Public Speaking: 12 Myths Debunked

 When was the last time you had to deliver a speech? Were you nervous? The anxiety one goes through before giving a speech can be overwhelming. People often grasp at suggestions they have heard to deal with their anxiety, but these suggestions don’t always make sense. In this article, I’m going to explore some of these myths and how they can actually harm your speech.

 

  1. Imagine the audience naked or in their underwear.

This can actually be more distracting to you than helpful. If you are focusing on what clothes audience members are or are not wearing, you can’t be focusing on the message nor how the audience is or isn’t connecting with it.

 

  1. You are born with a public speaking talent – you cannot learn it.

It is remarkable how many people believe that speakers are born with a special talent. Public speaking is a skill that is developed through focus and effort.

 

  1. Avoid eye contact – focus at a point above the audience’s heads.

This is some of the worst advice I have ever heard. If you want your message to connect with the audience – look at your audience.

 

  1. Begin with a joke.

Careful, careful, careful. Jokes often offend. Never include jokes that don’t connect to your message. Poking fun at yourself can sometimes be okay, but leave the jokes-for-jokes sake out.

 

  1. Too much rehearsal is bad for me – I’m better just speaking off the cuff.

Practice, practice, practice. There is never any substitute for being well-prepared. I have never seen an instance where too much rehearsal ruined a speech. By rehearsal, I don’t mean memorization. Practice so you can speak with ease the points of your speech, referring to your cards and visuals.

 

  1. My experience trumps credible sources.

Good research reflects positively on you, no matter how much of an expert you are in the field. When you provide support for your ideas it adds credibility to your message. Quotes from famous people add value. Speakers who lack experience tend to overvalue their ideas and fail to support their ideas.

 

  1. Memorize your speech.

Memorization often causes people to disconnect with the audience. For experienced speakers, it becomes too rehearsed, too perfect…a performance. For inexperienced speakers, it can make the speaker look a bit crazy as if they were listening to the voices in their head, and not connecting with the audience. It’s OK to use cue cards and visuals in most situations.

 

  1. Hide behind a podium.

You cannot fully connect with an audience if you hide behind a podium. Step out from behind the podium, roll up your sleeves and get real with the audience. There are times when etiquette calls for a more formal presentation, but don’t use the podium as a crutch – it might not always be available.

 

  1. Shut off the lights to show a PowerPoint Presentation.

Visual presentations are there to support you, not take center stage. Don’t allow yourself to hide in the dark; you will lose way too much of your ability to connect with the audience.

 

  1. A mistake will destroy the speech.

Only if you let it. So often, the audience doesn’t even realize a mistake was made. Fix it, if necessary, and then move on. Your mistake will only make you seem more human and the audience may even relate to you better. Don’t ever start over.

 

  1. Being a good public speaker involves eliminating nervousness.

Your anxiety is a source of energy. Learn how to channel it to connect with your audience. Use it to empower your words, make your message vibrant, exciting. Audiences appreciate someone who put forth the effort.

  1. Skip the speech — go straight for the Q & A.

Many speaking situations call for a question and answer session. Always create a well-constructed message for your audience first, they deserve quality content.

 

The next time you have to give a speech, don’t fall prey to these myths.

2017 11th annual Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance

The annual Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance presented by Mercedes-Benz and AutoNation has raised nearly $10 million to date for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. Hosted for the 11th consecutive year at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, the event took place February 10-12 and attracted more than 7,000 attendees for a weekend of philanthropy, comedy, and a stellar automobile and motorcycle display to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.

Founded by Rita and Rick Case of Rick Case Automotive Group and under the direction of Founding Chairman James E. McDonnell IV, and Honorary Chair Mike Jackson, the Boca Raton Concours grows each year, bringing together new supporters, introducing new event components and showcasing the best in exotic and classic automobiles and motorcycles. This year’s Concours celebrated Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg as the Marques of the Year and featured an auction by The Finest Automobile Auctions.

Friday kicked off the weekend of events with the duPont Registry Live Hangar Party presented by Ulysse Nardin at the Boca Raton Airport. Guests experienced gourmet tastings from South Florida’s finest restaurants. Guests also perused a selection of exotic cars, motorcycles, extravagant boats, private jets, and premier vendors. During the event, Rita Case displayed her HondaJet; she is the first woman in the world to be certified to fly a HondaJet.

