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Florida District

It is time to celebrate a new beginning in the Florida District. The world, our nation and Pilot International are facing many challenges today. Our district will meet these "opportunities" with determination, courage, and commitment as we have in the past 82 years. We must prepare ourselves to accept change and move into the future not forgetting the past but learn from it. A task force has been studying our state and will be making recommendations to help ensure that we will be providing Friendship and Service for many years to come in our communities.

Presently, our state is home to 36 Pilot clubs stretching from Pensacola to Miami. We have held 11 international conventions. We have had five international presidents one being Ruby Newhall, from the Pilot Club of Gainesville, for whom a scholarship program for international students is named.

The Pilot Scholarship House Foundation was chartered in 1962, which answered the need for a statewide project that all Florida Pilots could support. We are unique in offering three scholarship houses at the University of Florida, Florida State University and Florida Gulf Coast University respectively, to women with high academic achievement, motivation and a financial need. We are in partnership with the Southern Scholarship Foundation, which oversees the houses.

Pilot sponsors Anchor Clubs in elementary, middle school, and high school. Members volunteer many hours to improve their schools and communities plus learn leadership skills that will last a lifetime. Some of their projects include mentoring special education children, holding an awareness seminar on chemical dependency, and developing a safe prom for graduating students. Florida has the second largest Anchor membership in Pilot International.

Our clubs around the state have been involved in many projects to help improve the quality of life in our communities. In 2001, “BrainMinders - Protecting Your Brain for Life", was introduced. Pilots went into the schools and taught children with the use of puppets how to play safe and play smart. Children were given coloring books and a certificate of completion. In 2004, Pilot Clubs began sponsoring Project Lifesaver an Emergency Response Mobile Locator. Clubs partnered with local law enforcement to help distribute bracelets to people who were most needy and suffered from “wandering syndrome”. Clubs help fund St. Jude's Research Hospital with a letter writing campaign each year. In 2007, a treatment room was named at St. Jude’s in recognition of the Pilot International Foundation. Pilot Walks are organized to help fund research for Alzheimer's disease each year. Our clubs are distributing bike helmets, provided by the Epilepsy Foundation, to help protect children from traumatic brain injury. Our clubs also provide funds to raise and train service dogs from birth to be companions to people who have need of them.

What's a volunteer worth? In dollars and cents about $20.25 an hour in today's market, but this only underscores the indispensable contributions that Pilots make by serving in our communities. Won't you consider becoming a Florida Pilot? You would be serving your community while making many friends. Please log onto our website: www.pilotflorida.orgfor further information about a Florida Pilot Club near to you.

Jackie Klein, Governor
Florida District
Pilot International

For more information contact:

Pilot International Headquarters
P.O. Box 4844
Macon, GA 31208-4844
478-477-1208
478-477-6978 FAX