I sincerely would like to thank everyone for taking the time to attend this event. In these busy times, your commitment to our future is appreciated.

Congratulations to all the honorees. It’s wonderful to know we have such dedicated individuals working for the eternal quest of “Equality for ALL.” Thanks for your endless hard work.

A very special thanks to National Democratic Chairperson, Congress-woman Debbie Wasserman Schultz for her help and for taking the time to attend the event and give such an up-lifting speech.

A major thank you to our generous sponsors. We are so blessed to have so many people and business’s come forward to help out this great cause. It is through their generosity that we can produce this event. Thanks to all our press sponsors and to the many bars and restaurants who were so generous with their delicious food and beverage. It was an honor to have so many of the owners attend the event. Also thanks and God bless all the volunteers.

Hopefully you have won some of the silent auction items. We want to thank the many businesses and individuals for being so generous.

One of the greatest blessings working on this event is to meet and get to know all the wonderful people who have been so generous and helpful. It’s great to know the people of South Florida are so kind and wonderful.

It was such a pleasure working with and meeting the dedicated individuals involved with the two wonderful charities, House of Hope & Stepping Stones and Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center. Check out their web-sites and support them and the great work they do.

Special thanks to Michael Albetta, Captain Rick Wierzbicki of the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Michele from the Auction Ladies, and to the members of the board and executive members of the Dolphin Democrats who stepped up above and beyond.

I look forward to working with you all in the Get Out the Vote Center next year.

God bless you all and God bless America.

Photos courtesy, Steven Shires

The Dolphin Democrats will be holding  its annual Dolphin Democrat’s Award Reception on Sunday, October 23 at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum, 300 Gulf Stream Way in Dania Beach near Griffin Road and I-95. The evening will include a VIP Reception and/or cocktail reception in the main lobby from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., dining and awards presentation from 7:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. There will also be a silent auction starting at 6 p.m. and ending at 7:45 p.m. The Dolphin Democratic Club is Florida’s oldest and largest LGBT political organization.

The annual Dolphin Democrats’ Awards Reception is the premier event that recognizes outstanding leaders who have demonstrated their strength to lead and a vision to improve the lives of the LGBT community and all deserving citizens. Honoring these special members of the community celebrates the accomplishments and strengths and hope for the future.

This week we will look at some of the organizations and businesses that will be honored at the awards presentation.
According to Ron Mills, president of the Dolphin Democratic Club, the Broward Leadership Award will be presented to Women in Network (WIN). WIN is a social and business networking association for women based in South Florida and is perhaps the oldest lesbian organization in the State of Florida. The focus has been half on education and half on networking and connecting the lesbian community. WIN is entering its 25th year.

“We were very honored to find out that the Dolphins have chosen us for this award,” said Denise Spivak, President of WIN. “They [the Dolphins] are an organization of an equally impressive tenure and we know that they do not choose their award recipients lightly. We are very honored and we also are honored by the company of which we are now becoming a part of – including the other recipients of this particular award and also the other award recipients that were chosen this year. We look forward to continuing the work we’ve been doing.”

This year’s Dolphin Democrats Awards Reception media award goes to Hotspots! Magazine. According to Michael Albetta, former president of the Dolphin Democrats, the media award goes to the individual or business that has gone out of their way to promote the Dolphins and their programs.

Albetta said that Hotspots! Magazine has “never said no to the Dolphins’ ‘Get Out the Vote’ effort in regards to notifying the public and didn’t want anything in return. Time and time again over the past two years, whether it’s a local race or a national race, they’ve always allowed us to use their magazine to inform the public of the events that were happening.”
“I’ve always had such respect for the Democratic Party and what they’ve done,” said Peter Clark, publisher of Hotspots! Magazine. “They really understand our community and understand our priorities and the fact that there is so much work to be done. I think they’ve done a good job in prioritizing what they need to do; getting Congress to move forward on issues that impact our community. Since Barack Obama’s inauguration, we’ve made incredible strides forward but there’s still a lot to be done. I’m thrilled that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was repealed. Now I’m anxious to see them shift their focus to DOMA and recognition of the validity of same-sex couples. When I got the phone call that I was going to be recognized by the Dolphins for what we do is simply a matter of supporting their initiative and giving our voice to the community to them so they could be heard on a wider scale.”

This year, the Dolphins will be awarding a second Political Alliance Award  This second award is being given to U.S. Representative Ted Deutch. Deutch served in the Florida Senate from 2007 until April 13, 2010 when he won a special election to the U.S. House of Representative replacing Congressman Robert Wexler. Wexler had left Congress to lead the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation.

Albetta said that within days of taking his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Deutch signed on as a sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

The final award for the evening is the Community Service Award which is being presented to Broward House. For many years, Broward House has been in the forefront of helping people with HIV/AIDS and recently announced that they were going to start an LGBT teenage suicide prevention program including a telephone hotline.