Saturday evening featured the Gala Dinner & Show presented by the Dade-Broward Hyundai and Genesis Dealers and emceed by Jeff Lennox and Vivian Gonzalez from WSVN-7 News, beginning with a cocktail reception and silent auction followed by a dinner and show featuring comedian Jeff Foxworthy as the headlining performer. The dinner began with the presentation of the coveted Automotive Lifetime Achievement Awards presented to Marc Cannon, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Communications & Public Policy for AutoNation, and Dave Zuchowski, previous CEO to Hyundai.

Sunday concluded the weekend’s festivities with the Concours d’ Elegance Automobile & Motorcycle Exhibition presented by the Rick Case Automotive Group, spanning all eras on the Boca Raton Resort & Club showfield. Guests from around the world experienced an automotive showcase featuring vehicles and motorcycles from an array of time periods. Expert panel of judges includes Chief Judge Dr. Paul Sable, Honorary Marque Judges Laura Brinkman, Executive Director/CEO of the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Automobile Museum, and Mark Tomei, Vice-President of the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Club.

The awards ceremony highlighted each winner as they drove to the judge’s booth to receive their trophy. Winning entrants received their awards during a special presentation emceed by DuPont and Rothermel. Best in Show Automobile was awarded to Barbara and Al Mason’s 1928 Auburn 8-115 Speedster and Best in Show Motorcycle was awarded to Leo Schigiel’s, 1956 Ariel Square 4 with Garrard sidecar.

The 11th annual Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance was made possible with the support of its sponsors: Mercedes-Benz, AutoNation, Rick Case Automotive Group, the Dade-Broward Hyundai and Genesis Dealers, Honda Aircraft Company and HondaJet, Coral Springs Auto Mall, Lamborghini Palm Beach, Hagerty Insurance Company, Ulysse Nardin, Boca Raton Resort & Club, Comcast Spotlight, DuPont Registry, Ferrari- Maserati of Fort Lauderdale, JM Family Enterprises, Inc. Bentley Palm Beach, Rolls-Royce Motorcars Fort Lauderdale, Aston Martin Fort Lauderdale, Ed Morse Automotive Group, Robb Report, Zucker Lewis Media Group, THINK Magazine, Sun Sentinel, City & Shore Magazine, FOX/WSVN, ABC/WPLG, NBC/WTVJ, CBS/WFOR, Univision, Telemundo, Car Show Television, Entercom South Florida, Windmill Advertising Group, Pinnacle Advertising and Marketing Group, Vision Media Inc., Comerica Bank, Passport Transport, Impala Asset Management, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, and others.

 

Plans are already underway for the 12th annual Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, scheduled for February 9-11, 2018. Visit www.bocaCDE.com for updates.

 

PHOTO CUTLINES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo1: Dave Zuchowski, former Hyundai CEO, and Trina Zuchowski

 

 

 

 

 

Photo3: Boys & Girls Club of Broward County Kids with Brian Quail, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County

 

 

 

 

Photo9: Best in Show Automobile was awarded to Barbara and Al Mason’s 1928 Auburn 8-115 Speedster by Brian Quail, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County; Founding Chairman, James E. McDonnell, IV; and Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance Founders Rita and Rick Case.

 

 

 

 

Photo10: Bill Rothermel, Brian Quail, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County; Founding Chairman, James E. McDonnell, IV; and Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance Founders Rita & Rick Case; and Tom duPont.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo14: Brian Quail, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County presenting the Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award to Marc Cannon, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Communications and Public Policy for AutoNation, and Mike Jackson, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.

 

BESTOFSHOW: Best of Show Motorcycle, 1956 Ariel Square 4 with Garrard Sidecar, Lisa and Leo Schigiel

 

Toothanasia

I recently went to a dental lecture where the Veterinary Dentist referred to a dog with a complete mouth of diseased teeth that needed to be removed as “toothanasia.” On the ride home from the lecture, my wife asked me if I have ever had to do that and I told her about Princess the Maltese.

