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Evening Rotary Club Gains Approval

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By KENNETH KNIGHT

kknight@tampatrib.com

Published: April 1, 2009

NEW TAMPA - It's official: New Tampa has a third Rotary Club.

Organizers of the New Tampa Evening Rotary learned last week its application for charter membership had been approved by Rotary International, said Said Iravani, a founding member and club vice president.

An announcement was made at the beginning of the March 19 meeting at the Hunter's Green Country Club, 18101 Longwater Run Drive, he said.

"We have worked hard," Iravani said. "We are honored by the response the New Tampa community has given."

The evening Rotary becomes the 47th club in Rotary District 6890, which covers Hillsborough, Highlands, Hardee and Polk counties.

Iravani said the new Rotary was chartered with at least 50 members, and it continues to receive applicants interested in becoming members.

Iravani of Heritage Isles, in partnership with Jim Mutascio of Tampa Palms and Doug Andrews of Lutz, began talks last year to launch an evening Rotary. Their goal, they said, was to attract civic-minded residents who spend much of their day out of the community or whose schedules made it impossible to attend the morning or noon Rotary club meetings.

Tom Wagner, an assistant governor of Rotary District 6890, was assigned to help get the club up and running. More than 30 businesspeople, civic leaders, community leaders, business professionals, educators and a politician attended the first meeting Jan. 15.

The goal was to create an environment where volunteers can discuss a range of community service projects and activities over coffee or cocktails. Buying dinner is not a requirement at the meeting, which begins at 6:15 p.m. Thursdays.

The other two Rotary organizations are the Rotary Club of New Tampa and the New Tampa Noon Rotary. The Rotary Club of New Tampa meets for breakfast on Fridays at the Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club, and the New Tampa Noon Rotary gathers for lunch on Wednesdays at Circles Bistro in the Pebble Creek Collection plaza.

For information about the New Tampa Evening Rotary Club, contact club leaders at ntpmrotary@gmail.com.

Reporter Kenneth Knight can be reached at (813) 865-4842.

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