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Tuesday, November 14, 2006 No. 7 Vol. 85
Today’s Speaker: Marc Topkin
Baseball Editor for the St.
Petersburg Times
A product of public schools in New York and south
Florida, Marc received a journalism degree from Drake University
in Des Moines, Iowa and learned his craft during his 20 years of
experience at the Times. Marc seemed destined to become a journalist;
his love of reporting and editing, even as a child, was evident in his
school and extracurricular pursuits. Like many boys, Marc played Little
League baseball, but unlike the rest, he submitted the results from his
league to the local weekly paper. He was also editor of his high school
and college newspapers.
Marc moved to Florida and joined the Times straight
from college in June 1983 as a metro desk copy editor, moved to the
sports desk part-time that fall and became a fulltime copy editor in
April 1984. He has covered baseball since 1987, covering the Tampa Bay
area’s pursuit of a baseball team as well as spring training, the
postseason, ownership issues and features. When Tampa Bay finally got
the Devil Rays’ franchise, Marc was there and has been ever since,
chronicling the highs and lows. He has written in-depth stories on a
number of Tampa Bay area sports personalities, such as Dwight Gooden and
Wade Boggs, and has covered the World Series, All-Star Games, the 2004
Olympics in Athens, Super Bowls and college football championships.
Marc is a regular contributor to local and
out-of-area talk radio shows. He has appeared on Good Morning America
and numerous local TV news and sports programs. Marc has won numerous
state writing awards for his news coverage and a national award for his
investigative reporting. He devotes much of his free time to speaking to
classes and coaching youth sports teams.
Marc is married with two children, ages 15 and 17.
Today is his 45th birthday and he has chosen to spend it with
us, so let’s give Marc Topkin a rousing welcome and show him how we
celebrate one of our favorite local sports writers!
What’s Happening?
Welcome Wagon
Three new members join us for induction into our
Club Tuesday. Please welcome J. B. Gaskins, Vice President of
Florida Blood Services, Jeffrey Francis, owner of Felixone and
Maryann Lynch, owner of Times Square Properties. Maryann is a
newcomer to Kiwanis, so please, try to set a good example!
Our Child in Ecuador
We received a report on our Club’s sponsored child, Evelyn Tofino
Vasquez, from Plan Ecuador. Evelyn remains healthy and is attending
primary school less than half an hour from her home. Her family has
access to basic services, for instance, their water comes from a
neighbor’s well year-round and a health facility is about fifteen
minutes away. Toilet facilities are lacking, however, with toilets
consisting of no more than a hole in the ground. Fortunately, Kiwanis
St. Petersburg’s annual support helps provide projects which reduce
preventable childhood illness and death, improve access to potable
water, ensure access to education, support family economic activities
and add micronutrients for a healthy diet. We wish Evelyn and her family
well and look forward to future reports. If you’d like to send a card
or letter to Evelyn, especially now that the holidays are approaching,
speak with Cynthia McGowan, and we’ll coordinate a group greeting.
Don’t Forget…
progressive holiday party Lorin Bridge is
circulating a sign-up sheet for our Club’s upcoming progressive
holiday party to be held on Saturday, December 9th.
Tickets are $45 per person. Complete information on times and locations
of each course will appear in next week’s Kiwanian.
Community Service Meeting All members are
invited to Jane Baldwin’s house at 922 39th Avenue NE, St.
Petersburg, at 5:30-6:30 pm on Tuesday, November 28th for a
Community Service Meeting to plan our community service projects
for the year. Food and drinks will be provided. Please RSVP by e-mail to
Robert_Piplitz@ML.com.
ADVERTISING SPACE AVAILABLE
See Frank Ranieri
to run an ad in your Kiwanis Bulletin. We’ve made more space and color
available, so you only have to provide the ad and a check! Ads bring
your company to the attention of Kiwanians who may need your services
and provide revenue for our many child-focused scholarships and
activities.
LAST WEEK AT KIWANIS
Kiwanian-of-the-Day Jane Baldwin introduced
our speaker, Pat Mason of First Night St. Pete, the annual New
year's Eve celebration she helped found and organizes each year. The
event is a celebration of the arts, family and community and presents 35
performance venues for a variety of acts and activities. Ms. Mason
urged us to "buy a button and come downtown!" and promised information
on The Great Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling Competition, a new
addition this year. Although the public nature of the festivities
ensures that admission is free, sales of the colorful "First Night 2007"
button support the varied and family-oriented arts events taking place
in two downtown parks and 33 other performance stages on New Year's Eve.
Buttons are $8 in advance, $10 on December 31st.
Ms. Mason's enthusiasm for First Night is
infectious. She described dance bands and dancing stages -- Cuban,
Brazilian, Swing and Jazz -- and a Country Music stage run by and for
teens. A "bubble wrap stomp" will provide stress release and
fun. Williams Park will be the backdrop of "Light Up The Park," a
display of lanterns painted by different artists which will provide
inspiration for First Nighters who wish to paint their own paper
lanterns and walk around, lighting up the park in ever-changing patterns
The Great Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling
Competition is new to St. Petersburg and comes to us from Seattle, the
only other city in the U.S. offering it. A unique fundraiser, caroling
teams made up of any group of five or more who wish to perform and
compete will raise pledges from family, friends and co-workers. On
Saturday, December 2, the carolers will perform at South Straub Park at
4 p.m., following SnowFest. Groups may be serious or silly and may win
awards for philanthropy, best performance and people's choice. The goal
of the pledges is to raise funds to support First Night St. Petersburg
and the St. Petersburg Free Clinic. Teams, which can be
company-sponsored or any combination of individuals, may register by
sending $50 to the Free Clinic by November 20th. To register, or for
more information, please call or email Rebecca Russell-Gootee at
821-1200, ext. 114 or
figgycentral@yahoo.com. Kiwanians, are we interested in sponsoring
a team?
Speaking of Singing…
Not sure of all the words to “God Bless America?”
You’re not alone. In the spirit of helpfulness and so we don’t hear
uncertain mumbling at our tables, we include the lyrics here.
God Bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her, through the
night with the light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies, to the
oceans white with foam!
God Bless America, my home sweet home! God Bless
America, my home sweet home!
Guests and Visitors
In addition to our speaker, Pat Mason, Angie
Boswell brought her guest, Stacy Storr. Join us again,
friends!
TODAY’S QUIZ
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1. Since
Neptune's discovery in 1846, how many revolutions has it made around
the sun?
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2.
What animal is responsible for the most human deaths in
the world?
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3.
On what popular show in what year did television air its
first interracial kiss?
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4.
Baseball's National League was born in 1876. Eight
competing baseball teams met in New York City's Grand Central Hotel.
Which were the eight original cities with teams?
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The light of God surrounds me;
The love of God enfolds me;
The power of God protects me;
The presence of God watches over me;
Where ever I am God is. Wherever God is, may I be.
LAST WEEK’S QUIZ:
1. Queen Liliuokalani of the Hawaiian Islands
was America's only queen.
2. Selenologists study the Moon, as
geologists study Earth.
3. The state of Texas is the only state in the
nation that has been under six flags, which includes the flags of
Spain, France, Mexico, the Lone Star Republic of Texas, the Confederate
States of America, and the United States.
4. Railroad conductors and mailmen in the United
States refused to wear uniforms until after the U.S. Civil War. In 1844,
policemen in New York City staged a strike against their proposed blue
uniforms. The reason for their opposition was that they considered
uniforms to be symbols of servitude, as maids and butlers wore them
in the old country.
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