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October 2, 2007 No. 1 Vol.
86 This Week’s Program Tom Woodward,
PhD Intelligent Design vs. Evolution
Tom is the Chief Executive Officer of the C.S.
Lewis Society and has been a professor at Trinity College of Florida
since 1988, teaching courses in science, philosophy, anthropology and
communications. He previously chaired the Department of World Missions
and presently is Chairman of the Department of Bible and Theology. Tom
is a graduate of Princeton University, obtained his Th.M. in Systematic
Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. from the
University of South Florida. He authored Doubts About Darwin (a
2004 Book of the Year--Christianity Today magazine) and co-edited
Darwinism Under the Microscope with Dr. James Gills. He has
published articles in Christianity Today and Moody Monthly.
His sequel to DAD, Darwin Fights Back, was released in the Fall
of 2006. Tom also hosts a weekly radio program "Darwin or Design" on
Saturdays.
Dr. Woodward has spoken on science or apologetics
at nearly 100 colleges and universities, in addition to church
conferences. During July and August of 2007, Dr. Woodward gave 38
lectures in eight cities of Australia, including 17 universities and
colleges.
He and the Society staff have pioneered in a
crucial task in apologetics-evangelism: building a bridge of logic and
evidence to help skeptics and seekers to think through the key question:
“Who is nature’s designer?” This has led to the publication of the
science-evangelism brochure “From Design to the Designer.”
Regarding the Society’s university focus, he says:
“In the past five years, our overseas focus has
been directed toward those campuses that are either secularist or
significantly unevangelized—in Europe, Asia and Latin America. In fact,
many of our conferences, seminars, debates, and lectures have been held
in post-Christian venues in Europe. We are working intensively
in apologetics-evangelism movements in Italy, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary,
Serbia, the UK and Greece. In addition, we have recently entered into a
partnership with Trans World Radio to underwrite the ongoing broadcast
of a powerful evangelistic program that is impacting young adults in
China.”
Last Week’s Program: Our Club’s 2007-2008
Installation Banquet
Last Tuesday night’s Installation Banquet was a
bittersweet success, punctuated with moments of laughter and the
camaraderie among Club members and their significant others that comes
from gatherings of people with a common purpose and shared memories.
It’s always a pleasure to see or meet Club members’ families and friends
whom we don’t see often enough outside of occasions like this one.
The evening was well-organized and the program as
a result moved quickly and smoothly. The food and service from waitstaff
at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club were both first rate.
After a pleasant cocktail hour, then-President
Mitch Cochran called the assembly to order and the song and pledge
were led by Bernie Lodge as is customary. Bernie was my date for
the evening and he fell for me. Literally. After the invocation by
Cathy Swanson, Bernie took a tumble as he returned to his seat
resulting in a collective gasp from the crowd and many gestures of
caring and concern. After a short interval, Bernie demonstrated the
courage and resolve that has made him a member of Kiwanis for over 60
years – he returned to his seat and finished out the evening as the
great representative of our Club he is.
President Mitch welcomed everyone and led us
through a recap of the year in which he recognized the heads of
committees and their achievements in which, as a Club, we all took part
(see Mitch Cochran’s letter elsewhere in this issue).
Charles Stuart then presented the Legion of
Honor Award, which is bestowed to those whose membership reaches or
exceeds 25 years in five year increments. This year’s recipients are Ray
Baker (30 years), Bill Rhodes (35 years), Bud Risser (40 years), Weyman
Willingham (also 40 years) and Connie Keltner (55 years!).
Skip Carr gave the Bernie Lodge Layperson
of the Year Award to Frank Ranieri for his contributions to the
Club and his church. There have been 41 recipients since the award’s
inception in 1967; 11 current members are recipients.
Bob Byelick won Committee Chairperson of
the Year. Cathy Swanson also presented him with the award plaque
she received last year on our behalf from Mayor Baker in recognition of
our efforts regarding the Jim Fischer Scholarship Fund. Cathy passed the
plaque along to Bob who noted that we had awarded scholarships to at
least 25 students.
