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Tuesday, October 10, 2006 No. 2 Vol.
85
Today's Speaker: Eddie Lee
Kiwanis Florida Division 13 Lt. Governor
Our speaker today is a fifth generation Floridian
who was born and raised in Winter Haven. After four years of honorable
service in the United States Marine Corps, which included 13 months in
Southeast Asia in the 1960’s, he attended the University of Alabama in
Birmingham, majoring in Communications Arts. His senior year he was
chosen to appear in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.
Single, he is the father of three children and the
grandfather of one teenage granddaughter. For most of his adult life he
was involved in construction management as a general contractor and
later as an owners’ agent and architectural administrator. He
supervised nearly one billion dollars of commercial building, including
homes, warehouses, shopping centers, schools, bridges and waste water
treatment plants. He also has extensive experience in project
development and master plan implementation. Currently, he is the
Executive Director of the Miracle League of Florida, which assists in
the construction of barrier free baseball fields for children with
special needs.
Long involved in community service, Mr. Lee has
chaired a County Heart Fund, served on the Board of United Way, been
President of Fellowship House, a halfway house for alcoholics, spent 14
years in the United States Jaycees, served on the Library Board and been
Chairman of the Planning Commission of Madeira Beach.
A Charter member of the Gulf Beaches Kiwanis, Lee
has been a Director and in 2004-05 served as a Distinguished President,
He is well known in Kiwanis for his work in assisting his Club to
construct a Miracle League Baseball Field for disabled children.
Please welcome Florida Kiwanis Division 13 Lt.
Governor, Eddie Lee.
TODAY’S QUIZ
1. Who was the
last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence?
2. From what plant is vanilla extracted?
3. How many cups of coffee does it take to
kill yourself (or somebody else!)?
4. What was the first CD pressed in the US
for commercial release?
5. In what year did it become illegal for
Olympic athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs?
LAST WEEK AT KIWANIS
Click here
to see pictures of event
The Kiwanis Club of St. Petersburg 2006-2007 Installation Banquet held
last Tuesday night at the St. Pete Yacht Club was a resounding success
with over 100 Kiwanians and their spouses and guests attending. The wine
flowed as Kiwanians greeted new members and old and the evening’s
business served up abundant humor and bittersweet moments.
Cathy Swanson opened
the program by introducing honored guests Lt. Governor Eddie Lee and
Margie Caniss, widow of Kiwanian Charles Caniss who passed away this
summer. Awards and recognitions followed. Bruce McKelvey presented
longtime members Markus Mittrmayr (30 years), Grant Wallin (35 years)
and Bernie Lodge (a record 68 years) with Legion of Honor Awards and
thanked them for their loyalty and participation. Skip Carr presented
the history of the Layperson of the Year Award, first awarded in 1966
and an honor held currently by 12 active members. For the first time in
40 years, the name of the award was officially amended to the H. Bernard
Lodge Layperson of the Year Award in honor of Bernie Lodge’s many years
of service to Kiwanis. Everyone joined in a rousing rendition of “Happy
Birthday” in response to the announcement that Bernie would turn 94 on
Saturday. The H. Bernard Lodge Layperson of the Year Award was then
presented to Steve Cunningham.
Cathy Swanson awarded
Outstanding Chairperson of the Year jointly to J. C. Russell and Biff
Baker, Vocational Guidance Committee Co-Chairs. Because of their and
their committee’s efforts, Kiwanis awarded $10,000 in scholarships this
year to deserving children. Special recognitions are presented at the
discretion of the President. This year’s went to Thomas B. Nelson, Jr.
who received the “Pinchhitter Award,” Grant Wallin, Jr. in recognition
of his 8 ½ years of service as editor of the Bulletin and to T. Bruce
McKelvey, whom President Swanson described as the “lifeblood and
integrity of this Club.” He received the Distinguished Service Award.
Bob Byelick was thanked for his key role in allowing us to award $13,500
in grants to local community groups and Jane Baldwin was praised for her
dedication in providing our Club with opportunities to participate
meaningfully in community service projects throughout the year.
Although laughter and
applause had dominated the proceedings, a solemn silence followed as
Cathy Swanson offered her final remarks as President. Extending her
appreciation for all the Club had offered during her term as President,
she thanked everyone and turned the podium over to Mitch Cochran, our
new President. Mr. Cochran thanked Cathy and all attending and
introduced Lt. Governor, Kiwanis Division 13, Eddie Lee who formally
installed all of the incoming Officers and offered further awards.
Lt. Governor Lee began
with a 40 year history of people and events to illustrate how much had
happened during the many years of Kiwanis membership of the recipient of
the Ralph Davis Medal and plaque, a man he said was a “solid, seasoned
source of counsel for all who would seek his advice, a man who has
become the conscience for the Club,” T. Bruce McKelvey. Lee recognized
the departing Board members, including now Past President Cathy Swanson,
who received a “virtual” pin (Lt. Gov. Lee didn’t have the actual pin
with him!). After congratulating all the current and incoming
Directors, Lee welcomed to the podium Charles Stuart, Secretary and
Treasurer, Skip Carr, Biff Baker and Markus Mittermayr, 1st
and 2nd Vice Presidents and President Elect and then, in an
inspiring and formal declaration, installed Mitch Cochran as President.
With his congratulations and thanks, Lee turned the podium over to
President Cochran who presented Cathy Swanson with a Past President
plaque. Cochran asked all past presidents to stand, of which a large
group was present. “Clubs,” he said, “are made up of two different kinds
of people – people who want to advance their careers and businesses and
Kiwanians.” Kiwanians join in the spirit of service and that’s what
sets us apart from other clubs and civic groups. Mitch spoke of his
anticipation of his Presidency and closed the banquet by asking Bernie
Lodge to lead us in song. Far from the tedious installation many of us
have come to expect from other associations, our 2006-2007 Installation
Banquet was a warm, inspiring celebration of friends who encourage and
support each other in all our efforts to help children and the
community. Our thanks to all who have served Kiwanis so faithfully this
year and congratulations to our new Officers and Directors.
Special thanks to the
Yacht Club for the mouth-watering dinner of Mediterranean Chicken, Mahi
Mahi with Fruit Salsa and Roast Beef and a table-full of luscious
desserts! Click here
to see pictures of event.
THINGS TO COME
As the new editor of The Kiwanian, I want to say thank you to Grant
Wallin and the members of the Communications Committee for their vote of
confidence and helpfulness to me during this transition. Doug Lampe and
I have met to discuss possible changes to the Bulletin, including the
expanded format and member biographies. We will be sending out a
questionnaire to all of you soon to get your feedback and suggestions
and will keep you informed of upcoming changes. Cynthia McGowan
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God of mercy, bless all who live in the
face of acts of terrorism. Grant them courage to go about their daily
living. Give them hope that one day the hostility will cease. Guard the
defenseless, especially the children and the elderly, the infirm and the
weak. Bring peace to their homes and faith in their hearts. Amen.
LAST WEEK’S QUIZ:
1.
Harper Lee wrote To Kill A Mockingbird and the
character Dill was based on her childhood friend, Truman Capote.
2.
The first car driven down Central Avenue in 1905 was an Orient,
driven by Edward Tomlinson.
3.
The average United States male spends 2,965 hours in a
lifetime shaving.
4.
The only two kinds of nuts mentioned in the Bible are
almonds and pistachios.
5.
Frederic-August Bartholdi sculpted the Statue of Liberty.
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