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September 18, 2007 No. 50 Vol. 85
This Week’s Program:
Mitch Cochran – Kiwanis 2007 Year End
Last Week’s Program:
Special Agent Charlotte F. Braziel, FBI
Mitch Cochran
brought us
a local representative from the FBI Tampa Regional Office, Special Agent
Braziel, who gave us a solemn, information-rich talk about the history
and current activities of the FBI.
One hundred years
ago, she told us, Teddy Roosevelt encountered a world of change in every
arena. He needed a special force to deal with situations threatening the
U.S. on a national (and global) level, but law enforcement duties were
restricted to state and local levels. On July 26, 1908, he created the
earliest version of the FBI with 34 agents with limited authority and no
weapons allowed. Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation boasts
34,000 agents in states, major cities and "resident agencies" which
cover larger areas of smaller cities. Special Agent Braziel is from the
Tampa Resident Agency and is assigned to Pinellas County.
The FBI is
responsible for communicating and negotiating with local law enforcement
agencies on issues regarding criminal and national security
investigations. Everything from the Cold War to the wiring of the world
falls under their purview. The priority now, of course, is protecting
our country from domestic and foreign terrorists, so their
responsibilities are about 50% criminal investigations and 50% terrorist
investigations.
At the beginning of
this century, they realized they were behind the curve technologically
and change came almost overnight. Even so, Agent Braziel described her
department as having computers, but no internet access and a shared fax
machine. Until recently, they passed a single cell phone from one
on-duty agent to another on the weekends. From her perspective, the FBI
has always fought crime with one arm tied behind their backs.
Special Agent
Braziel informed us that although organized crime still exists and there
is a need for more coverage of criminal investigations, the bigger
threat, and therefore a primary concern, is computer crime. Whether the
problem is identity fraud, viruses or child pornography, they are
currently receiving 22,000 complaints a month. The #2 concern is
corruption on the federal, state and local levels, the majority of which
involve fellow officers.
Agent Braziel
answered questions about Robert Hansen, the mole in her office with whom
she had worked for 20 years, the FBI's relationship with the CIA
("getting better") and how citizens can help the FBI fight crime. She
said to always report suspicious persons and activities and to remember
that even Timothy McVeigh was brought down by a routine traffic stop.
All in all, we
learned a lot about the tremendous obstacles faced by the FBI and the
amazing work they are able to accomplish despite those obstacles.
Guests and Visitors
Will Slicker, Tom
Nelson
and Frank Ranieri brought guests to our program on the FBI.
Will’s guest was Doug Giannotti. Tom introduced us to Raffi Darrow and
Frank was joined by Damian Gerke. Come back again. The lunch is always
good and the people and programs are great!
What’s Happening?
Busy Saturday?
Our Club has two
activities competing for your Saturday time. Kiwanians are asked to
participate once again in Happy Workers Literacy Fair to assist and
entertain children in the morning. New or gently used books for children
up to age 12 are still needed for that event. Let Jane Baldwin know if
you can volunteer or have books to donate for that event. But there’s
more…
Lorin Bridge is
organizing a Kiwanis Tailgate Party on the same day! If you’d rather
socialize than supervise, see Lorin for tickets ($22 each) and more
information.
Don’t Miss The
Banquet!
As reported in
previous Bulletins, our Kiwanis Installation Banquet is next Tuesday
evening and will take the place of our regularly scheduled meeting. It's
hard to believe another year of service and camaraderie has passed, but
we look forward to honoring President Mitch for the great job he's done
and welcoming President-Elect Markus to lead us through our next
exciting year. Awards and recognition will be bestowed on those among us
who have made significant contributions to our Club and the communities
we serve. Other highlights include the laughter and tears, the chance to
mingle as couples and singles with the great-hearted friends in our Club
in a sociable setting and the fantastic repast prepared for us by the
St. Petersburg Yacht Club:
-
California
Salad
-
Sliced Fruit
with Mango Mascarpone Dip
-
Tomato Salad
with Red Onions & Basil
-
Marinated
Vegetables with Feta Cheese & Greek Dressing
-
Chicken Piccata
with Capers and Basil
-
Seared Mahi Mahi
with Mango Relish and Orange Butter Sauce
-
Prime Rib of
Beef with Au Jus and Horseradish
-
Warm Rolls &
Butter
-
Au Gratin
Potatoes
-
Roasted Red
Potatoes
-
Vegetable Medley
-
Asparagus
-
Carmel
Flan with Fresh Berries
-
Linzer Torte
-
Assorted
Pastries
-
Apple Cobbler
-
Key Lime &
Macadamia Nut Tarts
-
Coffee and Tea
Come for the
ceremony, come for the friends, come for the food, but make sure to
come! RSVP today!
TODAY’S QUIZ:
1. What
Jewish holiday just preceded the upcoming holiday, Yom Kippur, and what
did it celebrate?
2.
Offered a new pen to write with, 97% of all
people will write what?
3.
What is the oldest capital city in the Americas?
4.
What was used
for blood in the famous 45-second shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's
movie, Psycho? Who was the actress in the leading role?
LAST WEEK’S QUIZ:
1.
The origins of the
FBI's motto may be traced to a brief comment by Inspector W. H. Drane
Lester, the editor of the employee magazine, The Investigator, in
September 1935:
“…’F B
I’ is the best and one from which we might well choose our motto, for
those initials also represent the three things for which the Bureau and
its representatives always stand:
"Fidelity
- Bravery - Integrity".
2.
The missing
and presumed dead Steve Fossett was the first balloonist to fly
solo around the world when he landed in Australia on 4th July 2002.
3.
Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Luciano
Pavarotti comprised the
Three Tenors.
4. The
bloodhound is the only animal whose evidence is admissible in court.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Yom
Kippur Prayer – Kol Nidre
All vows, prohibitions, oaths, consecrations, konam-vows, konas-vows, or
equivalent terms that we may vow, swear, consecrate, or prohibit upon
ourselves - from the last Yom Kippur until this Yom Kippur, and from
this Yom Kippur until the next Yom Kippur, may it come upon us for good
- regarding them all, we regret them henceforth. They all will be
permitted, abandoned, cancelled, null and void, without power and
without standing. Our vows shall not be valid vows; our prohibitions
shall not be valid prohibitions; and our oaths shall not be valid oaths.
God is the
incomparable King of the Universe. The destiny of humanity is to come to
this realization. Whereas human kings rule in accordance with the
principle of :"might makes right," God is the Holy King, Who is, at the
same time, beyond comparison in His power, "Vas er vil, Tut er" -
"Whatever He wills, He can do," yet He is also the Father of the orphan
and the Judge of the widow, Who is always on the side of the powerless.
He is the
Incorruptible and Righteous Judge of the World, Who favors no one, and
cannot be bribed.
He is the true God and His word, the Torah, is true and eternal. Amen.
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