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January 22, 2008 No.
15 Vol. 86
This Week’s Program:
Pamela Borres, Founder of SPOT USA, Inc.
Pamela Borres is a
native Floridian, a career woman, a companion animal advocate and a busy
volunteer. She earned her degree in Accounting in 1983, ran her own
Color Consulting business in 1987, and started her career with
Continental Airlines in 1991. She is still an international flight
attendant and flies the European routes while volunteering full time
with SPOT (Stop Pet Overpopulation Together).
After 9/11, she had the
opportunity to take time off and volunteer at the local animal shelters.
She discovered that 75% of the animals that enter the shelters aren’t
adopted and are euthanized. Pet overpopulation is the number one killer
of cats and dogs in America. Being an
animal lover and wanting to save them all, Pamela researched the root of
the problem to find out why so many animals are being turned in to the
shelters and what we can do to prevent the problem.
Today, she will
introduce us to SPOT and explain how pet overpopulation affects everyone
in the community even if you don’t have pets. Discover a simple solution
to a major problem and help give every animal a home. For more
information, to volunteer or to make a donation, visit
www.SPOTusa.org or contact Pamela at 727-545-3463 or by email at
SPOTusa2006@msn.com.
Last Week’s
Program: Florida Gulf Coast Chapter U. S. Green Building Council, John
Toppe, Architect, Toppe Consultants, Inc.
Speaker John Toppe
spoke about to us about the US Green Building Council, a national
organization formed in 1996 with 61 members, now numbering over ten
thousand members representing hundred of thousands of individuals.
Toppe is the founding president of
Florida’s first chapter of the US Green Building Council, the Florida
Gulf Coast Chapter. It exists to lead the region toward
sustainability by encouraging and advancing environmental friendly
knowledge and values as they pertain to the built environment and its
relationship and impact on nature and human kind. Their vision is
to hand the next generation a healthy, self-sustaining
Florida.
Toppe informed us that
the United States represents just 5% of the world population, but 25% of
the world’s energy consumption. Encouraging more responsible use of
natural resources, including “green building” will go a long way toward
ensuring a sustainable future for upcoming generations.
Contrary to most
people’s assumptions, green building does not cost more money than
traditional methods, in fact, it’s usually about the same, at most 6.8%
over, with operation costs-savings evident almost immediately. Green
building saves on operating costs long-term and results in healthier
buildings. Toppe said that Florida should look at green opportunities –
industries using or providing green solutions and materials – to move
forward. Green buildings typically represent 30% energy savings, 35%
carbon savings, 30-50% water use savings and 50-90% waste savings.
Green designers are no
longer categorized as “tree huggers and hippies.” Now anyone who
promotes efficient construction, savvy builders and owners, are people
with “green collar jobs.” “Make no mistake,” Toppe said, “it is all
about the money with a feel good element, too. We’re trying to achieve
the Triple Bottom Line , win-win-win, for people, the environment and
economics.”
The USGBC has developed
the industry standard rating system “LEEDS” (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design) with multiple levels of certification on the order
of the nutrition labels on food products. The LEEDS certification
provides information about a building’s energy and environmental impact
based on norms. They evaluate sustainable site use, efficient water use,
energy and atmosphere impact, materials and resources used (an average
home creates 5 tons of waste when constructed, all of which goes
straight into our landfills), indoor environmental quality, and
innovation, among other things. Buildings receiving LEEDS certification
have a LEEDS plaque installed; the plaques are made from recycled glass.
Toppe suggested that those among us who are interested in getting the
latest on the green revolution from the green design and sustainability
experts who are leading the way consider attending The Third Annual
Smart Sustainable Tampa Bay conference Feb. 7-8 to be held at the
Radisson in Feather Sound for Day One and at the EpiCenter in Clearwater
for Day Two. For more information, visit
www.sustainabletampabay.com.
Guests and Visitors
Fifty
members
and four visitors enjoyed lunch together and last week’s presentation.
Bob Claycomb, visiting from
York, PA, was the guest of Harry Eisenaugle (Bob is Harry’s
“outlaw” – Bob’s daughter married Harry’s son). Lou Averbeck
hosted daughter, Lari, Chris Smaridge was the guest of Bret Jahn,
and Melanie Topp was introduced
by Kathy Condon. Melanie works with Kathy’s firm and is the wife
of last week’s speaker. Welcome, one and all. Join us again. In fact,
join our Club and dine with us every Tuesday!
Kiwanian of the Week
We’re including a new
feature to help members new and old get to know each other better. A
short biographical “portrait” and a picture of a fellow Kiwanian will
appear in each issue as we receive them.
Name: JOHN BIESINGER
Company and Title:
Raymond James Trust Private Wealth Management – Senior Trust Advisor
Joined Kiwanis
because? David Feaster asked me to!!
Your single favorite
Kiwanis experience/event? Attending International Convention in Taiwan
when I was Lieutenant Governor.
Tell us about your
family, including pets. Wife Nancy is a Past President of Tampa Club.
Dog Abbey (Wire Fox Terrier) owns our home and we pay rent in form of
food.
Perfect day away from
work? By the pool, cool drink in hand, BBQ ready for red meat.
Best vacation ever?
One month Nancy and I spent in China in summer of 01. Incredible!!
