July 31, 2007 No. 43 Vol. 85
This Week’s Program: Mark Dubina, FDLE, on
Homeland Security
Mark Dubina was born and
raised in Miami. He attended Florida State University where he
received a Bachelors Degree in Criminology.
In 1983 Mr. Dubina was sworn in as a Deputy
Sheriff at the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. In 1985 he was hired as
a Special Agent with the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and
Tobacco in Clearwater. In 1989, Mr. Dubina joined the Florida Department
of Law Enforcement as a Special Agent and was assigned to the Tampa Bay
Region to investigate racketeering, organized crime, murder for
financial gain, public corruption and white collar crime. He became the
FDLE representative on a US Customs Drug Smuggling Task Force and a FBI
Bank Fraud Task Force and was certified as a US Customs Blue Lightning
Task Force Agent. He was later assigned to the FDLE Office of Executive
Investigations.
In 1998, Mr. Dubina was promoted to
Special Agent Supervisor and managed the Clearwater Field Office, before
transferring to the Criminal Intelligence Squad. He supervised a variety
of criminal cases, including domestic special interest groups and
anti-government extremists. Mr. Dubina supervised the planning and
operation of dignitary protection details for the Governor of the State
of Florida, the Governor’s family and other authorized dignitaries. He
also coordinated the memorandum of understanding for the Regional
Multi-Agency Gang Task Force and was elected Co-Chairman of the Gang
Task Force oversight committee. Mr. Dubina supervised and coordinated a
number of special events on behalf of FDLE from fire/EMS personnel
during Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa, security operations for the Republican
Governors’ Association annual meeting, Election Year Vice Presidential
and Gubernatorial Debates in St. Petersburg and Governor Bush’s
Inaugural Ball in Tampa.
In 2001 Mr. Dubina participated in the initial
planning and subsequent implementation of the Regional Domestic Security
Task Force (RDSTF) concept in Florida following the terrorist attacks in
September 2001. He is currently responsible for managing the day-to-day
activities of the Tampa Bay RDSTF, which includes 18 full-time members
from both local law enforcement agencies and FDLE. The Tampa Bay RDSTF
covers a geographic area that includes nine counties in West Central
Florida. Mr. Dubina is responsible for all aspects of domestic security
investigations, and is FDLE’s liaison to Ports in Tampa, St. Petersburg
and Manatee County. He directs and reviews all investigations concerning
terrorism/domestic security conducted by the Tampa Bay RDSTF and all
intelligence/special projects conducted by Tampa Bay RDSTF Crime
Analysts. Mr. Dubina is responsible for the establishment and
maintenance of a daily electronic intelligence bulletin provided to law
enforcement managers and investigators in the Tampa Bay Region. He also
coordinates an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) project with
ICE Supervisors.
Mr. Dubina has attended numerous specialized law
enforcement courses and is a certified law enforcement instructor. He
has worked as a consultant to Wells Fargo Investigative Services,
is also a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and the past President of the
Tampa Bay Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. He is
a past graduate of Leadership St. Petersburg.
Mr. Dubina and his family have lived in St.
Petersburg for over 20 years. Welcome, Mark! We’ll all feel a little bit
safer tonight knowing you’re here!
Last Week’s Program: Gil McRae, Florida Fish
and Wildlife Research Institute
Kiwanian-of-the-Day Scott Boyle introduced our
speaker, Gil McRae, who described to us the role and responsibilities of
the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Mr. McRae joined the
FWRI in 1995 and became its director in 2002.
FWRI conducts monitoring and research associated
with Florida’s marine, estuarine and upland resources from its
headquarters in St. Petersburg. FWRI also operates from about 20 field
laboratories and offices distributed throughout the state. Created in
1989, the Fish and Wildlife Commission, of which FWRI is a part, the
Commission was appointed by the Governor, but the public wanted a
research arm of the Commission with no political ties, so the FWRI was
voted in by 79% of Florida voters. It has an annual operating budget in
excess of $54,000,000 and a staff of approximately 600.
