Hello Floridians!
I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you and to get feedback from you on what you would like your Chapter to do. But first, I am sure that many of you would like to join me in extending a hearty thank you to Karin Nordlander, who has admirably led the Chapter and organized many splendid reunions across Florida.
The Florida Chapter is unlike any other. It is the only Chapter in North America and as such, key issues such as pensions, taxation, insurance that play a large part in the Chapters outside the USA are addressed for us by the 1818 Board. However, we are possibly the largest Chapter, with some 200+ full time residents and I suspect, almost as many again part-timers, such as Shivakumar and myself.
So, what would you like the Chapter to do? Be a purely social organization? Or branch into shared activities – physical (golfing weekends, tennis round robins) or cerebral? Or, with all our talents, we could set up to do something for our adopted community? How many of us have contact with or work with local universities, or are involved in community outreach? Around Naples/Fort Myers there is a very upcoming new university (Florida Gulf Coast University) where some of us in this area could consider putting together a course on Development?
To get your views, I have drafted a short Survey that is now posted on the 1818 website. This will take no more than 5 minutes, so please click here for the link to the survey,before September 25th, 2013.
But first, your thoughts on Annual Florida Reunions. There has been no reunion since 2010, in part it seems because enthusiasm for these has diminished over time? However, given the hiatus, there may be a consensus to have one in 2014? If so, I would like to suggest Naples for a weekend in late March/April 2014 – Naples because there has not been a retreat here, Shiva and I are both here part-time, the weather should be agreeable and we would avoid potential cold periods as well as the crowded and expensive high season.
Florida does have much to recommend it for us ‘oldies’ and more 1818 members are moving down each year. So we could go all out and try to attract more of our 1818 colleagues to a 2014 reunion and really show them what Florida has to offer.
Another suggestion is for a trip to Cuba – there was a very successful 1818 trip earlier this year, with flights out of Tampa.
Alternatively, since the State is large, we could divide the Chapter into 5 or so regions and have regional Chapter coordinators/members arrange ‘get togethers’ over lunch in an attractive spot, or even have members host an event in their homes? To begin with, I have been discussing to organize a lunch in the Fort Myers area (to tap members from Naples, Fort Myers and Sarasota areas, with all of course being welcome) to kick off the December season?
Anything is possible – but, to provide the kind of social buzz I’m hearing many of you would like from the Chapter, takes enthusiasm, time and hard work of many volunteers.
Let’s see the survey outcome and what ideas you all come up with!
Sandra
August 21st, 2013