The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada’s Weekly Newsletter

Melinda Thompson, Editor  -  Bill Scherkey, Reporter

The La Kiwanian

Wednesday, December 1, 2004

 
Karl Johnson

 CRAFT TALK

Harriet Hammons started coming to our Wednesday meetings when her husband, Phil, joined our club in 1997.  She became an Honorary Member after Phil died in 2002 and promised to consider full membership after she retired.  This year Harriet did retire (after teaching 44 years) and within two days three of our members were “at her door” with an application to join Kiwanis.  Harriet has always been a very person, and retirement just gave her more time for other activities.  In addition to joining our Kiwanis Club, Harriet has become an Ambassador for our LCF Chamber of Commerce. 

 
Harriet Hammons

She is still actively pursuing her other volunteer activities – including Boy Scouts, LCF Rose Float Association, Girl Scouts, and church.  Harriet loves to travel.  She has traveled to Holland, Chile, and Thailand with the Boy Scouts and just returned from a trip to Churchill, Manitoba to see the polar bears.  Her favorite regular activity is babysitting two days a week for her granddaughter who is an active toddler.  Harriet finished her Craft Talk with a demo of the different hats she wears – which was a great way to illustrate her wide variety of activities and interests.
 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Bill Scherkey requested November reports from all committee chairman.
2. Carlos Cortez invited everyone to attend the Open House this Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at the Boy Scout House in Pasaden.
3. Harriet Hammons gave the last plug for the Holiday Party on December 12^th at the Dawsons.  Call Harriet if you haven’t signed up yet.
4. Hal Crockett told us our contribution to the Sleeping Children provided 6,000 sleeping kits.
5. Carl Christenson reminded us of the tree lighting in Glenola Park this evening, Dec. 1.
6. Bachy Bachmeyer encouraged us to fill the Children’s Hospital containers on our tables.
7.  Pat Anderson encouraged everyone to patronize our local merchants during the Holidays; sign up for the Shopping Spree at the Antique House.  Also, on Thursday afternoon, December 2^nd at 4:30 p.m. there will be a big Christmas Party, including 5 live reindeer and two tons of snow.

FROSTY’S SLA REPORT

Frosty hasn’t been able to reach Frank Williams although we have volunteers who would pick him up and bring him to our meetings.  Jim Ackland had a pace maker “installed” yesterday.

THE PROGRAM

Frank Ragazzi introduced Russel Hauck, a Park Ranger for the City of Glendale.  He gave us a brief overview of the “Past, Present, and Future” of park rangers.  Park rangers traditionally protected the environment and kept a low profile in our wilderness areas, but today their duties are more enforcement related.  Many park rangers have the status of police officers now.  Russel ended his presentation with a wonderful poem he wrote – “Ode to a Park Ranger.”

HAPPY & SAD BUCKS

Bill Watts … Sad because he had to lobby so hard to get regular size forks and real iced tea glasses for our Wednesday lunch meals. 

Glen Pettit … Happy he’ll be on a trip to Korea and will miss the next three meetings.

Bob Martin … Happy for the great Thanksgiving holiday he spent with his daughter and grandchildren in Colorado.

Carlos Cortez … Happy for the 5,000 Boy Scouts in the greater Pasadena area.

Paul Westmoreland … Happy to contribute for last week when he talked about Burt Rattan (from Dinuba) but didn’t give his “buck.”

George Lutes … Happy he and Nita were able to spend Thanksgiving with a gourmet cook in Nashville, Tennessee.

Melinda Thompson  … Sad that Dave Spence’s wife would read in this newsletter that he only gave $20 for his 45^th wedding anniversary.

Linda Margasian … Happy for the wedding she attended in Yosemite.  (Harriet was there, too.)

Dave Spence … Happy Mark Alexander was back to work after jury duty.

Mary Gant … Happy for their Thanksgiving trip to Louisiana and Texas.

FACTS AND FICTION

Music:  background music from the boombox, Jack Dawson leading God Bless America with Ed Moulton on the piano, Hi Neighbor (the speaker was our only visitor), and Hail Kiwanis.

Opening: flag salute by Bob Martin and inspiration by Glen Pettit.

Birthdays:  Bill Watts had his birthday on November 26 and added $80 to his prior $20 to become a member of the Century Club.

Anniversaries:  Dave Spence celebrated his 45^th anniversary with a celebration in Solano Beach.  Prez Daryal didn’t push too hard, and Dave volunteered $20 for the kitty.  Bob Wallace also celebrated his 45^th anniversary in November.  Since he had previously joined the Century Club, in lieu of cash he gave us the “low down” on his wedding day when the temperature was below zero degrees in Minnesota.

Fines:  Jim Reynolds and Tom Stafford were fined for continuing to sit in the same seats each week.

Fifty-Fifty Drawing:  Frosty Boyd

Frosty’s Challenge:  There was an “H to O” story from Frosty, a tale of sex therapy from George, but Carl Christenson brought the house down with his story about the Jewish samuri.  We couldn’t vote because we were laughing so hard!

Knock Knock Joke:  Pat Anderson had a fishy tuna joke which received a thumbs up vote.

Jelly Roll Revelation:  Jelly Roll gave Prez Daryal  a newspaper article featuring Dave Spence – picture and all – and no mention of Kiwanis.   Our Prez suggested a contribution of $20, but Dave succumbed  to additional peer pressure – took his anniversary $20 back and joined the Century Club.

Jelly Roll

Secret Greeter:  Clyde Hemphill