Wednesday,  June 3, 2009

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

June 10, 2009 Dave Hemstreet.- Kiwanis Family House Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ Van de Kamp Hall, Descanso Gardens   June 17, 2009 Clergy Recognition Day Dr Charles Brogberg Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ Van de Kamp Hall, Descanso Gardens  June 24, 2009 Craft Talks Jennifer Berger, Skip Boyd, Jim Phillips Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ Van de Kamp Hall, Descanso Gardens   Kiwanis Board Of Directors  Meet The First Thursday Of Each Month At The La Cañada Community Center– 7:00 Pm February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, September 3, October 1, November 5, and December 3. Click on the following button to view the long term calendar

How can anyone stand in the food line and not want to dance when Tom Burrows is serenading us with great dance music on the piano.  Ed Moulton led us in singing God Bless America, Welcome Back, and Hail Kiwanis.

MUSIC

Ellie Wildermuth made sure Ed Moulton got safely up on the stage to lead us in singing America the Beautiful, with Tom Burroughs accompanying on the piano.  As usual, Tom Burroughs was playing the piano before lunch - raising our spirits and providing the ambiance for our meeting.

OPENING

President Carl Christensen had Bill Watts lead the flag salute and Emilita Bituin gave the inspiration.  Emilita's dad would have been 90 years old this June, and she read a poem he wrote in high school.

Past Kiwanis Governor (CalNevHa) Reid Allen presented Ed Moulton with a medallian and a framed certificate to acknowledge a $1,000 donation to our International Kiwanis Foundation.  Reid Allen made this donation in Ed's name.  Reid and Ed have been working together in Kiwanis for many, many years and truly appreciate their long-time friendship.  There were several hugs and a few tears over this honor.

Linda Magarian rewarded Jim Phillips with a special prize because he is so quickly completing his new member requirements.  Then Linda invited Jim and Wendy Smith to join her, and Linda inducted Jim as our newest member.  Jim received his temporary badge and lots of instructions from Linda, and then sponsor Wendy Smith "pinned him" and gave him a very a loving tribute.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ø        Our monthly board meeting for our Kiwanis Club and Foundation is tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. at the Community Center.

Ø        Joel Smith reported our tenth Soap Box Derby was a great success.   A local boy who had never raced before will be going to Akron, Ohio this summer.  Two-thirds of the club members volunteered their help for this event.

Ø        Corey Stevens passed the sign-up sheet around for our Summer Social.  There were also beautiful invitations giving all the details on every lunch table.  This event will have a Hawaiian theme, and the menu on the back of the invitations had us all drooling.  Be sure to mark July 26 on your calendar.

Ø        Jack Dawson encouraged all of us to return our mail-in ballots for the local parcel tax. 

Ø        Pat Anderson made the Chamber of Commerce announcements:

§       There will be a ribbon cutting at the new AT&T store on Thursday, June 4 at 11 a.m.

§       June 11 is the date of the next CoC mixer that will be held in Memorial Park.

Ø        Howard Backer reminded us to drop some paper bills in the cans on the lunch tables.  Our contributions to the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma program are so important.  On August 5, our luncheon speakers will be doctors who have received this Pediatric Trauma training, and we will learn more about the program at that time.

Ø        Nick Berkuta reported that the Montrose/La Crescenta Kiwanis inter-club meeting on Tuesday was well attended.  On next Thursday (the 11th) there will be an interclub with the Pasadena Kiwanis Club; nine members have already signed up to attend.

Ø        Bob Wallace gave us the dates for the summer CalNevHa Kiwanis Convention.  It will be held in San Diego on August 13 & 14.  This is a great way for newer members to find out more about Kiwanis.  Our club will pay the registration and lunch fee for each member who attends.

Ø        Pat Flynn said our children's reading program in downtown L.A. is winding down for the year.  There will not be any Kiwanis members going down tomorrow, but next Thursday will be the presentation day when presentations and awards are given to the outstanding student readers.  All  our club members are encouraged to attend.

Ø        Frosty Boyd gave his SLA report.  Clyde Hemphill is improving, but John Landrum broker his upper arm last Thursday.  Dick DeGrey and Hal Thomas are about the same.

Ø        Wendy Smith gave cudos to Linda Magarian for being written up in the Outlook newspaper last week.  Linda received the Helping Hands Award from Habitat for Humanity for her public-speaking engagements and video presentations at various organizations and schools.

GUESTS 

Skip Boyd introduced his son, Tao Boyd.  Then he pointed to the three Boyds (Frosty, Skip and Tao) and claimed they were "the father, the son, and the holy terror."  Apparently Frosty's dad was in Kiwanis, so Frosty and Skip make second and third generation Kiwanians.  Tao is getting some pressure to become a fourth generation Kiwanian. 

Pat Anderson first welcomed Jeff and Patti Mailes, the proud parents of our program speaker.  Then she introduced Starr Frazier, her "right hand" at the Chamber of Commerce.

Wendy Smith was delighted to introduce her nine year old daughter, Terrin - who already has the Kiwanis service attitude.  When Terrin had her birthday party recently, she asked all her friends to bring food for our Kiwanis Midnight Mission project.  She collected and donated two huge bags of food.

HAPPY AND SAD BUCKS

• Howard Backer had $3 HB for his visit with his brother and family in Florida.  The additional 2 SB were for the 26 inches of rain while he was there.
  
• Corey Stevens had a HB for those who made sure she was fed at the Soap Box Derby and bought her a slice of pizza.
   
• Frosty Boyd had 28 HB in honor of the four Boyd generations.
• Diane Della Valle had a SB because she didn't arrive early enough to kiss the Secret Greeter, George Lutes.
       
• George Lutes gave a HP - hoping he could still get the kiss from Diane.
  
• Pat Anderson had three HB for the lunch program today, and two Hopeful Bucks for Don Voss and Dave Spence who were both in Sacramento trying to stop the state from "stealing" $436,000 from the city.

• Linda Magarian had a HB for newest member Jim Smith who is repairing her house.  Linda has discovered everything has to be "on the level."  It wasn't, and that is why she was having so much rain damage.
  
• Emilita Bituin had a SB for John Landrum and his broken arm, and then a HB because he is doing better.
  

• Carl Christensen gave a SB for his root canal in the morning and a HB because he could still eat lunch.

• Reid Allen had a HB for being able to share lunch with us.

THE PROGRAM

LCHS junior Malia Mailes researched the truck traffic problems associated with Angeles Crest Highway after the onion truck accident last September and made a presentation to the LCF City Council.  She shared her research with us, which included a very interesting slide presentation.  Cal Trans was not receptive to her suggestions until the second truck accident occured this winter.  In order to stop truck traffic on Angeles Crest Highway, we need to support the bill Anthony Portantino is trying to fast-track through the state legislature.  We will be receiving more information on how to make our voices heard via email in the next few days.

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

Winner Of 50/50 Drawing:  Joel Smith

Secret Greeter:  George Lutes

Master Of The Cash Box:  Mike Lieninger

This Weeks Reporter:  Melinda Thompson

These Weeks Photographer: Wendy Smith

Webmaster, Newsletter Reporter/Coordinator:  Jeb Long