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The La Cawañian La Cañada, CA – March 14, 2001 Meghan Serwin - Editor The Flintridge Prep Key Clubbers took a turn at the podium and showed us how it's supposed to be done. We were a fairly sedate audience - corned beef and cabbage will do that to you, especially when accompanied by lovely Irish music at the hands of Inez Pickering - but Key Club President Brian Shin, Vice President Ben Watts, Secretary Ken Kim, and Treasurer Victoria Lee, among others, had enough energy for the rest of us. Guests included Hal Thomas's WWII Air Force buddy John Walter, visiting from Columbus, Indiana; prospective member Nancy Valentine Avila, who lunched with Sharin Orr; Flintridge Prep headmaster Peter Bachman and Prep Key Club advisor Dennis Brandon, guests of Joan Peters; A.M. Kiwanian/wonder woman Joy Gifford; and Norma Cunanan and John Chang, both with Ed Moulton. Pat Flynn had a whole flock of Terrific Kids from Palm Crest: Felicia Cheng with parents Sophia and John; Chris Chung with parents Tom and Joy; Dominic Bianco with parents Joe and Sabrina; and Walter Mansilla with parents Adrian and Gladys. Several of the announcements came with handy flyers. First up was the Soap Box Derby Race Management Committee, headed by spokesman Joel Smith. Joel's looking for volunteers to head the staffing team (which works with local organizations to get volunteer staffers for all aspects of the event) and the entertainment team (which solicits vendors and entertainers for race day). On a related note, Eileen Ferber needs all of us to be on the look-out for female and/or child celebrities who might be willing to race in this year's Derby on May 19. Call Eileen if you know someone who meets the "celebrity" description. Howard Backer has promised to match donations to the La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association in Tom Smith's memory. Two members contributed $100 each at the March 7 meeting; Howard matched those donations, and will match another $400 to bring the total to $1,200. Contact him for further details. Pat Anderson reminded us of upcoming inter-clubs on March 23 (with the Glendale club), March 27 (at Le Betuille Restaurant), and March 21 (with the A.M. Club). Call Pat to reserve space in any or all. Jack Dawson and Hal Thomas had a public service announcement for anyone who's got an aging forced-air furnace at home; apparently these gizmos can become quite dangerous over time and need to be checked and/or replaced. Ask Jack or Hal for details. Frosty Boyd had good news about Lou Roberts and Bob Slattery, both of whom are healing; Frosty also had a joke so bad I simply refuse to pass it on. Dick De Grey announced our La Cañadans of the Year for 2001: they are Shirley and Don Hingst, who will be feted officially on April 18. Sign ups for that popular luncheon will begin circulating in the next week or two. Vic Legerton announced a personal donation to the Flintridge Prep Key Club prior to presenting the Distinguished President Award to Jim Reynolds. Jim segued from his acceptance into announcing our club's hard-earned and well-deserved selection by Kiwanis International as an International Honor Club in the Diamond Group, Single Service. This award honors our outstanding inaugural Soap Box Derby, masterminded and carried out by the Millennial Team of Jim Reynolds, Jim Edwards, Dick De Grey, Daryal Gant, Ed Moulton, Sharin Orr, Jerry Healey and Bob Wallace. Kudos to everyone who worked on this wonderful event. Happy/sad/bad and other bucks came from Paul Bobzin, whose car turned over 200,000 miles; Phil Hammons, who apparently bid aloha to his math skills during his Hawaiian vacation; and Joan Peters, whose Special Kids charity raised $39,000 at its recent fundraiser. Among those fined for failure to scream KIWANIS! at local newspaper reporters were Ed Moulton, Dave Spence, and Ann Doneen (who apparently failed to scream KIWANIS! at herself). Those Prep Key Clubbers had all manner of news of their activities. It seems the Dems and GOP could both take fundraising lessons from these kids (though one doubts either political party would fast to raise money, as the FPKC-ers will in May). We also got the low-down on the school itself from headmaster Peter Bachman, whose pride in Prep's honor code and focus on character education was obvious and well-placed. Next week: Jeanne Broberg will lead the Flag Salute; Chuck Gulick will do the Invocation; Bachy Bachman will serve as Sergeant-at-Arms; and Daryal Gant will sell raffle tickets. A sad personal note: This is my last turn at the old Kiwanis keyboard, as it were. Having returned to the full-time practice of law, I no longer have Wednesday noons free to lunch with the wonderful friends I've made over the past year and a half, nor to write about what you all say and do while we're together. I'm not sure where my life is leading me, but be assured I'll carry your nice words and good wishes with me wherever I go.
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