Wednesday,  August 19, 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

August 21, 2009 Happy Hour Social At the home of Wendy and Jim Smith  4545 Briggs Ave, La Crescenta August 26, 2009 Jim Stratton “Apple For The Teacher Day” Wednesday Lunch Meeting@ VanDeKamp Hall, Descanso Gardens August 26, 2009 Jim Stratton   September 2, 2009 Ettie Lee Youth and Family Services Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ VanDeKamp Hall, Descanso Gardens September 3, 2009 Kiwanis Board Meeting LaCanada Community Center, 7:00 PM    Jim Phillips Dancing With The Stars Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ VanDekamp Hall, Descanso Gardens September 16, 2009  Jayasri Majumdar Hart Producer-Editor Director Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ VanDekamp Hall, Descanso Gardens  September 23, 2009 Carl Christensen President’s Swan Song Wednesday Lunch Meeting @ VanDeKamp Hall @ Descanso Gardens  September 30, 2009 INSTALLATION DINNER Oakmont Country Club –6:00 PM (THE CLUB IS DARK AT LUNCHTIME) October 15, 1, 2009 Sunshine Kids Foundation Wednesday Lunch Meeting, VanDeKamp Hall @ Descanso Gardens    TRAVELOGUE SCHEDULE: October 17, 2009- tba November 21, 2009 – Crossing the Mediterranean February 20, 2010 – Egypt and the Nile March 29, 2010 – Inside Iran Today April 17, 2010 – Burma May 15, 2010 – Great Rocky Adventure   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

WEEKLY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

MUSIC

Ed Moulton led Kiwanians in “God Bless America”

OPENING

Flag Salute done by Jim Philips

Jim Ackland led the Inspirational Message 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Nick Berkuta announced that seven Kiwanians attended the Kiwanis CALNEVHA Convention in San Diego along with 6,000 other attendees and Delegates from other clubs: Linda Magarian, Diane Della Valle, Wendy Smith, Harriet Hammons, Fred Schooley, William Watts and Nick Berkuta were all in attendance.  Diane and Linda recalled some funny moments sharing a hotel room with Wendy. Wendy announced that she learned a lot about Branding the Kiwanis name in the community. Nick announced that all seven of the Kiwanians had participated in many seminars and came back enriched and ready to share their knowledge with the group.

Linda announced the “Happy Hour” would be this Friday August 21 at the home of Jim and Wendy Smith. From 5pm - whenever. She reminded everyone to bring finger foods because there would be NO FORKS!

Linda held a beautiful Induction of our newest member Jack Bagman who seemed thrilled and surprised at all of the little steps he would have to take in order to get his permanent Name tag. Don’t worry Jack it ain’t difficult! Linda is giving all new members 4 months to complete the tasks.

Fred Schooley announced that Jim Ackland donated $800 to the Ed Moulton Endowment Fund.

Mary Gant happily announced her Granddaughter and new husband were staying with her and Daryal. She also acknowledged Wendy Smith for gathering a great group of restaurants for this year’s Wine & Gourmet Food Tasting Event.

Jim Ackland announced the Travelogue series would begin again this Fall and invited everyone to come out and see it!

Cory Stevens asked Kiwanis members to donate items to the Wine & Gourmet Food Tasting Silent Auction.

Frosty Boyd asked members to please contact our sick, lame and ailing members to say hello.

Nick Berkuta announced Monday Sept 21 would be the Installation of the New Governor.

GUESTS

Mary Gant brought BOONSENG

Emilta brought JUDY WEBB MARTIN and JAN REED

Al Restivo brought TOM PASSANISI

Bob Martin brought CHUCK CARDER

Carlos Cortez brought JOHN JOHNSON

Diane Della Valle brought her beautiful granddaughter  LA VONNE

.

Diane Della Valle brought the La Canada AM President elect, Martha Burns

Jim Philips brought his wife PEGGY TOUCHSTONE

Wendy Smith brought her mother JUDY AMORES visiting from Florida

HAPPY & SAD BUCKS

Howard

Suzanne

Nelson

THE PROGRAM

We heard crafts Talks from s 3 new members today Skip Boyd, Rion Zimmerman and Jim Philips.

SKIP BOYD

Skip Boyd delivered an eloquent and humorous Craft Talk. He is a 3rd generation Kiwanis born at Hollywood Presbytarian Hospital. His family relocated to Pittsburg PA when Skip was young and he recalled his childhood fondly including the orchards, cherry trees, Guy Lombardo and their neighbor who bought the 1^st television home to the community. He indicated an intense dislike for Spam, the food as well as the emails.  He spoke meaningfully about his father Skip’s loss of his business partner in his early 20’s and how it had affected him for many years. Skip’s family moved back to California where he watched the Golden Gate Freeway being built from his Los Feliz home. His mother had a brass bell she would ring to signal the kids to “high-tail” it home. Those were the days when kids were safe to run all over Griffith Park without worry. He attended John Marshall High School like his father, and majored in Woodshop. He joined the Army, which he said “must be lived in order to be understood.” He was stationed in Germany and suffered an accident that profoundly affected his life. He was later stationed in San Francisco serving in the NCOIC were he spoke movingly about his service with Military Funerals. He said they were very busy in 1966 and 1967 burying young men in their twenties, sometimes 4 funerals a day.  He gave an eloquent memorial to them and the impact that had on him. Later Skip attended Valley College and at that time he also had the opportunity to address the Hollywood Kiwanis group where his father belonged speaking to them about Students for Democratic Society. He attended USC, Marshall School of Business, received an MBA in Finance and 20 years later a Doctorate in Educational Psychology. He has been married 38 years, has 3 children and 3 grandchildren.

Skip ran out of time before his presentation was finished and Bill Watts tried to escort him off the stage using a 10 ft cane around the neck. Bill was unsuccessful and Skip finished his presentation.

RION ZIMMERMAN

Rion Zimmerman Is a Chiropractor. He was greatly inspired by his grandfather an Architect who was responsible for many of the buildings in La Canada including the Country Club and the building Rion practices in. Rion’s mom was in one of the 1^st graduating classes of La Canada High. Rion also graduated from la Canada High and then attended UC Irvine, where he was recruited to play soccer. He pursued a degree in Political Science with an emphasis on Constitutional Law. He lived on the beach in Newport while attending school. His studies precluded him from enjoying weekend activities. (Sure Rion!) Rion changed his direction graduated from Chiropractic School in 2005 and became a Chiropractor. He practiced in Pasadena and now in La Canada in the same building his grandfather designed and where Rion had spent many years of his childhood. Rion is very happy to be a member of Kiwanis. He feels strongly about helping children and volunteers with 5 acres, Pasadena High, Monrovia High and La Canada High in their sports departments. He administers Chiropractic techniques on children and believes it is conservative health application and fits perfectly with Kiwanis mission to help children. Rion was to the point, passionate about his work and a very positive speaker.

 JIM PHILIPS