Wednesday,  April 9, 2008

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

Upcoming Events

April 16, 2008 Bill Jensen - Survival Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso April 23, 2008 Canine Companions for Independance (Tentative) Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso April 26, 2008 Travelogue - Rick Ray - Soul of Morocco Flintridge Prep Auditorium – 7:30 P.M. April 30, 2008 Linda Magarian - Kiwanis Club Literacy Program Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso Click on the following button to view the long term calendar

The Prez sez . . .

President Diane DellaValle announced the following:

             1.    Welcome to Key Club members.

2.    Mary Gant, voted La Cañadan of the Year, is to be honored at our luncheon meeting on May 7.

3.    Clyde Hemphill will be honored on May 12, as the recipient of the Les Tupper Award. 

4.    According to a letter from Lynda Gordon, President of LCF Coordinating Council, the following 2008 Les Tupper Community Service Award winners are:

• Individuals: Merrily Hake and Clyde Hemphill.

• Youth: Regina Saavedra.

• Organization: LCF Trails Council.

• Special Award: John Olsen for his work with Brothers’ Helpers.
   

5.    This year’s award winners will be honored at 7 p.m., Monday, May 12 at von Karman Auditorium at JPL.  The public is cordially invited to attend this special event as we formally recognize these outstanding individuals and organizations. 

6.    The Kiwanis Cal-Nev-Ha Foundation has announced two upcoming vacancies on the Board of Directors and they are asking for qualified applicants to apply.  Applicants no longer need to be past district officers to be eligible to serve.

7.    We received a letter from Adam Bowermaster, Afghan Airlift Project Chairman, of the Huntington Beach Kiwanis.  The letter expressed thanks to all who made the clothes drive such a success, exceeding expectations.  Among the donors, of course, were the Kiwanis of La Cañada.

Guest Drive

        Linda Magarian and Daryal Gant presented membership acquisition strategies, such as:

       1.  Claim a fine-free button to wear upon bringing  a guest.

       2.  Give a Kiwanis brochure to a guest, then  following through with repeated invitations.

       3.  Aim to increase membership to 90.  It has already increased from 78 to 82.

       4.  Bear in mind that we don’t have enough members to do more and better.

       5.  Anticipate an upcoming “Wet T-shirt” motivator.

 Club Announcements

1.       Pam Feterl:  The next Travelogue features the English Channel.

2.       Jeb Long/Linda Magarian:  There is a Habitat event on Thursday, April 24.  You will also see the Kenwood project.  In June there will be a Gala raffle for $100 per ticket to win a Mercedes.  At a future dedication ceremony the Kenwood families will be presented again.  Kiwanis are among the donors.

3.       Nick Berkuta:

       a. Habitat session Thursday, April 10. 

       b. Safety Expo on Saturday, April 12.

4.       Bill Scherkey: E.mail scam alert.  A phony IRS document requests SS number, credit card number, etc. with a promise of eligibility for a tax refund.

5.       Pat Anderson:

a.   Construction upheaval year Chevy Chase and Angeles Crest intersection are for the installation of medians and overall traffic control improvement in the area.

b.  The next Chamber of Commerce mixer will be on April 17, hosted by Fast Frames between El Polo Loco and Pizza Coccina.

6.       Daryal Gant:  Demonstration on how to put coin or bills into the fundraiser can for Kiwanis’ pediatric trauma program.

7.       Joel Smith:  Succulent cuttings are needed for the Community Center planting project.  Pick-up can be arranged.

 Welcome

     President Diane DellaValle bid a hearty “welcome back” to long absent member Harriet Hammons, returning from a two-month cruise around the world.  Ed Moulton led us in singing, “Welcome Back.”

Birthdays

1.       We sang “Happy Birthday” to Dr. Alan Perry Senior, who joined the Century Club.  His birthday was on April 6.

2.       George Lutes, on leave, had a birthday on April 3, if you would like to give him a call.

Anniversaries

1.       Jim Edwards, April 4.

2.       Jack Dawson, April 9.

Guest Introductions

1.       Irene Chen promoted the LTG fundraiser, and she requested that we fill out a flyer to direct funds appropriately.

