The La Kiwanian The Weekly Bulletin of the La Cañada Kiwanis Club Serving the Children of the World
Wednesday,  May 31, 2006
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time.
The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada meets every Wednesday at Noon – Visitors Welcome Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso Gardens  –  1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada, CA  91011

Upcoming Events

June 1 BOARD MEETING 7:00 p.m. Thursday Evening at Citibank June 7 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Dave Stegner, LCF Public Safety Coordinator Wednesday Lunch Meeting at Descanso June 14 MARS EXPLORATION ROVER PROJECT Dr. Joyce Crisp, JPL Project Scientist Wednesday Lunch Meeting at Descanso August 27 SUMMER SOCIAL Sunday Afternoon Click on the following button to view the long term calendar

 

The Prez sez . . .

“A life not lived for others is not a life.”  John Wooden  

• It was a great Soap Box Derby and a great weekend for our club and the community of La Cañada Flintridge.

• Welcome to our Lt. Gov. Laurel Patric who presented "The Best Show In Town" Honor Patch for our banner.

• Prez Paul couldn't wait to start collecting fines again and he was looking for someone to recite the Kiwanis Defining Statement.  Nick Berkuta was the first victim and had to ante up even though he was close.  As the old saying goes ... a miss by an inch is as good as a miss by a mile.  The second victim was Bill Scherkey; he missed too, and wasn't even close.                

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tom Burrows reminded everyone of our Talent Show meeting in mid July.  Call him to get involved.

Tom Burrows also announced he has made a recording of his piano music.  CDs will be on sale next week (find them on top of the piano) for $10, and ever penny will go to Kiwanis.  Tom is paying for the reproduction costs himself.  What a great opportunity to take Tom home with you and help fund Kiwanis projects, too.

THE PROGRAM

It was Kiwanis Membership Refresher Day, and Jim Ackland, New Member Acquisition and Retention Chair, had the program scheduled out perfectly. 

Daryal Gant started with a brief history of Kiwanis which was started in 1915 in Detroit.  (As a memory jogger, Daryal told us to remember that Ed Moulton just celebrated his 90th birthday, which means he was conceived in 1915.)  Kiwanis was started as a business networking club for men (of course).  The first Kiwanians must have been very light hearted; we were told the Indian word similar to Kiwanis means "we have a good time and make a big noise."  Women were admitted in 1987, and today there are over 600,000 adults and children in 96 countries around the world.  Our California-Nevada-Hawaii District has 18,000 members divided into 50 divisions.  We are in Division 3 which has 12 clubs and 600 members.  Our guest today, Laurel Patric, is the head of Division 3 and her title is Lt. Gov. 

Bob Wallace followed Daryal with a history of our own Kiwanis Club which was started by 10-15 members in 1948.  (Ed Moulton joined in 1952.)  Our Club started our Foundation in 1991, sponsored the La Cañada AM Club in 1993.  We formed the Key Club at LCHS in 1975 and the Key Club at ... in 1990. 

Howard Backer gave a concise and informative overview of the legal and financial status of our Kiwanis organization.  That should be "organizationS" with an "s" because we have the Club which is a Section 501(c)(4) business club and the Foundation which is a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.  Only contribution to the Foundation are deductible as charitable donations (except where goods or services are received).  Club dues and other expenses may be deductible as a business expense.  Each fiscal year (October through September) we have one set of officers and directors governing both the Club and the Foundation.  Members' financial obligations include a $100 initiation fee, $10 for a permanent badge, dues of $12 per month, and $13 for meals.  Active members pay for every meal whether they attend a meeting or not.  Senior members (must be a member at least ten years) active member spouses are only charged for the meals when they attend a meeting.  The major sources of funds for our charitable arm, the La Cañada Kiwanis Foundation, are Century Club donations (each member is encouraged to make at least one $100 donation per year), designated donations from members for specific Foundation projects, fines, raffle, profit from the Wine and Gourmet Food Tasting event ($17,000 in 2005), and transfers of excess revenue from the Club.  (There is a four page recap available with more info from Howard.  Ask him for a copy if you are interested in learning more.) 

Clyde Hemphill wrapped up the program by explaining what is expected from Kiwanis members.  New members are expected to complete the requirements to earn their permanent badge.  All members are expected to meet their financial obligations and support Kiwanis sponsored events (including service projects, fund raisers, and social events).  Members are expected to attend a minimum of 60% of the weekly meetings and actively participate in the meetings; committee meetings count toward this 60% requirement.  Another measure of minimum participation is six hours per month; this includes all meetings and activities.  Every member is assigned to at least one committee in the Club and one committee in the Foundation and is expected to be active on these committees.  Members must attend at least one InterClub each year and regularly wear their Kiwanis pins (not just at meetings).  When caught without his pin one day, member Harold Arman's excuse was he forgot to take it off his pajamas that morning.   Members are encouraged to sponsor new Kiwanis members (Ed Moulton has sponsored 103), attend Kiwanis conventions, and support the Kiwanis Objectives:

• To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life.

• To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.

• To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business, and professional standards.

• To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship.

• To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities.

• To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and goodwill.  
   

HAPPY & SAD BUCKS

Bill Bodell was Happy for the great Memorial Day parade.

Jack Dawson had five Happy Bucks because he was given the highest position in the Soap Box Derby ... on top of the garbage truck!

Joel Smith was Happy the Soap Box Derby was such a success.  There were 43 kids racing and 40 members of our Club volunteered to help.