Lt. Governor Terry Carr took the podium to
formally recognize the officers standing down and to install the new
officers of our Club. Formally inducted were the new Directors: Ron
Braun, Cyndi Mulligan, Dr. Ron O’Neal and Judge Mark Shames.
Charles Stuart agreed to serve another year as Secretary/Treasurer
and so Lt. Governor Carr installed him. Our new Vice Presidents were
asked to come forward. Unfortunately, none of them knew who they were,
resulting in non-VPs coming up and being turned away and the actual VPs
lagging till it could have been no one else but them. Lorin Bridge
and Bob Piplitz, in matching “Miami Vice”casual suit wear (no
collars or ties for these men-about-town!) and too-many-martinis grins,
were formally installed as our new Vice Presidents, much to the chagrin
of the assembled members of our Club.
Biff Baker was formally installed as
President Elect and Markus Mittermyer was installed and pinned as
our new President.
Lt. Governor Carr congratulated everyone and
promised support from Division 13, Florida Kiwanis and Kiwanis
International. Mitch turned the gavel over to Markus who gave a moving
speech about a bike ride and a phone call from Cathy Swanson that
brought him to this post. He thanked Charles Stuart and Mrs. Mittermyer
for putting our lovely banquet together, he presented Mitch with a Past
President plaque, all of last year’s Bulletins and a special gift – a
framed picture of Past Lt. Governor Eddie Lee. Finally he thanked Lt.
Governor Carr and his wife for coming and adjourned the meeting.
Thank you all who were able to attend. Your
presence gave meaning and significance to the occasion in which we
witnessed together the changing of the old guard and installation of the
new. Our collective memories of past leaders and shared aspiration to
make every year better than the last brings to the Club a sense of
purpose, goodwill and optimism that broadens and deepens what it means
to be a Kiwanian.
Guests And Visitors
Many members brought their spouses, other
relatives and friends to our Installation Banquet, and we were pleased
to welcome our new Lt. Governor Terry Carr and his wife.
From The Desk Of Immediate Past President Mitch
Cochran
Dear Fellow Kiwanians,
It was a pleasure and an honor to serve as your
president during the past year. Together, we continued our great Club’s
tradition of helping our community. Here is a brief recap of what we
accomplished:
o Boys & Girls Committee led by Susan Doll donated
$20,000.00 to 15 separate charities benefiting over 1,000 kids, the most
ever.
o Young Children Priority 1 led by Kathy Condon & Ron
Scoggins had over 100 members spend 485 hours serving 500+ kids by
supplying volunteers to six different projects.
o Community Services led by Jane Baldwin & Bob Piplitz had
125 members spend 255 hours serving 445+ kids by supplying volunteers
for five different projects.
o Vocational Guidance led by Biff Baker & J.C. Russell
received over 30 applications and awarded $15,000.00 in scholarships,
both the most ever.
o Jim Fischer Scholarship led by Bob Byelick whose
committee raised over $30,000.00 to give 25 students free college
tuition.
Again I would like to express my sincere thanks to
the entire Board of Directors, Committee Chairs and members who served
to make this a very successful year. Finally, I’d like to express my
deepest thanks to Charles Stuart. Without him, I never would have made
it through the year.
As a proud Kiwanian, I look forward to the
2007-2008 year with President Markus.
Sincerely,
M.H.”Mitch” Cochran
Immediate Past President
Kiwanis Club of St. Petersburg
What’s Happening?
Our first member of the new Kiwanis year,
Ramona Hunter, was inducted yesterday and arrives today as our
one-day-old member, first in the new year! Please welcome her. It’s an
auspicious start to her membership that she comes in with a new slate of
officers and a new President.
Al Muter Scholarship Recipient Update
Louisa Powell, our 2004 Al Muter Scholarship Award
Winner, wrote our Club’s Vocational Guidance Committee to update us on
her continuing achievements.
