Wednesday,  December 9, 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

December 13, 2009 CHRISTMAS PARTY Angeles National Golf Club December 16, 2009 Judy Reilly – Guide Dogs of America services Wednesday Lunch Meeting, VanDeKamp Hall @ Descanso Gardens December 23, 2009 Rose Queen & Court Wednesday Lunch Meeting, VanDeKamp Hall @ Descanso Gardens December 30, 2009 International President’s Interclub Luncheon University Club of Pasadena (Wednesday Lunch Meeting at Descanso Gardens is dark) TRAVELOGUE SCHEDULE: January 23, 2010 – Crossing the Mediterranean Mary Lee and Sid Nolan 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

To start the meeting, Ed Moulton led the club in “God Bless America” while Tom  Burrows accompanied. Later, Ed led the club in a round of “Hi Neighbor” to welcome our guests and “Welcome Back!” to our members who have been away for a while. At the end of the meeting, Ed reminded us of all the important service we provide as a club as we sang “Hail Kiwanis”.

OPENING

Bea Cirar led the club in saluting our great flag and Jim Ackland gave a humorous and crowd pleasing inspiration of proverbs about discipline. The lesson: Even when you’re the captain of a battle ship, a lighthouse operator is still someone who can tell you what to do!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Nick Berkuta reminded us of the upcoming International President’s lunch on Dec. 30 (our club is dark that Wednesday). Sign-ups end today.

Cory Stevens called our attention to the save-the-date fliers for the Holiday Party this Sunday, Dec. 13 at the Angeles Golf Club. Please rsvp!

Skip Boyd reported on behalf of Frosty Boyd, announcing Dick DeGrey is doing better and always appreciates a friendly phone call from time to time. Also, Hal Thomas is feeling better and Nick is getting around much faster now, with the help of his scooter!

Mary Gant announced her jewelry party has been postponed to Feb. 2010. Stay tuned for dates & details! Also, Daryl Gant is recovering well from his recent hip surgery, although he definitely frustrates her from time to time ☺

Anthony Portantino announced his annual Holiday Open House on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 5:30pm at the Armory Center in Pasadena. Bring a new book for a K-6 student and enjoy the Center open late.

Megan Nordvedt invited everyone to attend the Community Center’s holiday ceramics sale happening this weekend (Dec. 11, 12, 13). More than 60 artists will have their pieces on display and for sale. It’s a great place for unique, handmade gifts!

Pat Anderson remarked on a very successful Festival in Lights (279 children sat on Santa’s lap!) and thanked Gilmore Bank for their generous donation of candy canes. The she shared them with us ☺

Matt Regan gave us an update on the club’s Toy Drive. As of now, we have exceeded our fundraising goal of $800 (last year’s amount raised) and are taking on 2 additional families, bring the total to 4. He will present a bag of home-grown avocados to the club member who donated the highest amount to the Drive today…

Don Voss gave a brief mud-slide & rain update from the City. Apparently, the key to our hillsides staying put, is the intensity of the rain. He reminded us all to prepare and to have our neighbors prepare! Also, the City has started communicating with a company specializing in re-seeding hillsides, but nothing is official yet, as far as a plan to start work.

Jim Reynolds mentioned his good friend Tom Stafford had recently passed away and had details about a memorial service, for those interested.

Mary Gant reminded us of the TOR raffle, where the winner could receive 2 tickets to the Rose Bowl game, 2 tickets to the BCS game, and 2 tickets to the Rose Parade.

Clyde Hemphill remarked that the thermostat in Van De Kamp Hall was set to 90 degrees!

Howard Backer called our attention to the doctor’s cans in the center of our tables. He loves the sound of folded money!

Carl Christensen reminded us of a great tax write-off: the Ed Moulton Endowment Fund!

GUESTS

Howard Baker brought her friend Rich; a swimming buddy from the YMCA.

Pete Palermo brought his wife Cathy.

Suzanne Passantino brought her new co-worker Dan; a rookie in the garbage biz.

HAPPY & SAD BUCKS

Pete Palermo was pleased to announce he and his wife will be home for Christmas this year, and joined the century club to celebrate!

Al Restivo gave happy bucks for 3 members he has sponsored, all sitting at his table.

Rolando Morales gave happy bucks for his daughter and her soccer team, who are the new champions in their division!

Karl Johnson gave happy bucks for Dave Spence and his ability to give useful information..?

Dave Spence gave sad bucks because Pete Palermo’s fees are going up, so his will be too.

Pat Anderson gave happy bucks for her son-in-law’s new job, which started today.

Elizabeth Georgeon gave sad bucks Pat, who attended the City Council meeting, held Monday night, which did not adjourn until 12:05am, Tuesday morning!

Mark Alexander gave 100 happy bucks for USC beating Notre Dame & UCLA this season and for the college football season coming to an end!

George Lutes gave “confused bucks” when he retold the story of visiting the new Cowboy’s football stadium in TX and viewing the game on a giant TV..which he could have done at home for a lot less $$!

New member, Skip Lindeman told us, “a tired Santa is called a beat-Nick!” A sad buck for sure.

Ellie Wildermuth gave happy bucks because she and Bob will start rebuilding their home January 1, 2010.

Howard Backer gave happy bucks for his alma mater, University of Missouri, for finishing with the same record as USC.

Nick Berkuta gave a happy announcement: we have 91 members now!

Jim Ackland announced that the Travelogue make-up evening would be Jan.23, 2010. Please come!

THE PROGRAM

 Chris Erskine, a columnist and editor for the LA Times, spoke to the club about his weekly column: “Man of the House”. The column consists of a lively cast of characters, remarkably similar to the characters in his own family ☺ There’s “the wife”, who drives a white mini-van, a little faster than she should and has been known to fall into her large purse, the “lovely & patient” older daughter, who is 26 and thinks she knows everything about being a parent. There’s “the boy”, who is 23 and is apparently MIA, driving one of Chris’ cars, the “little red-headed girl”, who is spending her first year away at college and calls her father only when she needs money or the recipe for egg-nog, and finally, there’s “baby oops!”; a 7 year old boy currently attending Palm Crest “learning boutique”. Each week, Chris writes about an awkward, sticky, or strange, but always humorous situation which his loyal readers love!

OTHER STUFF

Winner of the 50/50 Drawing: Pat Flynn

Secret Greeter: Mark Alexander

Master of the Cash Box: Clyde Hemphill

This Week's Reporter: Megan Nordvedt

This Week's Photographer: Melinda Thompson

Webmaster:  Jeb Long

Newsletter Reporter/Coordinator:  Brian Fuller