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February 19, 2008 No. 18 Vol. 86
This
Week’s Program:
Cliff Smith, Assistant Director, Pinellas County
Health and Human Services
Cliff will present information on the homeless population in Pinellas
County and Pinellas Hope, the mid-county homeless program that provides
shelter and services to the street homeless population.
The
Pinellas County Department of Health and Human Services provides health
care and other essential human services to disadvantaged Pinellas County
residents to assist them in reaching their maximum potential for
self-sufficiency. Services include: Medical care for the low-income
uninsured, financial assistance with rent, utilities and food to persons
who are temporarily or permanently disabled, employment readiness
training and job placement (STARS Program), dental care, energy
assistance for the elderly, outreach medical care to the homeless
population through the Mobile Medical Van, and Veterans Services.
Cliff Smith’s talk is timely as the City and its residents respond to
the problem of homelessness. We look forward to Cliff’s perspective.
Glad you could join us, Cliff!
Last Week’s Program: Carol Steele, Manager, SRI International’s Marine
Technology Program
Carol Steele is the Manager, Administration and Organizational
Development for SRI International’s Marine Technology Program, which
opened in St. Petersburg in January 2007. SRI, which originated in
Menlo, CA in 1941 boasts 2,000 staff members around the world. Formerly
called “Stanford Research Institute, SRI is a nonprofit organization
that is particularly good at taking high level research out of the lab
and making useful and meaningful products that make use of microsystem
and nanotechnology. SRI is responsible for developing the computer
mouse, one of the internet nodes that allows us to surf the ‘net, URL
extensions, sonograms, and technical advances in entertainment, like
cameras. One of the amazing tools SRI developed is the DaVinci Robotic
Medical System that allows doctors to operate on someone remotely.
Steele told us that SRI is all about innovation, which is why they’ve
been successful for 62 years. Innovation is a process, she said, saying
the development of new products goes from university or national labs to
SRI which receives research money from venture capitalists looking to
invest in the next big thing.
SRI
in St. Petersburg is developing marine instrumentation like ocean
optics, which monitors red tide bloom research at USF. What Steele talks
about SRI doing in the near future is the stuff of science fiction. For
instance, she says that algae will be harvested for energy and CO2
capture, tiny MEMs systems will monitor toxicity in our Gulf and ocean
waters to alert scientists to terrorist biochemical warfare and
nanotechnology will allow physicians to send tiny sensors into our
bodies to look for clues to illness and trauma.
Steele said that SRI has been working with the City on a mutually
beneficial deal. The City will design and build (and own) a new,
research and development facility and that Pinellas County and the State
will provide $10 million to fund the facility. SRI will lease the
facility for ten years for a nominal fee and the State will provide
another $20 million over five years for transition, new equipment and
collaborative research projects. SRI has spun off 25 new specialty
businesses since its inception and is considered the wave of the future
in technology.
Guests and Visitors
Last
week’s program on MEMs technology drew 56 members and 8 guests including
our speaker and her associate. Harry Eisnaugle hosted Bob
Claycomb, Harry Benjamin visited us from Birmingham, Alabama, Lew
Kent brought Greg Nipper, Maryann Lynch brought Buddy Sauter,
Frank Ranieri welcomed Kiwanian Angie Boswell and
Markus Mittermayr welcomed back Paul Misciewcz.
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: Cynthia McGowan
Company and Title: Director of Development, American Stage Theatre
Company
Joined Kiwanis because? Originally sent by former employer to network. I
loved it so much I continued later for better reasons – to be part of a
fine organization devoted to service and because of the affection and
respect I have for my fellow Kiwanians.
Your
single favorite Kiwanis experience/event? Becoming editor of the
bulletin, writing up in the Kiwanian the inspiring range of activities
our members initiate and participate in.
Tell
us about your family, including pets. Not currently married, but in a
long-standing relationship. The best “kids” in the world – my eight
rescued parrots (especially my clever macaws) and seven rescued dogs.
Perfect day away from work? Sleeping late, reading at the beach, going
to an art exhibit in the afternoon, dinner and mojitos with friends,
watching “Project Runway” late at night.
Best
vacation ever? It’s a tie. Swimming with the dolphins off Isla de
Mujeres, Mexico and tooling around Barbados in a “moke.”
Last
book you read or favorite movie? I read all the time, so ‘last book’
changes all the time. Favorite movies – “Jaws” and “White Oleander.”
Sports or art walks? Art walks.
Beach or mountains? Beach, hands down. Despite the sharks!
One
thing most people don’t know about you? I have a small tattoo in
Sanskrit above my right shoulder blade, a gift to myself for my 50th
birthday!
Quote to live by? Two: “Advice rains down from the arena, full, but only
the matador faces the bull.” And from the Dalai Lama, “Kindness is my
religion.”
If
you were on Kiwanis Survivor, who would you vote off the island? Someone
came to mind, but if I told you, I’d have to kill you.
What’s Happening?
New Kiwanian’s Life Story Takes Three Minutes
Blake Ackley delivered his three minute speech Tuesday informing us
that he was born and raised in St. Pete, attended both Southside and St.