Its mission: Managing fish and wildlife resources
for their long-term well-being and the benefit of the people. Gil
stressed that the well-being of animals was their primary concern with
the hunting and fishing desires of the people secondary to the first
goal. Some of the issues they deal with are hot button topics including
what to do about ono-indigenous invasive species, climatic changes, over
fishing and hunting and watercraft fatalities to manatees. Officers
patrol the State to make sure violations don’t take place. Current
programs include marine fisheries research, lake restoration, freshwater
restoration and wildlife research. They also research solutions to
nuisance alligators and bears as we encroach on their habitats. They
have an active Outreach Group and present information at the State Fair,
at Marine Quest and during school tours. They also have an extensive
volunteer network, most high profile of which are the volunteers who
guard the beach nesting of tortoises.
Gil noted alarming trends on our coral reefs in
the Keys, where bleaching and warmer water damage is killing the reefs
where much marine life lives. When asked about the shark population in
Florida waters, Gil assured us that healthy sharks in our waters are a
good environmental sign (except for swimmers and surfers!).
Gil, who is not named for his specialty, presented
an information-rich program that taught all of us a lot more about the
safeguards in place to protect the Florida we love. Thanks, Gil! Keep up
the good work.
Guests and Visitors
53 members and two visitors joined us for lunch Tuesday. In addition
to our speaker, Blake Clark, student Pastor was introduced by Frank
Ranieri (I’ll bet Frank’s glad he didn’t see the news item about Frank
below!) and Ron Braun welcomed Jonathan Caletti. Become a member so that
we can enjoy your company all the time!
Sallie House Receives Check
Bob Byelick presented a check for $2,000 from the Boys and Girls
Committee to Bernie Lodge for the Salvation Army’s Sallie House. Sallie
House provides transitional living for children in crises. Good work,
Bob and Bernie!
What’s Happening?
Ruby K. Awards Dinner on Madeira Beach This
Thursday
Twelve members of our Club are being honored with
the Ruby K award on Thursday night, August 2nd, at the Division Council
meeting.
The Ruby K Award is given to any member who has
brought on 5 or more new members to Kiwanis during their Kiwanis
career. There are different levels for each 5 members brought in. Weyman
Willingham has brought in 23 that we know of and we are still counting.
The other members to be recognized are Bruce, Al K, Bob Byelick, Scott
Boyle, John Biesinger, David Feaster, Harvey Ford, Dick Koch, J.C.
Russell, Cathy Swanson and Charles Stuart.
Mark Taylor, District Governor-Elect will present
the awards and will be the speaker.
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Madeira Beach
City hall, 300 Municipal Drive (across the street from the Winn Dixie).
It will start with a short workshop on Kiwanis awards and then dinner at
6:45pm. The cost is $10.
Life Is A Banquet
Markus Mittermayr reminds us to keep September 25th
open for our upcoming Installation Banquet. More on that in future
Bulletins.
Devil Rays Fun
Interested in a social outing with your fellow
Kiwanians and spouses/dates? Cyndi Mulligan suggested we get together
for the Devil Rays game against the Orioles, Sunday, August 5th.
The game is at 2:40. If you’d like to go, see Cyndi today at our
meeting.
Need Exercise? Exercise Your Right To Vote!
We need to elect a director beginning in October
2007 to complete Bob Piptliz's term. Bob was elected to become one of
the vice presidents for next fiscal year so there will be a vacancy on
the board of directors for a term running through September 2009. Having
been duly notified last week, members will vote today. The candidates
selected by the Board of Directors-Elect (the 2007-2008 board) were Dan
Stone, Trent Shadwick and Ron Braun.
International Convention Voting Results
Held in scenic San Antonio, TX, the Kiwanis
International Convention offered some rollicking entertainment from
Clint Black, an inspirational speaker/singer, a motivation coach and two
guys tossing chain saws around. Still, important business was carried
out at the well-attended annual conference. A summary of the voting
results from offices and amendments follows.
