We welcome a guest speaker to address our group during lunch, helping to keep us up-to-date on matters of concern to businesses and citizens in Coral Gables, while allowing us to interact with leaders in our community.

A number of entrees and daily specials are offered for your selection. Please join us any Monday, except holidays. For more information, sign up for our email list to be informed of upcoming events.

Commissioner Bill Kerdyk, Jr. to talk about the city budget and the present state and future of commercial real estate in the Coral Gables area.

Publisher Justin Prisendorf will talk about the Coral Gables Gazette's mission to keep readers informed of important issues in Coral Gables every week.

City Manager David Brown will discuss the recently scaled back city budget and the long term challenges of managing the city's bloated pension plan.

José Abreu, P.E., Aviation Director, the man in charge at the busiest cargo airport in the United States. MIA also offers daily direct flights to every capital of every country in North America and is a hub to more than 80,000 passengers a day. Located only four miles from downtown Coral Gables, how can we maximize our potential to bring these worldly customers to our downtown pedestrian district and ensure a good experience?

Mayor Don Slesnick of Coral Gables, a committed political leader of the City Beautiful.

Dennis Smith, Assistant Director of Building and Zoning. Dennis will offer insight into current trends and critical issues to be considered as our city continues to encourage commercial, mixed use and residential projects in the downtown area. What will changes in the building and zoning code mean to those that own property, operate businesses or undertake development in the downtown commercial district?

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez is the political leader of Miami-Dade county. With many issues affecting county residents and businesses, such as the moving of the urban development boundaries, the establishment of new municipalities within the county, improving public transportation, managing traffic safety and operating one of the largest school systems in the country, what are the county mayor's top priorities?

Vice Mayor Maria Anderson of Coral Gables. Maria will be marking the end of her fifth year as a Gables commissioner and sharing her perspective on matters of interest to those that live and work in Coral Gables. What's in store for our city in terms of affordable housing, senior facilities, traffic calming and spiraling health care and compensation benefits for city employees?

Kathy Fernandez Rundle is the State Attorney for Miami-Dade County, serving in that capacity since 1993. Prior to that, she dedicated 15 years as an Assistant State Attorney. When she later served as Chief Assistant, she acted as legal counsel to the Dade County Grand Jury. As such, she presented hundreds of murder and capital cases and oversaw the issuance of reports that initiated major reforms in such areas as juvenile justice and revision of the building code following Hurricane Andrew. What is her assessment of the current state of crime prevention and criminal prosecutions in our community?

County Commissioner Katy Sorenson has been representing District 8 since 1994. She was the Vice Chair of the Board of County Commissioners from 2002 through 2004 and currently serves on the Community Empowerment & Economic Revitalization Committee, Internal Management & Fiscal Responsibility Committee, General Obligation Bond Program Subcommittee, and is Vice Chair of the Regional Transportation Committee. In 2004, she was selected to attend Harvard University’s Senior Executive Program in State and Local Government. Commissioner Sorenson also serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Association of Counties, is the County Commission's representative on the Tri-County Commission Task Force on Health, Medicaid and Indigent Care and is a member of the Criminal Justice Council. Commissioner Sorenson served on the South Florida Regional Planning Council from 1994 to 2006, served as Secretary of the organization and was elected Treasurer in 2006. What is the status on movement of the Urban Development Boundary and portability of homestead exemptions for seniors?

Asst County Manager Bill Johnson representing county manager George Burgess. Bill Johnson has twenty-six years of management experience with Miami-Dade County government and has served as a senior member of the County Manager's executive staff since January 1995. Over the years, having held several senior positions in the Manager's Office, including Special Assistant, Senior Assistant, Transportation Manager and Assistant County Manager, his responsibilities have included oversight of County's Department of Procurement Management, the Department of Business Development, Miami-Dade Transit, and as liaison with the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Florida Department of Transportation (District Six).

Gloria Burns is Executive Director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, presenting information about a new initiative called Greening of the Gables.

Norren Frye, Director of the OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Miami.

Alberto Delgado, Director of Public Works in Coral Gables will provide an update on projects currently underway as well as an overview of future plans.

Mari Molina, Director of the Coral Gables Business Improvement District will disucss the future of the BID.

Kelly Sastre, Director of Development for Switchboard of Miami. Since 1968, their mission is to connect people in need with community resources, strengthen and preserve families, and develop and provide services where none exist. How has their organization evelved over the past 4 decades and how will they continue to meet the needs of the community?

Cathy Swanson Rivenbark, Director of Development in Coral Gables, has been with the city since 1989. her mission is to foster and enhance sound economic growth compatible with the adopted policies and quality of life in the City of Coral Gables. The department has a business development plan to assist realtors, building owners, and organizations in attracting domestic and international prospects by utilizing direct contacts, follow-up visits, brochures and audiovisual material. A special focus is placed on multinational recruitment and retail development. The department also emphasizes the need for developing a better relationship with the existing business community to help improve the retention and expansion of these businesses. In addition, the department is responsible for providing specialized economic development, including demographics and development trends. What is the future of development in Coral Gables?