She writes that, at UF, where she majors in
English and has a double minor in Family, Youth and Communities and in
Non-Profit Organizations, her UF upper division GPA of 3.58 entitled her
to participate in writing for the English Honors Thesis Program. Upon
successful completion of her Honors Thesis, she will be eligible to
graduate in Spring 2008.
Louisa went on to say:
”Upon finishing the 2007 spring semester, I accepted an offer to work
part-time for the Stephen K. Miller Law Office as a legal assistant.
Monday through Friday, I work morning shifts for the law office and in
the afternoons I work as a volunteer intern for the Gainesville Child
Advocacy Center. In early May, I enrolled in a UF internship class for
course credit towards my double minors. My double minors in Family,
Youth and Communities and Non-Profit Organizations require me to
participate in a one-semester internship with a 501c3 Non-Profit
Organization. As an intern with the Child Advocacy Center in
Gainesville, I assist in meeting the needs of abused and neglected
children in our community. I assist in addressing these needs by working
with a community-based, child-focused center that facilitates a
compassionate, multidisciplinary approach to prevention, identification,
investigation, prosecution and treatment of child abuse.”
“As an aspiring attorney,” Louisa writes, “I am
independently studying for the LSAT exam. I plan to take the LSAT exam
and apply to Law schools during my 2007 fall semester. During the 2008
spring semester, I plan to have successfully completed my English Honors
Thesis. I intend to graduate in May of 2008 with the completion of my
English major and my double minors. After finishing law school, I would
like to pursue a career in family and juvenile law. Once I am
established as an attorney, I intend to do legal work for a Non-Profit
Adoption Agency and/or work with my local Child Advocacy Center. I hope
to make a difference within the legal and foster care system for
children that have been abused and neglected. My own adoption back in
April of 1996 has been my impetus for pursuing a career in law.”
“Thank You! For your continued encouragement and
financial support. I couldn’t have made it this far without your prayers
and support. I feel as if it was just yesterday that I entered college
as a freshman and now I am entering my senior year at the University of
Florida for the completion of my BA. I pray each day that God continues
to guide me along this long and winding path. Within the next year, I
have many important decisions to make about my future, so please
continue to keep me in your prayers. God Bless You Sponsors!!!”
Sincerely,
Louisa D. Powell
Lest we lose sight of the value of our work on
behalf of scholarships for kids, Louisa’s letter reminds us that we’re
not just funding classes, we’re changing lives.
Happy New Year, Everyone!
TODAY’S QUIZ:
1. Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest U.S.
food consumption day, following which holiday?
2. What is the “Establishment Clause” of the
First Amendment?
3. According to the National Association
of Homebuilders, the average size of the American home is now what?
4. On which continents have dinosaur remains been
found?
LAST WEEK’S QUIZ:
1. Our Club has four categories of
committees. The ones we most typically hear from and about are the
Activity, Reporting and Special Committees as follows: Social/Sports,
Membership & Retention, Program, Young Children Priority One, Human and
Spiritual Values, Vocational Guidance, Inter-Club, International
Relations, Sponsored Youth, Boys and Girls, Community Service, and Jim
Fischer Scholarship.
 2. After his death, a
family member found a sketch prepared by Jefferson, containing
instructions for his tombstone. Jefferson desired that his grave be
marked by an obelisk inscribed with the three accomplishments for which
he most wished to be remembered, "and not a word more":
Conspicuously missing is the fact that Jefferson
held all of the higher offices of political service, including governor
of Virginia, secretary of state, vice president, and, of course,
president.
3. The U.S. city that is the largest in area is
Anchorage, Alaska.
4. Neither President Cathy Swanson nor
President Mitch Cochran told jokes better than the other. They were
almost equally bad. We look forward to the humor of newly-installed
President Markus Mittermayr…until we don’t!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
(Blessing
for Sukkot - After the fast of Yom Kippur comes the feast of Sukkot –
“Season of our Joy”)
Blessed are You, O Lord our God,
King of the universe, Who has kept us in life, and has preserved us, and
enabled us to reach this season.
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