President Diane called our attention to the Travel Adventure Series flyer on our tables.  Thank you Pam Feterl who has spent her time putting this together.  The first Travelog will be October 25.

We also received a thank you note from Joy Rittenhouse who was a guest last week.

MEMBERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

Daryal Gant told that to date we have 13 new members and have experienced a loss of 3 members as these 3 moved out of the area.  He and his co-chair, Linda Magarian had hoped for a + 10 membership gain but since our membership now stands at 88 they are hoping for 90 by the end of the Kiwanis year this September.

GUESTS

Frank Regazzi introduced his nephew, Rudy Morrison, and Frank announced that Rudy is interested in membership.

Al Restivo introduced Brian Fuller who is with us for the 3^rd time and it will be last the time Brian will be introduced as a guest as he has submitted his membership application. An interesting aside, Brian will run for the State Assembly where our own Anthony Portantino is now a member; Al Restivo is Anthony’s sponsor!

WELCOME

Welcome returning members who have been away:  Don Corbett who will again participate in our Wine & Gourmet Food Tasting with his friends and their home brewed wines.  Frank Regazzi who is usually home with his dear, Violet, who is now confined to a wheelchair enjoyed being with us.  Paul Bobson, perhaps we’ll see him two weeks in a row as he won the 50/50 drawing.  Ed Moulton lead us in ‘Hi Neighbor.’

BIRTHDAYS

Dave Spence who admitted to being on the other side of 70 dropped in a $100 bill, so he joined the Century Club as is his birthday habit.  Ed lead us in a fine rendition of ‘Happy Birthday.’

Other things... 

Suzanne Passintino was the manager of the Cash Box this week and collected from those who were not wearing their pins.  That was followed by collecting for those not shaking the hand of Bob Wallace our Secret Greeter.

HAPPY/SAD BUCKS:   Daryal Gant gave a Happy Buck because his wife wasn’t speaking to him last night but she is today.

Don Corbett said that he’s Happy, first because he’s further on the other side of 70 than Dave Spence plus another one for a Latino worker found his wallet that he’d lost in a parking lot and was not aware of it until the dear man called to say he’d found it.  He had another Happy Buck but couldn’t remember what it was.

Megan Nordvedt gave a Happy Buck for the new car they got this week in anticipation of their baby’s arrival.

Paul Westmoreland had a Happy Buck for Elaine’s son who is in a heavy metal band, Human Extract, who just released an album.

Clyde Hemphill had a Happy Buck because he has just received the last Soap Box Derby car back from Akron and the father is coming tonight to pick it up.  Then Clyde can return the SBD car carton back to the Kiwanis storage unit and the 2008 SBD will finally be finished!

Howard Backer was not only happy but gave an Ecstatic Buck because his son came over with Howard’s 2 year-old great-grandson who had been taught to say, ‘Bye, bye Great-Grandpa.’  Ahh, be still my heart!

Frank Regazzi gave a Happy $5 just to be at today’s meeting and happy that his nephew was attending, also.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Howard Backer reminded us to put a buck in the can in the center of the table to support the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma program.  Since we are at the end of the Kiwanis year Howard is hoping that we will have collected at least $2000 to send to the program.

Clyde Hemphill again requested a member to step forward to help with the ad’s for the W&GFT program booklet.

Mary Gant stated that the Silent Auction items are coming in from club members and today she received from Howard and Rhoda Backer a $100 gift certificate to Taylor’s Steak House and a $100 gift certificate to the Sports Chalet.  Megan Nordvedt turned in a filled in form for 2 vases made by a Community Center client.  Carl Christensen picked up a form to donate one (or more) of his beautiful wooden boxes.  Ken Lowe took a form to remind his son-in-law that we look forward to another of his incredible works of glass art.  Pam Feterl also took a form for a travel donation.  The Silent Auction is coming right along but more items are needed.  We have also received a mosaic picture hand made by Linda Magarian; and Bill Scherkey and Melinda Thompson donated a beautiful stained glass item that can be used as an item to hang in front of a window or as a room divider.  The usual Margarita Basket is being put together.  The items listed here are just from members, we have many others.

SLA or SICK LAME AND AILING

  President Diane announced that Mary Lou Perry, wife of Dr. Allen Perry, Sr. and mother of Dr. Allen Perry, Jr. had hip surgery.  Allen filled us in to the fact that his mom, Mary Lou, had surgery last Wednesday but is now home and doing well.  Senior. was spending his lunch hour visiting with his wife.

PROGRAM

Nick Berkuta was introduced and in turn introduced our speaker, our own Linda Magarian.  Linda’s background is that she was born and raised about 20 miles from Dinuba in Fresno, Ca.   She earned her BA in Education from Cal State Fresno and her MS in School Counseling from the University of La Verne.  After moving to southern California she taught in Bell Gardens and Montebello schools.  In Linda’s 33 year teaching career was in the elementary schools but also included English as a Second Language (ESL) for the Glendale Adult Education.  A resident of LCF for the last 34 years, she is an Ambassador for the LCF Chamber of Commerce and a member of the LCF Tournament of Roses.

Habitat for Humanity (HH) was the subject of Linda’s presentation.  Linda went on a ‘Habitour’ and immediately knew she wanted to be involved.  She is now a spokesperson for HH and has physically participated in their  building programs.  Linda felt that since she liked to garden that landscaping would be a good fit.  After hauling and placing rocks; then planting a very large plant she requested the smaller items to be planted.

The video and Linda’s talk were extremely informative.  It was interesting to discover that HH was started by a non-profit Christian Organization and that it was brought to the forefront when, then President Jimmy Carter led a group to participate in an HH project in New York.

We were told how those who get the homes qualify and that most have never owned anything before and in fact do not even understand home ownership and therefore education in all areas is taught to these deserving families.  It was heartwarming to see the video and to see those who were chosen and how they reacted to being selected.  One item of interest is that those receiving the homes have to have an income and they pay their mortgages without interest.  Cities give the land, HH provides the materials and the interest free loans, and all the labor is donated.  One requirement for these new home owners is that they have to give 500 hours in labor on projects.

At the end of Linda’s presentation we were shown slides of VIP’s who have worked on HH projects:  Clyde Hemphill, Tom Burrows, Jack Dawson, Bob Wallace, Nick Berkuta, Jim Edwards, Fred Schooley, John Parady and Greg Powell.  They obviously were doing good work because they were almost unrecognizable with the sweaty hats and dirty clothes.  Thanks to all of you.

CREDITS 

Music by: Tom Burrows on piano and songs led by Ed Moulton. The meeting was opened with ‘This is my Country’ and concluded with ‘C’mon Kiwanis.’

Flag Salute:  Karl Johnson

Inspiration:  Diane Landrum

Guest Editor;  Mary Gant

This Week’s Photographer:  Paul Westmoreland.

Webmaster and Coordinator:  Jeb Long.