WEEKLY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
MUSIC
The dynamic duo, pianist Tom Burrows and song leader
Ed Moulton, started us up with “God Bless America”.
“Hi Neighbor” to guests, “Happy Birthday” to Carlos
Cortez, “Welcome Back” to Pat Anderson, Bea Cirar,
and Paulette Keeting. We closed with “Hail to
Kiwanis”.
OPENING
Margaret
Watts
led us in saluting our flag. Mary Gant gave us an
inspiration from a reading, “Slow Dance”. “Time is short
and the music won’t last…”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pat
Flynn
is going down to Union Street to read with 2nd
graders. You are invited to join him tomorrow with a
rendezvous at Descanso Gardens.
Carlos
Cortez
announces that the Boy Scouts have their annual Sports
Breakfast on March 8th. Jerry West of Lakers
fame will be the guest speaker. It is to held at Annendale
Country Club in Pasadena.
Wendy
Smith
announces Comedy Night on April 3rd. Invites have
been given to all Kiwanis Clubs in the district. A social
starts at 6pm and a spaghetti dinner at 7. Comedy troupe to
follow. There will be a silent auction as well and right
now there are 15 items available. Bring guests and friends
to the event being held at the Elks Lodge in Glendale.
Howard
Backer
reminds all to place a donation in the Kiwanis Doctors
canisters. A preference for donations that fold over those
that jingle is encouraged.
Frosty
Boyd
gives us the Sick, Lame, and Ailing report. Doris
Horwith is at Verdugo Hills Hospital with a reported
problem with her knee. Charles Broberg is doing very
well. Norm Johnson is doing well after his neck
surgery. Nick Berkuta’s leg is coming along nicely
and he has decided to keep it. Hal Thomas can’t get
around too much. Dick DeGrey is doing alright.
Daryal
Gant
announces that we collected $200 due to fines and happy/sad
bucks. One notable fine was the secret greeter where the
vast majority of the membership failed to shake hands with
our secret greeter, our guest speaker, Dena Higley.
Howard Backer reminded us to put something that rustles
in the table cans to support the PTP Doctor training
program.
GUESTS
Ken Lowe
introduced us to members of La Cañada High School Key Club.
Members present were current president Robert Hahn, Eric
Chan, Ben Chan, president-elect Yenmin Yung, Jeffrey Kim,
Rachel Kim, and Esther Hahn. They wish to go to District in
Sacramento and are seeking donations to help defray the
cost. Yenmin is also seeking donations for a cause, “voices
for the voiceless”. She will conduct a day without speaking
in bringing attention to the plight of those without a say
in the world.
Lloyd Welch
introduced us to his daughter, Pamela Towery.
BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES
Carlos Cortez
shares his birthday with George Washington, February 22nd.
His wife’s 30th birthday is today. He is giving
$30 to honor that milestone.
HAPPY & SAD BUCKS
Mary
Gant
gave five bucks for giving to POSH.
Karl
Johnson
gave $20
over his recent purchase of a lakeside home he always wanted
in Green Valley near Big Bear. He also made a donation to
the Ed Moulton Foundation.
Fred
Schooley
gave three bucks over Nick and Mary Ann Berkuta
donating to the Ed Moulton Foundation. It is also a
momentous occasion as the foundation has now cleared
$25,000.
Frosty
Boyd
gave $5 over an article in the La Canada Outlook by Jeanne
Broberg about Nick Berkuta, Mary Ann Berkuta,
and Linda Magarian.
Emilita
Bituen
gave $5 over “How to be a Wow Kiwanis” Conference.
Tom
Slaughter
gave $20 for her “Slow Dance” inspiration. He was reminded
of a slow down moment years ago when he got a speeding
ticket en route to a ski resort. He got the message.
Bill
Watts
gave a buck over pronouncing Pat L. last name
correctly. $2 sad bucks over forgetting Brian Fuller’s
name at yesterday’s interclub with Hollywood-Los Feliz.
Mary Ann
Berkuta
gave $10 over Nick’s efforts with city regarding the
mudslide. She also gave him a Kudos bar, a tradition
started by Nick.
Cory
Stevens
gave a buck over the success of the Olympics and the
participants
Mark
Alexander
wished to thank everyone for their help and to honor Mary
Ann Berkuta for lending her husband to the city. He
gave $20.
Paul
Westmoreland
gave a $1 for Jeanne Broberg.
Daryal
Gant
gave $10. Happy for a new hip three months ago but had a
sad moment with the doctor over a somewhat amusing moment.
Pat
Anderson
gave a buck to thank all of Kiwanis.
Mary
Gant
gave a
buck to thank Nick and Mary Ann’s son, Robert,
for all his work as well.
THE PROGRAM
Jim
Stratton,
our program chair, introduced us to Dena Higley who is the
head writer of the 45 season and going soap opera, “Days of
Our Lives”. It was not exactly a place she envisioned
herself being at as a graduate of USC School of Theatre.
But she found herself as a production assistant on a soap
opera and it eventually found her. She has 13 staff
writers help her put together an ongoing production that
films 7 ½ episodes a week. There are no reruns so
production delays must be dealt with in catchup. Associate
writers work on expanding upon paragraphs penned by the head
writer. Those paragraphs spawn episodes and story arcs for
the show. It has not been a ratings blast since the golden
age of soaps in the seventies and eighties. On location
shots are no more as it is far too expensive. Shots for
multiple episodes will be taken where actors and continuity
must accept that certain plot elements may not exist in one
scene yet immediately they do in the next take. For a show
that demands new material every weekday, inspiration is a
necessity. Those ideas for the shows come from life,
reading the news, and seeing trends in society. The dread
of writer’s block hangs over a writer and Dena has had her
moments. She recommends “The Pen Commandments” that lists
just about every method of overcoming writer’s block. It is
a show that may be outlandish and somewhat chaotic is a
vivid portrayal of life. The target audience of women 18-49
may find “Days of Our Lives” as television that has
relevance in their lives. Characters that have been on the
show since the start become a part of the viewers’ lives.
Rather than being a salacious show it is one that has roots
of morality. In fact the show’s title is from the Book of
Psalms. Good triumphs over evil. Dena Higley has been
doing this kind of work since 1985. She has her husband who
is a producer as support while they raise four children, two
of them adopted. We thank Dena for her wonderful
presentation and bestow upon her a Kiwanis mug.
OTHER STUFF
Winner of the 50/50 Drawing: Joel Smith
Secret
Greeter: Dena Higley (guest speaker)
Master
of the Cash Box: Daryal Gant
This
Week's Reporters: Jennifer Berger, Brian Fuller
This
Week's Photographer: Wendy Alane Smith
Webmaster and Newsletter Editor: Jeb Long
Newsletter Coordinator: Brian Fuller
