ABOUT THE CLUB

Our club was officially chartered as Club No. 427 "SKÅL Club of the Palm Beaches" on March 4, 1977, and this was largely due to the work done by our President of the club-in-formation, the late Charlie Matthews (Eastern Airlines) and our Founding President, the late Paul Bell (National Airlines).  A wonderful inaugural black-tie banquet was held at The Breakers Hotel on Saturday, March 8, 1977 with our host and fellow charter member, hotelier Jack Clifford.

In November 2000, the club's name was changed to Skål International Palm Beaches, a name better representing its international scope and function.

In April 2006 Skål International approved the changing of the club's name to Skål International Ft. Lauderdale & Palm Beaches. The club realized in early 2004 that to be able to maintain and grow its membership we needed to more appropriately identify its geographic membership base. At that time our membership was located between Miami to the south and Jensen Beach to the north with an increasing concentration of members in the Ft. Lauderdale area. With the approval of the name change, the club has significantly increased its membership and now holds its monthly meetings alternating between the Palm Beach, Delray Beach/ Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale areas.

In April 2007 we held our annual April Installation of Officers Dinner at the Hilton Hotel at the Palm Beach International Airport. The black tie event also celebrated our 30th anniversary as an active SKAL Club. With 74 members and guests in attendance, the dinner was the largest function the club has held in its 30 year history. We were joined at the dinner by Abelardo Vara the President of NAASC from Cancun and Tom White, the SIUSA Region IV Vice President.

After inducting several new members and the Installation of Officers ceremony, Abelardo Vara presented each of the Past Presidents with the SKAL Past Presidents Medallion and our SKAL club's mini banner. Abelardo thanked the club for inviting him to be with us on this special occasion and congratulated us on the success that we have had the past year.

Bill Pullen, speaking on behalf of all of the Past Presidents, thanked the club for honoring those present and for giving them the Past Presidents Medallion. Bill presented the club with his personal collection of mini SKAL banners and a framed copy of the original menu and program for the first official SKAL dinner meeting held at the Breakers Resort in 1977.

The only Charter Member of our Club who is still a member is Bill Pullen. Bill was our second President and Bill was the only member of our Club to become the President of SIUSA. He was also our only member elected to be the ISC Councilor of the USA. Bill held this position twice at different times. Other current members of our Club who have been elected to a SIUSA positions are Marcel Hurni, Vice President - Region IV and Carlos Banks, Vice President - Administration.

An Executive Committee of nine members governs Skål International Ft. Lauderdale & Palm Beaches. They must be reelected each year, except for the SIUSA Representative, which has a two-year term. The Executive Committee includes the following:

The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, the SIUSA Representative and four Board members required for a total of nine Executive Committee members.

The SIUSA Representative is the liaison between our Club and Skål International USA. (SIUSA), the North American Area Skål Committee (NAASC) and Skål International (AISC). The SIUSA Representative is the spokesperson for our Club for the different levels of Skål.

Active, Associate and Retired Members are required to attend at least three (3) of the duly called meetings in each calendar year. Credit shall be allowed for verified attendance at any regular meeting of any other Skål Club.