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The La Kawañian

November 27, 2002
Bill Watts, Editor
www.sparkywatts01@cs.com

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT- NEXT WEEK’S
MEETING- DEC 4TH

WILL NOT BE AT DESCANSO GARDENS AS WE ARE “PRE-EMPTED” BY CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS GOING ON IN OUR MEETING ROOM.
IT WILL BE HELD AT THE La Cañada PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN BURCHAM HALL.

OPENING: "The Turkey Trot" and what-not was "stuffed" into the keyboard by Martha Crockett on this the day before Thanksgiving. Always the competitor "Mr. K" Ed Moulton led us in an appropriate song for the occasion "We Gather Together" (to ask the Lord's Blessing).

HEAD TABLE & GUESTS: The Salute to our Flag was led by Al Rivisto followed with an invocation given by Bill Watts. Program Chairman Daryal Gant, our speaker Bert Porter and membership chairman Paul Westmoreland rounded out the head table. Guests were plentiful as we hosted two inter-clubs, one from Pasadena and one from the new Highland Park Club. Pasadena Club President Charles Holbeck introduced his 13 inter-clubbers in attendance that included a past district governor, a great turnout. Anthony Portantino introduced his whole family. Past Lt. Gov. Pat Lidell was present and introduced Hendrick Keifer, Pres-elect of the new Highland Park Club. Other guests included Martha Crockett, wife of Hal, and Shirley DeGrey, wife of Dick, and Ken Lowe introduced a guest of the club Cathy Ehlert. Bob Martin had us greet Jesse Porter, son of our speaker Bert. Our customary noisy welcome song, "Consider Yourself One of Us", (bang, bang on the table) was produced & directed by Ed Moulton.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Sheila Cook asked all to sign up to present the invocation at future meetings, Pat Anderson gave a historical announcement about the fantastic home of the Toffel's which is where our Christmas party will be held, Doris Horwith reminded all involved to get their reports in to her ASAP. Clyde Hemphill, subbing for inter-club chairman Jim Ackland reminded us to sign up for the inter-club with the Flintridge Prep Key Club on December 5th at 2:30 p.m. Bachy Bachmayer put in his plug for funds for the Children's Hospital tub located on each table. Charles Kolbeck, President of the Pasadena Club gave us a chance to buy a ticket for only $5 that helped support the Kiwanis float with great prizes to be won from it. Highland Park's President Elect Hendrick Keifer told us of the upcoming Highland Park Christmas parade along Figueroa Street this Sunday, Daryl Gant announced that Descanso Gardens agreed to split the cost of a new projector 50/50 with us, case closed.

HAPPY, SAD, GLAD, MAD OR WHATEVER BUCKS: Sgt. At Arms Karl Anderson (who wishes we would bring in a new member so he doesn't have to do this each week) collected the bucks from, Jim Reynolds who did a 1/4 century club for his birthday, Bill Watts popped for the Century Club for his birthday as well as having his new in-laws in from Italy and touring them around L.A. (somebody must have paid off Ed as there was no birthday song), Dave Spence joined the Century Club for his 43rd Anniversary. Clyde Hemphill parted with bucks for Jack Dawson's support in stringing up the Christmas trees lights on Foothill, Elizabeth Calciano Georgeon dropped in a buck as she was happy the caterer didn't serve turkey on this day before Thanksgiving, Pat Anderson put in a happy buck for Clyde (which leaves one to wonder was Clyde broke or was she just happy he is a member), Frosty Boyd put in a sad buck because he locked his keys in his car but then he remembered he was still inside it, Jerry Fulwood put in bucks to thank Jack Dawson for the great wig he was given which he modeled for us (it looked great Jerry). Diane DellaValle put in bucks for her "annual open house" at the Antique House, a three day event with pictures with Santa on Saturday from 2 to 6 pm (taken by that eminent photographer John Torrey), she also said to bring a toy or canned food with you, Hal Crockett put in a buck as he was happy for Thanksgiving, Daryal Gant opted for a buck for an article on the front page of the Dinuba Sentential about the local Kiwanis Club now publishing a monthly newsletter (I should be so lucky), 

50/50 RAFFLE: Won by Tom Gilfoy 

THE PROGRAM:

This week's speaker was Bert Porter, private investigator extraordinaire. Bert has a degree in criminal justice and is a native of Los Angeles and his office has been in Pasadena since 1994. He is a former Los Angeles Police Officer and his hobby is racing those remote control little cars. He does a lot of background checks of potential employees for Municipalities, corporations, and even very small employers. He cautioned how important it is to know whom you are hiring. If your employee commits a civil wrong you as the employer are responsible. He subscribes to 3 services that provide him with much of the same information that the FBI gets. He also does "skip tracing", "activity checks" for workman's comp fraud and in one case checked out a future "spouse" for the bride-to-be's father only to find out that he was wanted for murder. He has to be careful that his services are not being utilized by his client to do bodily harm to someone else. He cautioned that because of the new technology of today " you never know who's watching or listening to you, wherever you might be". 


KNOW YOUR KIWANIAN: 

This week's profile is of Dr. "Frosty" Boyd (Edwin Forrest Boyd Jr). Frosty is a retired Obstetrician and Gynecologist. He is a native of Los Angeles and had a teaching fellowship at the University Of Pittsburgh. He was a Captain in the Army Medical Corp and was on call 24 hours a day as a transport surgeon. He was a teacher at the USC School of Medicine with the title "Clinical Professor Emeritus" and holds a list of other prestigious memberships. When asked to tell about an exciting or important event in his life he said "I got married". It must have been important as he's been married to his wife Fran (who's also a member of our club) for 60 years. He has 4 children and at last count 8 grandchildren. His hobbies (besides telling bad jokes at our meetings) are amateur radio, music and stained glass. He joined our club in 1993 after having been a member for 10 years of the Hollywood Kiwanis Club. He was President of our club in the 1997-1998 Kiwanis year. A "true gentleman" we're proud that Frosty is a member of our club.

CHRISTMAS PARTY: How much food & drink can a Kiwanian consume in 2 hours? Come to the Christmas Party on December 6th from 6 to 8 pm at Dr. Paul & BeverlyToffel's, 739 Hillcrest, La Cañada Flintridge and find out.

Could It be? That John Wayne was giving a speech for the first Thanksgiving when he said "Listen Pilgrims"?? 

Is It True? Department: A "Builder's Club" may be an association of general contractors but in Kiwanis a "Builders Club" is similar to a Key Club but in grades seven and eight. In March 1997 we formed our first Builders Club in the La Cañada Middle School under the aegis of the Youth Services Committee. Chairing this years Builders Club is Jeff Hoffman.

COMING ATTRACTIONS:

December 4th: "Life in the NFL" a most appropriate topic at this time of the year brought to you by an ex NFL linebacker and our own Kiwanian JEFF HOFFMAN. Don't miss your tackle on this one.

December 11th: The U.S. Constitution by Senator Jack Scott. The Senator has a PhD in history and is a student of our country's founding document. Speaking on this subject is one of his favorite pastimes.

December 18th: On this our last regular meeting of the year, we will be entertained by "The Flintridge Prep Singers". We thank Ed Moulton for arranging this program, which we got a preview of at the last travelogue.

December 25th & January 1st are holidays: Can you hold out until January 8th for your Kiwanis "fix"? Remember to save ink cartridges and used sunglasses over the holidays.


Board Meetings are the lst Thursday of the Month at Cal-Fed, 7 p.m.

District Council Meetings are the 3rd Monday of the month at Verdugo Hills Hospital cafeteria - 7 p.m.