Wednesday,  November 11, 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

November 18 Linda Greenwood, Verdugo Hills Hospital Infection Control Nurse, on H1N1 Wednesday Lunch Meeting, VanDeKamp Hall @ Descanso Gardens November 25 Jason VanderPal, Los Angeles businessman Improving your public speaking style Wednesday Lunch Meeting, VanDeKamp Hall @ Descanso Gardens   December 2, 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade and Game Wednesday Lunch Meeting, VanDeKamp Hall @ Descanso Gardens TRAVELOGUE SCHEDULE: 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   Click on the following button to view the long term calendar

MUSIC

 As usual, our pianist-member, Tom Burrows, lifted our spirits, putting us in just the right mood for today's talent show program.  There was our usual social, meet-and-greet time, trying to make sure we shook the hand of the "secret greeter." 

Ed Moulton expertly led us in singing "God Bless America."

OPENING

President Nick Berkuta thanked Tom Burrows for the wonderful music.  Members applauded vigorously to show their appreciation.

Bob Martin prefaced our pledge of allegiance with a reminder that today is Veteran's Day. Bob also posed wearing his army cap which he wore at about the time he fought in the battle for Okinawa, in WWII.   (Editor's note-Bob, a machine gunner, was the only survivor of his nine-person squad.  He kept a tiny diary of the action, which I have seen.  His story is amazing.)

All vets should remember that they are now entitled to give a military-type salute during the pledge of allegiance, if they wish.

As our message for the day, Jack Dawson recited General Eisenhower's sober, but stirring address to our fighting men and women on the eve of the Allied invasion of Europe, "D-Day," June 6, 1944.

Our "welcome back" song was heartily sung for members we haven't seen enough of for a while-- Ellie Wildermuth, Matt Regan, and Paulette Keating.  They all had acceptable explanations, but it was definitely not the same without them!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Matt Regan gave us a Dow-Jones quiz and introduced our annual drive to provide funding for assistance to needy families in the holiday season.  His unfailing logic was that since the stock market is up 29% this year, our contributions should be at least that much higher.  Kiwanis-thinking, to be sure.

President Nick Berkuta  announced that-the Board has approved a promising fund-raising golf tournament project, to be led by Karl Johnson. The board also approved Skip Lindeman, Pastor of the La Canada Congregational Church, as a new member.  He was sponsored by Pat Anderson.

All members are invited to the 90th birthday party of Connie Moulton.  It will be from 1-3 PM, Sunday, Nov 15, in the Garden Room of The Pasadena Highlands Retirement Community, 1575 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena. 

Linda Magarian presented Pat Luangeaktrakul her permanent badge.  Since Pat beat the target date, she received a gift certificate for yogurt!

Megan Nordvedt gave us information about the Thanksgiving Day Run and food collection drive, sponsored by the La Canada Flintridge Community Center.

Cory Stevens announced that our Annual Holiday Social will be on December 13, 5:00 pm, at the Angeles National Golf Club.

Susanne Passantino reminded residents of the up-coming Allied Waste 'we pick up anything' collection day.

Taryn Smith said that the Community Center K-Kids were off to a good start.  They had a pizza party and have written letters to members of our military overseas.

Frosty Boyd reported that Hal Thomas and Dick DeGrey are doing reasonably well.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Bob Wallace, November 13 (still not as old as Clyde)

Daryal Gant, November 14 (No problem with being 56)

Don Voss celebrating his wedding anniversary, November 14

GUESTS  

Visiting today were guests Betty Ho (Bob Martin),

 Peggy Touchstone (Jim Phillips), and Taryn Smith-on school holiday-- (Jim and Wendy Smith).  "Hi neighbor" and welcoming table-pounding was led by the inimitable Ed Moulton.

HAPPY & SAD BUCKS

Happy-Ellie Wildermuth for the kindness shown by Kiwanians after the fire.

Happy-Brian Fuller for Ellie and Bob Wildermuth for their grit in tough times

Happy-Matt Regan for his son's first birthday.

Sad-Daryal Gant for not having been invited to Matt's son's party.

Happy-Mary Gant for UCLA finally winning a football game

FROSTY CHALLENGE 

Lame jokes were told by Daryal Gant, Skip Boyd, Rion Zimmerman, and Frosty Boyd.  The least-lame winner was Skip Boyd. 

THE PROGRAM

Twitters ran through the audience as they anticipated what was to come-Kiwanis Got Talent.  There was an unbelievable array of talent to behold.

Frosty Boyd-A saw solo.  "Wild Irish Rose?"  (Next year he plans to play the hedge clippers.)

Skip Boyd -Piano solo.  "Ubladee?"  (His word-not mine.)

Ed Moulton singing, "Give my Regards to Broadway."  (Broadway in Glendale)

Daryal Gant-"How to tell if you may be a Kiwanian."  (One he left out. If you sit in the same place each week, even if there's no chair there...)

Bachy Bachmayer-Repeat demand performance of "Lydia the Tattooed Lady." The Queen is next.

Wendy Smith-For our loved ones who are away, the poignant, "You'll Never Know."

Paul Westmoreland and Linda Magarian-- down and dirty West Coast Swing. "Kansas City, Here We Come."  Smoooooooth!

Jack Dawson read a poem in Scots by Robert Burns.  The master himself would be proud.

Clyde Hemphill-Stand-up-"What's New?"  (Not the jokes.)

Jim Phillips-Dino doing "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime."  Three women and two men fainted.  No one could remember the emergency number, "911."

OTHER STUFF

Winner of the 50/50 Drawing: Tom Passanisi

Secret Greeter: Pat Flynn (Editor’s note: Pat is a graduate of the Naval Academy)

Master of the Cash Box: Karl Johnson

This Week's Reporter: Daryal Gant

This Week's Photographer: Melinda Thompson

Webmaster, Newsletter Reporter/Coordinator:  Jeb Long