The La Kiwanian The Weekly Bulletin of the La Cañada Kiwanis Club Serving the Children of the World

Wednesday,  November 29, 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

December 6, 2006 OFFICIAL LT. GOVERNOR VISIT - Daryal Gant Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso Gardens December 7, 2006 BOARD MEETING FOR La Cañada KIWANIS CLUB AND FOUNDATION 7:00 p.m. on Thursday Evening @ CitiBank, La Cañada December 10, 2006 Kiwanis Holiday/Christmas Party Bill & Margaret Watts Home – 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sign up before December 4th December 13, 2006 CHRISTIANITY & ISLAM - RELIGIONS IN CONFLICT Dr. John P. Crossley, Director of the USC School of Religion Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso Gardens December 20, 2006 CHRISTMAS MUSIC AND SONG - Tom Burroughs Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso Gardens December 30, 2006 KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT'S LUNCHEON Nelson Tucker Saturday Luncheon @ the Pasadena University Club   Click on the following button to view the long term calendar

The Prez sez . . .

Prez Steve Hagerty started out at high speed and immediately identified three members who have missed a few meetings:  Pete Palermo, Jim Edwards and Tom Slaughter.  Even though we sang Welcome Back, Tom complained that being pointed out could feel more embarrassing than welcoming. 

The Prez handed Glen Pettit a stack of newspaper clippings to review and asked him to identify any Kiwanis Club members in the pictures and determine whether they were wearing pins.  While Glen was working on his assignment, the Prez asked Joel Smith to be Master of the Cash Box and quickly launched in his birthday list. 

Bill Watts celebrated on Monday, November 26.  When the Prez asked Bill if he wanted to say anything, Bill said, "It was nice."  Not exactly what the Prez was looking for, and Joel was standing right there with the cash box.  Bill took the hint and donated $50 cash plus the splendid promise to provide all the wine and soft drinks at the Holiday Party being held at his home on December 10.  The Prez found Sheree Ingram at the same table; she was born on Thanksgiving Day.  Today was Jim Reynolds birthday, but Jim must have been celebrating somewhere else. 

After quickly checking on Glen's progress with the newspaper pictures, the Prez moved on and recognized two anniversaries.  Dave Spence celebrated on Monday; since he already contributed to the Century Club, Dave contributed $50.  Bob Wallace has been married for 47 years and pledged the equivalent in dollars.

Ken Lowe started the guest introductions, and he brought a table full of Key Clubbers from LCHS, and they each introduced themselves.  Treasurer Teddy Liu is a junior and appreciates the support from our Club.  Michael Lee is a junior.  Secretary Michelle hopes she can organize more projects that the Key Club and our Club can work on together.  Sophomore Julie is the Attendance Officer this year; she likes to come to our lunch meetings and has come several times this year already.  Andy Park is the Lt. Governor of Division 3 Key  Clubs.  That is a proud tradition for our LCHS Key Club, as the last three Lt. Governors have all been from the LCHS Club.  Melinda Thompson introduced her mother, Helen Thompson, and Diane DellaValle introduced her granddaughter, Riley Gerhardt.  Riley was very helpful during the meeting today and fit right in!

Back to Glen Pettit, the Prez asked Glen for a report.  Glen tried to be gentle in his assessment, but the Prez wanted a strict accounting.  Glen identified Daryal Gant, Mary Gant, Bob Wallace, Dave Spence and Bill Watts as not wearing their Kiwanis pins in the newspaper pictures and each one received loud "boos" from the audience.  A few fines were collected from this group, and then those with out their Kiwanis pins and those who didn't shake the hand of Secret Greeter Frosty Boyd.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Bob Wallace put out the last call for Directory Updates.  Be sure to check your personal page to see if it needs updating.  If there are changes to be made, please contact Bob.

Jack Dawson is still collecting dental supplies for the Girl Scouts.

Clyde Hemphill still needs more volunteers to help hang the tree lights in Glenola Park Thursday morning. 

Pat Anderson reminded us to save our receipts from shopping in La Cañada.  The receipts can be turned in during the Festival of Lights on December 7; five receipts will earn a ticket in the Opportunity Drawing.  You can also play in the seven tons of snow if you so desire.

Bachy Bachmayer reminded us to contribute to Children's Hospital by putting something in the tubs on the table.

Diane DellaValle announced two opportunities to attend an InterClub in December.  The first will be on Friday, December 8 at the big Glendale Kiwanis Club.  The second InterClub is the annual luncheon for the Kiwanis International President on Saturday, December 30th.  This year the International President is our very own Nelson Tucker from the San Fernando Valley.  

