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I AM FROM THE GUMMIT AND I AM HERE TO HELP!

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NEW MEMBERS!

So today's meeting was the day after the NCAA basketball championships and, yes, the Gators won, and yes, the obnoxious Gator fans were more obnoxious than usual, and yes, the Gators beat the Buckeyes for the second year in a row, and yes, the Gators also beat the Buckeyes for the NCAA football championship, and yes, they put a Gator flag on the podium which probably violates some Rule of Rotary not to mention a law of nature - but finally we got down to business.

First order of business was to induct two new members - Barbara Weinstein and Al Hoffer.  Pres Tom did his usual scintillating induction ceremony after which the new members were roundly applauded.

The speaker today was Peter Levine of the Broward County Property Appraiser's office.  He was invited to speak by Terry Witcher, whose past efforts included a psychotic manic depressive who brought "toys", but such was not the case today (much to the chagrin of Gerry Sussman, but that is another story).  Peter spoke about the work of the appraiser's office and how the assessment and the millage rates determine property taxes.  The appraiser does not set tax rates - that is the function of the taxing authorities - the cities, the school board, etc.  And he spoke about the various exemptions available to taxpayers and how the Homestead Exemption saves residents tax dollars, but more importantly limits how much the taxes can increase each year due to the constitutional "Save our Homes" limitation.  Very informative, even without "toys".