Click Here for Photo & Newsletter Archive 

The La Kawañian

August 6, 2003
Barry Riedel, Guest Editor
Bill Watts, Editor
sparkywatts01@cs.com

OPENING: Shirley DeGrey graced us with some wonderful piano music as we chatted and lunched with our Kiwanis companions. Ed Moulton led us in "You're A Grand Old Flag", Tom Slaughter led the flag salute and Pat Flynn gave the invocation. 

HEAD TABLE AND GUESTS: President Bob Wallace presided above the salt with Tom Slaughter and Pat Flynn to his right and District Attorney Steve Cooley and Al Restivo to his left. Jim Edwards introduced Vince and Joan Feehan of the AM club and LCF in general. Elizabeth Calciano Georgeon introduced Don Herman, an LCF resident and a retired manufacturing representative and engineer who likes tennis and skiing. Ed Moulton showed off guests Nan Burton and Martin "Marty" Burton. More about Nan later. Sheila Cook introduced Dottie Hazel of the AM club who introduced her daughter Suzanne Hazel of the DA's office who introduced Investigators Ernie Halcon and John Hall of the District Attorney's office. Whew. We thought all of our guests were going to go around introducing each other but then Jim Ackland presented (we're looking for synonyms for "introduce") Carlos Cortez, a Boy Scout exec who is Ken Lowe's find. Elizabeth Georgeon introduced her guest, Tom Jeffries of the Montrose/La Crescenta club. Bob Wallace asked Don Graf of the AM club to make himself known and Greg Marillo of the LCF Chamber of Commerce acquainted us with himself. Pat Lydell--our favorite District Governor--graced us with his presence. We must not forget Dick DeGrey introducing Shirley nor Hal Crockett introducing our other favorite piano player, Martha. To clear the palate Ed Moulton led us in a rendition of "Hi Neighbor" with the silverware traditionally clanging on the table at the end.

CLUB BUSINESS: President Bob Wallace invited all the guests to nod off for a moment while we took care of a few items of Club business. (1) Dues Increase: It was moved and seconded from the floor that dues be raised $2 per month in order to cover the increased dues of Kiwanis International and some expected insurance costs. The motion was carried with a volley of "Aye"s. (2) By-Laws: The updated by-laws were passed by an identical bunch of affirmative noises. (3) Honored Guest of the Month: As a special item from the last Board meeting Bob Wallace presented Ed Moulton who gave us the Honored Guest of the Month, Nan Burton. Nan is our first Honored Guest of the Month for July, 2003. Elizabeth Calciano Georgeon read Nan's tribute recently published in one of our fine local papers. Nan Burton won 1st place in an essay contest for Korean writers with her essay "America's New Son" which was about escorting an adopted Romanian boy to his new family. She attended UCLA, married husband Marty and settled in LCF where they are raising their two kids. Nan writes a featured weekly column for a leading Korean newspaper and has focused her essays on such diverse subjects as "Why Koreans Should Get Involved in Sports" and in praise of her husband's taste in underware. Nan Burton-our first Honored Guest of the Month-will speak to the Club in October or November.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

  • Our attention was called to the little yellow flyer on the tables offering a "free" car wash from the LCHS Key Club on Saturday, August 9 from 3-7PM at the Roger Barkley Community Center of LCF. It's purpose-to raise money for the Key Club so go on by on Saturday, August 9! 

  • Write These Dates Down: Sunday August 10-the Summer Social at 1PM. Sunday September 14-the Wine and Gourmet Food Tasting Event from 3-6PM at Memorial Park. Wednesday September 24-our Club installation dinner event. No club meeting at noon on the 24th!

  • Daryal Gant teased us with a couple of short previews of meetings to come. August 13-"Financial Planning with Emphasis on Grandchildren & Beyond" by our own Karl Johnson. August 20-a clinical psychologist will speak to us on "Why Kids Are So Stressed Today". ("Their parents!" hollered Frosty.) And on August 27 we will have our annual Apple for the Teacher lunch when Sue Leabo will introduce us to the new teachers in LCUSD.

