The New Tampa Rotary Club was named "Rotary Club of the Year" among clubs its size in the West Central Florida District's four county area as a result of its outstanding community service programs this year: nearly $30,000 raised for and contributed to the New Tampa Community.

Club President Jerry Bever accepted the award for the club presented by District Governor Camilo Calvo.

The club was also selected to receive the Presidential Citation from President Jonathan Mujiyabe Rotary International.

District Governor Camilo Calvo visited the club and reviewed the “Goals and Objectives” for year 2003- 2004.

District Dictionary project by Andy Betz. Dictionaries delivered to fifth graders in schools in New Tampa and North Tampa.

1300 books collected and cleaned at the Bever’s house. Donated to the Manatee Market at Mort Elementary School for the students and some to the school library.

Mort Elementary School student assembly for Gordy Larson to introduce the Manatee Market to the students.

Mort Elementary PTSA meeting to introduce the Manatee Market to the parents of students.

“Manatee Market" established at Mort Elementary School. The market encourages the children to increase attendance at school and strive for good citizenship. The children spend their citizenship points every Monday at the Manatee Market as a reward for good citizenship and attendance the previous week. Rotary volunteers man the market. The market has measurably reduced incidents where students must be sent to the principal's office for admonishment. Fewer incidents allow the teachers to teach and the students to learn. The Manatee Market is a partnership between the Rotary Club of New Tampa, Mort Elementary School and Hydro Agri North America.

Rotary Club of New Tampa was recognized with a public proclamation during the Hillsborough County School Board meeting in October as recognition of the tremendous effort and the success of the Manatee Market. The event was televised.

The Club supported RI’s quest for the issuance of a postage stamp by sending letters to our Congressmen and women. Supported by Connie Bladon and Mark Fitzpatrick.

Pocket copies of the Constitution organized by Gerry Perret. Pocket copies of the Constitution were given to ninth grade students in Wharton High School in conjunction with their civics classes of the same subject.

100 pre-K books were donated to the Belle Witter Elementary School Head Start program by Becky Bever so each child would have a book to take home. Organized by Kurt Madsen.

A computer was donated to the Belle Witter Elementary School Head Start program by Connie Bladon so the children could be exposed to actual hands-on use of a computer.

This year’s Teach-In was supported by New Tampa Rotarians:

a.) Six people went to Mort Elementary to spend time with the students.

b.) Four people went to Belle Witter Elementary to read to the pre-K students.

c.) One individual talked about his international travels to several Pinellas County classes.

Sponsorship of Interact clubs in Wharton High School and Freedom High School in New Tampa.

Don Van Fleet made a bequest to Rotary International Foundation.

The awards ceremony at Mort Elementary School featured Gordy Larson who gave bicycles to some lucky children who ranked the highest in citizenship scores as a result of the Manatee Market.

Christmas events organized by Joe and Debby Amon included: three families were treated to Christmas presents for the children as well as appliances, assistance with rent, gift certificates at Publix, and in one case, cash.

“Remote Control” was introduced to the Club by Mark Fitzpatrick. We supported the organization and they provided remote control toys for our Christmas families.

The holiday party was a great success. It was organized by Joe and Debby Amon and Georg von Greiff. Entertainment was Club singing lead by Doug and Valerie Andrews.

Thirty-six people helped clean and label 2000 story books for donation to the Manatee Market at the home of Jerry and Becky Bever. The books were donated by Becky Bever.

The “Pig Roast” was a new event this year. It provided a great mid-term fund raiser that Mike Wallace organized with the help of Gordy Larson. Chef extraordinaire was Les Baron who maintained an all night vigil on the cooking carcasses. Publicity was extraordinary on this event.

Gerry Perret was able to organize an excellent speech contest. Our Club finalist received honorable mention at District.

The Stride of New Tampa was another new event this year; it was held cooperatively with the New Tampa YMCA and the New Tampa Cultural Center. It was organized by Mike Wallace. The fund raiser also gave the Club excellent publicity and the 5K run and walk were fun events.

Work Day at Rotary Camp Florida was a good effort to support a remarkable facility. Assistance in organizing by Said Iravani. Some members attended the races for Rotary Camp Florida at Tampa Bay Downs. One group worked harder than the other but both the labor and the cash provided excellent support to the Camp.

Mort Elementary School nominated the Rotary Club of New Tampa as their entry into the Recognition of Volunteers Dinner at the annual Hillsborough County event. Attendance at the Lightning hockey game was an added bonus.

Our premiere fund raising event was the Annual Golf Tournament and basket auction held at Plantation Palms Golf club. Mike Wallace had the lead but all members deserve big thanks for the success of this fund raiser.

We supported the Model U.N. Project at Wharton High School thanks to Dave Burdge.

A Saturday picnic was held with the children of Joshua House. Lynn Grinnell organized the games and Said Iravani created the event.

At the District 6890 Conference held on board a Bahamas cruise ship, President Jerry Bever briefed the assembly on projects and donations this year with emphasis on the Mort Elementary Manatee Market.

District 6890 rewarded the Rotary Club of New Tampa for all of its work this year with the “ROTARY CLUB OF THE YEAR AWARD.”

President Jonathan Majiyagbe gave the Club the Presidential Citation.

We sponsored two students to S4TL. Our members participated in the "rap" sessions also.

Our year in history has been recorded on a CD for our members’ enjoyment.

Rotary Club of New Tampa “Gifting” Program for 2003 2004	Special Funds	Pending	Paid
Dictionaries Project August/September			$732.00
Constitution Project			$230.98
Software for Belle Witter Elementary Head Start			$ 85.59
Christmas for two families			$ 694.54
(SPECIAL FUNDS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS)			$2,000.00
			$ 500.00
Operation Remote Control			$ 500.00
James Richardson Fund at Freedom High			$ 250.00
Wharton High School Model U.N. Program			$ 500.00
Odyssey of the Mind at Freedom High School			$ 500.00
Odyssey of the Mind at Progress Village Middle Magnet School			$ 250.00
New Tampa Cultural Center		$ 1,000.00
New Tampa Youth Athletic Programs		$ 1,600.00
Boy Scouts of America, Gulf Ridge Council		$ 3,500.00
and Eagle Scouts		$ 500.00
Freedom High School Football		$ 600.00
and Band Programs		$ 600.00
Pedal Power		$ 2,000.00
Florida Brass Drum and Bugle Corp		$ 500.00
New Tampa Junior Women’s Juniorettes		$ 400.00
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Stars for Life		$ 750.00
OASIS		$ 500.00
PACE Center for Girls		$ 500.00
New Tampa YMCA Summer Camp Scholarships		$ 1,150.00
Florida Children’s Home – North Tampa		$ 1,500.00
Rotary Camp Florida		$ 2,500.00
Girl Scouts of America		$ 250.00
Paul Harris Memorial		$ 100.00
Interact Club at Wharton High School (EXCEPTION)	$ 250.00
Joshua House (POSSIBLE EXCEPTION)	$ 500.00
Dominican Republic Project, “Seeds of Hope” (EXCEP)	$ 2,250.00
2004 2005 Dictionaries (EXCEPTION)	$ 1,000.00
2004 2005 Constitutions (EXCEPTION)	$ 1,500.00
	$ 5,500.00	$17,950.00	$6,243.11