Princess was not a princess. She was one of the only Maltese that I have ever had to muzzle so an oral exam was not going to happen and dental home care was also out of the picture. One day the owner brought in a video of Princess eating. She would go over to the food bowl and pick out a piece of kibble and chew it then spit it out. Then she would pick it up with the other side of the mouth and chew some more and then eventually swallow it. The time to finish the entire meal took her hours and she would frequently walk away without finishing. When the owner gave her a soft meal or canned food she would swallow it whole. I told them that it sounds like she is having dental pain and unfortunately I have to recommend a dental procedure without actually being able to look at the teeth. They were concerned about how many teeth would need to be extracted but were excited that the breath would be better and she would not be in pain anymore.

The owners were nervous about Princess and I told them if they wanted to stay for the induction of anesthesia and actually see her teeth before I x-rayed them then that would be fine. Her pre-surgical bloodwork was fine and I placed an IV catheter and gave her the sedative. From there we put in the endotracheal tube and was able to see a mouth of green and black teeth. The closer we looked the more the smell of the mouth hit us. We keep a jar of Vicks vapor rub that we can put a dab under our nostrils if the smell is that bad and for Princess it was. I decided to bring Mom and Dad in to see. I showed them that 85 percent of the teeth were actually loose in the mouth. When I took my probe to the molars her jaw would tremble. Under anesthesia, she should not be feeling any discomfort but a metal probe to the tooth root is uncomfortable. I let them stay in the other room while I took the x-rays and every tooth except the four canines was either abscessed or did not have enough bone coverage to make the tooth sturdy and solid.

Mom was upset and dad was concerned that if we took out all of the teeth minus the four canines how she would eat. I reminded them that the reason we got to this point is that they brought in a video showing that Princess could not eat pain-free and at home dental brushings were not possible. Not that the whole episode needed more drama, but when I was probing one of the premolars with my dental probe the tooth actually fell out. Mom looked at me and was mortified. She wanted to see the tooth and when she brought it close to her face the smell hit her. She was wondering why Vicks was on the table and now understood. So we all agreed based on x-ray we were going to perform the necessary extractions.

The surgery went well and Princess was sent home with a week of antibiotics, pain medications, and recommendations of soft food. I asked to see her a week later and mom said that she couldn’t make it, but she was doing well with the soft food. I eventually examined her one month later and could not believe the change. She was eating her hard food again. The owners were totally fine with the canned food but caught her eating a dog biscuit and enjoying it. They gave her the hard kibble and seemed to gum it and be more satisfied with eating it compared to the canned food. They put her on my examination table and without hesitation opened her mouth for me to see and it looked great. No teeth but for the first time I was able to look at her mouth without a muzzle. I felt a little lucky so I approached Princess to look a little closer and the growling started. I had to remember that Princess was no princess.

Glenn Kalick, DVM is a veterinarian at Brookside Animal Hospital. Visit Brooksidevet.com.

Irish-at-heart: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day

On March 17, across the United States, about 122 million Americans will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. That is 39 percent of the American population. Staggering as that may seem, 35 million people living in the United States claim Irish Ancestry. That’s seven times the population of Ireland. Add on to those figures the countless Irish-at-heart, kiss-me-I’m-Irish wannabes, and you’re sure to find yourself smack in the middle of a moving sea of green somewhere near your hometown. The largest and oldest parade of all time is none other than the Annual New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. You can expect between 150,000 and 250,000 participants to march up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 86th Street, while two million spectators line the streets. Now that’s a lot of smiling Irish eyes.

Yet while we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and wherever we celebrate it, I have to admit that I did not know much about the Patron Saint and National Apostle of Ireland that is being honored. St. Patrick was not born in Ireland but was born in Britain during the fifth century. Kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16, St. Patrick was able to escape after six years. Returning later to Ireland as a Christian Missionary, St. Patrick was credited with bringing Christianity to the Irish and consecrating more than 350 Bishops. In the centuries following his death, which is believed to be on March 17, 1461, St. Patrick’s religious impact on Ireland and its people grew throughout the world. In fact, St. Patrick used the shamrock, or three-leaf clover, as a religious symbol. The story behind this little green plant is steeped in heritage and Irish national pride. St. Patrick used the three leaves of the shamrock to explain the holy trinity.

