July 17, 2007 No. 41 Vol. 85
This Week’s Program: Leslie Waters, Government
Relations and Political Grassroots Consulting
A successful career woman, dedicated community
leader and public servant, Leslie Waters - also known as the Wave to her
friends and supporters – graduated from Florida State University and
began her career as a Stetson Law School-trained mediator. She went on
to work in Human Resources and Strategic Relations before her election
to the Florida House of Representatives in 1998. She was re-elected in
2000, 2002 and 2004. From 2004-2006 she was Speaker Pro Tempore.
Her first campaign drew statewide attention as
Leslie and her volunteers visited more than 15,000 homes to meet with
voters. Over 50,000 homes were visited during her four successful
campaigns. While in office, Leslie brought a "Wave of Better Government"
to the State Capitol. Her efforts to better our state and community have
been recognized by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which selected her
as a Top 40 legislator for the last eight legislative sessions.
With awards and recognition for her public service too numerous to list
here and her leadership role in community service to dozens of
organizations like Junior Achievement, Brookwood and the March of Dimes,
Leslie has proven that she is dedicated to improving life for all
Floridians. What sets Leslie apart from other state leaders is her
commitment to constituent service and outreach. She walked door-to-door
every month since elected. During session, she's returned from
Tallahassee to host Legislative Update meetings on weekend and taken her
legislative office on the road to meet with the people of District 51.
Now working as a political consultant, Ms.Waters
offers training for businesses and nonprofit organizations, lobbying,
and speaking engagements. Despite having traveled internationally to 50
countries around the world since 1965, Ms. Waters, a lifelong resident
of Pinellas County, lives happily in Pinellas Park with her husband,
Al and their two dachshunds, Arnie and Jack.
Last Week’s Program: Dan Stone
on Golf
J. C. Russell,
the Kiwanian-of-the-Day, revealed that our speaker and fellow Kiwanian,
Dan Stone, is an old friend, dating back to his playing golf with Dan in
middle school. Even then, Dan was a player to be reckoned with. Dan told
us he started golfing at age 9 or 10 and played local tours. Dan
attended St. Pete High where he was a two-time county golf champion. He
went to University of Florida on a full golf scholarship and continued
to win awards. After college, he continued to win awards and turned pro
in ’96, played in mini-tours and qualified to play on the PGA Tour with
a 10 under par, a record he held for many years for lowest score in a
PGA qualifying tour.
Dan explained that
once you’ve made the PGA tour, 150 players play and get cut by scores.
Each week there are cuts, so the pressure is intense. At the end of a
year, the top 125 get to stay.
Dan related
anecdotes from many years of golfing as a career and shared with us his
favorite course – Pebble Beach and least favorite course – Medalist,
designed and owned by Greg Norman. In 2004, after a year of playing
well, Dan was playing in Panama City. His driver head broke and flew off
and he played poorly after. He realized he’d been gone 200 days that
year and cleared only about $40,000. He decided to get a day job. Dan is
now a financial advisor with Smith Barney. He still loves golf and
believes golf teaches kids honesty, pride and perseverance. He lives in
St. Petersburg with wife Linda and their two sons, Braxton and Grayson.
Thanks, Dan, we appreciated your insight into the game!
Guests and Visitors
59 members and four visitors joined us for lunch
and an inside look at the world of amateur and professional golf
tournaments Tuesday. Mary Ann Lynch brought friend Chris Page,
Kathy Condon introduced us to Ramona Hunter, David Feaster
brought his son, David and Kevin Kelso hosted Amanda Gilroy.
Debbie Deeb announced I. P. Nitely, for which she was applauded.
Katherine Lenel dined with us before receiving the check from our Club’s
Boys and Girls Committee.
Social Butterflies
Lorin Bridge reminds us that the Social
Committee Meeting will take place right after today’s meeting and
Doug Lampe suggested an InterClub opportunity at the upcoming
Division meeting at Madeira Beach. Several of our members will be
awarded the Rudy Award for bringing in 5 or more new members over their
lifetimes in the Club. They are Weyman Willingham, Bruce McKelvey, Al
Karnavicius, Bob Byelick and Scott Boyle. Great work, guys!
