Kiwanis Club of La Cañada

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The La Kawañian

Guest Editors, Melinda Thompson

July 23, 2004

OPENING: Vandekamp Hall was full of extra tables set up for the many visitors who joined us today. Everyone enjoyed Martha Crockett’s music while eating a delicious meal. President Jim Ackland started the meeting right on time, Darayl Gant led the flag salute, Frosty Boyd gave the invocation, and Ed Moulton led us in singing God Bless America.

GUESTS: There were so many guests, in the interest of time Pres Jim just asked them to all stand up. Our club members gave the guests a round of applause and then sang Hi Neighbor.

CONFESSIONS, FINES, HAPPY/SAD BUCKS, ETC: There was no time for any fines or Happy/Sad Bucks, but Pres Jim did acknowledge a few birthdays and anniversaries and a Century Club donation by Howard Backer.

INDUCTION OF NEW MEMBER: Steve Hagerty became our newest member. He received a proper induction by Paul Westmoreland with the assistance of Mary Gant (who was walking today with just a cane).

ANNOUNCEMENTS: For the sake of the visitors, Pres Jim described a number of our club service projects and reviewed our list of future programs and events. Paul Westmoreland announced that we have loaned six of our Soap Box Derby race cars to a TV sitcom; our Club Foundation will receive a nice donation in return. The TV producers also bought one of our SuperStock derby cars to use in the production.

FROSTY’S CHALLENGE: Frosty had the full attention of everyone as he made his challenge from the podium. George Lutes provided the challenge. Both jokes were about “down under.” Frosty won the challenge and received a bag of nuts from Pres Jim, which seemed appropriate.

PROGRAM: Anthony Portantino acknowledged a number of the political dignitaries in the audience including our local mayor Laura Olhasso and councilmen Greg Brown and Dave Spence. He then introduced today’s speaker, our California State Attorney General Bill Lockyer. Mr. Lockyer was elected to his position in 1998 after serving in our California State Senate for 25 years. The State Attorney General is the highest law enforcement position in the state, and Mr. Lockyer gave us a great overview of the three main activities of the Department of Justice. He also shared his perspective on the biggest challenge facing California and shared some daunting statistics. He left plenty of time for questions, and the audience enjoyed his casual manner, concise explanations, and good sense of humor.

California State Attorney General Bill Lockyer

CLOSING: The meeting ended with a standing ovation for Bill Lockyer.

FROSTY’S SLA* UPDATE: Dick DeGrey just returned home after spending almost two weeks at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Burbank. He is feeling much better and is starting to get his “walking legs” back again. He received the card we all signed at our meeting last week and is ready for our phone calls this week. Shirley DeGrey really enjoyed the huge card we sent last week and had her son read every single note and signature. She is still at Glendale Adventist being evaluated.

* See last week’s bulletin for more info on our new SLA committee. And remember to call Frosty if you know or hear of any club member who is “sick, lame, or ailing.”

SPOTLIGHT ON . . . MARTHA CROCKETT

Have you ever wondered how Martha became such an accomplished pianist? I found out that Martha’s family moved to Alhambra from Rhode Island when she was four years old. Her parents purchased a lot and built a house – all for $2,000. While she was still four years old her mother started teaching her to play the piano, and Martha started formal lessons when she was seven years old. Martha loved to play baseball and run track as a young girl, but she always had to practice an hour each day before she was allowed to go outside. She studied music at UCLA and then worked as the music supervisor for the Santa Ana City Schools. After Martha and Hal were married, Martha spent nineteen years as the pianist for Mayfield Junior School. She practices every single day, and Hal told me he has truly enjoyed listening to her music every day for 61 ½ years. Can we ever thank Martha enough for the pleasure she gives us with her beautiful piano music? I think not, but we can try.

THANKS, MARTHA !!!

Martha Crockett

Note: A current roster of members is attached.

If you have any questions regarding the website or this e-mail bulletin, please e-mail Jeb Long at

jeblong@earthlink.net.

UPCOMING WEDNESDAY PROGRAMS:

July 28 - Paul Wineman – speaking on Iraq-Iran (where he used to live)
August 4 - Craig Van Sickle – TV Producer (The
Pretender)
August 11 - Cole Speer – Deputy Sheriff
August 18 - Excerpts from Annie Get Your Gun
August 25 - Apple for a Teacher
Sept. 1 - Harry Jacobs – California Election Board

OTHER SPECIAL KIWANIS DATES:

Thur-Sun - August 5-8 Kiwanis CalNevHa Convention in Las Vegas
Sunday - August 22 Summer Social
Sunday - Sept. 12 Wine and Gourmet Food Tasting