Would go again tomorrow.
Last book you read or
favorite movie? Hunt for Red October
Sports or art walks?
Sports
Beach or mountains?
Both
One thing most people
don’t know about you? Obtained an SCCA racing license 18 days after I
turned 16 and clocked over 150 MPH at Watkins Glen before I was 17.
Quote to live by? It’s
not who you know, it’s how well you know them.
If you were on Kiwanis
Survivor, who would you vote off the island? Unfair question. Can’t do
that to a fellow Kiwanian even if Click deserved to get voted off the
island for a day.
What’s Happening?
Beauty Is As Beauty
Does
President Markus
awarded “Mr. GO” (versus “GQ”, evidently) – Bob Piplitz – a
Certificate of Appreciation for his donation to the Kiwanis Children’s
Fund. Way to set an example, Bob!
Our Favorite Song
Leader
Bernie Lodge was
back in Palms of Pasadena for a short stay, but was recently released
into the care of his son. Bernie would love to hear from his Kiwanis
friends, so give him a call or arrange to visit him. His long commitment
to service, through the Salvation Army and Kiwanis, is an inspiration to
all who know him.
Promise Me Anything,
But Give Me Moonlight And Magnolias
Tom Nelson
announced that the Social Committee is organizing a Valentine’s Day
Social – dinner and drinks, and then Moonlight & Magnolias at
American Stage. David Abbey tells us he will be unable to attend
as his wife (romantic that she is) has informed him that she wants to go
to the stock car races in Daytona for Valentine’s Day this year. If your
sweetheart would prefer an evening on the town and a rollicking good
time at the Theatre, sign up with Tom. The play’s a hoot and there’s no
tellin’ where dinner and drinks will getcha!
Special Volunteers
Needed For Special Olympics
Cynthia Mulligan
announced that we will once again be supporting the Special Olympics
Area 6 - Summer Games on Saturday, March 7, 2008 from 8:30am-3:30pm at
Lakewood High School. The Community Service Committee would like to
provide 10-15 Kiwanis members and an equal number of Key Club members
(with whom our Club would like to partner for the Games) Pat
Bisciotti has graciously agreed to chair this event and will provide
more information and volunteer forms at a future meeting.
Al Muter Fund Scores
A Touchdown
Lewis Murphy
donated a football autographed by Florida Gator quarterback and Heisman
Trophy winner Tim Tebow which was auctioned off at the meeting. Paul
Renker won the football with a winning bid of $425. Proceeds will go to
the Al Muter Fund.
InterClub
Opportunity
Susan Doll is
organizing an InterClub meeting at Midtown Kiwanis (SPYC) on Wednesday,
January 30th at 8:30 am. Kiwanians are encouraged to attend
at least one InterClub meeting during the fiscal year. Meet new friends
and experience Kiwanis through another Club’s programs. You might bring
back some good ideas or just really appreciate all that our Club does!
What Was It Groucho
Marx Said? “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a
dog, it’s too dark to read.”
Looking for a quick
read? Go to Barnes and Noble. Looking for a lifelong friend? Check out
www.petfinder.com and
www.tampa.craigslist.org instead of shopping at a pet store. Pamela
Borres’ website,
www.SPOTusa.org, also lists local shelters and rescues, including
purebreed rescues. There are literally thousands of animals available in
the Tampa Bay area alone. Kittens, puppies and purebreds are available
as well as hardy, intelligent mixed breeds, older cats and dogs and a
variety of small mammals (gerbils, ferrets, hamsters, rabbits), birds
and reptiles. Shelters and rescues neuter and spay dogs and cats before
you adopt, but if you get an intact animal from a pet owner or breeder,
make your first stop the vet, so that you don’t unwittingly add to the
pet overpopulation problem!
TODAY’S QUIZ:
1. Which
“celebrity” cat was discovered in an animal shelter in New England?
2.
Only 55% of all Americans know that the sun
is a what?
3. The average
person's hair will grow approximately how many inches in a lifetime: A.
1,200 inches B. 590 inches C. 360 inches D. 700 inches? (Whatever the
number, Dr. Ron must be more than halfway there! Weyman, on the other
hand, is going backward.)
4. True or
False? Martin Luther King, Jr. visited India to study Mohandas Gandhi's
philosophy of nonviolence.
LAST WEEK’S
QUIZ:
1. By age 60, most
people have lost half their taste buds.
2. Arrowroot, used as a
thickener in cooking, is also an antidote used by South American Indians
for poison-tipped arrow toxins.
3..French was the
official language of Great Britain for over 600 years.
4. Linen was
used for the bandages in which mummies were wrapped.
PRAYER OF THE
DAY
In Remembrance
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
God
of our forebears and our God, who has summoned women and men throughout
the ages to be thy witnesses and sometimes martyrs for thee, we bow
before thee this day in remembrance and thanksgiving for the life and
legacy of thy servant, witness and martyr, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. We thank thee for his time among us, for his words and for his
deeds, and for the quality of his living witness which eases the pain of
recalling the brevity of his years. We rejoice in his example of
obedient faith and the scenes and stations of his life which inform and
enrich our own faith journeys. And we beseech thee this day for the
strength, steadfastness and courage not only to remember but also to
obey.
-- Dr.
Randolph Nugent, United Methodist Church
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