  • Clyde Hemphill took center stage for a moment to give us more info about the Sunday September 14 Wine and Gourmet Food Tasting Event from 3-6PM at Memorial Park. Clyde and Mary Gant have been working their fingers to the bone attending wine-tasting events all over (somebody's got to do it). Our September 14 event will have 30 different vineyards presenting their wines and 10 different food vendors offering, well, food. If anyone knows any other food vendors please let Clyde or Mary know. They will need help at the event. Volunteers? The tickets will be $30 ($40 at the door) and Clyde expects about 350 people. 

  • Bachy Bachmayer reminded we all again to take that folding stuff out of our wallets and put it in the little plastic cups on the tables for Childrens' Hospital. 

HAPPY AND SAD BUCKS-CONFESSIONS. Jim Ackland 'fessed up that he and Jo were child brides in 1948 when they married but they have shared 55 happy years together and he joined the Century Club. Al Restivo revealed his 40th with Diane on July 7 and since those two met on August 15, 1959-44 years ago-he donated $44 to the kitty. Frosty told a joke for which he paid only a buck but he really should have paid more for us to listen. Paul Bobzin let us know that he had experienced a power failure at home recently and it shorted out the smoke alarms resulting in the fire department being called. Paul Westmoreland gave some happy bucks-one for a good weekend at the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts and another because Clyde helped him out on a "domestic task". No questions asked. Jim Reynolds proudly joined the Century Club with the announcement that he had recently become the proud great-grandfather of a great-grandson. Bob Wallace celebrated the birth of his first grandson. Pat Lydell gave some bucks for the 5th month anniversary of his grandchild. Dick DeGrey gave a happy buck for 5 members of his family safely reaching Vietnam on Japan Airlines and wished he could go forward in time to give a happy buck for their safe return. 

50/50 "OPPORTUNITY DRAWING"-Guest Carlos Cortez was the happy winner.

PROGRAM. Al Restivo introduced LA County District Attorney Steve Cooley who was celebrating his 30th year of service. Stats: Steve was elected the 36th DA on November 7, 2000 after a hard-fought campaign with 15-count them-15 debates. He won with 2/3 of the votes. For the first time since 1972 a courtroom veteran was elected DA. Steve Cooley is a former reserve LAPD officer who has performed a sweeping and successful reorganization of the DA office. In 1998, Cal State LA chose him as "Outstanding Alumnus". He and his wife live in Toluca Lake. He is the son of an FBI agent and he grew up in Silverlake, attending Cal State LA where he was student body president and USC Law School. In addition to reorganizing the Department he has formed new units to prosecute crimes by public officials and is bringing the Department into the 21st century through use of DNA evidence and modern forensics. 

The LCF area has residents "among the smartest people in LA County" not only according to a published survey but also because 78% of us voted for Steve Cooley as District Attorney. He will run for re-election on March 2, 2004 and if he takes over 50% in that primary election he will not have to campaign through November. 

CLOSING: Ed Moulton led us in a hearty version of "Hail Kiwanis".

MEMO FROM THE PRESIDENT: MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

We have roughly two months remaining in the Kiwanis year and it is time to get serious about membership. This Club loves to take on the big projects and we need to continue to add interested and active members to maintain our capability to accomplish these projects. Every member of the Club needs to make an aggressive effort in recruiting new members in order to end the year even with our starting point. 

Also the dates to remember -- in case you forgot: Sunday August 10 is the Summer Social. Sunday September 14 is the Wine Tasting. 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson, 'Circles'

UPCOMING PROGRAMS: 

  • August 10-Summer Social
  • August 13th: " Financial Planning With Emphasis on Grandchildren & Beyond "Brought to you by "Mr. Bonsai" Karl Johnson 
  • August 20 - a clinical psychologist will speak to us on "Why Kids Are So Stressed Today".
  • August 27 - Apple for the Teacher
  • September 14 -  Wine Tasting at La Cañada Memorial Park
  • September 24-Installation Dinner --- we will be dark at noon.

 

Board Meetings are the lst Thursday of the Month at Citibank, 7 p.m.  (August 8th for this month)

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