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Tuesday, March 14, 2006 No. 24 Vol. 84 Newsletter
Archive
Speaker: Ahmed
Bedier U. S. Muslim Relations
Our program today
will be presented by Ahmed Bedier, the Central Florida Director
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). He will be
introduced by our Kiwanian-of-the-day Charles Stuart. CAIR has
grown to become America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy
group, and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with thirty-one regional
offices and chapters nationwide.
Mr. Bedier frequently lectures on Islam, media relations, civil
rights, hate crimes and the mid-east. He has frequently appeared in
local and national media advocating and articulating the Muslim position
on issues. Mr. Bedier has worked to foster understanding among the
different religions, by participating in local and national interfaith
groups, and hosting interfaith dialogues. As a practicing
Muslim-American who is fluent in Arabic, our speaker works to build
bridges across ethnic, racial, political and religious lines.
Since 9/11, Mr. Bedier has emerged as a spokesman for the Tampa Bay
and Florida Muslim community articulating a moderate message of
inclusiveness, peace and justice. He has initiated and supported
various charitable works in the area, including the Ramadan Thanksgiving
Food Basket program, which distributes food to the needy over the
holidays. Our speaker was selected by the Tampa Tribune as one of the
top twenty-five people to watch in 2005. Let’s give our speaker a very
warm Kiwanis welcome!
TODAY’S QUIZ:
1. What is the largest internal organ of the human body? 2. What
was Martha Jane Cannary’s nickname? 3. In what year did the first
adhesive U.S. postage stamps go on sale? 4. Who was Dwight D.
Eisenhower’s vice president? 5. What state is known as the Land of
Enchantment?
LAST WEEK AT
KIWANIS
Mike Meidel, Director of Pinellas County Economic
Development presented a very thorough overview of what’s happening in
the economic life of Pinellas County. He was introduced by our
Kiwanian-of-the-day Doug Lampe. Our speaker quickly got to the
point when he stated that the big problem in economic development in the
county is finding space for existing companies wanting to expand.
Pinellas County is running out of land. The County Commission launched
a site development planning commission to help solve this problem. They
are trying to localize industrial sites where workers live close by with
housing, the workplace and retail establishments all located in the same
general locale.
Quoting from a recent survey, Mike stated that 77% of Pinellas
businesses performed in the excellent or good category, 34% added
workers, up from 17% a year ago, and two-thirds of the businesses are
treading internationally. Pinellas County has an incredible industrial
base at 2.5 billion dollars annually. Medical related industries
produce 40% of the business economy in the county. 22% of the
businesses reported that their revenues were decreased because of
globalization, but 33% reported their revenues were increased. Our
speaker stressed the fact that the county is working to encourage new
ideas on how to increase venture capital for local businesses. He
concluded his remarks by talking about the county plan to increase the
gas tax by one cent to fund a county-wide stop light control plan to go
into operation. Implementing this plan depends on agreement by both the
City of St. Petersburg and the City of Clearwater. A spirited question
and answer session followed his formal presentation. Many thanks to
Doug for bringing Mike to share his knowledge of county-wide economic
development with us.
VISITORS AND
GUESTS
There were only two guests attending our meeting last week. They
were Jean and Marv VanLeuwen. Jean is the sister of Charles Stuart who
introduced them to the club. Welcome, and please visit with us again.
YOUTH INVESTMENT
SHARES PLEDGE PROMOTED
Bob Byelick made his annual promotion speech urging members to
increase their pledge to YIS. 2005 showed an upturn in our YIS pledge
to $30,545.00. However, Bob pointed out that the overall average pledge
by members to YIS is $224.60 with the mean average being $267.94. Among
the committees receiving funding from YIS is the Boys and Girls
Committee. This year, their budget was raised to a new high of
$14,000. This increase helped, but the requests from agencies to this
committee totaled $38,000.00. Every member received a pledge card which
indicated their current pledge and a request that the card be returned
to Secretary Bruce with a notation of the new pledge for 2006.
CLUB COMMUNICATIONS
COMMITTEE TO MEET
Committee Chair Dick Koch announced a meeting of the
Communications Committee after today’s lunch meeting. Discussions will
be held concerning the enlarging of the club bulletin, new web site, and
advertising options. More details will be announced as these decisions
are made and approved by the board.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
COMMITTEE PROJECT ANNOUNCED
Bill Holloway, a member of the Community Service Committee
announced a fix up work day at Mt. Zion school which will involve
drywall, some carpentry and painting. This is scheduled for
Saturday, March 25th. A sign-up sheet is being passed
around. Get out your old clothes and you will have a ball. You will
see Kiwanis at work!
MIRACLE FIELD
DEDICATION SET
The dedication of Miracle Field will be held on Saturday, March
25th. All Kiwanians from Division 13 are urged to attend
this most auspicious occasion. Matt Silverman has been invited
by the Gulf Beaches club to throw out the first pitch in the dedication
of the baseball field for handicapped children. All Kiwanians from
Division 13 are invited to participate in this gala event. Plan now to
attend.
“MARCH MADNESS”
SOCIAL ANNOUNCED
Social Committee member Doug Lampe announced a big “March Madness”
event will be held at Billy’s Restaurant on Tierra Verde on April 1st,
beginning at 5:30 p.m. Cost will be $20.00 per person which will
provide two drinks and an appetizer. In addition, meals can be ordered
if desired. Also, the Final Four basketball tournament will be underway
and should add excitement to the evening’s activities. A sign-up sheet
is being passed around. Plan now on taking your significant other.
They won’t be mad.
AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED FOR JIM FISCHER BASH
A Silent Auction will be held in conjunction with the
annual Jim Fischer Birthday Bash which is scheduled for June 10th
at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Members are being asked to secure
donated items from baskets to any large ticket items to help raise
additional dollars for the Jim Fischer Scholarships. Contact either
John or big Al for details. Here is another way you can help make this
year’s bash an even bigger success!
INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTION SET FOR MONTREAL
The upcoming Kiwanis International Convention is scheduled for
Montreal on June 28 to July 2, 2006. Members who go on the junket do
not have to attend any of the scheduled meetings at the convention
unless they want to as the club has two designated representatives in
the form of President Cathy and President-elect Mitch. A good time for
all attendees is assured. President-elect Mitch will take the entire
group from our club to dinner at least one time during the convention.
So, start making your plans to attend NOW. June 28 is not far off.
PRAYER OF THE DAY:
Almighty and Eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so guide our
minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be
wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto thee, and then use us, we pray
thee, as thou will and always to thy glory, and the welfare of the
members of this Kiwanis club. Amen.
LAST WEEK’S QUIZ:
1. The albacore is a tuna fish. 2. In the Bible, John
the Baptist (Mark 1:7) said “There cometh one mightier than I after
me.” 3. Wyoming, in 1925, was the first state to have a woman
governor. 4. Thomas Edison defined genius as “one percent
inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” 5. Vanilla is the fruit of
The Orchid..
SIGN ON A MUFFLER
SHOP DOOR – No appointment necessary. We’ll hear you coming.
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