 Greater Naples Leadership, Inc.
www.gnlwebsite.org |
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GNL Connection
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March 2008
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Greetings,
Each year at the Celebration Luncheon, we honor one of our own with the Parke Wright Award. This award recognizes a GNL alumnus/a who epitomizes the objectives of the GNL program -- someone who stands out for his or her exceptional and dedicated leadership. The recipient is recognized for breadth of participation and outstanding performance in a leadership role.
Our award recipient this year has spent seven years on the Community Foundation board and is a former chair. She is a founding board member of First Book. She is a member of the board of Fun Time Academy. She played a significant role in organizing the Early Learning Literacy Model and is a mentor and tutor to young students. She has worked with the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Program and resurrected and served as president of Christ Child of Collier County.
As a GNLer, she has had numerous leadership positions. As a board member, she served as chair of board development and chair of the Parke Wright Award committee. Later, she co-chaired the 10th Anniversary Celebration, securing a significant grant to help fund the activities.
In this GNL year of emphasizing community service, please join me at our luncheon on April 10 to honor one of our best, Dottie Gerrity (Class II).
 
Frank Gorke Jr.
President |
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Time to Celebrate!
This year's program for our Celebration Luncheon, on April 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Naples Sailing and Yacht Club, will be expanded to include our first Annual Meeting, during which the slate of officers and board of directors will be presented for member approval. Newly announced leadership team members from Class XII are Joan Lukowiak and Bill Buchanan.
Come and celebrate with our 2008 Parke Wright awardee, Dottie Gerrity, fellow classmates and colleagues. Also, be sure to arrive early if you would like to have a new, updated color photo in our directory as we've arranged a photo session before the program begins.
This traditional end-of-the-season event is always very well attended. Invitations and reservation cards have been mailed to alumni, Class XII and Class XIII members. Be sure to RSVP by sending your check for $35 to the GNL office by April 4.
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Beauty at the Women's Reunion
Nearly 80 alumnae, Class XII and Class XIII members gathered to socialize, network and hear Dana Vannoy, Ph.D., professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Cincinnati and founding director of the women's studies program there, talk about "The Pressure to be Beautiful" on March 6. Read Kaye Willette's report on this annual event and view photos.
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Not a Drop to Drink
 With rigid water restrictions long enforced in Collier County, GNLers were riveted by Jennifer Hecker's excellent presentation at the final alumni luncheon of this season on March 12. Hecker, natural resources policy manager for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, is our local expert on threats to our water supply and the positive actions we can take. Read Gretchen Green's report on this important program. Editor's note: Our thanks to Alumni Committee Chair Ben Tiley, Wayne Mullican and other committee members for an outstanding series of speakers and luncheons for alumni and Class XII members in 2007-08.
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 Cooking for Charity
Retired orthodontist Jimmy Cromer (Class VII) has prepared gourmet meals for an estimated 35 different charities' fundraising events in Southwest Florida, raising a total of nearly $500,000 these organizations. Read the conversation that Jen Walker and Gretchen Green (both Class IX) had with Jimmy about his life, cooking passion and volunteer activities as this gourmet chef prepared an elaborate feast for 23 people.
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Class XII Studies Government, Tours Immokalee
No bus was needed when Class XII learned how our government works, but they had their furthest trip and a very long day when they traveled to Immokalee. Read Class Leader Martha Forbes' report of both session days.
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 Class XIII Gathers
Members of Class XIII met at their March 20 Orientation Luncheon to hear inspiring words from President Frank Gorke (Class VII) and a preview of their 2008-09 year presented by Class Leader Doug Johnson (Class XI). President Elect Jeanne Bolds (Class VIII) welcomed the new classmates and introduced them to our website and online directory profiles. Each member was photographed individually for the directory.
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| GNLers Reunite
Joyce Coughlan (Class IX), chair of the Class Representatives, reports that more class reunions are being held at the end of our GNL season, and are also planned for next fall.
Based on the success of their first-ever reunion, Class I is planning another party with Class II for November. Class III is holding a special theme dinner at Royal Poinciana on April 23. Class IV has plans in the works for a reunion in November. Class VI had a barbecue at Ann and Bob Berlam's home on March 19, and Class VIII held a beach party at Jack and Sheila Clarke's on March 12. Class IX will hold a party on April 2 at Arlene and Don Shapiro's; and next November, classmates will tour the new NCH Wellness Center and see a demonstration of the daVinci® robot. Class X women have met frequently for lunch and dinner, and the entire class and guests will dine at Royal Poinciana on April 17. On April 1, Class XI members and guests will gather for airboat and swamp buggy rides in the Everglades.
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Board Highlights
The GNL Board met on March 10 and took the following action: Approved Dottie Gerrity (Class II) as the 2008 Parke Wright Award winner. Approved bylaw revisions presented by Ann Berlam (Class VI). Approved a slate of officers and directors for 2008-2009, as presented by the Board Development and Nominating Committee.
Additional developments: Class Representatives report that, for the first time ever, every class has had at least one reunion this season. In the survey results for the Community Service Fair, 90 percent of the exhibitors felt that the Fair was a worthwhile networking opportunity. Class XIII and the wait list are full.
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Updating our Bylaws
On March 10, the GNL Board unanimously approved bylaw changes recommended by the Bylaws Review Committee to make certain that our bylaws are appropriate for the larger organization of 2007-08 and beyond and to be sure that we are inclusive of all classes in board makeup and committee structure.
The most significant changes have to do with encouraging member participation in the selection of candidates for new officer and board positions. To accomplish this, recommendations for new board positions were sought from the membership this year, and an annual meeting has been scheduled as part of the Celebration Luncheon in April, when members will have the opportunity to approve a full slate of officers and directors. Further, the Board Development and Nominating Committee has been expanded to include three non-board members, three board members and the immediate past president as chair. The new bylaws call for a board minimum of 11 and not more than 21 elected officers and directors.
For operational efficiency, directors are now able to participate in a meeting electronically, making the board functional year-round. The Executive Committee has been reduced to five officers: president, president-elect, secretary, treasurer and immediate past president. All actions by the Executive Committee must be approved by the full board.
The bylaws were reviewed first by Ann Berlam (Class VI), Kate Henry (Class VIII) and Tom McCann (Class XI) and then by a committee of non-board members from classes I, III, V, VII, IX and XI. Their recommendations were presented to the Strategies and Issues Committee, chaired by Rich Borchers. Our new bylaws are now posted on the web. |
Alumni in the News
 
Emily Watt (Class IV) and Jinny Johnson (Class VII) have joined the board of First Book-Collier County.
Arlene Shapiro (Class IX) has joined the Shelter for Abused Women & Children board of directors. She also serves as secretary/treasurer of the board of PACE Center for Girls.  Peter Manion (Class III) has been selected as a 2008 Education Foundation/N magazine Man of Distinction. A celebration honoring him and nine other men, chosen this year for their dedication to organizations in Collier County, will be held on April 17 at the Players Club & Spa at Lely Resort. 
Linda Penniman (Class VII) has been appointed by the Naples City Council to the Planning Advisory Board.
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Mission
To provide proven leaders with a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about the issues and needs in Collier County and to encourage the use of their skills in bettering the community.
Communications Committee
Jen Walker, Chair* Jinny Johnson* Jeanne Bolds* Art Shafer, Website Manager* Dick Borel Kaye Willette Linda Diaz Frank Gorke, Ex-Officio* Gretchen Green *Editorial board members
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