Dear SKAL Miami members,
The Olympics are over – and I’m exhausted just from watching our USA Olympians as well as my Swiss homeland team competing for the past two weeks! But what stuck with me was Allyson Felix’s last words on how she became an all-time best sprinter: by having a great support team, by looking forward to the future and by supporting new talents in her field.
That is probably also true for Skal International. Everything came to a halt last year, and Skal International has worked on new membership acquisitions, new event venues, discussion topics and guest speakers. We are also supporting hospitality workers in all levels and careers as well as on the IT side to update the social media platforms.
I believe you have received the email from Skal USA president Jim Dwyer on August 13. The head U.S. office is working on rebuilding the website into one that everyone can connect to and integrate with Skal International. With one login, you will have access to both our local and global library and news. That should be completed in 4Q 2021.
To access the entire Skal database, please do the following:
1) Go to www.skal.org
2) Click “For members”
3) Click “Skal database”
4) Login with your email and password (reset password if necessary)
5) Search by name or search by club, country – ex. Miami – you’ll see all the names, contact info from our local members or anywhere else in the USA, where you can always attend an event as a guest. Contact them directly ex. NYC, BOS, MCO, etc. – or reach out to me and I’ll assist you with contacting that chapter. Of course, that goes for worldwide!
And remember – Skal International is the only global hospitality and travel association that gives you access to their database – and for a low annual fee. Personally, I have had great success with that exclusive information for my ICC Events company, with corporate and leisure travel groups collaborating with Skal members from Halifax to Acapulco. I am sure, if you look a bit further into that database, you will find many new business leads as I did.
What else can I tell you? Remember what Allyson Felix said – support of each other – we need new members! Each of you has for sure one person who could have an interest in being connected with the largest hospitality association in the world. The membership fee for 2021 and 2022 is the lowest ever for our chapter. It would be appreciated if you could bring a new member to an upcoming event or suggest a new event venue for our monthly get-togethers. Speaker and topic suggestions are welcomed and encouraged. After all, it is your chapter, it is your club, and the board members can only work so many volunteer hours.
Thank you for your support – we appreciate it!
Now here comes the FUN part — the upcoming events for August and September:
Wednesday, August 25, 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Four Seasons Edge Restaurant – Happy Hour and get-together with your Skal friends! Everyone pays their own drinks/food. Oysters from $1 and drinks from $8. Outside, no reservation required, and first come, first serve!
Friday, September 3 7 p.m. Marlins Baseball — Bring your family and friends along! The game will start at 7 p.m. against PHI. $35 per ticket includes $10 off food and beverage. We’ll be seated at the back of Sections 1-3 in the social section with high-back barstool seating. Contact Karin to RSVP!
Tuesday, September 14, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Skal USA Presidents Dinner at Smith & Wollensky – We are working towards having a “full house” for our annual signature event! Please make time and bring a guest or your partner! Despite the rising costs, our Skal member Mr. Henry Delgado from Smith & Wollensky made it happen again! Enjoy a signature three-course dinner with two glasses of wine at the lowest price possible. Cost to attend: members $65 / non-members $78
The Skal USA president Mr. Jim Dwyer will fly in from NJ for this dinner event to join our Skal Miami chapter!
Plus, attendees who sign up that evening on site will get a preferred 2022 Skal Membership Rate! Existing members: $140 for 2022 (instead of $190). New members: $170, which will cover the remaining calendar year, plus 2022 (normally $330 for both years).
In order to reserve the proper dining room size we have to guarantee how many guests will attend. It is important that you please RSVP no later than Sept. 6 at the link below:
Click Here to RSVP and See Who Is Coming!
Friday, October 1, 6:30 p.m. – Oktoberfest at our Skal members Harald & James Neuweg’s Restaurant Fritz & Franz Bierhaus, 60 Merrick Way, Coral Gables FL 33134 – Dinner Buffet $45 for members / $55 for non-members – Come enjoy the live music and great food!
Wednesday, October 13, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Glass & Vine, 2820 McFarlane Roade, Coconut Grove – An outdoor garden restaurant with a view to the Bay – Mixer Reception – $35 for members / $45 for non-members
Wednesday, November 10 – Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse – Our Skal member Aimee Rodriguez is welcoming us for a great dinner! Please mark your calendar – we’ll send out an email with details in September.
Wednesday, December 15 – Ritz-Carlton South Beach – Our Skal member and General Manager Jaqueline Volkert looks forward to celebrating the Season with Skal Miami.
Stay tuned! Approx. 1st week of September 2021: Zoom Business Presentation with Skal Florida – We are planning on a zoom presentation from our Skal members – first with the Florida chapters, later in the year with some East Coast USA clubs. Connect with other Florida Skal members, do your “elevator speech” and get to know each other in a fun way. An email invitation will be sent separately in the coming days.
