Frank Derfler with the Upper Keys Rotary Club joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the organization.
There are a number of Rotary Clubs up and down the Keys.
Derfler said, “There’s eight clubs throughout the Keys. We’ve got about 450 Rotarians of the Florida Keys, which per capita makes us really densely populated. When you consider that many people pass through Rotary, become Rotarians for a few years and then decide they have other things to do with their commitments, and so the number of rotary alumni is huge also. So these eight clubs do all sorts of things.”
Some people have been in Rotary for nearly 50 years. Service above self really rings true.
Derfler said, “The Upper Keys Rotary Club does produce the Fourth of July event for the village of Islamorada. This is going to be at Founders Park, and we open the gates at 6pm this year, we’ve got seven food trucks. We’ve got music. We’ve got a pet parade. We’ve got adult beverages, of course, and then after sundown, fireworks over Florida Bay, a really, really beautiful way to do it. We do ask that folks don’t bring in their coolers beverages or personal fireworks. That’s very, very verboten, but we do thank the Key West Airport Authority and Islamorada Brewing and Distillery and the village, and then, of course, Keys Weekly newspapers, Sunbelt Rentals and our wonderful, wonderful Florida Keys Electric Co Op. We are so blessed here in the upper keys. This Co Op is a wonderful organization. They do so much for the community, and they help us a great deal with the Gigantic Nautical Market, which is held at the end of February. Talking again about Rotary we were able this year to give nearly a quarter of a million dollars in scholarship funds to students who had graduated from Coral Shores High School. I will be at the front gate and collecting $10 per car for entry. So pack your car. Our new village manager, Ron Saunders, who has been around the Keys for quite a while, is also going to be serving adult beverages. So if you want to have an opportunity to speak with the village manager, just come get a Rum Punch.”
For more information, click here: https://upperkeysrotary.com/