Pete High and is an ’04 graduate of FSU. Blake works for State Farm and
is glad to be back in his home community! His father recommended our
Club to Blake (way to go, Dad!) and Blake is eager to get to know us
all.
Local Hero
Angie Boswell related her story of saving a small boy from drowning
at a party she attended and stressed the usefulness of learning CPR.
Angie’s heroism and cool head during the family’s panic over their
unconscious child turned a tragedy into a celebration. Great work,
Angie! We’re proud of you and thankful that your training stood you in
good stead. Hey, Biff – let’s have a program on CPR with a
demonstration. (Tonight I’ll be the helpless coed who can’t swim and you
be the…oh, never mind.)
Governor’s Dinner
Markus Mittermayr reported that four Key Club members affiliated
with our Club were recognized by the Governor at his February 8th
dinner. One of the Governor’s goals is to increase membership in every
Club (surprise!). Kiwanians are urged to bring guests and inform friends
and colleagues about the benefits of their local joining Kiwanis.
Kiwanis Meeting Or Rave Party?
Charles Stuart unveiled the Spring fashion line from the House of
Kiwanis with a smartly styled polo in “burnt orange.” Wikipedia places
burnt orange on the color wheel between dark salmon and brown and notes
that orange shades are favored by attendees at raves and that when seen
in someone’s aura signify intellectual ambition. This may not be
Spring’s best color, Charles, but the polos will come in handy for our
Big Pumpkin contest in the Fall.
4th
Annual Jim Fischer Birthday Bash
Mark
your calendar on June 14th to attend our annual Jim Fischer
Birthday Bash, a fundraiser that raises college scholarship money for
high performing grade-schoolers and middle-schoolers from low-income
families. Part of the Pinellas Education Foundation and Mayor Rick
Baker's Doorway Scholarship Program, students are selected during Grades
4-9 by the Pinellas Education Foundation based on financial need, good
grades and attendance. If they maintain that status through graduation
from high school, they receive free college tuition. Please save the
date and plan to attend the Birthday Bash.
Got Goodies?
Bob Byelick is looking for goody bag items for the golfers who’ll
compete in the Jim Fischer Golf Tournament on April 14th. If
you have company promotional items, donate a hundred of them to this
good cause.
Bob read us some more of the scholarship
recipient letters our Club has received and reminded us that if we can
raise enough money through the golf tournament and the birthday bash, we
could scholarship another 26 kids for an even 100. This is the perfect
opportunity to have some fun and change some lives.
Kiwanians Celebrate Valentine’s Day With A Good Laugh
Thirty seven Kiwanian and spouses streamed into American Stage to enjoy
Moonlight and Magnolias and Valentine’s treats last Thursday
night. Their raucous laughter and applause was either an indication that
they approved of the play or that their level of alcohol consumption
rendered everything funny and entertaining, but in either case, they all
seemed to have a good time. Charles Stuart ushered several ladies
into the theatre, testimony to his good looks and charm. A couple of our
members asked Cynthia McGowan if there would be any food at “half
time.” Real theatre-lovers, those two!
Special Olympics Volunteers Welcome and Needed
Cynthia Mulligan and Pat Bisciotti still need volunteers for
the community service event coming up on March 1. Lakewood High will
host a Special Olympics competition on that Saturday starting at 8:30
a.m. This is another heartwarming opportunity to get involved in our
local communities and enjoy the camaraderie of special athletes, their
families and your fellow Kiwanians. If your mother always told you that
you get out of things what you put into them, then make your Club work
for you as you work for it!
TODAY’S QUIZ:
1.
What group of people is one of the fastest
growing populations of the homeless?
2.
In the state of Virginia, Presidents’ Day is
legally known as what?
3.
Who was the first woman to run for President?
In what year did she run?
4.
According to Kness.com, what animal,
domesticated since the 1800s has “neophobia?”
LAST
WEEK’S QUIZ:
1.
Two examples of MEMS nanotechnology used
in the Tom Cruise film “Minority Report” can be any two of the
following: Cars that drive themselves on a magnetic-levitation
traffic system, the gloves that Cruise wears with light shooting from
the fingertips to command the megacrime computer like a conductor
leading an orchestra, the noisy talking cereal box Cruise throws across
the room, and the robot spiders that invade apartment buildings to
conduct eye scans on all inhabitants.
2.
The International Maritime Organization
reported that there were 1,587 pirate attacks on ships world-wide
from 1984 to the end of 1999.
3.
Human blood is red, insect blood is
yellow, and lobster blood is blue.
4.
"Like a song of
love that clings to me, how the thought of you does things to me” is
from “Unforgettable” sung most unforgettably by Nat King Cole.
PRAYER OF THE DAY (for the Murphy
family)
Bless those who mourn, eternal God, with the comfort of your love
that
they may face each new day with hope and the certainty that nothing
can
destroy the good that has been given. May their memories become joyful,
their days enriched with friendship, and their lives encircled by
your
love. Amen.
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