Hopkins Medicine, Yale New Haven Health System, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital, and others. As a clinical business analyst for MCIC, she developed reports and analyses of high-loss clinical departments which led to promotion to Associate Director of Patient Safety. Prior to that, Melissa was an inpatient pharmacist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Taking us back to her first Rotary exposure with her parents, Melissa told us about how her dad, Ashutosh obtained a Rotary Scholarship opportunity when he and her mom, Alka, were both in Rotaract in Haridwar, India. When they came to the US they were hosted by Dr. Chris Heisler and his wife Gloria, which developed into a long term friendship. Melissa's father, Ashutosh's experience in Rotary brought her to our club and we eagerly welcomed her into our fellowship.
Continuing through some of the cultural aspects of her family experiences, Melissa told us about her pleasure dancing, especially for family gatherings. Melissa told us about the traditional Indian dance Bharatanatyam. 
Presumably the oldest classical dance in India, it was initiated in the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu and eventually flourished in South India. 
Origin dates back to 2nd century CE (AD). Accompanists include a singer, music, and particularly the guru who directs and conducts the performance. Pictured at left, Melissa gathered with many young friends in preparation for performance. On the right we see her dancing at a family gathering.
Presumably the oldest classical dance in India, it was initiated in the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu and eventually flourished in South India. Origin dates back to 2nd century CE (AD). Accompanists include a singer, music, and particularly the guru who directs and conducts the performance. Pictured at left, Melissa gathered with many young friends in preparation for performance. On the right we see her dancing at a family gathering.She reviewed for us her educational pursuit and initial career experiences: she obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and a dual degree Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from the London School of Economics (LSE) & the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).
Along with education and healthcare, Melissa is passionate about spending time with family and friends, traveling, and exploring new restaurants. Melissa took us on a pictorial tour around the world with food descriptions that almost brought the flavors and aromas into the room. She enjoys spending her time between Florida and the Virginia/Washington DC area and is always looking for the next travel destination to create new memories!
Melissa is currently our club liaison with the FAU HS Interact Club. Welcome to Rotary Boca Raton Sunset, Featured Rotarian for October 2019 Melissa Bhatnagar!
We are a small friendly dinner club with strong Rotary Foundation support. Our membership includes three past district governors and special enthusiasm for youth and literacy service. We distribute dictionaries to six local elementary schools, bring Josh the Otter with a swim safety program to three pre-K schools, and honor a Rotary Scholar each month for the high school hosting our Interact club. Are you an established professional who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship. Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group who share your drive to give back.
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or send letter to:
Rotary Boca Raton Sunset, PO Box 810427, Boca Raton, FL 33481-0427
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