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January 30, 2007 No. 17 Vol. 85
Today’s Program: Jim Smith, Pinellas County Property
Appraiser
Jim Smith, a Certified Florida Appraiser, was elected
Pinellas County Property Appraiser in 1988, and was re-elected in 1992,
1996, 2000 and 2004. Before becoming Property Appraiser, he served two
terms in the
Florida House of Representatives and was a Republican State
Committeeman.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jim grew up in
Elkhart, Indiana. He served four years in the United States Navy's
submarine service aboard the USS Triton where he received several
awards, including the Presidential Unit Citation for subcircumnavigating
the world in 85 days. Following Naval service, Jim was educated at Ball
State and Indiana Universities.
For 20 years Jim owned and operated his own Clearwater
business, Technical Components and Instrumentation, a process control
and analytical instrumentation company. He is also an accomplished
sculptor.
Jim and his wife, retired Circuit Court Judge
Catherine Harlan, are residents of Clearwater.
Last Week at Kiwanis
USF St. Petersburg Chancellor, Dr. Karen White
Kiwanian-of-the-Day Ron Braun introduced Dr. Karen
White of USF St. Pete who spoke to us about the vast changes that have
taken place and continue to on the USF St. Petersburg campus.
Far from the commuter campus branch that the campus
used to seem in most people’s minds, USF St. Pete has grown, changed and
distinguished itself as a high-quality, self contained university with
erudite faculty members, high-rated research facilities and an emphasis
on excellence and achievement. In 2006, the 40th anniversary
of the St. Pete campus, and three years after Dr. White became
Chancellor, our community witnessed
the genesis of the new USF St. Petersburg experience. A
few highlights…
In August, USF St. Pete opened their new
residential housing complex,
Residence Hall One. The seven-story, 354-unit apartment complex’
proximity to both classes and downtown St. Petersburg is attracting
students and heralds the beginning of a 24/7 campus. Last June,
students, staff and faculty began parking in their new eleven hundred
space parking garage. Barnes & Noble bookstore opened on the campus,
construction is underway on the new Science and Technology Building and
a student center is in the works.
Listening to Dr. White, it
is obvious that she takes deep pride in her campus, one which has, in
her words, “a world class faculty, first rate students and is becoming
an institution of first choice.” She described a growing freshman class
and a number of out-of-state applications, and the students coming in
exhibit a passion for excellence, receiving and maintaining higher
grades than previous students.
In 2005, 782 degrees were
awarded, up from 565 in 2000, a 39 percent increase. Their three
colleges offered twenty six undergraduate majors and twelve graduate
ones and the inventory of courses increased by 252 over the year 2000.
Within the same five years, the student headcount increased more than 20
percent to 4,700 students.
Dr. White attributes this
in part to the world-class faculty that can be found throughout the
colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business and Education. Ninety five percent
of faculty members have their Ph.D or other terminal degree and she gave
us some examples of their fascinating research projects.
More growth and expansion
is expected, and with Dr. White at the helm, we can expect continued
commitment to quality, an emphasis on scholarship and research and a
community blessed with leaders educated in our midst at a world-class
university.
A Curry Dinner
Charles Stuart reports
that Kiwanis Division 13 hosted a dinner on Saturday night, January 20th,
with the President Elect for Kiwanis International, Dave Curry. Past
District Governor Don Fineout attended as did our very own Lt. Governor
Eddie Lee. Says Charles: “Dave Curry is Irish and can tell great Irish
jokes. He is from Butte, Montana where our very own new member Jeff
Francis owns property and spends part of his summers. It was a very
enjoyable evening with our Club having the largest representation.
Bernie Lodge gave the invocation. Other Club members in attendance
were Markus Mittermayr, Cathy Swanson, Jeff Francis,
my wife Judy Stuart and me.
Thanks to Tom and Nancy Nelson who skipped the
dinner, but bought drinks after the meeting for a few lucky Kiwanians!
Kiwanis Education Day
Three of our members – Markus Mittermayer, Ron
Scoggins and Charles Stuart – attended Kiwanis Education Day on
Saturday, January 20th, discussed below. Charles felt the
speakers were the best prepared of any Kiwanis education event he had
ever attended and all felt the event imparted valuable information.
