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November 6, 2007 No. 5 Vol. 86
This Week’s Program:
Mayor Rick Baker – State of the City
Mayor Rick
Baker is a familiar face to those residing or doing business in St.
Petersburg. Active and accessible, Mayor Baker is a frequent guest of
civic and professional groups, schools and fundraisers and a dedicated
promoter and guardian of St. Petersburg’s future.
Elected in 2001, he was re-elected in November
2005 by over 70% of the vote, and will stay in office till January 2,
2010. Mayor Baker was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to Chairman of the
Century Commission. In 2006, he was appointed by Governor Charlie Crist
as the group leader for the Governor's Transition Team on Growth and
Environment. Agencies reviewed under the Mayor's leadership included the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Fish & Wildlife
Commission (FWC), Department of Community Affairs (DCA), and Department
of Transportation (DOT). He is a board member of Tampa Bay Water and
chairman of the Governor’s Municipal Mentoring Initiative. Community
service includes his leadership role as President of the Suncoast
Children’s Dream Fund, Chairman of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of
Commerce, and Chairman of the Florida International Museum. He also
chairs Leadership St. Pete and is a Founder of the YMCA Neighbor to
Neighbor Christmas Program and the CONA Neighborhood Leadership
Program.
The author of Mangroves to Major Leagues,
an historical account of St. Petersburg from 23,000 B.C. to 2000 A.D.,
he’ll take us up to the present in his State of the City address for
2007 A.D. It’s a great day in St. Petersburg, Mayor! We look forward to
your update on “the Baker Plan.”
Last Week’s Program: Norman Brown, President,
St. Pete NAACP
Kiwanian-of-the-Day Paul Renker introduced
our speaker, Norman Brown, who spoke with us about the goals of
our local NAACP. Mr. Brown is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, but has
lived in St. Petersburg for 20 years with his wife of 53 years, Mary,
current president of the Pinellas County School Board. At 73 years of
age, Mr. Brown has lived through much of the civil rights struggles of
African-Americans and has held a number of leadership positions in this
and other communities. He told us that much like what we value in
Kiwanis, the education of children and equal access to resources is key
to the NAACP.
Of particular concern right now is the
neighborhood schools initiative which he and many others believe will
resegregate the schools, leaving African-American children and youth
behind academically. While he recognizes that busing hasn’t been a
perfect solution, it has at least provided children Black and white with
more equitably equipped school facilities and the opportunity to become
familiar with differing cultural and racial backgrounds. Busing will
never stop, he said, as most children have to ride the bus to get to
even local schools and we have to understand what we’re sacrificing when
we fail to look at the bigger picture and the principles involved.
Having worked as the Human Resources Director for
Pinellas County Government as well as for Tampa Bay Housing, Mr. Brown
says that if people could afford homes and mix with one another,
neighborhood schools wouldn’t be bad, but lack of access to housing
plays into the resegregation problem.
With high dropout rates, fewer jobs and more need
for higher education, our schools must come up to the task of turning
out good employees with necessary skills.
Kiwanians expressed a wide range of thoughtful
responses and the discussion was mostly respectful of differences.
Nevertheless, especially during controversial issues, Kiwanians are
urged to remember that civility to our invited guests and one another,
during and after our meetings, is critical to our working together for
the betterment of all our many communities.
Guests and Visitors
Biff Baker brought a guest, Karen Van
DePutte, from The Hospice Foundation. She will be joining us as a
member soon. Please welcome her!
There were 55 members present for our program and
one guest besides our speaker. Don’t forget to bring a guest as often as
you can and talk to them about why you’re a member. Those who share our
concern for children may join and help us further our mission.
November is Native American Heritage Month and
Diabetes Awareness Month. Remember the generosity of the Native
Americans who joined us at the first Thanksgiving and pass up that
second piece of pumpkin pie!
What’s Happening?
Project Save A Smile
Kathy Condon gave us the scoop on Saturday,
October 27th’s Third Annual Kiwanis Club of St. Petersburg’s
Project Save-A-Smile. Dr. Ron O’Neal and his team performed
dental services ranging from teeth cleaning to tooth extractions free of
charge. In addition to the free exams, four children who attended the
event will be selected to receive braces free of charge courtesy of Dr.
Michael Hess, a local orthodontist.
Project Save-A-Smile was conceived by Dr. O’Neal,
who serves as co-chairperson of our Club’s Community Services Committee.
Ron saw a great need for children to receive dental care, which, because
of family circumstances, is not ordinarily available to them. Our Club
has adopted the project and enabled him to make his concept a reality.
On Saturday, approximately 70 needy children
actually looked forward to going to the dentist. Even the rain couldn’t
dampen their spirits. Dr. Ron’s parking lot was transformed into a
Halloween festival atmosphere complete with clowns, balloons, face
painting, and many other activities. One clown looked suspiciously
familiar – it turned out to be Harry Eisnaugle, and his wife, Peggy, was
the face painter! Other members of the Kiwanis Club of St. Petersburg,
and some from the St. Pete High School Key Club entertained the children
while they waited their turn in the dentist’s chair.