Mike Leininger said he was Happy he never has to get on the phone and plead for help since our Club members always volunteer for our Kiwanis community service projects without being coerced.  Mike is Chair of our Community Services Committee and thanked everyone for their support with the Memorial weekend service projects.

The volunteers from the St. Francis football team made Bill Scherkey contribute five Happy Bucks.  These young men lifted all the Soap Box Derby cars onto the trailers at the bottom of the hill and helped lift many of the cars off the trailers at the top of the hill.  Bill recommended a very grateful Thank You letter, a generous donation to St. Francis HS, and a repeat performance next year.

Joel Peterson spearheaded the Korean Cultural Celebration on Saturday night in Memorial Park; he was Happy for the support of many Club members and the good city turnout.

Nick Berkuta was in charge of the Memorial Day Parade, and he had five Happy Bucks for the success of the parade, all the help he had, and for the great weekend in general.  Nick shouldn't have offered his Happy Bucks, because Prez Paul was reminded to fine Nick for not mentioning Kiwanis in the big article in the paper about the parade.

Anthony Portantino wanted to give three Happy Bucks, but needed to use one of his three bucks to pay the fine for Mark Alexander (who wasn't wearing his Kiwanis pin).  In spite of that, Anthony had a Thank You buck for being nominated for La Cañadan of the Year by Howard Backer, a Congratulations buck for the outstanding job Pat Anderson organizing the entire Fiesta Days celebration.  Although he was out of bucks, Anthony said if he had another buck he would be Happy  to receive our votes next Tuesday.

Mark Alexander seconded Anthony's Happy Buck for the fine job Pat Anderson did for Fiesta Days.

Pat Anderson was Happy the Fiesta Days parade will be on TV this year.  For those who weren't able to see the parade in person, it will be televised by Charter Communications in the near future.  The City of LCF will also receive a copy of the tape, in case you aren't a Charter subscriber.

Mary Gant was Happy she had a barbeque on Monday night.  It was the best kind of barbeque!  She invited Joel Peterson and he brought the drinks and food and then cooked the food on her barbeque grill.

Ed Moulton still considers himself a kid, so he had a Sad Buck because he wasn't allowed to take a Celebrity Run down Michigan Hill on Saturday.

Daryal Gant had a Happy Buck for Joel Smith, Committee Chair of the Soap Box Derby, a Happy Buck for Mike Leininger, Committe Chair in charge of the Monday Hamburger Booth, a Happy Buck for Nick Berkuta and Pat Anderson for the oh so successful Fiesta Days parade, another Happy Buck for Joel Peterson's leadership introducing the Korean Cultural night on Saturday, and a final Happy Buck for Mary Gant who was recently named LCF Volunteer of the Year and is heading off next week to her 50th high school reunion.

Jim Reynolds may have had tired feet after walking all over San Diego, but he was Happy he got to do that while his wife, Bea, attended a PEO convention there.

FACTS AND FICTION

Music:  piano tunes by Tom Burrows and Ed Moulton leading us in song.

Opening: flag salute by Ed Moulton and inspiration by Pat Flynn

Guests:  Mary Gant introduced Brad Lewis from the Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks;  Brad is our vendor this year for the wine glasses for our Wine and Gourmet Food Tasting.   Fred Schooley enjoyed welcoming his wife, Linda, who had been out-of-town for awhile.

Master of the Cash Box:  Nick Berkuta

Secret Greeter:  Patsy Christianson

Fifty-Fifty Drawing:  Bob Wallace

OFFICERS for 2005-2006

President – Paul Westmoreland  ~  President-Elect – Steve Hagerty

Vice President – Diane DellaValle  ~  Secretary – Bill Scherkey  ~  Treasurer – Howard Backer

Immediate Past President – Daryal Gant

DIRECTORS for 2005-2006

Nick Berkuta   ~   Carl Christensen   ~   Clyde Hemphill   ~   Mike Leininger

Jeb Long   ~   George Lutes  ~   Linda Magarian   ~   Melinda Thompson   ~   Lloyd Welch

CLUB COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN & ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS for 2005-2006

Attendance – George Lutes   ~   Finance & Investment – Karl Johnson   ~   Historian – Bob Martin Hospitality & Welfare – Frosty Boyd   ~   House – Mel Wilson   ~   InterClubs – Steve Hagerty

New Member Acquisition and Retention – Jim Ackland   ~   Membership Records – Bob Wallace

Music – Ed Moulton   ~   Newsletter – Melinda Thompson   ~   Parliamentarian – Clyde Hemphill

Programs – Diane DellaValle   ~   Publicity – Open   ~   Sick-Lame-Ailing - Frosty Boyd

Social – Harriet Hammons   ~   Spiritual Aims and Human Understanding – Charles Broberg

Web-site – Jeb Long

FOUNDATION COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN for 2005-2006

Children’s Literacy Project – Harriet Hammons   ~   Community Services – Mike Leininger

Fund Raising – Open   ~   International Understanding – Hal Crockett

Soap Box Derby – Joel Smith   ~   Travel Adventures – Bob Wallace

Wine and Gourmet Food Tasting – Open   ~   Youth Services – Bachy Bachmayer

- Sponsored Youth -

LCHS Key Club – Ken Lowe   ~   Flintridge Prep Key Club – Joan Peters   ~   Builders Club – Open

K-Kids – George Lutes & Steve Hagerty  ~  Terrific Kids – Pat Flynn and Deborah Weirick

The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada meets every Wednesday at Noon

Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso Gardens – 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada, CA  91011

P.O. Box 33, La Cañada, CA  91012

Website:  http://lacanadakiwanis.org