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The La Kawañian

August 27, 2003
Bill Watts, Editor

OPENING: We were "grooving" as Martha was moving the black and whites to provide scholarly music for our teachers in attendance. Mouths were open as Ed Moulton was in motion to lead us in "America"

HEAD TABLE & GUESTS: Our Flag was saluted as Sheila Cook told us to " put your right hand over your left heart" and salute our Flag. Don Davidson piously led us in an invocation that also saluted our teachers. The Pres held his usually spot at the head and Daryal Gant, School Board President Scott Tracy, and Supt. Of Schools Sue Leabo crowded in the right side of the head table. We had many, many guests (mostly teachers of course) and the La Cañada School Board. Pres Bob started the introductions by presenting (outgoing) school board member Meredith Reynolds with a special Kiwanis plaque honoring her 12 years of service on the Board. Other guests in attendance were incoming and outgoing Lt. Governor Joe Thompson; a guest of Ed Moulton was Phil (last name not audible due to no mike); Harriett Hammond was greeted; a member who hasn't shown up in 2 yrs (don't we have some kind of attendance requirement?) was Bob Frank.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Bob Wallace pitched 3 important dates: Wine & Food Tasting September 14; Installation Dinner for Lt. Gov. September 15th; and our clubs Installation Dinner September 24th (September is our month for togetherness); Sheila Cook asked us to sign up to give future (only 3 more) invocations; Mary Gant gave an impassioned request for us to sell tickets and expounded on the fun and excitement we and our friends can have at the upcoming Wine & Food Tasting. Over 30 wineries and 18 food providers will present food & drink for only $30 ($40 at the gate) at Memorial Park; Barry Riedel said he made a boo-boo on one of the dates for the upcoming Travelogue but its fixed now and urged us once again to help sell tickets; Daryl Gant (someone said "to have the last word") added to Mary's info about the Wine Tasting to tell us that we would also have background music provided by Tropical Punch (or was it Tropical Bunch?), he also related to us the last 3 programs of the year; Bach Bachmayer plugged the table tubs for $$ for the Children's Miracle helping young children, he also said to please fill our the club assessment and mail it back to him. Now the Pres had a minute to spare so he called on Frosty Boyd to fill the gap, which he quickly did with a teacher joke.

50/50 RAFFLE: Won by "lucky" Jim Reynolds.

THE PROGRAM: As this was our clubs "salute to teachers" we had about the whole teaching staff, administrators, and school board in attendance. School Board President Scott Tracy was first to speak and told us of the outstanding community effort that has been put forth to stop any cuts in programs or teachers. Over $840,000 was raised (a record) by the Foundation (formally called SOS) and another $350,000+- was raised by the 464 program and about $150,000 raised by the High School Booster Club plus various other amounts raised by individual groups such as music etc. He also was proud to tell us of the High Sat scores at the High School. Sue Leabo told us of 17 new teachers in attendance and their perspective school principals introduced each and we were given a background on each. A lot of very cute (and smart) ladies and a couple of men too.

CLOSING: "Mr. Ed" broke tradition and instead of "On Kiwanis" we sang "School Days" which most of the younger generation in attendance had never heard of.



A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT:

Membership Matters

As some of us learned a long time ago in places far, far, away, it never hurts to ask. If you think that a friend or acquaintance would be a good Kiwanian, please ask them to join you for lunch so you can tell them about what we do and the fun we have doing it. The Kiwanis mission is to "Serve the Children of the World" and we need to maintain a strong active Club to accomplish this mission.... Bob Wallace
UPCOMING PROGRAMS: 

  • September 3 -: "Don Mazen" will tell us about the writing of his book on the history of La Cañada
  • September 10th - Clergy Recognition Day presented by Sheila Cook & Al Restivo.
  • September 14 -  Wine Tasting at La Cañada Memorial Park
  • September 17th - The "Swan Song" of Bob Wallace
  • September 24 - Installation Dinner --- we will be dark at noon.

Board Meetings are the lst Thursday of the Month at Citibank, 7 p.m. 

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