A deeper look into Ireland’s history of famine, disease, and political unrest reminds us that the Irish were anything but lucky. But “the luck of the Irish” evolved when the Irish remained hopeful and began creating their own luck and opportunities through their positive attitudes, work ethic, and perseverance through some of the most difficult times. As Lady Liberty became the new symbol of freedom to the 4.5 million Irish immigrants arriving at Ellis Island between 1820 and 1930, Irish traditions, customs, and beliefs kept Ireland alive in each of them. Far from their loved ones, heartwarming traditions and religious feasts honoring their Patron Saint of Ireland blossomed into international festivals celebrating Irish culture. With parades, Irish step dancing, corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread, music, bagpipes, and a whole lot of green, St. Patrick’s Day became ubiquitous with being Irish no matter what ones heritage is.

In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day was traditionally a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Then in 1995, the Irish government began to showcase Ireland and Irish culture to the rest of the world. Today, about one million people annually take part in Ireland’s St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions, and fireworks shows.

People of all backgrounds celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in many countries far from Ireland. North America is home to the largest productions. Annually Americans exchange about eight million St. Patrick’s Day greeting cards, 83 percent will wear green, 40 pounds of green dye is used to turn the Chicago River green, 100 percent of those celebrating St. Patrick’s Day will be considered Irish. If you choose to skip the festivities this year, you may just find yourself green with envy.

WWI, disease, and the Y Girls

When WWI soldiers landed in France to prepare for war, they were ready to fight for their lives against the Germans. They never expected to be devastated by another enemy – one without bullets or bayonets. To everyone’s surprise, a disease called Spanish influence swept mercilessly through military camps. The cramped quarters in military barracks, along with trench warfare, contributed to the rapid spread of the disease. Lack of sophisticated antibiotics left victims entirely vulnerable to the ravages of the disease, which killed at least 43,000 servicemen, according to military records.

The spread of the disease also created a new role for what were called the “Y Girls,” women who became associated with the YMCA and went to the war zone to help support our troops in various ways.

As servicemen lay dying of influenza, the “Y Girls” took on a new role: helping the dying write letters home to loved ones. The men fully grasped the rapid progression of the incurable disease and felt an urgency to carefully compose their thoughts and final words, which, they hoped, would provide some comfort to those they were leaving behind. Some required help with their letters because of their weakened conditions. Others needed support accepting their fate and simply saying goodbye.

One of the Thousand Y.M.C.A. Girls in France/ United War Work Campaign/ Nov. 11th to 18th Neysa McMein (American, 1888–1949) Printer: Grinnell Lithographic Company, Inc. (American, active 19th–21st centuries) 1918 Poster, color lithograph *Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Gift of John T. Spaulding *Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

It happens that my grandmother, Faith Hinckley, was among the first seven women to accept that assignment overseas where she held the hands of the dying.

I was fortunate that she lived long enough to tell me her experiences. She told of one young soldier who asked only that she hold his hand tightly until the end. She told him she’d write a letter for him, if he had the strength to dictate. He replied that he had nobody. His parents were dead and he was an only child. He could not think of a single relative who would remember him well enough or expect a letter regarding his wartime activities.

My grandmother then told him he could write to her mother, who has two children at war, and fears she may not see them again. “Let’s tell her how proud we are to serve our country,” she said. “We’ll tell her your name, where you’re from, and what your life was like before military service. “

The frightened soldier dictated two pages describing his dreams, his accomplishments, his fears, and then finally, his overwhelming gratitude that he would not die alone on foreign soil. He asked his new “borrowed mother” to pray for him and her own two children at war. He gave her his whole name and asked that she remember him kindly and be proud of his own personal sacrifice.

My grandmother posted that letter along with scores of others composed that same day. She said the soldier slipped away peacefully shortly after asking for her mother’s name again and where she lived. My grandmother said she believed he was “envisioning back home” as he took his last breath.

My grandmother had made out her own will before leaving for the war, and after holding the hand of that dying soldier she wonder what she might say in her own letter home when her time came. She hoped she could say “somebody was holding very tightly to her hand till the very end.”

