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The La Kawañian

March 3, 2004
Barry Riedel, Editor

Opening: Martha Crockett delighted us with some muscal fare pre-meeting and got a big hand from all of us. Ed Moulton led us in "This Is My Country". Al Restivo led the pledge to our fine Nation. Jack Dawson read us some inspiring words from James about getting up and working for what we want.

Violet Ragazzi--a mezzo soprano--was introduced by Ed Moulton. Violet hails from Parachute Colorado and now La Crescenta. George Lutes introduced her husband Frank Ragazzi. Dick DeGrey introduced our newest member Shirley DeGrey. Shirley got up and said a few words about feeling like she belongs. Her father was a Kiwanian. She's looking forward to lots of fun and hard work.

Hal Crockett introduced Martha Crockett and thanked her for playing the piano for him for 36 years. Jim Ackland introduced Lt. Gov. Joe Thompson who had learned something new from one of our members: Carrie Arboleta on his tennis team will be leading the Key Club in the coming year. Joe reminded us about the Governor's Official Visit. Rick Lazare introduced Nolan Spencer of Countrywide.

Diane DellaValle introduced Theo Abelmann, one of our honorary members of whom we do not see enough but it is a joy to see her from time to time.

Then Ed Moulton led us in a big "Hi Neighbor". And then hearing no opposition Ed fearlessly led us into "O What A Beautiful Morning".

Errata and Corrections: Your humble editor loves to get constructive criticism. He loves it in fact. Well—sort of. Anyway, it’s always good to get things right. Last edition credit should have been give to Don Graf for making the sign that got on the cover of the new Chamber map.

Jim Ackland told us that the Key Clubs in our area--two of them--are organized very similar to our club. Ken Lowe took the mike and told us that Carrie Arboleda is now Lt. Governor of the Key Clubs. We all gave Ken Lowe a big hand for all of his work on the LCHS key club.

Last Wednesday night at the PTA Founders Night "Rock Around The Radio" the honorees walked down a red carpet. Ed Moulton and Karl Johnson were introduced and honored. Ed Moulton stood up and showed the certificate of appreciation which he promptly donated to the Club.

Board Meeting: Board Members! Tomorrow night at 7PM at the Citibank. Jim Ackland hopes to see all of us.

Jim Ackland found Frank Williams who takes care of the house every Wednesday. Frank makes sure every detail is correct. Frank Williams’ birthday is March 4. We all sang him a "Happy Birthday" followed by applause.

Happy/Sad Bucks: Jim Edwards gave for it being such a beautiful day and for something that happened last weekend: USC won its fourth consecutive basketball game against UCLA. Jim Edwards gave up attendance at a meeting with 35 women and only him representing the men just to be with us.

Lloyd Welch gave for knowing a friend who gave $55 million to USC and all Lloyd got was a lousy t-shirt. All of those who did not have proof of voting yesterday had to chuck in a buck. Clyde Hemphill gave for our President Jim Ackland being able to take the red ribbon off the gavel. Howard Backer gave for his visit with the kids and grandchildren without getting wet from the rain. He gave a sad buck for UCLA who everybody beats these days. Rick Lazare gave a happy buck that actually was a sad buck: He just returned from 2 weeks in Hawaii. Somebody has to do it! Elizabeth Georgeon gave for the lovely Descanso Gardens with the poppies planted that the deer ate in the Circle Garden. Tom Gilfoy had something to do with the Circle Garden. George Lutes gave a happy buck for the Soap Box Derby announcements having the right year on them. Ed Moulton gave a very sad buck for no more cookies on the dessert table. Bachy Bachmayer gave for escorting his granddaughter to the 76th Academy Awards. Joe Thompson told us that Bob Wallace had attended the AM club and made a special offer for the AM Club: the club could keep $25 for their foundation. Joe gave another happy buck for Carrie Arboleda, the Lt. Gov. of the Key Club. Chuck Gulick gave for having his two grandchildren over the weekend. Hal Crockett chipped in for his son leaving for Zurich Switzerland where his daughter will meet him.

Frosty's Challenge: Frosty Boyd--keeping it clean--gave us a limerick about a lady and her three children--especially one named "Tat". George Lutes rose to the occasion with one about a true story of the terrible California weather. Theo Abelmann contributed with a joke about three fellows, an Englishman, a Frenchman and a Pole and the guillotine. Frosty won the bag 'o nuts.

Announcements: Clyde Hemphill told us all about Total K Day March 20 at Glenhaven Park. Consider spending a Saturday morning in the sun doing good work. Glenhaven is one of four parks in LCF. Know where it is? Howard Backer (wearing his Secretary hat) asked for reports from all committee leaders. And don't forget the board meeting tomorrow night. Bachy Bachmayer nudged us about the Children's Hospital tubs. Bob Wallace told us about the Dining for Youth April 1 at Brookside. More flyers are on the table. An invitation has been extended to the AM club--the more the merrier. Perhaps that is a challenge to us--to get more of us there than AM members. Keep your cards and letters coming in.

50/50: About $145 was in the pot. Jim Edwards won and drew . . . . . a white ball. So the pot is about $146 growing every steadily.

Program: Silvia Kirkorian introduce Carmen Aplegian and Jackie Churchill of the Braille Institute who brought us up-to-date on all the goings-on over there.

Closing: Ed Moulton led us in "Come On Kiwanis".

Wednesday, February 25: Founder’s Dinner, LCHS cafeteria 6:30 PM

Saturday, March 20: Total K Day: Glenhaven Park: 8:30-Noon

Saturday Night, March 20: Kiwanis Travel Adventures “Israel Today”

Sunday, March 21: Governor’s reception 12 Noon, La Cañada Country Club

Thursday April 1: Wine Dinner—“Dining for Youth”—at Brookside, social hour 6PM.

Saturday April 24: Dine-Around

Saturday May 29: Soap Box Derby

March 11.--Thursday--2:30 PM Flintridge Prep Key Club, Flintridge Prep School, 4543 Crown, LCF

March 24--Wednesday--7:30 AM La Cañada AM Club, Church of the Lighted Window, 1200 Foothill Blvd, LCF

March 16--Tuesday--6:45 PM, dinner. Sunland-Tujunga Club, Mario's Sterling Restaurant, 8737 Fenwick, Sunland

Quote: “For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.”

-- Richard P. Feynman, 'What Do You Care What Other People Think?'

[Professor Feynman's most famous demonstration of the relative value of reality vs. public relations came in 1986, in the hearings on the cause of the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger after a cold-weather launch. He dropped a sample of the rubber used for the O-ring seals in the booster rockets into a glass of ice water, then clamped the sample and released it - the rubber had lost its resilience.]