Harriet Hammons reminded us we don't have to bring anything to the Holiday Party at the home of Bill and Margaret Watts on December 10.  If you haven't yet signed up, call Harriet or John Landrum.

Frosty reported on Dick DeGrey (we really miss you, Dick!) and Frank Ragazzi who is having a problem with his foot.  Ed Moulton is still busy helping Connie.  Patsy Christensen was supposed to have her hip surgery today.

THE PROGRAM

Carl Christensen introduced David Brown using his short bio.  He is a native of Maine and attended Dartmouth and Trinity.  The answers to the three questions he is asked most frequently are:  1) Yes, 2) 6' 8", and 3) You get used to it.  With that, David Brown took the mic and gave us the questions:  1) Did you play basketball?  2) How tall are you?  3) You must get asked this all the time?

David Brown

Enough for the levity.  David's presentation was another question.  His topic was "Descanso Gardens - A Question of Value."  It was an excellent combination of interesting facts about Descanso intertwined in the real stories about the goals and visions of many of the passionate people who have developed, saved, and improved Descanso Gardens over the last sixty-five years. 

David closed the program by sharing Descanso's vision for the future.  The key words are "Nature Conservation."  There are three main parts of this vision.  1) Descanso Gardens will strive to be a model of sustainable practices and resource conservation.  Some specific goals are converting to solar power, reusing water over and over, and sending nothing to landfills.  2) Descanso Gardens will protect, enhance and sustain the assets of the Gardens.  Recent developments include a half million-dollar gift last week to make the Boddy house garage an art museum, another half million dollar gift this week for the development of a Mediterranean garden, and having the Boddy House chosen as the next Showcase House.  3) Add to the value and appeal of the Gardens.  This will include more examples of food production and future decisions on how to utilize the 80 undeveloped acres that belong to Descanso but are currently outside the fence. 

David closed the program by showing us a new book about Descanso Gardens that will be available in the Garden Shop next week.  David used many of the photographs in the book, taken by Warren Mann, during the program in his slide program. 

HAPPY & SAD BUCKS

Tom Slaughter helped transfer that last of the Treasurer's computer files from Howard Backer's computer to John Landrum's computer this week and that was worth 42 Happy Bucks - his fee for that service.

John Landrum had a Happy Buck to celebrate the birth of granddaughter Katie Rose.

Jim Edwards reminded us of his promise several weeks ago to have some Happy Bucks if USC beat Cal.  Now that USC not only beat Cal but has also demolished another small scrawny school ... and to celebrate all past and future victories, Jim joined the Century Club.

Jack Dawson had Happy Bucks in honor of our speaker, Dave Brown, and Descanso Gardens.  In exchange for his design and donation of a big $3,500 pump to Descanso, Jack received permission to display his 1931 car by the Boddy House (that was also built in 1931).

Linda Magarian and Harriet Hammons had Happy Bucks in honor of George Lutes who designed a great poster for our literacy program.  George also printed the posters that will be displayed in each classroom.

Mary Gant had a Loyal Buck for UCLA.  She is supporting them all the way even if they don't win.  She assured Jim Edwards she is definitely still cheering for UCLA.

Howard Backer also had a hundred Supportive Bucks for UCLA and joined the Century Club again.

Ellie Wildermuth had a Happy Buck for whichever team wins this weekend.  Her team, Ohio State is already in the finals.

Paul Westmoreland had several Happy Bucks for the football teams.

Tom Gilfoy had Happy Bucks for the good fortune of Descanso Gardens to have Jack Dawson as a good friend and generous supporter.

Pat Anderson had another Hopeful Buck because, once again, the work on the collapsed Foothill wall is supposed to start next Thursday.

Pete Palermo had a Happy Buck because Occidental College has had a 10-0 winning streak this year.  This is a school record.

Tom Burrows had five Happy Bucks for his memory of playing a clarinet and marching in the USC band in 1950 when the band played "Conquest" for the first time.

George Lutes was in Waco Texas and had Happy Bucks for something there.

Norm Johnson had Happy Bucks because he is currently a student at USC.  He is a member of a nerve study being done there.

FACTS AND FICTION

Music:  piano tunes by Tom Burrows and Jack Dawson leading us in America the Beautiful, Welcome Back, Hi Neighbor, Happy Birthday and On Kiwanis

Opening: flag salute by George Lutes and the inspirational John Parody

Secret Greeter:  Frosty Boyd

Fifty-Fifty Drawing:  Al Restivo

This Week's Editor:  Melinda Thompson

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