Remarks from Lt. Governor Eddie Lee
“Sixty-Five
( 65 ) members of the K-Family met at Eckerd College Saturday, January
20 for a very special day. Please pass along my sincere appreciation to
all of the members of your Club that attended. Each of our eight Clubs
were well represented. Once again you have exceeded my expectations. I
was especially aware of the seven past Lt. Governors in attendance and
the nine members of the First Unity Kiwanis which is only one week old
today. These two examples point to the condition of our Division –
experienced and active leadership and committed and enthusiastic
newcomers.
One thing
that was announced at our DCM, which closed this remarkable day, was the
kickoff of the Divisions 100 Women in 100
Days campaign.
Between yesterday and May 1st it has become a goal of Division 13 to
recruit, sign up, educate and install one hundred new women members.
Never doubt that we will accomplish this ambitious goal. Expect to hear
from Linda Burhans of the Seminole Breakfast Club SOON. Linda is
dynamic, but she will need our help. When she calls on you for help,
please assist her. Ideally we would like to have a minimum of two women
from each Club agree to serve with her . Beginning this Friday we will
send out an update relative to the number of women who have joined us
and the total needed to meet the goal. Linda and other committee members
will be visiting your Clubs. Please give them a few moments to share
their passion.
Every day in
many ways I am touched by the generosity and dedication of the Kiwanis
Clubs of Division 13. It is a privilege to be in a position that allows
me to be of service to such a great group of men and women. We have
accomplished much in what is now nearly 1/3 of the 06-07 Kiwanis year.
We are just hitting our stride, we have gained our momentum. We must be
cautious however not to get into cruise control. The children of our
communities deserve nothing less than our best effort. I am confident
we will continue to meet that standard.”
What’s Happening?
Great Chefs Needs Great Volunteers
Ron Scoggins reminded us
that our Club’s first major volunteer event of the year, the Great Chefs
of Tampa Bay, takes place on Sunday March 18. The event is very
people-intensive and requires a large number of volunteers to fill a
variety of roles. Please let Ron or Kathy Condon,
co-Chairs, Committee on Young Children Priority One, know if you’d like
to help out. The proceeds from Great Chefs benefit Family Resources,
Inc.
An Invitation from St Petersburg College and
The Palladium
Our Club received an invitation from St. Pete College
to celebrate its new partnership with The Palladium. They will offer a
free concert – Jeffrey Siegel: An American Salute A Keyboard
Conversation – on Friday, February 2nd at 7:30 p.m.
World famous solo pianist
and conductor Jeffrey Siegel presents Keyboard Conversations®, a unique,
concert-plus-commentary format in which he speaks to the audience about
the music before performing each work in its entirety. Mr. Siegel’s
concerts appeal to newcomers to classical music and seasoned music
lovers alike.
The Palladium Theater, where the concert will be held,
is located at 253 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701. You may call
them for more information at (727) 822-3590.
TODAY’S QUIZ
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How many children
did George Washington, known as the "Father of Our Country,” have?
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What's the greatest
worldwide use of cowhide?
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In 1845, what pet
of President Andrew Jackson was removed from his funeral and why?
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How many tiles are
there in a 'Scrabble' crossword game?
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God, as Naomi and Ruth journeyed from one land to
another seeking a home, we ask your blessing upon all who are homeless
in this world. You promised your chosen people a land flowing with milk
and honey; so inspire us to desire the accomplishment of your will that
we may work for the settlement of those who are homeless in a place of
peace, protection, and nurture, flowing with opportunity, blessing, and
hope. Amen.
LAST WEEK’S QUIZ:
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Shrimp have 5
pairs of jointed walking legs on the thorax, they have 5 pairs of
swimming legs (swimmerets) and 3 pairs of maxillae (feeding
appendages) on the abdomen. You’d think they’d be able to get
away, but here they are again on my rice!
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There is no
difference between a "millennium" and a "chiliad.” Both words
mean "a period of one thousand years" – the former from Latin, the
latter from Greek. We probably use the word “millennium” more often
because we have fewer occasions in Florida to say “It’s really
chiliad my house.”
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A teaspoon of
neutron star material weighs about 110 million tons. Too
many Orange Blossom desserts, no doubt.
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Bull giraffes
forage higher in trees than cow giraffes reducing food
competition between the sexes.
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