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Tuesday, April 4, 2006 No.
27 Vol. 84 Newsletter
Archive | Download Color PDF File
Today’s Speaker: John Wilson FOX13
NEWS
Our speaker today is John Wilson,
television news anchor for Fox13 News. He will be introduced by our
Kiwanian-of-the-Day Dick Koch. John has been appearing on our TV
screens, billboards, and the backs of buses and taxis covered with mud
for more than 20 years. He and his bride of 40 plus years, Mary K, are
some of the most well known and popular performers in the Tampa Bay
area. They have sung with the Florida Orchestra and many other local
venues during their extraordinarily busy life.
Mary K has 35 private voice students
who all are determined to be on Broadway like their son, Patrick, while
John has been anchoring the news on various NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX
stations since he was old enough to hold a hair brush and pretend he was
David Brinkley. Their eldest son, Paul could have been on Broadway like
his younger brother but just didn’t want to rehearse, according to his
father. He got a degree in marketing and owns his own advertising
company, Wilson Media, in Tampa. Paul and Steve Koch’s wife, Charli,
sang Christmas carols together at Dillard’s some years ago. Paul’s
younger brother, Mark, could not be talked out of going into television
and anchors with his father when he’s not chasing hurricanes or
insurgents in Iraq. Patrick is the one who couldn’t get a real job and
is earning more money than all of his relatives combined making movies
and staring on Broadway. Patrick has made five movies since he starred
in “The Alamo” with Billy Bob Thornton and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s film
version of “The Phantom of the Opera.”
Patrick is a two-time Tony/Emmy
nominee for his musicals on Broadway and his starring role with Al
Pacino and Meryle Streep in “Angels in America” which earned him a
Golden Globe nomination. He is now starring on Broadway with film
actress Amanda Peet in the Neil Simon comedy, “Barefoot in the Park.”
John is going to talk to us about all
that stuff and his won world-wide exploits as an anchor. He has been on
assignments to Russia, France, Panama, Romania, and Cuba. He has also
attended the political conventions and covered the White House. John
has won Emmies and journalism awards, too, for his work as a TV news
anchor, reporter, and a commentator who’s got an opinion on everything.
If we feed him (food as well as cues), this promises to be an
interesting day!
TODAY’S QUIZ: 1. What city
became the capital of New York in 1797? 2. What former U.S. president
was known as The Atlas of Independence? 3. What were the best-made
shoes in the Bible? 4. What make of car is mentioned in the song
“Fun, Fun, Fun” by The Beach Boys? 5. What National League baseball
team has won the most World Series titles?
LAST WEEK AT KIWANIS
Our annual Festival of States program
was presented last week by the Executive Director of the event, Lane
Hosmer. He was introduced by our Kiwanian-of-the-day Bob
Byelick. In changing his usual method of presentation, our speaker
began his presentation by asking questions concerning the history of the
Festival event. Members giving correct answers were presented a
Festival of States Tote Bag. A lot of history was discussed including
the fact that this is the 85th anniversary of the Festival of
States. Lane mentioned that the St. Petersburg Festival of States was a
501(c3) organization and that it donates to different non-profit
programs annually. The minimum amount that the Festival donates is
$20,000, but this has gone as high as $40,000 when revenues permitted.
Typically donations of $5,000 are given to the Sun Goddess’ scholarship,
$5,000 to the Junior Sun Goddess’ scholarship, $5,000 to the Pinellas
County School System and $5,000 to the Music Fest.
One of the most dramatic historic
changes was the change of color of the SunCoasters coats last year from
yellow to blue. Our speaker then proceeded to review the schedule of
events at the Festival making appropriate comments about each event.
Many thanks to Bob for again bringing this update to our membership on
this historic and popular event in the life of St. Petersburg.
NEW MEMBER GIVES THREE MINUTE SPEECH
Cindy McGowan,
after securing the required fifty member
signatures on her Kiwanis Apron gave a well prepared program about her
life, hopes and desires as she begins her membership in our club. She
mentioned that she was born and raised in Nebraska, earned a Bachelor’s
degree in English at the University of Nebraska. Her first job right
out of college was with a children’s museum. She then proceeded to
describe a series of different jobs in different cities and states
including moves to Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Colorado. She moved
to Tarpon Springs five years ago and commutes daily to her job in St.