In June we’ll recognize the start of American engagement in WWI. Although my grandmother died years ago, she lives within my heart, and I think of her more when I’m reminded of U.S. engagement in the Great War. As a “Y Girl” she exposed herself to great danger while she sat with dying troops during an epidemic of a savage disease. My family history doesn’t tell me who was with her when she died, but I hope someone was holding tightly to her hand. She deserved it.

Celebration Clouded in Mystery

Valentine’s Day is usually associated with roses, the color red, chocolate, cards, heart shapes, and their associated symbol – love.

 

But little verifiable facts are known about the history behind Valentine’s Day and its namesake. “Somewhere along the way, Valentine’s Day came to represent romance,” according to americaslibrary.gov.

 

“Saint Valentine” started the celebration of love that falls every February. Valentine, however, might refer to more than one person. According to history.com, the Catholic Church recognizes no less than three saints named Valentine. Church officials martyred each of them.

 

 

One legend suggests Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. At that time, Emperor Claudius II decided that single men were better soldiers than those married and with families.  Therefore, Claudius forbade marriage for young men. Valentine refused to obey Claudius’ decree; he continued performing marriages in secret, but was caught. Claudius sentenced Valentine to death.

 

Others suggest that Valentine was killed for trying to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where authorities beat and tortured them. “According to history.com an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first ‘valentine’ greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl – possibly his jailor’s daughter – who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine.”

 

Legends may differ, but the stories share at least one commonality: they stress Valentine’s appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and most importantly romantic figure. According to history.com “By the Middle Ages, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England and France.”

 

Why is love in the air in February, as opposed to the other 11 months? It depends who you ask. Some maintain Valentine’s Day falls in mid-February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial, which likely took place about the year 270 A.D. Others believe the celebration falls in the middle of February to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. This was a fertility festival to honor Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture. The festival was also dedicated to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

 

During the beginning of Christianity’s rise, Lupercalia continued, but was deemed “un-Christian” by the end of the fifth century. That is when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 Valentine’s Day. But the celebration wouldn’t become synonymous with love until the Middle Ages. During that time period, the French and English generally believed February 14 was the start of birds’ mating season. This reinforced the idea that the day should be set aside for romance.

It wasn’t until after 1400 that written Valentines began to appear. The oldest known valentine still exists in the form of a poem penned in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orléans. The letter was intended for his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London after his capture at a battle. Americans likely started exchanging hand-made valentines during the early 1700s.

 

During the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced valentines in America. She became known as the “Mother of the Valentine” and made “elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as ‘scrap.”

 

According to the Greeting Card Association, Americans send roughly one billion Valentine’s Day cards each year. That makes the celebration the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind only Christmas, when about 2.6 billion cards are sent.

 

The Super Bowl: Past, Present, and Future

 

If you’re hosting a Superbowl party this month, you know how much work goes into the preparation process. If the stress starts to feel overwhelming, just be thankful you’re not responsible for throwing a week-long Superbowl party for all South Florida that will be scrutinized by economic, sports and pop culture analysts and historians.

 

That’s the weight on the shoulders of Mike Zimmer, president of the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee. After a 10-year drought, South Florida will host Superbowl LIV (54) in 2020.

“Ninety-nine percent of residents in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties won’t go to the game, so my primary goal is to bring the game to them,” Zimmer said. “We’ll hold events in their neighborhoods so they have the opportunity to celebrate with the players, NFL Hall of Famers, and team mascots. Every person in South Florida will have the opportunity to touch the Superbowl.”

Cities that want to enter the Super Bowl bid process must form a host committee to lead the presentation. After selecting Miami for Superbowl LIV, the committee – not the Miami Dolphins or any government organizations – enters a contract with the NFL and serves as the primary liaison between the league and the entire tri-county community.

Zimmer had the same position from 2008 to 2011, where he was directly responsible for overseeing and coordinating the daily operations and preparations for Super Bowl XLIV and the NFL’s Pro Bowl in 2010. That game was the 10th Miami hosted. When the ‘Big Game’ returns in 2020, it will make history for both the league and South Florida.

Although it will be the 54th Superbowl, 2020 will mark the NFL’s Centennial anniversary (dating back before the merger with the AFL). Miami will be the host city for a record-setting 11th time, breaking the current tie with New Orleans for the most ever. Both are significant milestones to add to the long sports and pop culture timelines that tie the NFL and South Florida together.

