The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada’s Weekly Newsletter

Melinda Thompson, Editor  -  Bill Scherkey, Reporter

The La Kiwanian

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

TRAVEL ADVENTURE  -  Sardinia: A Romantic Journey

PARK RANGER  -  Russell Hauck

BOARD MEETING  -  Kiwanis Club and Foundation

NILO PINADA  -  Lt. Governor of our Kiwanis Division 3

Wednesday – Lunch Meeting at Descanso

HOLIDAY PARTY   -  Gourmet dinner and Caroling

Sunday evening at the Dawsons, 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

SCIENCE CENTER  -  Allison Goodall

The Prez said . . . nothing ‘cause he was on vacation.

Paul Westmoreland filled in for Prez Daryal Gant and did a fine job.

• Jelly Roll was dressed for the holidays in modified Santa style with a red cap and blue boots.  Many thanks to Harriet Hammons!

• Put December 30^th on your calendar for the International President’s Interclub Luncheon at the Pasadena Hilton.  A signup sheet will be available next week.

• December 1^st will the  First Annual Bad Hair Day.  Join the fun and come as you aren’t (normally).

“My father said there were two kinds of people in the world: givers and takers.  The takers may eat better, but the givers sleep better.”

- Marlo Thomas

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1 -  Hal Crockett read a thank you letter from Children of the Andes, which is one of the nonprofit groups we support through our foundation committee for International Understanding.  Children of the Andes rescues and boards children who live in the sewers and streets of Bogota and other sites in Columbia.  This is a Kiwanis International project.

2  -  Harriet Hammons gave us an update on the Holiday Party on December 12^th at the Dawsons and reminded those who haven’t already signed up to do so.

3  -  Paul Westmoreland reported the success of our interclub with the LCHS Key Club last week which was attended by sixteen members of our club and Martha Crockett.

FROSTY’S SLA REPORT

Frosty is still working on arrangements to get Frank Williams to our meetings.  Joyce Flynn enjoys getting cards and notes in the mail.

THE PROGRAM

Ed Moulton introduced our speaker Dr. Wayne Hoeff who is a member of the Hollywood Kiwanis Club, has been an active Kiwanian for many years and is a Past Governor for the CalNevHa District.    Wayne immediately proposed a $10 fine for Frank Ragazzi (who was not there to defend himself) for listing the program incorrectly.  Wayne told us he was there to promote the Kiwanis Rose Parade float, but his program was about a trip he took last summer to Romania.  Wayne is an optician, and he and his wife made the trip from the U.S. to Romania with a medical doctor and his wife (who were both originally from Romania).  This was a self-funded trip to provide medical care and take medical supplies to several remote small towns in Romania where there were no doctors or dentists.  Wayne had collected 1,100 pairs of used eye glasses which he dispensed along with medication for various eye conditions.  It was a shock to see what happens when a village has received no health care for over four years, but Wayne also had some amusing stories about his trip.  He had several hundred pairs of fancy rhinestone reading glasses (donated by a store in Beverly Hills), and the village women thought those were the best – whether their vision was enhanced or not.  Wayne found the trip so personally rewarding he has already scheduled another trip to Romania for next spring.

HAPPY & SAD BUCKS

Paul Westmoreland … announced that Dinuba made the news again. Burt Rattan’s space ship was on the front page of Time magazine.  However, Paul didn’t offer any bucks for this – so was he Happy or Sad?

FACTS AND FICTION

Music:  piano tunes by Martha Crockett, Ed Moulton leading We Gather Together, Happy Birthday, Hi Neighbor and Hail Kiwanis

Opening: flag salute by Al Restivo and inspiration by Bill Scherkey.

Guests:  There may have been more guests than members.  Ten members from the Pasadena Kiwanis Club showed up for their traditional interclub with us (they always come on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving) and promoted the International President’s Interclub Luncheon at the Pasadena Hilton on December 30.  Several members from the Hollywood Kiwanis Club were also in attendance supporting the program speaker who is a member of their club.  Ken Lowe introduced Key Club member Jay Patel.  Jim Ackland introduced Bobby (his exchange student “daughter” thirty four years ago) and her husband, Pepe, who were here visiting from Madrid, Spain.

Birthdays:  Jim Reynolds rejected the suggestion to contribute $2 for every year, but it turned out okay because we thought he was only 39 years old and he donated $1 per year for an honest total of $77.

Fines:  Those who weren’t wearing their Kiwanis pins and/or had not shaken the hand of the Secret Greeter, Al Restivo, had to contribute to the kitty. 

Fifty-Fifty Drawing:  Howard Backer – who donated his winnings to Children’s Hospital.

Frosty’s Challenge:  Won by Frosty for his story about quoting scripture, although Elizabeth Calciano did join the fray with a story about a dumb brunette.

OFFICERS for 2004-2005

Daryal Gant, President     Paul Westmoreland, President-Elect      Frank Ragazzi, Vice President

Bill Scherkey, Secretary     Howard Backer, Treasurer     Jim Ackland, Immediate Past President

DIRECTORS for 2004-2005

Carl Christensen, Diane DellaValle, Clyde Hemphill, Jeb Long, George Lutes, Bob Martin,

Melinda Thompson, Bill Watts, Lloyd Welch

CLUB COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN for 2004-2005

Attendance – George Lutes, Finance & Investment – Open, Hospitality & Welfare – Frosty Boyd, House – Mel Wilson, Membership – Karl Johnson, Music – Ed Moulton, Newsletter – Melinda Thompson, Parliamentarian – Clyde Hemphill, Publicity – Open, Social – Harriet Hammons, Spiritual Aims and Human Understanding – Al Restivo, Web-site – Jeb Long

FOUNDATION COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN for 2004-2005

Dining for Youth – Bob Wallace, Community Services – Carl Christiensen and Mike Leininger, Fund Raising – Sylvia Kirkorian, International Understanding – Hal Crockett, Soap Box Derby – Joel Smith, Sponsored Youth:  LCHS Key Club – George Lowe, Flintridge Prep Key Club – Joan Peters, Builders Club – Open, K-Kids – George Lutes, Terrific Kids – Open, Travel Adventure – Frank & Vi Ragazzi, Wine and Gourmet Food Tasting – Open, Youth Services – Bachy Bachmayer

The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada meets every Wednesday at Noon

Van de Kamp Hall in Descanso Gardens – 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada, CA  91011

P.O. Box 33, La Cañada, CA  91012

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