Sunshine
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE FLORIDA POND
HONORABLE ORDER OF THE BLUE GOOSE, INTERNATIONAL
MARCH 28, 2013
We are a professional insurance fraternity founded in 1906 and dedicated to promoting the cardinal principles of Character, Charity and Fellowship.
APRIL 24 GATHERING
We will be gathering on the banks of the Pond on Wednesday, April 24th at 5:30pm again at Maggiano’s Little Italy Restaurant in the Westshore Mall. We will probably again be in the Settaponi Room as the “Movie Night” group, as that is the group that Kori Hamilton normally books.
Maggiano’s is between the Palm and P F Changs in the Mall proper behind Seasons 52 on the Westshore Blvd side of the mall. Off Kennedy, turn into the mall at light at the BP Station. If you are coming south on Westshore, turn into the mall just before Seasons 52.
Valet parking ($3) is recommended. From Kennedy, go past the second valet sign and make a u-turn. From Westshore, stop at the second valet station.
In support of our official charity, A Kid’s Place in Brandon, please bring bar soap, liquid hand soap, shampoo, or other toiletries. Hotel size items are acceptable, just no industrial size containers. They also need baby wipes and kitchen trash bags. In lieu of gifts-in-kind, cash is always welcomed. Make your checks payable to “A Kid’s Place.”
This meeting will include initiation of new members. So, if you are a potential new member, bring a completed HARD COPY of your application, along with a check for $50 payable to “the Florida Pond.” DO NOT submit the on-line application, as that simply goes into a black hole somewhere to never be seen nor heard from again. Don’t worry about being vouched for by three Ganders, as we will have those exact three Ganders on that secret committee present to vouch for you as you arrive.
We will also be electing four new Pond officers. See the MARCH GATHERING (below) for details of the duties of the officers.
Again, we remind you that we are NOT a marketing network. Leave you marketing materials at the office. Those passing out marketing materials, will be banished from the banks of the Pond.
MARCH GATHERING
We gathered on the banks of the Pond on March 27th at Maggiano’s Little Italy Restaurant at the Westshore Mall. Three Ganders and seven potential members were present.
We agreed to support A Kid’s Place as our official charity. It’s a foster care facility in Brandon. For more information, look them up on the web at http://www.akidsplacetb.org/
We also will look into another similar charity called Miracles Outreach Community Development Center, Inc. as a possible second official charity. For more information, look them up on the web at http://www.miraclesoutreach.org/
Our next meeting will also be at Maggiano’s on April 24th at 5:30pm. We will be initiating new members and electing and installing new officers. Therefore, the following officer descriptions were reviewed and are being reprinted here:
Duties of the Pond Officers
Most Loyal Gander:
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Presides at business meetings.
Presides at business meetings.•Has custody of honker, if used.
Has custody of honker, if used.•Must be familiar with Roberts Rules of Order.
Must be familiar with Roberts Rules of Order.•Conducts his or her part of Ritual; should learn to recite from memory.
Conducts his or her part of Ritual; should learn to recite from memory.•Supervision of the duties of all other officers.
Supervision of the duties of all other officers.•Teaching the Cardinal Principles of Character, Charity and Fellowship to the entire Pond membership and demonstrating these Principles in one’s own life.
Teaching the Cardinal Principles of Character, Charity and Fellowship to the entire Pond membership and demonstrating these Principles in one’s own life.•Loyalty to the Pond and to Grand Nest (International governing body) is a duty.
Loyalty to the Pond and to Grand Nest (International governing body) is a duty.•To be guided by the Constitution and By-Laws and the decisions of the Pond and of the Grand Nest.
To be guided by the Constitution and By-Laws and the decisions of the Pond and of the Grand Nest. •Initiate and carry through to completion annual programs for the education and entertainment of the membership and for the general good of the Order.
Initiate and carry through to completion annual programs for the education and entertainment of the membership and for the general good of the Order.•Thoroughly familiarize oneself with the policies and traditions of the Florida Pond and the Order.
Thoroughly familiarize oneself with the policies and traditions of the Florida Pond and the Order.Supervisor of the Flock
•Presides at business meetings in the absence of the MLG.
Presides at business meetings in the absence of the MLG.•Must be familiar with Roberts Rules of Order.
Must be familiar with Roberts Rules of Order.•Conducts his or her part of Ritual, including giving the instructions to the other officers; should learn to recite from memory.
Conducts his or her part of Ritual, including giving the instructions to the other officers; should learn to recite from memory.•Responsible for coordinating meeting arranges including:
Responsible for coordinating meeting arranges including: oMaking certain officers are present, or substitutes therefore provided.
Making certain officers are present, or substitutes therefore provided.oCollects report from telephone committee, could serve as chairman.
Collects report from telephone committee, could serve as chairman.oMakes certain meeting facility is arranged and head count provided, might personally make arrangements.
Makes certain meeting facility is arranged and head count provided, might personally make arrangements.oArrives early to make certain room is properly set up.
Arrives early to make certain room is properly set up.oReports to MLG that all meeting arrangements have been completed.
Reports to MLG that all meeting arrangements have been completed.Custodian of the Goslings
•Conducts his or her part of Ritual; should learn to recite from memory.
Conducts his or her part of Ritual; should learn to recite from memory.•Sergeant-at-arms, who can appoint Guards to assist in keeping decorum during the meetings and/or assist with initiation.
Sergeant-at-arms, who can appoint Guards to assist in keeping decorum during the meetings and/or assist with initiation.•Responsible for making certain Goslings present themselves for initiation.
Responsible for making certain Goslings present themselves for initiation.•Instructs the Goslings in solemnity and importance of the Obligation they are to assume.
Instructs the Goslings in solemnity and importance of the Obligation they are to assume.•Could be in charge of Membership Committee.
Could be in charge of Membership Committee.Guardian of the Pond
•Conducts his or her part of Ritual; should learn to recite from memory.
Conducts his or her part of Ritual; should learn to recite from memory.•Guard the inner door of the Pond and allow no strange birds to enter without the keyhonk, which is our secret password. I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you!
Guard the inner door of the Pond and allow no strange birds to enter without the keyhonk, which is our secret password. I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you!•Any other duties as appointed by the MLG.
Any other duties as appointed by the MLG.FEBRUARY GATHERING
We had a lively gathering on the banks of the Pond at the Mellow Mushroom in Brandon on February 27th. There were five Ganders and seven potential new members present. There was great enthusiasm expressed for getting the Florida Pond up and flying again. Kori Hamilton, with Genex Services, agreed to look into finding us a better meeting location, as the Mellow Mushroom was too noisy and had no private room.
CONTACT THE FLORIDA POND:
PMLGG George Harwood
Wielder of the Goose Quill
1936 Bruce B Downs Blvd #501
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544-9262
(813) 929-6440