Miami played host to four of the first 10 Super Bowls, beginning in 1968 with Superbowl II. The Green Bay Packers beat the Oakland (later Los Angeles, then Oakland again, and soon-to-be Las Vegas) Raiders 33-14. That game was Vince Lombardi’s final game as the Packers’ head coach. The Superbowl trophy carries Lombardi’s name and he remains the icon that all other coaching greats like Shula, Knoll, Landry, Gibbs, Parcells, and Belichick are compared to.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys teams of the 1970s, led by quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach, clashed in Superbowl X and XIII. The Steelers won both by a total of eight points.

The San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana helped cement his own Hall of Fame legacy in 1989 by leading the game-winning drive against the Cincinnati Bengals from his own eight-yard line with just over three minutes to play. The famous Montana to John Taylor touchdown pass with only with 34 seconds left on the clock remains a staple of any Superbowl all-time highlights reel.

Speaking of great quarterbacks, Steve Young, John Elway, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees all won their first Super Bowls in Miami. Yet none of these games may be as famous as “The Guarantee” game – Superbowl III in 1969 between the Baltimore Colts and New York Jets.

Jets quarterback Joe Namath guaranteed his team would win the game in the days leading up to Superbowl Sunday. It was a seemingly ridiculous, arrogant statement to make considering the Colts were the heavy favorite and teams from the NFL had won the previous two Super Bowls against teams from the old AFL. But Namath led his team to a 16-7 victory in a game that not only made football history but also brought the NFL into popular culture.

Namath was as much a cultural icon as a great football player, lounging poolside before the game and making public appearances in full-length fur coats. Can you imagine how large his Broadway Joe image would have become if he had access to today’s social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram? He’d be bigger than the Kardashians.

Remember the famous Coca-Cola commercial that first aired during Superbowl XIII in 1979 featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mean Joe Greene tossing a little boy his jersey? The halftime show for Superbowl XXIII in 1989 was broadcast in 3-D, including the first-ever 3D TV commercial for Diet Coke.
There have been some amazing Superbowl halftime shows featuring legendary artists such as Bruce Springsteen, The Who, and Beyoncé. Yet they were all eclipsed by Prince’s performance in Miami during Superbowl XLI in 2007. There was a steady rainstorm through the first half, and the downpour threatened to ruin the halftime show. But when a Superbowl official alerted Prince he’d have to sing and play his electric guitar, Rolling Stone magazine reports Prince simply asked, “can you make it rain harder?”

It may not be possible to make the Superbowl itself any bigger than it has become. Thirty-second TV commercial spots go for millions of dollars, and celebrities from all over the world will attend the game. So Zimmer and the Miami Superbowl Host Committee are going to make the days leading up to Superbowl Sunday bigger than ever. The centerpiece of events and celebrations that will take place across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties will be the transformation of downtown Miami into Super Bowl Park.

“We’re going to take over 43 acres across 14 city blocks stretching between Bayfront Park and Museum Park,” Zimmer said. “Superbowl Park will be on a scale never done before. We’re partnering with the NFL, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Dolphins and countless other organizations to put on exhibitions, concerts, and activities for kids. Basically, we’re turning downtown into an enormous, family friendly tailgate party.”

Although the game is three years away, Zimmer and his team are already under a time crunch. The priorities are creating the sales and marketing teams that will raise the more than $20 million dollars necessary to put on such a massive undertaking.

Estimates for the economic impact to South Florida are expected to exceed $200 million. That does not include the publicity and future tourism dollars the event will generate.

“When you consider the media exposure our communities, businesses, and tourism destinations will receive for one week, you just can’t buy that kind of publicity,” Zimmer said.

The only thing that would make it crazier for the South Florida native? The Miami Dolphins becoming the first team to play for the Superbowl trophy in its hometown.

“That would be off the chart,” Zimmer said. “We’d have the combination of the NFL’s 100th anniversary and the team’s own rich history. I’m a big Dolphins fan, so I don’t fear that scenario. I’ll take the Dolphins in the Superbowl anytime, anywhere.”

