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February 13, 2007 No. 19 Vol. 85 Today’s Program: Captain Rick
“Lucky Dawg” Frazier, Fishing Tampa Bay
Captain Rick is a full-time professional fishing guide who has fished
the waters of Tampa Bay since 1964. He skippers a fully rigged 22-foot
Privateer fishing machine equipped with Mercury power. Specialties
include light-tackle salt water fishing for tarpon, red drum, snook,
king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, pompano and sheepshead.
He has
filmed local TV fishing segments for four years for both WTVT –Fox
Channel 13 and Brighthouse BayNews Channel 9. He is an outdoor/fishing
correspondent for the St. Petersburg Times and writes numerous columns
for them including “Landlubber,” “Tournament Insider,” and “The Fresh
Water Report.” He’s also featured in the paper’s daily fishing report
and writes other outdoor features as well.
He is a
member of the Florida Outdoor Writer Association (FOWA), The Florida
Guides Association (FGA) and The National Association of Charter Boat
Operators (NACO).
Captain
Rick conducts a 9-week saltwater adult education fishing class 3 times a
year covering all aspects of saltwater fishing. Topics include
conservation, rules and regulations. He also teaches many fishing
techniques for individual saltwater species.
We figure
if you’re lucky enough to make a living as a full-time fishing guide,
you’re lucky enough. Welcome, Capt. Rick!
Last Week at Kiwanis
Dr. Cynthia Heil, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Kiwanian-of-the-Day Tom Nelson had asked Dr. Cynthia Heil to speak to
our Club because of the devastating effect Red Tide has had on fish,
tourism and recreation in Tampa Bay for the last several years. Dr.
Heil gave an informative talk on Red Tide species, the reasons for toxic
“blooms” (rapid growth resulting in large colonies) and why our part of
Florida is known as “Red Tide Central.”
Red Tide is a single-celled plant, of which there are at least 300
species, almost all of which are not red at all. The pretty little
cells are fast swimmers and wouldn’t be a problem except that they
contain toxins within the cells that become deadly in large numbers to
fish and a respiratory irritant to humans. In asthmatics, the impact is
significant. But neurotoxins do more than kill fish. Manatees can die
from eating seagrass with toxins. Sea turtles are also susceptible.
Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning from eating affected clams can kill,
which is a big problem for China, but is relatively uncommon here.
Around since before Florida was settled, Spanish explorers reported
widespread fish kills in this area and by 1916, respiratory problems
were documented as well. Red Tide cells, of which about 60 species
occur in Florida, are always present in low concentrations; they are
part of the natural vegetation in the Gulf. There have been frequent
“blooms” in Tampa Bay for over 50 years. Why this area is so prone to
blooms is still under investigation by scientists. Nutrient rich waters
do increase cell numbers, but what enriches the water is unclear.
Pollution is not the source in this country, said Dr. Heil, but lawn
runoff of fertilizers and pesticides may be, as well as decaying dead
fish. Warm ocean temperatures also contribute to the problem.
Scientists continue to struggle with methods of control, but
questions outnumber the answers. Florida has allocated 4 million
dollars for research this year, so Dr. Heil is optimistic that answers
and solutions may be in the offing sooner rather than later.
Guests and Visitors
Tom Nelson brought his guest and neighbor, Brian Darrow, Gene
Harris attended from the Seminole Horses for the Handicapped program and
Al Karnavicius introduced his Lithuanian Consulate counterpart,
George Jurgutis.
Horses for the Handicapped Receives Kiwanis Funds
Nick Gizzarelli presented a check for $2,000 from the Boys and
Girls Fund to Gene Harris for use by the Horses for the Handicapped
program. Mr. Harris thanked us and told us the story of one of their
first riders, a handicapped six year-old, who has gone on to become a
riding instructor, helping other children like herself. Her father is
now the president of the Seminole Kiwanis Club from which this program
sprung.
New Member
Charles Stuart brought up our newest member for introduction,
Harry Eisnaugle. Welcome, Harry! We’re glad to have you.
Lithuanian Golf Tournament
Big Al plugged the 7th Annual Lithuanian Charity
Golf Tournament to be held at Countryside to help rural children in
Lithuania. The Lithuanian government matches every charitable dollar
raised, so your participation becomes particularly meaningful. Only $85
per player and Lithuanian beer will be served on the course. See Al for
date and times.
Members Are The Heart Of Kiwanis
Mike Humlicek and Guy Van Middlesworth reported on recruitment ideas
from the Membership Committee. A membership dinner will take place
later in the year, information to be announced. Arrangements are being
made to make paper name badges available for guests to help us identify
them and chat them up and members who bring guests will receive stickers
for their labels to acknowledge proactivity with membership
recruitment. Short interviews with individual members will run in the
bulletin to help members old and new get to know each other better.
