On June 19th our speaker was Sabrina Sampson, Executive Director of the Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS). Sabrina and her family have lived in Sebastian since 2005 when she joined CHS. CHS was founded in 1902 in Jacksonville, FL to assist children on the “Orphan Train.” These children who were homeless or abandoned were often chosen to work on farms for food. .The others rode the train until chosen. The CHS was lauded as the adoption flagship program which introduced the original concept of orphanages in Florida.
Today CHS serves more than 11,000 children annually along the Treasure Coast. Currently, there are 192 children in Indian River County who have been referred by the Florida Department of Family Services needing Intervention to make homes safe. If the homes are not made safe, then adoption is needed. Currently there are 60 children waiting for adoption, most are ages 13 and older with special needs or in sibling groups needing one adoptive family.
Adoptions are only 1 of 8 programs offered by CHS. There are several other all related to the safety and welfare of the children. The Transitional Living Program provides residential and outreach programs to homeless youth ages 18-23 who have “aged out” of the foster care system. Services include safe housing, financial assistance, mentoring, life skills and employment readiness training and access to academic opportunities. Mental health counseling, medical care access, and community service referrals are available as needed. Youth are taught to have a life plan and community partners like IRSC get involved to assist.
Funding for these programs comes from the Departments of Juvenile Justice and Children and Family Services as well as private donors which can be designated and restricted to specific programs. For more information contact Sabrina at sabrina.sampson@chsfl.org or 772-344-4020.
2019 Blue Water Open
Our 2019 BWO was held on June 1st out of Captain Hiram’s River Raw Bar. This year’s raffle tickets winner won a trip to Dublin, Ireland! This was another very successful event lead by Chairwoman Eva Chapman, Co-Chairman Mike Natale and their committee members, Diana Best, Kathy Burns, Warren Dill, Rick Giteles, Karen McElveen, Bill Middleton and Kimball Stadler.
Way to go team BWO!
2019 Leader Board
Annual Installation Dinner
Our annual installation dinner was held on June 26th at Captain Hirams Tiffany Room. Forty-four signed up for a festive evening of networking and awards presented to many deserving members. Adam Preuss was our Master of Ceremonies Extraordinaire and special guests included Kim Prado, Florida District President, Jenny Frederick and Judy Landgrave, Past District Directors. Karen McElveen and Paul Williamson led the invocation and pledge.
After the passing of the gavel by former attending presidents, Bill Middleton handed off the presidency to Mike Natale. Kathy Falzone installed our new officers and directors, her final duty as Florida District 7 Director. Your 2019-2020 officers and directors are:
President Michael Natale
President Elect Phil Barnes
Secretary Karen McElveen
Treasurer Diana Best
Past President William Middleton
Directors Two Year Term: Kathy Burns, Eva Chapman, Jonathan Rhodeback
Directors One Year Term: Debbie Fitzpatrick, Kathy Gutierrez, Alicia Hjalmeby, Ali Qizilbash
July Birthdays
Lyse McDonough 07/09
Warren Dill 07/11
Karen McElveen 07/27
July Anniversaries
Phil Barnes (B&G Club) 5 Years
Mary Williamson 5 Years
Calendar of Events for July, 2019
07/03 – No Meeting (Board Only) Captain Butcher’s
07/10 – TBD
07/17 – Danielle Quant, Treasure Coast Beekeepers
Birthday Cake
07/24 – TBD
07/31 – TBD
Our American Flag – Did You Know?
- If it touches the ground and is not soiled it does not need to be disposed of
- It can be washed or dry cleaned
- The proper way to dispose of it is to deliver to the American Legion or VFW for proper burning and burial
- It must be illuminated at night
- There are 13 folds in the triangle. The triangle represents the hat that the patriots wore during the revolutionary war
- The 21-gun salute was originated as the ships welcome to vessels coming into the harbor (8-6-7)
- While a prisoner on an English ship Francis Scott Key wrote the Star-Spangled Banner
- The flag never fell fully to the ground but was held at a 45-degree angle by bodies of patriots who had died
- The English gave up the war when they could not make the flag fall to the ground
Junior Excel Club Sebastian River High School
Principal William Dodds and Assistant Principal Chet Devarney have been very supportive of our effort to start this club. School advisors are Skye Devarney and Tammy Cruz. Parents and students alike are excited about our mission and the opportunity for earning their required volunteer hours through club activities in a fun way.
Meetings will resume in the 2019-2020 school year. We will plan to have information and membership applications during student orientations for next year. If you are interested in assisting with this Junior Excel Program please contact Bill Middleton mhrepair116@gmail.com.
Margie Duffell