The five new Trustees are
Bascom L. Allen, Sr., Randolph Delay, Bernard W. Knott, Eduardo T.
Sedillo and Peter Wullenweber. Seventeen amendments were voted on with
the outcomes noted below.
§
Amendment Number One (approved): To
allow Kiwanis the flexibility to create and test new forms of membership
and new ways to participate in Kiwanis service, consistent with the
Objects of Kiwanis, on a limited basis.
§
Amendment Number Two (approved): To
move the duties of the “chief executive officer” in charge of day-to-day
operations from the International President to the Executive Director,
and change the title of “Executive Director” to “Chief Executive
Officer,” with the position remaining under the supervision and
direction of the International President and the Board of Trustees.
§
Amendment Number Three (approved): To
eliminate the requirement for the International Council to meet annually
while still allowing it to meet if needed.
§
Amendment Number Four (failed): To
implement a new classification of shared active membership.
§
Amendment Number Five (failed): To
add a new classification of corporate membership.
§
Amendment Number Six (approved): To
change the deadline for submission of proposed amendments and
resolutions from April 1 to January 15 to allow more time for
consideration and review.
Amendment Number Seven
(approved): To change references in the International Bylaws from
“magazine” and “KIWANIS magazine” to “official publication.”
§
Amendment Number Eight (approved): To
restore Kiwanis magazine to a balanced budget without a fee increase.
This will be accomplished by ceasing publishing global issues in
multiple languages with distribution worldwide and by using other means
to disseminate Kiwanis International messages. KIWANIS magazine will
continue to be distributed to English-speaking clubs in North America.
§
Amendment Number Nine
(failed):
To require a minimum period of one year and one day between
International Board service as a Trustee and the announcement of
candidacy for a higher office, and to allow a district to have one
Trustee and one higher officer on the International Board at the same
time.
§
Amendment
Number Ten (withdrawn):
To remove the aspect
of chief executive officer from the duties of the International
President.
§
Amendment Number Eleven (failed): To
require clubs to offer members the option to vote by mail (absentee
ballot) on club matters.
§
Amendment Number Twelve (withdrawn):
To provide a pro-rated membership induction fee for new members based
upon the annual membership dues and all other fees paid by current
members to Kiwanis International.
§
Amendment Number Thirteen (not
considered due to lack of motion): To relieve Kiwanis members who are in
the military service and deployed to a combat zone from payment of
International dues.
§
Amendment Number Fourteen
(approved): To provide what vote is necessary to add new provisions
(Articles or Sections) to the International Bylaws.
§
Amendment Number Fifteen (withdrawn):
To provide that two-thirds of the valid votes cast be required to enact
any new Articles or Sections not currently stated in the International
Bylaws.
§
Amendment Number Sixteen (referred to
committee): To ensure the geographic boundaries of all Service
Leadership Program (i.e., Circle K and Key Club) districts remain
aligned with Kiwanis districts and corresponding oversight by the
appropriate Kiwanis district board.
§
Amendment Number Seventeen (failed):
To allow alternative voting methods for amendments that have little or
no opposition, to expedite the meeting of the House of Delegates.
For
more detailed information, ask President Mitch or check out
www.kiwanis.org.
Today’s Holiday
Since we missed National Lasagna Day and Nude
Recreation Week this month, we’ll have to settle for today’s special
holiday, National Mutt’s Day. That means you can either celebrate with
your loyal mixed-breed dog or raise a glass to Harvey or Al when either
of them stands next to Lorin, here on out known as ‘Jeff.’
TODAY’S QUIZ:
- In what year was
Florida’s Domestic Security Strategy drawn up and approved: 2002,
2004 or 2005?
- The underside of a
horse’s hoof is called what?
- What was John
Wayne’s real name?
- Where does the sky
end and space begin?
