LTC 056-2006 Women's History MonthM IAMIBEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC ://: 056-2006 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager ~ ~
DATE: March 2, 2006
SUBJECT: WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
March is Women's History Month, and, as Jn previous years, tile Miami Beacil Commission
on the Status of Women will celebrate the event with a reception in honor of four women in
our community whose contributions have made a difference in our community. The Women
Worth Knowing Award will be given to each of these women and was voted on recently by
the Commission on the Status of Women. A list of the four honorees and a brief summary of
their major accomplishment is attached.
The City is partnering with the Commission on the Status of Women to hold a reception in
honor of Women's History Month on Thursday, March 30, 2006. at 6:30 p.m. at the South
Beach Marriott Hotel located at 161 Ocean Ddve, Miami Beach, FI 33139.
Dudng the reception each honoree will be presented with a Certificate and will have the
opportunity to highlight her major accomplishments regarding her work in the community.
We hope that you will be able to attend this important event. Please RSVP to Maria E.
Martinez in the City clerk's Office at (305) 673-7411 by March 13, 2006 if you plan to attend.
If you have any questions or need additional information regarding this event, please feel
free to contact me.
JMG: REP: lb
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jo Asmundsson:
Jo Asmundsson has been making a difference in Miami Beach since she first arrived
here 25 years ago. After leaving her native England (where she was a CEO of 5
companies!), Jo traveled a lot which she says taught her "how to be tolerant and to
listen." Jo has served as board member and treasurer of the Miami Dade Gay &
Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and remains an active member, proving that she is
straight but not narrow. She is also a member of the board of Friends of the Miami
Public Library System and actively helps them with their book sales each year. A
constant presence at Miami Beach's city hall, Jo was in her fifth year serving as
president of the Miami Beach Taxpayers Association and as co-chair of the
governmental committee of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce when she resigned
to run for Miami Beach City commission. Among her proudest achievements is getting
3000 votes and coming in third in the race where she was 1 woman against 6 men. She
has served on the board of WLRN (our local National Public Radio affiliate) for 3 years
and hers is one of the voices you hear in their on-air fundraising drives. Jo has also
been a reader with WLRN's Radio Reading Service for 16 years. Jo takes great pride in
having worked on the gubernatorial campaigns of both Janet Reno and for Bill McBride.
Now, Jo serves on the Miami Beach Community Development Corporation where she
devotes her time and talent to supplying affordable housing in the City of Miami Beach.
Jo sums up her philosophy by saying "1 usually go for people who've been given the
wrong end of the stick."
Dale Gratz:
Originally from Tampa, Florida, Dale Gratz has lived in Miami Beach for over forty years.
She and her husband have three grown children and five grandchildren (including a set
of triplets, age 2). Dale received her degree from Sophie Newcomb College (today part
of Tulane University) and spent several years as a social worker in New Orleans and
Chicago. Throughout her forty years on Miami Beach, Dale has never hesitated to give
of herself to her community. She began her volunteer efforts with the National Council
of Jewish Women and today is a lifetime member of that organization. She served as a
Guardian Ad Litem for 11 years, advocating on behalf of abused and neglected children.
Dale has volunteered in area public schools and served as a mentor for at-risk students.
She has served on the Board of Trustees and the School Board for Temple Beth
Sholom, in addition to volunteering in the synagogue's monthly "Feeding the Hungry"
program for the past fifteen years. Eight years ago, Dale signed on as poll worker
earning minimum wage "to help make voting a more pleasant experience" for the
citizens of Miami Beach. Also, Dale is one of us a long-time member of the Commission
on the Status of Women until she was recently "termed out". We were sorry to see her
go - but happy to honor her. For Dale is one of those quiet, tireless worker bees. When
told she would receive this award, she was shocked overwhelmingly honored and most
of all, humble. "1 feel unworthy," she told me. "I've never done anything big or
spectacular." However her outlook on life sums it all up: "I've always felt fortunate in my
life and felt I had to give back in some way or I would not be able to live with myself."
Jane Gross:
Dedication to our community and long hours of volunteer service is the reason we are
honoring Jane Dee Gross as a Miami Beach "Woman Worth Knowing". Jane relocated
to Miami Beach in the early - 80's after a successful Corporate Marketing Career in
Connecticut; met and married not yet Commissioner Saul Gross in the late 80's and
gave birth to Jonathan in 1990. Anonymous benefit projects have always been Jane's
favorites however, she regularly volunteers for a wide variety of civic organizations;
Temple Beth Shalom, Daily Bread Food Bank, Community Partnership for the
Homeless, New Life Family Shelter, American Cancer Society, WLRN Radio Reading
Services for the Blind, Miami Dade School System. She is a Board member of People
Acting for Community Together (PACT), Miami Design Preservation League and the
Miami Beach Community Health Center. A favorite quote of Jane's is "Life is what
happens to you when you're busy making other plans" John Lennon 1980.
Merle Weiss:
Merle Weiss might be the most photographed woman on Miami Beach. She is a South
Beach institution, original, interesting and involved. She moved to Miami Beach in 1985
and has served on the boards of several prominent organizations including the Miami
Beach Cultural Arts Council, DASH, Miami Beach Fine Arts Board, Art Center South
Florida, Miami Film Festival, Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Dade Human Rights
Foundation, and Miami Beach Art in Public Places. With her tough love attitude she gets
things done. With glitz., glitter and glamour, she not only knows how to make money for
the groups she loves but she knows how to have fun. She has been on the events
and/or planning committee for several groups including Wolfsonian FlU Museum, Miami
Light Project, Winter Party, Museum of Contemporary Art and Dance for Life. In addition
to her community involvement, Merle was a pioneer in the Miami Beach retail industry.
She opened Merles Closet on Lincoln Road in 1990, when the road was deserted and
people were afraid to venture there after dark. With her colleagues at Art Center South
Florida she was one of the catalysts that helped bring the road back to life. She has also
worked for Av-Med Health Plan and Miami Dade county government. Married to Danny,
Merle is a proud mother of three sons and a grandmother of five. Merle has always had
an interest in others and believes in the power of individuals to change the world. She
gets involved in the community to make a difference. You will see Merle at all the best
and most important events and happenings. If you want to go places you need to know
Merle. With sparkle and dazzle and the moxie to get things done Merle Weiss is not
only a Woman Worth Knowing she is a woman everyone wants to know.