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President’s Letter – September, 2008Greetings Fellow Skålleagues! Our September meeting was held at the Pranzo Restaurant in Mizner Park/Boca Raton. Thanks go to the staff of the restaurant for making the evening a most enjoyable one. From the open bar cocktail hour thru the sumptuous dinner, no one left hungry. All of our members were in agreement that the food provided was not only ample but very tasty. The opening toast was given by our newest transferee, Bonnie Hanley, Regional Sales Manager for DIVI Resorts with hotels throughout the Caribbean. With the club 53 members strong we acknowledged the presence of 2 more individuals, Lauretta De Meo (Director of Leisure Sales for IHG San Juan) and Gail Gruenbaum (Senior Sales Manager - Leisure Sales, Westin Grand Bahama Is.) who have declared themselves perspective members. With your help we will continue to grow. Our 2 newest members, Cloie Morales (Majestic Travel) and Bonnie Hanley were presented with their membership cards and in Cloie's case her certificate of membership and pin. Both were welcomed into the club. This meeting marked the occasion of our founding member, William 'Bill' Pullen's, 40th anniversary as a SKAL member. Although 'Bill' is moving to his retirement home in Orlando and transferring to their club, his past work with SKAL was recognized and a plaque to commemorate his great deeds was awarded to him. In addition he was lauded by both longtime members, Harry Miller and Marcel Hurni whom we hope we will see more often, and by Mike Hartfield, Ron Stevens and Dick Stafford. Letters from Carlos Banks, Tony Trowbridge (Past Pres. SKAL Northern New Jersey) and John McCaul (Past President, SKAL International) were read. A copy of our clubs original 1977 organizational proposal was received into our archives. As his last official act as a member of our club Bill gave the closing toast. Our best wishes go to Len Stone for a speedy recovery from his surgery and to Teresa Nix whose brother and mother are seriously ill. Guests at the meeting included Judy Berlin, David Herman, Mike Kerry and Mike Hartfield. Those of you who have not logged on to our website recently, www.skal-ftlauderdale-palmbeaches.org, are encouraged to do so. Additionally, any member wishing to have a link put on the website to their business can do so by sending a 'live link' to rwstaff@bellsouth.net. Those members who have had a change in email address are requested to contact Paul Cook at travelizme@aol.com and inform him of those changes. In addition any other changes (address, phone, etc.) should be made on the SKAL website, www.skal.org with a copy to Paul Cook. I will be attending the SKAL International Congress this October in Taipei along with Jan West from the DC club. All members are invited to attend and can do so by registering on the SKAL International website, www.skal.org. The locations for our upcoming meetings are as follows:
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