Tickets for the Dolphin Democrats’ Awards Reception can be purchased online at their website, www.DolphinDems.org. Individual tickets are $75, which includes the reception, dinner, awards presentation and silent. VIP tickets of $150 per person also include the VIP reception.

For additional information, either visit their website or call 866-478-8262. Sponsorship opportunities are also still available.

In next week’s Florida Agenda, we will have the latest information on the 2012 Dolphin Democrats’ ‘Equality for All’ Awards Reception and Silent Auction.

By Bob Kecskemety

This Dolphin Democrats will be holding its annual Dolphin Democrat’s Award Reception on Sunday, October 23 at the  IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum, 300 Gulf Stream Way in Dania Beach near Griffin Road and I-95. The evening will include a VIP Reception and/or cocktail reception in the main lobby from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., dining and awards presentation from 7:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. There will also be a silent auction starting at 6 p.m. and ending at 7:45 p.m. The Dolphin Democratic Club is Florida’s oldest and largest LGBT political organization.

The annual Dolphin Democrats’ Awards Reception is the premier event that recognizes outstanding leaders who have demonstrated their strength to lead and a vision to improve the lives of the LGBT community and all deserving citizens. Honoring these special members of the community celebrates the accomplishments and strengths and hope for the future.

This week we will look at some of the women who will be honored at the awards presentation.

The Jamie Bloodworth Leadership Award is the most prestigious of the awards presented, according to Michael Albetta, former president of the Dolphins. In fact, the only award that is outlined in the organization’s bylaws which states that the Jamie Bloodworth Leadership Award may be awarded by the Board of Directors to any self-identifying female who has shown  excellent leadership and/or sponsorship in improving community relationship in the LGBT communit-at-large. The purpose is to memorialize the life and accomplishments of Jamie Bloodworth in relation to Broward County human-rights issues.

Recipients this year will be Jennifer Morales and Laurie Whittaker of Sidelines Sports Bar who, according to Albetta, have been instrumental in the Dolphin’s Get Out the Vote Campaigns.

The Trailblazer Award will be presented to Patricia Windowmaker, the Sworn Legal Counsel to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.

The Trailblazer Award goes to the person who has gone above and beyond outside their normal box. According to Albetta, Windowmaker has been instrumental in the hiring of transgendered individuals at BSO, which currently employes several transgendered staff.

The weekend of the Awards Reception, Windowmaker will be in Massachusetts getting legally married to Broward Judge Lisa Porter, but Windowmaker will be returning for that evening to accept her award.

The Political Alliance Award will be presented to Anne Sallee, Vice Mayor of Oakland Park, and also a member of the Dolphins. Sallee is being presented the award for her hard work in the Dolphin’s Get Out the Vote Campaign by setting up the tent each month on the first Saturday of each month at the Pride Center’s Flea Market.

Sallee moved to Oakland Park in 2003 and became a neighborhood director in 2005. She has been a member of the Dolphins since 2007.

“I’m proud to be part of the greater community,” said Sallee. “I grew up in a household that believed that everybody should be accepted for who they are and that nothing else should matter. Everyone has the right to enjoy their lifestyle as long as it doesn’t impose on another person’s rights. I appreciate the friendships I’ve made and the involvement that I’ve had, and I look forward to it for a long time.”

This year’s Humanitarian Award will be going to Maroone/AutoNation for their various work and sponsorships of organizations and events in the LGBT community. Accepting the award will be Gale M. Butler, Corporate Vice President of Maroone/AutoNation.
Albetta said that Maroone/AutoNation, along with Butler, has been active in various LGBT pride events in the tri-county area, the Pride Center’s “Stars of the Rainbow,” and Women in Network (WIN) by sponsoring its golf tournament that raises money for cancer awareness. Maroone/AutoNation are also major sponsors of the International Gay Rodeo, the SMART Ride, Broward House, and the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

“We’re very proud of the fact that we’re being honored,” said Butler. “We’ve always been supportive of the gay community and are most appreciative of this honor. We’ve been long-time supporters of AIDS causes since we first came into existence about fifteen years ago. We’re involved in the Community Foundation, which took on the cause of AIDS when nobody else would. I think it’s a good thing and important thing for a big company to do.”

Tickets for the Dolphin Democrats’ Awards Reception can be purchased online at their website, www.DolphinDems.org. Individual tickets are $75, which includes the reception, dinner, awards presentation and silent auction. VIP tickets at $150 per person also includes the VIP reception.

For additional information, either visit their website or you may call 866-478-8262. Sponsorship opportunities are also still available.