When deserving kids get the dental care they so
desperately need it does more than save their smiles, it shines up their
self esteem, too. Upon exiting Dr. O’Neal’s office one young fellow who
was extremely quiet on arrival, flashed his pearly whites and proclaimed
“I have beautiful teeth.” That sums it up nicely - what a day well
spent!
We all thank you, Club members and friends, for
your great service that day on behalf of children in our community.
Kiwanis wouldn’t be the same without you.
Don’t Sing The Blues…Pay Your Dues
Dues are due. See Charles or just send in your
check. You may not deduct fines levied by the finemaster from your dues.
If you got fined, it was probably due you.
Boys And Girls Committee Meeting
Worth Blackwell informed us that the first
Boys and Girls Committee meeting of the year will take place next
Tuesday at 5:15 at his firm, Englander & Fischer, P.A., 721 First Avenue
N.
The Holidays Are Upon Us
Lorin Bridge announced the annual Kiwanis
Holiday Party Progressive Dinner coming up on December 15th
at Harbor Isle. A sign-up sheet will be circulating today. This is a
great holiday mixer you won’t want to miss.
Like Lithuanian Beer? You Haven’t Lived Till
You’ve Chugged Moose Drool
Thanks Jeff Francis for donating the
six-pack of Moose Drool beer, brought all the way from Missoula,
Montana, to raise money for our Club. A thirsty Tom (I’ll drink anything
once) Nelson got the beer for a bargain at $30.
-- MESSAGE FROM KIWANIS FLORIDA
GOVERNOR --
Looking for
Super Models
Governor Mark Taylor has outlined Florida Kiwanis’
2007-2008 goals with the theme “Take Time To Be A Super Model.” Our
district and each one of us can be the model for other Clubs, young
people and the community by helping to further the following goals:
TEAMWORK
Ø
Have fun as a team with a district wide cruise
to visit Clubs in the Caribbean
Ø
Share in fundraising to create funding sources
other than dues
Ø
Encourage competition for Club excellence and
awards
IMAGE
Ø
Introduce Kiwanis programs to every school in
the district
Ø
Add or improve Kiwanis signage and pride
Ø
Participate in the Governor’s project for
youth sports – Kiwanis Day at the Ballpark (Saturday, April 5th)
Ø
Encourage the wearing of contemporary Kiwanis
attire that makes a member proud to wear it
MEMBERSHIP
Ø
Net membership gain of 10%
Ø
Each Club shall have a Special Guest Day
Ø
All clubs opened since 2006 shall have a net
membership increase of 25%
Ø
Open 12 new Clubs in culturally diverse areas
of the district
Ø
Diversify Club membership through recruitment
of women through the 100 in 100 program
EDUCATION
Ø
2010-2010 20% of membership at Education
Days, Governor’s visits and the international convention, 10% of
membership at the district convention
Ø
Use online education for frequently asked
questions and common Club information
Ambitious Goals And An Ambitious Appeal
Governor Mark also requests the assistance of all
the Clubs in the Florida District in support of his 6 mile (10K) walk in
June 2008 with International Kiwanis President Dave Curry. The proceeds
will be set up in an endowment fund to benefit the Key Club.
The minimum donation of $1,000 will entitle the
donor (whether individual or a group) to receive a Hixson Fellow Award.
Governor Mark feels this is a wonderful way to
acknowledge the outstanding accomplishments of someone in our Club or
division while providing for the future growth of Key Club.
Governor Mark has stated repeatedly that Key Club
played a major role in guiding him through his high school years and he
holds this particular group dear to his heart.
Please look at our website for the form to pledge
or send in your gift or contact the Governor with your $1,000 donation.
TODAY’S QUIZ:
- November begins on the same day of the week
as which month every year?
- What was the name of the last of the Mohicans
in James Fenimore Cooper's novel published in 1826?
- Americans spend
approximately how much each year on beer? (Remember, Tom Nelson
spent $30 just last week on Moose Drool.)
- The Anglo-Saxons
included what common vegetable as an ingredient in a medicinal drink
against the devil and insanity? (Orange Blossom serves it sometimes
at lunch, but it doesn’t seem to have stopped the insanity at our
meetings!)
LAST WEEK’S QUIZ:
1) On June 12, 1963, activist and NAACP Field
Secretary Medgar Evers was assassinated with a bullet to the back
in Mississippi.
2) Castor oil is safe to ingest. Caster
beans contain ricin, a potent poison which can kill you.
3) Ten inches of snow
equals one inch of rain in water content. The rest is mostly air.
4) The three races that make up the Triple Crown
are: The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for the growth of our city, for the many people and
families that have come here. We thank you for the many opportunities
that surround us.
We seek your help. Help us to honor each other as we grow. May we be a
city known for love and care.
Please help our people. There are so many needs. There are challenges,
trouble and despair. Help us to be good neighbors that know the needs of
those around us. May your goodness and healing flow through the lives of
the people of St. Petersburg and the world. Amen.
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