Petersburg. In her spare time, which can not be much being as busy as
she is, she writes science fiction and poetry and cares for her
Parrots. Cindy is very happy to be a Kiwanian and has signed on as a
member of the Boys and Girls Committee and the International Relations
Committee. Let’s all be sure to meet and greet Cindy and make her
welcome into Kiwanis a very warm one.
VISITORS AND GUESTS
Dick Koch’s grandson, Jeremy, was his
guest last week. Also, Angie Boswell was the guest of Debbie Deeb.
Kathie Johnson, Director of the Mt. Zion Human Services program, was the
guest of Louis Murphy. Visiting Kiwanians included Harry Benjamin from
Birmingham, Alabama club and Bob Bodimer from the Peachtree Atlanta
club
MT. ZION HUMAN SERVICES THANKS CLUB
Kathie Johnson, Director of the Mt.
Zion Human Services program personally attended our club meeting last
week to thank the many club members who did such a great job of fix-up
and repairs to their building. Bill Holloway, a member of the
Community Services Committee, was credited with organizing the work
party. Just another fine example of Kiwanis helping children!
EDITOR WANTED
The Kiwanian is in need of an editor.
The training period will be elaborate.
It will consist of “Hi, how are ya? Keep in touch. Bye.” Additional
training is available, if needed.
To qualify you must meet certain
criteria.
·
You must be a member of
our club.
·
You must be either male or
female.
·
You must be alive (most of
the time).
·
You must have extensive
knowledge of englesh an no how to spel.
Apply to Dick Koch or any member of
the Communications Committee.
NOMINATION BALLOTS STILL AVAILABLE
Nomination ballots, along with a list of
eligible candidates, are still available for members to take with them,
fill out and return no later than our meeting next week, April 11.
Those nominees receiving the top vote count will be included on the
official ballot for the election scheduled for May 2, 2006. This
election is for the Officers and Directors who will direct our club
during the 2006-2007 program years.
CLUB PLACES 2ND IN KETTLE
DRIVE
Bernie Lodge
presented a 2nd Place Plaque to Human and Spiritual Values
Chair Skip Carr for our club’s efforts in the recent Salvation
Army Red Kettle Drive. Our member’s efforts raised a total of $2036.00
during their one-day stand.
A LETTER FROM OUR SPONSORED CHILD
Warm greetings from my family and me. I
hope that all the members of the club are in good health. I let you
know that Evelin is bigger. She is more lively now. She was promoted
to the 2nd basic year and good marks and is on school
vacations now. She is glad because she has a new sister who is named
Lady and is 4 month old. Thank you for the booklets. Evelin wants to
meet you. She asks about you always. It is winter here now and it
rains much and is very hot. We would like you to come to our country
and visit our beaches, which are visited by many tourists and are very
nice. We hope that we keep in communication often Evelyn send you a
drawing that depicts our beaches. This is all for now. May God bless
and give you health and strength so that you keep helping needy people.
Yours truly, Maria Vasquez, mother of your sponsored child. Guayaquil,
Ecuador (Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and is the focus of the
nation's economy. Its economic prowess is due in large part to its
location at the convergence of the Daule and Babahoyo rivers, just 70
kilometers from the Pacific Ocean.)
ITEMS NEEDED FOR AUCTION AT 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 God, be with the members of
this club, that we may be alive to the opportunities and
responsibilities of these times. Save us from complacency and from fear
of new ways; inspire our minds with the vision of a new world where
there is a rebirth of freedom. Help us to work and pray until thy will
be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
LAST WEEK’S QUIZ:
1. The Capitol Reef National Park is
found in the State of Utah. 2. The kidney, in 1956, was
the first human organ to be successfully transplanted. 3. The graves
of Geoffrey Chaucer, Isaac Newton and George Frideric Handel can be
found in Westminster Abbey, in London. 4. Lettuce is
known to California farmers as green gold. 5. “Little House in the
Big Woods” was the first book in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s series about
life in the pioneer Midwest.
SIGN ON A HOTEL- Help! We need inn –
experienced people.
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