Boys and Girls Committee
Supports CASA
Boys and Girls Committee member
Cynthia McGowan presented a check for $1,500 to Katherine Lenel of
Community Action Stops Abuse. It will be used for children in
transitional housing who have suffered emotional and/or physical abuse
and who have never had some of the experiences other children take for
granted. In an attempt to broaden their horizons and lighten their
loads, these children will visit museums, children’s play venues and
attend games. Katherine thanked our Club for helping CASA help the
displaced children in their care.
In Sympathy
With deepest sympathy, we send our
thoughts and prayers to David Abbey and David Feaster and their families
who are mourning the loss of their mothers. These hard, but inevitable
transitions remind us to appreciate our loved ones and extend our
compassion to all who lose family or friends.
Marco Island, Anyone?
Charles, Markus and others from
our Club will be attending the Kiwanis International Convention at Marco
Island on August 24th and 25th. If you’d like to
attend, please see
www.KiwanisFlorida.com.
Three Minutes With Hunter
New member Hunter Booth gave his
three minute speech Tuesday during which we learned that he was born in
the Ft. Myers area, won a baseball scholarship to college and is a
Senior Landscape Artist for Phil Graham Studio. He and his wife, Julie,
have two children, Hunter 6 and Delaney 3. He likes boating, fishing,
scuba diving and scalloping.
What’s Happening
From
Eddie Lee:
“As the
2006-07 Kiwanis year speeds to conclusion, a fact overlooked by many in
the realization that the Florida District has far exceeded its own lofty
expectations set by Governor Phil and the focus on claiming the Fourth
Quarter as ours, is the unique opportunity to purchase the second in a
series of Lighthouse Ornaments offered by Florida Kiwanis for only
$10.00. This limited edition collection, with a Certificate of
Authenticity, is available by contacting Ed and Chris Lillich at
ELillich@aol.com or by
calling them at 727-546-2246. This is not the same ornament many of you
bought last fall. This is the Hillsboro Lighthouse. These are great
speaker gifts and stocking stuffers as well as collectors’ items. Don't
miss out! There are limited numbers available and there will not be
another casting when these are gone. Thanks for an unbelievable year!”
An Update from Chris Jordan
J. C. Russell heard from Chris Jordan
recently who had this to say:
“…Hospice Foundation, my employer, has been great
to me as far as helping and allowing me to balance family, work, my
cancer battle and everything that comes along with it so I’ve have such
tremendous support that it’s almost overwhelming. Many have said that
they would expect my type of employer to be sympathetic to my
situation but they’ve gone way beyond that type of support as an
employer.
I continue with weekly treatments, short hospital
stays and other procedures which have made it impossible to make our
weekly Kiwanis meetings. I hope to have an “off week,” maybe even a few
to let my body recuperate from all the treatments. They’ve suggested I
take even more time away which sounds attractive until I look at or
envision my wife and 2yr old son so it’s a bit difficult to give up what
keeps seeming to be an uphill battle and tough prognosis.
Please give the group my best and I intend on
making a meeting as soon as time allows…I hope to continue to fight and
make a meeting during an “off week” as they call them. Chris”
We’re pulling for you,
Chris, and hope to see you at many more meetings. If you’d like to give
Chris a call, he can be reached at
727-523-3398 (work) or on his cell at
727-741-2500.
ANYBODY REMEMBER THE LATER BLUE CHEER VERSION?
Well I’m a-gonna raise a fuss, I’m gonna raise a
holler
About workin’ all summer just to try an’ earn a dollar
Everytime I call my baby, to try to get a date
My boss says, no dice, son, you gotta work late
Sometimes I wonder what I’m gonna do
’cause there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.
- Eddie Cochran, Summertime Blues
Today’s Holidays
July 17 is National Peach Ice Cream Day, so be a
peach and bring me more dessert! It’s also National Hug Month, so I’ll
trade ya!
TODAY’S QUIZ:
1. Who is last in line in the Presidential
Succession Act? The Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Commerce, the
Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs?
2. Why is it that owls cannot move their eyes?
3. Who said “All that is necessary for the triumph
of evil is for good men to do nothing?”
4. For what did Charo, the “coochie coochie”
girl, win awards two years in a row?
