Click Here for Photo & Newsletter Archive 

The La Kawañian

JANUARY 8, 2003
Bill Watts, Editor
www.sparkywatts01@cs.com

OPENING: Kiwanians were greeted to the first meeting of the New Year by the melodious piano music of Martha Crockett. "It's A Grand Old Flag" was vigorously conducted by "every ready" Ed Moutlon.

HEAD TABLE & GUESTS: Our Flag Salute was led by Carl Bobzin and the invocation was presented by Frosty Boyd. Daryl Gant, our speaker John Gore, and Bob Martin were the other head table members. Pres. Bob introduced his guest Rev. John Day. Jim Ackland's guests were his brother and sister-in-law from Anchorage Alaska where his brother is a bush pilot, and he also introduced his wife Jo. Also introducing their wife's were Dick DeGrey (Shirley) & Hal Crockett (Martha).

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Pres Bob announced important upcoming events:

January 25th - Travel Adventure-The Lewis & Clark Expedition
February 8th - Kiwanis Mid-Winter Conference- Ontario
                          (sign up sheet)
February 12th(?) - Election Forum
March 9th - Governor's Visit to our club March
March 29th(?) - Total K day

Matt Regan told us about the success of the toy drive as $793 was raised for not only toys but clothes to needy families, Bob Holst reminded us to bring in used eye glasses, printer ink cartridges and "pops" off of aluminum cans, Jim Ackland told us of the successful interclub with Pasadena and coming up soon is an interclub with the Montrose-La Crescenta club, Bachy Bachmeyer gave his first pitch of the new year for the Children's Hospital fund on our tables, Bob Bobzin said that Don Corbett was at home after a successful kidney transplant at Verdugo Hills Hospital, Daryal Gant announced several future programs, a sad Jim Reynolds told us that Bob Slattery is in the hospital with brain cancer. 

HAPPY, SAD, GLAD, MAD OR "YUCKY" BUCKS: Pres Bob snagged Rick Lazar for his past anniversary and birthday too, so Rick coughed up 100 big ones for the Century Club. As Don Davidson "volunteered" to be Sgt. Of Arms he was busy collecting bucks from Mary Gant who kicked in $10 for her birthday and the Pres even fined himself a buck for having no pin on and then fined everybody else of course. Diane DellaValle had a sad buck for the orphans in Afghanistan but a happy but because she' s helping to collect clothing for them (ages 6 to 14), bring them to her store, and more bucks from Diane for things I forgot to write down, Jim Edwards had sad & happy bucks, happy because he attended the interclub on Jan 2nd but sad because Pres Bob forgot to wear his pin, our speaker John Gore as well as several members of his club kicked in bucks mostly for being happy to be here, Howard Backer squeezed out bucks for somebody's tree that fell the other way and not on his? House, and then became a century clubber for his wife's birthday. Frosty Boyd parted with bucks for his enjoyable 60th wedding anniversary celebrated at "Medieval Times". Phil Anderson had happy & sad bucks, happy that Rev. John Day was here but sad that he's still without electricity. Paul Westmoreland parted with his happy buck for the great season SC has had, Pat Anderson popped in a buck to thank Matt Regan for his great job with the toy drive and Matt in turn put in bucks for his favorite football team the 49ers, and Daryl Gant (is he becoming the 2nd Frosty?) gave for bucks and a joke and then challenged Frosty also came forth with a joke. In the middle of all this Hal Crockett was announced as the "Secret Shaker" and we gave up buck if we didn't shake him. Wow! Lots of bucks to report but that's good we need the bucks for our charitable work.

INTERCLUBING: 18 club members were on hand to meet & greet the President of Kiwanis Juan (Ito) Torres, M.D., at an interclub with the two Pasadena Kiwanis Clubs on January 2nd at the Pasadena Hilton Hotel. "Ito" has a great sense of humor and gave a rousing speech that was enjoyed by all. Next interclub is near the end of January. 

THE PROGRAM: Amazingly we had time for a program that was introduced by Daryl Gant. Our speaker "Irish John Gore" spoke on "400 years of Irish Problems". Community service has been the hallmark of John's life and he is a 22-year member of the Thousand Oaks Kiwanis Club, a Past President and Past Lt. Governor. He also was named "Kiwanian of the Year" and currently is Cal-Nev-Ha District Interclub Chairman. He was born in Belfast and moved to the U.S. in 1962, becoming a citizen in 1977. He gave a great presentation of the many problems that have been plaguing Belfast since 1598 and explained that once Ireland had only one religion and then the Protestants immigrated. The entire problem is in Northern Ireland and 3740 people have been killed since 1968, fortunately no bombings have occurred since 1968. He doesn't think the turmoil will ever end. A great and humorous presentation in spite of the topic.

Irish John gore

CLOSING: It took two tries to get on key and sing "Hail Kiwanis" led (of course) by "Mr K" Ed Moulton.

Board Meetings are the first 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.