2.       Julie Yu, President of La Cañada Key Club was honored to be present and wants to strengthen relations with Kiwanis.

3.       Steven Lee, Treasurer has been in Key Club since his freshman year.  Steven also knew Ken Lowe from Boy Scouts.

4.       Lisa Walter and Jorge Valdivia were invited by Nick Berkuta.

Fundraising—Happy, Sad, Business Bucks

1.   Mary Gant for NIT champs, Ohio State, and for UCLA losing.

2.   Linda Magarian for Harriet’s return.

3.   Jeb Long for sailing around Australia, then New Zealand on a Princess cruise. He also noted that Harriot and he were in Sidney Harbor on the same day on their separate cruises.

4.   Pat Anderson for NIT champs, Ohio State.

5.   Dave Spence for Clyde Hemphill’s appointment as Senior Citizen of the Year, by La Cañada Mayor, Del Garcio.

           6.  Harriot Hammonds for her trip around the world on the Queen Victoria SS.

Illnesses

Frosty Boyd reported the ongoing illness of Dick DeGrey’s and Jeb Long’s family members.  Frosty encouraged everyone to be sure to let him know about anyone who is ill, so he can let the club know.

Program

Nick Berkuta introduced Lisa Walter, LA County Deputy Sheriff and Community Services Deputy for LCF and Jorge Valdivia.  Deputy Lisa opened with some personal comments.  She completed her Masters’ in forensic science and represents her family in its third generation in law enforcement.  Lisa has been one-and-a-half years with the CV sheriffs and is newly assigned to community relations.  Her duties include being a liaison between La Cañada and the Sheriffs Department.

       A tongue-in-cheek comment from Lisa was that she thinks the La Cañada High School students have been partying a bit too soon before Spring Break. On a more serious note, Lisa is excited about a new DUI education program she is piloting with the students. The program simulates a crash scene; fatalities; loss from parents, friends and community.   Participants are then “brought back” to experience a visit to a mortuary, jail, and a courthouse to be sentenced.  Deputy Walter expressed a need for participation and can be reached at the Briggs station by anyone wishing to volunteer.

       Jorge Valdivia was formerly a patrol deputy in East LA, then La Cañada, and is new to administration. Jorge added further insight into the duties he and Lisa work on together; such as, coordinating volunteers, support groups, the Christmas toy-and-food drive, traffic control, and Open House at the Briggs station.  Jorge announced the next open house is planned for May 10, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

       Deputy Lisa said that she would leave contact information with Nick Berkuta.  Under their new captain, she and Jorge will be glad to accept invitations to be involved in a variety of programs, such as drug education, emergency preparedness, school violence, Chamber of Commerce events. Lisa invited questions, and an interesting session ensued, with questions from Tom Burrows, Daryal Gant, Doris Horwith, and others. 

Questions ranged from the surrendering of firearms, rules for “hot pursuit,” white collar crime reporting, fugitive apprehension, arson watch-group ham-radio operators, noise ordinances, graffiti incidents, medical marijuana use, and Deputy Walter’s way with a gun.

FACTS AND FICTION

Music

1.    Tom Burrows’ magnificent melodies.

2.    Ed Moulton led us in “America the Beautiful,” and “Hail Kiwanis.”

Opening

1.    Flag salute by Mary Ann Berkuta.

2.    “Special” inspiration by Diane DellaValle:

              At a racing event for children with special needs, all the runners took off in the race, but one boy stumbled and fell.  All the others, realizing what had happened, stopped, turned around and went back.  A girl with Down’s syndrome kissed better the injured place on the boy.  All nine participants walked across the finish line together.  Everyone in the stadium cheered with heartfelt appreciation for how these special youngsters had demonstrated that what matters is helping others to win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

Fifty/fifty Raffle Drawing:  Bachy Bachmayer.

Master of the Cash Box:  Jim Reynolds.

This week’s Editor: Helena Montana.

This week’s Photographer: Jeb Long

Webmaster and Coordinator:  Jeb Long