What’s Happening?
Let Me Call You Sweetheart
Only a few slots are left to join the “sweetheart stroll” to a
special evening with fellow Kiwanian couples at the All-American
Valentine’s Social. Limited to just 20 couples, tickets are going fast
for the private wine tasting sponsored by Cynthia Mulligan and
Sherwood Financial Group at 5:30 p.m. at American Spirits at 280 Third
St. South and Neil Simon’s Chapter Two across the street at
American Stage, directed by fellow Kiwanian Todd Olson. At just
$35 per person or $60 per couple, this Valentine’s Day will be
cheek-to-cheek fun and pretty reasonable, too. Don’t have a
sweetheart? Lorin Bridge, Debbie Deeb and several other
Kiwanians were looking for dates!
Florida District Mid-Year Conference
The Florida District Mid-Year Conference is being held in Lake City
on Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31st. Tom Nelson, Markus
Mittermayr and Charles Stuart are going and would like more
Kiwanians to attend. The group will go up on Friday afternoon in time
for the dinner Friday night and the education classes will be held
Saturday morning until 2pm. Lake City has an annual BBQ contest (Charles
tells us the first "B" in BBQ is for Beer) and other "country" kind of
events that all can attend. Most of the group wants to spend Saturday
night there, but anyone going could come back Saturday night if they
wished. For more information, go to the Florida District website.
Community Involvement Committee Update
Bob Piplitz sent out a report to keep us abreast of our
community involvement projects. He summarized the opportunities as
follows:
Special Olympics – Jane Baldwin volunteered to chair the
project taking place on March 3rd. Dr. Ron is looking
into getting a Bucs player to participate and Cynthia Mulligan is
contacting the Girl Scouts to help out. We anticipate that about 200
athletes will take part in this event and that we will need about 30
volunteers to be involved.
The Sallie House Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for April 7th.
Cynthia Mulligan and Dr.Ron will co-chair that effort. Angie
Boswell has 20 baskets to donate and Dr. Ron will ask Chick-fil-A to
donate sandwiches. We project that 10 volunteers will be needed the
day of the event.
Blue's Fest May 4-6th – Bob Piplitz will chair the
volunteer opportunities. The goal is to secure 60 volunteers. Friends
are very welcome and we may wish to keep in mind that getting others
involved in our projects, letting them see what we do in and for the
community, provides us with some powerful membership recruitment
opportunities.
All Children's Telethon – Dave Miles will coordinate the
parking project on June 2nd.
He promises to recruit 30 volunteers, who will beat the heat through
attitude alone.
Miracle League—Pat Biscotti is working with Lt. Governor
Eddie Lee on getting volunteers out to the ballfield for ongoing
support. The schedule will be posted in our bulletin and on our website
in the very near future.
Jane Baldwin will chair the Happy Workers Book Fair in
September, for which she will need 20 volunteers.
Pat Biscotti came up with some ideas for the CASA Pantry
clean-up in October. Ten volunteers will be needed for that and to work
the CASA thrift store for a day.
Finally, Cynthia Mulligan will also investigate a project with
the Pioneer Settlement camp. This must be the hardest-working committee
in our Club! The prospective volunteers will get tired just reading
their reports!
February Fast Fact
February is Black History Month. Did you know that Lewis
Howard Lattimer invented an electric lamp and
a carbon filament for light bulbs (patented 1881, 1882) and was the only
African-American member of Thomas Edison's engineering laboratory? Find
out more by googling “Black History Month” on the internet. There are
thousands of sites that will broaden your knowledge and enrich your
understanding of the complex interweaving of society and culture.
TODAY’S QUIZ:
- Who composed the
"think" theme music played during Final "Jeopardy?"
- In what
Shakespearean play is St. Valentine’s Day mentioned?
- What animal can
sleep while it flies?
- In
the Great Seal of the US, the eagle grasps what?
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Most gracious God, who causes all things beautiful to grow, may the
seeds of love and compassion planted today blossom in our hearts, our
work and our relationships. Amen.
LAST WEEK’S QUIZ
- There is no
connection between Red Tide and tides. Tides play no role in
the development and spread of the single-celled plants we know as
Red Tide and most varieties are not even red.
- The praying
mantis is the only insect known to eat birds, in this case,
hummingbirds because of their small size.
- Vatican City is
the world’s smallest independent state, covering only 0.2 miles.
- The first
televised presidential debate took place in Chicago in 1960
between candidates Kennedy and Nixon.
A Valentine’s Caveat
Love: Giving your love some candy
Lust: Thinking you are the candy
Marriage: Scraping the kids' candy off of the carpet.
Love: Taking a bubble bath together
Lust: Taking a Jello bath together
Marriage: Giving the kids a bath.
Happy Valentine’s Day, everybody, however you enjoy it!
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