County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa of District 6 was first elected to the Board of County Commissioners in 2001 and was re-elected without opposition in 2002 to represent the residents of District 6, which contains the cities of West Miami and Miami Springs and portions of Coral Gables, Miami, Hialeah, and Unincorporated Miami-Dade. What plans does the county have for Coral Gables and how can we cooperate with county government to enhance the lives of those that work and live in Coral Gables?

Miami-Dade Commissioner Carlos A. Gimenez of District 7. Serving since November, 2004, the former City Of Miami Manager represents parts of Coral Gables, Key Biscayne, South Miami and Pinecrest and serves as the chairman of the Regional Transportation Committee providing oversight for Miami International Airport and the People's Transportation Plan. He is also a member of the Infrastructure and Land Use Committee; the Intergovernmental, Recreation and Cultural Arts Committee; as well as the General Obligation Bond Program Subcommittee. How can our improving transportation infrastructure and dedicated funding sources facilitate expanded commercial and cultural opportunities in our community?

State Representative Julio Robaina of South Florida, formerly Mayor of South Miami, was first elected to the State House of Representatives in 2002. Representative Robaina serves as the Vice Chair of the Local Government Council. In addition her serves on the Health & Families Council, Health Care General Committee, Select Committee to Protect Private Property Rights, State Administration Appropriations Committee and the Transportation Committee. How is the state legislature dealing with issues of importance to South Floridians?

Cristie M. Vidal, Emergency Management Coordinator of the Miami-Dade Office of Emergency Management will discuss ways in which residents and businesses can prepare for emergencies, including hurricanes and other natural disasters. Florida, and especially Miami-Dade County, are among the most highly-rated juristrictions in terms of disaster preparedness, as judged by the federal government. What has our emergency management team learned from recent storm seasons and what can we expect in future incidents?

Chairperson Marc A. Buoniconti of the Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust is a member of the CITT's Project & Financial Review, Compliance and Oversight, and Community Outreach Committees. How will Miami-Dade County's dedicated funding for mass transportation improve the way we get around in Coral Gables and across the county?

County Commissioner Joe A. Martinez represents District 11 and serves as the chairman of the commission. With a motto of "putting the people's business first" Commissioner Martinez holds one of the most powerful positions in Miami-Dade County. In November 2004, he became the first Hispanic elected by his peers to hold this position in the 60 years of Miami-Dade County's governance. What will the chairman say are the most important issues concerning the citizens of Miami-Dade County and what are his plans to improve county government?

Judge Bronwyn Catherine Miller is currently assigned to the Civil Division of the South Dade Justice Center in Cutler Ridge. Prior to her appointment, Judge Miller served as a prosecutor and tried over eighty cases to verdict in both the Circuit and County Courts. She served as one of two Training Directors for the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office, responsible for the training of approximately three hundred prosecutors and investigated and tried capital homicide cases. As she begins her re-election campaign, what issues within her realm of civil matters are of importance to residents?

Scott McAlister, General Manager and Patricia Jacobs, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Paladin by Sunrise Retirement Communities at 1505 Ponce. The Paladin will offer luxury condos with all the services of a retirement community, a first in Coral Gables. Please join us for this informative presentation, featuring free lunch, compliments of Paladin by Sunrise Retirement Communities.

Mark Trowbridge, President and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce will discuss his vision for the future of the organization.

Capt. James A. Watson, District Chief of Staff of the US Coast Guard District Seven is a graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy and holds three advanced degrees including Strategic Studies. He is currently being promoted to Admiral and shortly will be taking on new duties. District Seven covers the South East coast of Florida, providing safety, rescue, and protection of our costal waters. The Coast Guard is our main defense in the interdiction of illegal immigrants and contraband within US Territorial Waters.

Coral Gables Fraternal Order of Police President Gene Gibbons will discuss ongoing problems in negotiating a contract for his police officers with the City Of Coral Gables.

Jim Elliott is the founder and president of Diveheart and an international expert on diving with disabilities -- and teaching disabled divers to dive. Jim is in Coral Gables all next week, teaching a class of instructors and buddies to teach and dive with individuals with limited abilities.

Juan Arais speaks about traveling through Europe in the summertime.

Dr. Steve Liebowitz of Wisdom At Work explores The Big But Syndrome -- How to Get Out of Your Own Way and Attract More Business.

Oscar I. Marti, VP Marketing & Sales for Ponce Circle Developers, LLC will give us a presentation on the upcoming Old Spanish Village project on Ponce Circle Park and vicinity being developed by Ralph Sanchez and partners.

Ileana Caballero, Project Manager for St George Condo-Hotel, to be managed by the Hilton Corporation.

Rosa E. Pizzi has been the Executive Director of Abriendo Puertas, Inc. since March of 2002. Abriendo Puertas is a community-based organization that is recognized as the neighborhood resource center in Little Havana and provides services to the underserved and disadvantaged population in the Little Havana community of the City of Miami, Florida. The agency is recognized for its work with immigrant children youth and families and its Madrinas/Padrinos (natural helpers) program.

R. Kenneth Bluh, Vice President of Capital International Financial will offer a presentation on reverse mortgages, a way for home owners to receive monthly payments from the equity of their homes without making payments.

Robert Burr presents an historical and hysterical recollection of Florida roadside attractions, oddities and goofy paces to visit in the Sunshine State.

Damian Cruz, publisher of medieval books