In next week’s Florida Agenda, we will interview more recipients of the annual Dolphin Democrat’s Awards Reception.

by Bob Kecskemety

Florida’s oldest and largest LGBT political organization, the Dolphin Democratic Club, will be holding their annual Dolphin Democrats’ Awards Reception on Sunday, October 23 at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum, 300 Gulf Stream Way in Dania Beach near Griffin Road and I-95.

The annual Dolphin Democrats’ Awards Reception is its premier event that recognizes outstanding leaders who have demonstrated their strength to lead and a vision to improve the lives of the LGBT community and all deserving citizens. Honoring these special members of the community celebrates the accomplishments and strengths and hope for the future.

The proceeds will benefit the Dolphin Democrats’ 2012 “Get Out the Vote” campaign with a portion going to the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center (children with AIDS), the House of Hope and Stepping Stones.

A total of twelve awards will be given  out. This year’s recipients are: Jennifer Morales and Laurie Whittaker of Sidelines (Jamie Bloodworth Award); Patricia Windowmaker, Senior Legal Council of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (Trailblazer Award); Congressman Ted Deutch and Oakland Park Vice Mayor Anne Sallee (Political Alliance Award); Peter Clark of Hotspots (Media Award); Salvatore Torre (Volunteer of the Year Award); Broward House (Community Service Award); Women in Network (Broward Leadership Award); Tim Ross (Distinguished Service Award); Gail Butler of Auto Nation/Maroone Ford (Humanitarian Award) and Michael Albetta (Dolphin of the Year).

This year’s Honorary Chairperson is Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

“This is not a rubbery chicken political dinner,” said Richard Cimoch, events co-chair for the Dolphin Democrats. “It’s excellent food from over a dozen restaurants. The theme this year is ‘A Taste of Broward’ and the International Fishing Hall of Fame is magnificent – spectacular. The place is absolutely beautiful.”

Cimoch has been busy the last few months coordinating the event and getting participation from local bars and restaurants. Jennifer Morales and Laurie Whittaker of Sidelines Sports Bar, Carol Moran of Blue Moon and Victor Zepka of Boardwalk are providing the liquor and wine and over a dozen restaurants have confirmed their participation with more to come. Also The Manor Entertainment Complex has been very involved.

“I firmly believe that this event will make or break the election,” said Cimoch. “The Dolphins are usually very successful in its get out the vote campaigns and if [President] Barack Obama doesn’t win Florida, I don’t think he’ll get reelected. So it’s really crucial we have a very strong get out the vote center and we get the people to the polls like we did the last time. If  he doesn’t get in, God only knows what we’ll get.”

Membership to the Dolphin Democrats  is around 200 for a non-election year and closer to 500 in election years. In 2008, the year of the last Presidential election, member was around 450.

“This is a very crucial event,” added Cimoch. “Every person in the community is needed to help make a better future of the gay community and the whole community in general. We could have better influenced the 2010 Congressional elections with a better gay Get Out the Vote campaign mobilizing people here in Broward and helping in Palm Beach.” In 2010, the voter turnout in predominantly Democratic Broward County was very low.

Next year, the Dolphin Democratic Club will be 30 years old. The organization was started by a small group of people that originally called themselves the Tuesday Night Meeting. Some of the original members are still active today such as Barbara Stewart and Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Tom Green.

Today, many of the local politicians are members and attend regular Dolphin Democrats’ events and speak at their meetings.Salvatore Torre, recipient of this year’s Volunteer of the Year award said, “There are so many people that volunteer every day and give so much of their time. I appreciate getting the recognition. People don’t realize how much work goes into setting up the events and setting up the meetings.”

Torre has been a member of the Dolphin Democrats for the last two years. He currently sits on the board of directors of the organization. He said he does a lot of behind-the-scenes work and helps set up the meetings.

Dolphin of the Year award recipient, Michael Albetta reflected on his history with the organization when he found out he was receiving an award.

“As John F. Kennedy said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.’ This [the Dolphins] is my participation in regards to making sure that all people are regarded equally – regardless of race, color, creed, religion or national origin. All people must be treated equally, it’s in our Constitution.”

Albetta has been a member of the Dolphins since 1997 and has served on the board since 1998. He has served as either president or vice president from 2003 through 2005 and was elected president again in 2009. He has also served on the state’s LBGT Caucus.
The Dolphin of the Year Award generally goes to a former president of the Dolphin Democrats.

Tim Ross, who will receive the Distinguished Service Award, has been a member of the Dolphins since 2006. He served as secretary of the Dolphins from 2009 to 2010 and is currently still serving on the board.

Tickets for the Dolphin Democrats’ Awards Reception can be purchased online at its website, www.DolphinDems.org. Individual tickets are $75 which includes the reception, dinner, awards presentation and silent auction. VIP tickets of $150 per person also includes the VIP reception.

For additional information, either visit the website or call (866) 478-8262.