 

PHOTOS:

 

SB3Namath: Joe Namath plays Super Bowl III.

Meanjoegreene: Diet Coke commercial featuring Mean Joe Greene.

Prince; Prince playing the halftime show in the rain at Superbowl XLI.

Treating Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause

Women’s Health

As a practicing gynecologist in Coral Springs for many years, and as a menopause specialist (NAMS Menopause Practitioner), one of the most common conditions I diagnose and treat in the 50 to 90 age group is vulvovaginal atrophy, now known in more current terminology as Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. This condition encompasses a multitude of symptoms which are disruptive to menopausal women’s quality of life and relationships. The symptoms include vaginal dryness, irritation, itching, burning, and discomfort with intercourse. Urinary symptoms can occur as well, including discomfort during urination, urinary frequency and urgency, and some types of incontinence.

 

How do we treat women who have one or more of these symptoms? Many women will initially utilize over-the-counter lubricants and moisturizers. In most cases these are only minimally effective. Local vaginal estrogen therapies are available and are effective for some women. Many women fail to adhere to the regimen of inserting creams or tablets, and some are concerned about using a hormonal therapy, although the risks are minimal with local therapies. However many women who have had breast or uterine cancer are cautioned not to use estrogen therapy. There is an oral medication available for these symptoms which is effective for some women, but does have some minimal risks.

 

Enter a new player to the field of treating symptomatic menopausal women. There is an exciting new treatment available for the restoration of vaginal health. This therapy is known as the MonaLisa Touch laser procedure. This CO2 laser technology was developed in Europe where many women have been successfully treated. The procedure has been embraced by many female pelvic health experts in the United States. It has been performed in the U.S. for two years and is cleared by the FDA. It is backed by several scientific studies that have been published, and there are several studies ongoing. The initial study published in the U.S. was done by well known urogynecologists Dr. Eric Sokol and Dr. Mickey Karram from Stanford University and Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. Results of this study showed significant improvement in all symptoms, including vaginal pain, burning, itching, dryness, discomfort with intercourse, and discomfort with urination, at both three and 12 months post-treatment.

 

So how is this procedure done, and what should a patient expect? The procedure is performed in the physician’s office. It is considered to be minimally invasive. Only topical anesthetics are used. A CO2 laser is employed to deliver energy to the vaginal wall and on the external skin to remove damaged cells and create a mild thermal effect. The thermal effects promote the synthesis of new collagen and elastic fibers, as well as re-establishing normal blood flow to the area. The procedure takes a few minutes and has very minimal discomfort. The patient receives three treatments at six week intervals. One yearly maintenance treatment is recommended for continued vaginal health.

 

The MonaLisa Touch laser procedure is safe for women who have had breast or uterine cancer. No estrogen or topical steroids are involved. Besides the symptoms already mentioned, the procedure can be used for women with other vulvar skin conditions such as lichen sclerosus, with proven success. It can be used for women who have had a hysterectomy in the past, a group that typically has pronounced vaginal atrophy if the cervix and ovaries were removed. There are also applications for other types of skin damage in other areas of the body.

 

In summary, the MonaLisa Touch laser procedure for treatment of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, is a very effective, minimally invasive and safe procedure, which has been scientifically proven to help women with restoration of vaginal health, improvement of sexual function, improvement of urinary symptoms, and overall restoration of quality of life in menopause.

 

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WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A FREE 1/4 PAGE AD IN THE PARKLANDER MAGAZINE IN EITHER THE MARCH OR APRIL ISSUE?

Let me explain how you secure this.  We would like to hire 2 part-time inside sales employees.  They would each work 4 hours a day and earn $10 an hour.  They would be calling local, primarily new, businesses. For each business or professional contact they call that turns into an ad in the Parklander, they would earn an additional $50.  This part-time job is perfect for a Mom with children in nursery school.

If you find an individual (aka moms or dads), you think would be a good fit for this opportunity, please refer her (or him) to us by emailing their name and your contact information to:  Publisher@theparklander.com.

If we hire that person, we will be in touch with you to obtain information for your 1/4 page one time ad as our thank you.

This is a perfect example of ways that community businesses can join forces to help each other achieve goals.  Don’t you think so?