Speaker: Rami Neheme, Co-Owner, Cafe Blase

Call to order:  Rosemarie called the meeting to order at 12:06pm

Invocation:  Candy
Pledge of Allegiance:  Matt
Song (Carmen Ramsey leading): “America the Beautiful” 

Quote of Note:  "Appreciate everything your associates do for the business. Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise. They're absolutely free and worth a fortune." Sam Walton

Sheriff (Matt Anderson):

President’s Remarks (Rosemarie Tamunday): 
·        Rose requested a round of applause for Drew in recognition of his leadership in the RPS (Rock-Paper-Scissors) event.
·        Many Thanks to Gerard for his Meals-on-Wheels run on Tuesday 

President’s Calendar:  Please add the following events to your calendar
·        June 2^nd - Might Open House at President Rose Tamunday’s
·        June 6th - SPEAKER - Laura Benson, President of Sarasota Association of . Realtors
·        June 9^th CLE training for incoming officers - Mandatory for incoming President and Secretary.  This will be held at the Raymond James office in Lakewood Ranch.
·        June 13 - Gala Committee Meeting after membership meeting
·        June 20 - Mighty elections (official date - please calendar and attend this meeting.)
·        June 19^th - Board of Director’s meeting at Marrianna’s home
·        June 20^th - SPEAKER: Roxie Jerde, CEO Sarasota Community Foundation
·        June 28^th - July 1 - International Convention in New Orleans
·        August 9-12 - Florida District Convention in Tampa
·        September 22^nd - Installation dinner, new officers.  Place TBD
·        March 23^rd  2013 - Tropical nights gala

VPs Remarks (Joe Sikora): 
·        We are still looking for a candidate to fill the VP slot for next year’s Board.  If interested please contact Joe do discuss.
·        Reminder - June 20^th meeting is our election meeting.  Please calendar the meeting and plan to attend.  Your participation is needed to ensure a quorum is present.

Membership (Tracy Seider / Gerard Ezcurra): 
·        Thanks to Marianna, Beth, Carolyn, Carmen, Candy, Sandy Pree, Cheryl, Sandy Strom, and Christine Martin for volunteering to bring food to the Meet and Greet at Rose’s home on Saturday.  (“Its going to be good.”)
·        Key Club members have been invited and are expected to speak at the Meet and Greet open house on Saturday June 2^nd.

FUNraising (Marianna Ehmke): 
·        After the meeting today, Fred and Marianna will retire to the Sarasota Yacht Club to negotiate gala details.
·        BTW, the theme has been changed to “Pirates of the Caribbean”

Speaker:
Warm-up Joke (Carolyn Kofler) - Pretty good Cop joke:  The Punch Line was “From the nurse you pulled over in the Jeep last week.”  (Contact Carolyn to hear the lead in.) 

Speaker’s Bio - Rami Nehme was born in Kuwait and grew up in Amman, Jordan. Rami developed his interest in human relations as a teen working with Teen Amnesty and UNICEF.  He attended college in Jordan, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and later took a job with a multinational corporation. He worked there for four years before deciding to come to the United States.   

Many members of our Club first met Rami while he was tending bar at Café Blasé on the Key.  (He now is co-owner and manager.)  Club members living on the Key often meet there on Wednesday afternoon at 5:30pm.

Speaker’s Presentation - Rami opened with a reference to the recent article featuring him in the Pelican Press  remarking that if we have read the article there isn’t much more to say….. but then he told us “the rest of the story.” 

He told us that his journey to the US and Siesta Key had been long, not easy, but well worth the effort.  He experienced culture and language issues.  However, “When I found Siesta Key I felt welcome.”  He worked at Café Blasé for 8 years and when he received his green card he was able to invest in the business as a managing partner.  He commented that things are going well in part because of improvement in the local economy. 

But before all that, Rami started in Kuwait in a traditional family where family expectations guide your life’s path.  “For me, at 22 years I struck out on a different path and began working for a multi-national retailer.  This took me to Orlando for a 4 day trade show, and after 2 days I had time to explore the Gulf coast and found Siesta Key.  People on the Key were relaxed, they smiled…..I felt welcome.” 

Rami reviewed the Gulf War from his perspective as a Kuwait national.   Shared personal experiences including girlfriend issues and a difficult period when he was held in custody by Homeland Security.  Fortunately his pro-bono lawyer was competent and the issue was resolved in his favor. 

Rami can be found behind the bar at the Café Blase in Siesta Village most days where he “pretty much lives and works.” 

Aces Drawing:  The pot this week was $35 and the winning ticket was held by Fred (“The first time in a year.”) Scheerle who drew a losing card from a card deck some thought had at least one ace. 

Attendance: 16 Members