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April 29, 2008 No. 28 Vol. 86
This Week’s Program: Adam Birdsall
Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
Adam Birdsall is the Hospitality Education Manager
for Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater, formerly known as the County’s
Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Tourism is vital to Pinellas County, employing more
than 84,000 residents and having a $7 billion impact in direct and
indirect visitor expenditures. Yet it has become so interwoven into the
fabric of our community that it's easy sometimes to take it for
granted---and that's where Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater comes in.
Mr. Birdsall will bring us up to date on the marketing and education
campaign his organization has undertaken to remind county residents how
valuable tourism is to our economic well-being and to encourage them
(and us!) to become goodwill ambassadors for the area. Though it may be
our wonderful beaches and cultural treasures that draw tourists here in
the first place, it's the people of Pinellas that will bring them back
here again and again, so the best way to keep the industry strong is to
let visitors know we appreciate them choosing us as their vacation
destination. To paraphrase Mr. Birdsall's department's newly-minted
slogan, "When you support tourism, you are supporting us all."
Welcome, Adam. We look forward to learning how we
can help introduce visitors to our paradisical home in greater St.
Petersburg!
Last Week’s Program: Lloyd Bailey, The John
Birch Society
Kiwanian-of-the-Day Bob Piplitz introduced our
speaker, Lloyd Bailey, who spoke briefly about his decades-long career
as owner of the largest scuba and watersports full service scuba store
in North Florida. Successful business notwithstanding, Mr. Bailey said
that his first job “is to save my country from the shadow government”
and to fight the movement to put in place the “New World Order.” To
accomplish this, Mr. Bailey has devoted much of his life to his work in
the John Birch Society. The John Birch Society is
against a unified "one world government,” which it sees as inherently
socialist, and has an
illegal immigration reduction
view on
immigration reform.
Mr. Bailey described himself as a student of
history and a teacher of the United States Constitution. He described
the John Birch Society as a non-partisan, educational organization that
strives to preserve the liberties and freedom granted to us in the
Constitution which JBS adherents believe was divinely inspired. The
Society’s motto is “Less government, more responsibility, and with God’s
help a better world.” Its main goal is to preserve our model of
government by maintaining our borders against foreign encroachment and
erosion of our constitutional freedoms. To do this, the Society educates
the public about what it believes are the dangers of American
participation in the U.N., NAFTA, CAFTA and the Council On Foreign
Relations. In this way, the JBS encourages citizens to take a stand
against trade agreements and commerce with foreign countries
believing them to be destructive to American principles,
the economy, freedom and national sovereignty.
Bailey quoted recent newspaper articles regarding
President Bush seeking closer ties to Canada and Mexico and showed video
of Vice President Cheney favorably addressing a meeting of the Council
On Foreign Relations. The JBS, historically considered to be an
ultraconservative political organization that espoused the philosophy of
the “old Right-wing” Republican party, has disavowed any allegiance to
the “neocon” politics of the “new Right” because they believe that it,
as well as the Democratic Party, is run by “elites,” by which they mean
unprincipled billionaires who place profit above the principles of the
U.S. Constitution. Decidedly against communism, socialism and pluralism
in society (and historically, against the civil rights movement), the
JBS nevertheless finds itself in agreement with liberal and leftist
groups in some arenas. Both ends of the political spectrum are against
NAFTA, the use of torture in war, “illegal” American wars in Iraq, Korea
and Vietnam and the Patriot Act. Agreement in those instances causes
uneasiness on both sides.
Using a trade route map, video clips and slides,
Mr. Bailey stated the Society’s prediction that our land, utilities and
oceans will become the property of China, “a communist and despotic
nation.” He pointed to the Panama Canal as an example of an important
waterway “that belongs at both ends to the Chinese.”
Mr. Bailey stressed the need for public pressure to
be brought to bear on the most powerful branch of government, the House
of Representatives. He closed with two quotations: “A nation that ceases
to guard its borders ceases to be a nation” and “The duty is ours, the
results are God’s.”
Mr. Bailey’s and the Society’s views resonated with
some in our Club and not with others, but was an informative and
provocative perspective on American and world politics as seen through
the eyes of a modern-day “Bircher.”
Guests and Visitors
Did the smaller tables at Orange Blossom make it
seem like there were more of us or fewer of them? 58 members met for
lunch joined by seven guests/visitors (including our speaker, Mr.
Bailey, and his colleague.). Former Lt. Governor Eddie Lee from the Gulf
Beaches Club dined with us and presented some impressive awards, Ed
Garlitz joined Cynthia Mulligan, Bob Piplitz hosted wife Angela and
Mother Willa. Gillian Barnes attended at the request of Cynthia
McGowan.
What’s Happening?
Our Club Receives High Honors
Past Lt. Governor Eddie Lee attended last week to
make an awards presentation for the 2007 year to our many-times-over
award-winning Club on behalf of himself, Governor Mark Taylor and
executive director Ed Langeth. A banner patch was presented to President
Markus for his outstanding commitment to Key Club. Mitch Cochran
received a patch honoring him as “Distinguished Past President” of our
Club and to Charles Stuart as “Distinguished Secretary.” Kathy Congdon
was honored in absentia for her work with Young Children Priority One
and bulletin editor Cynthia McGowan was presented with a First Place
Newsletter patch, an award that, in fairness, must be shared with Frank
Ranieri for his visually appealing layout and design. Occasional roving
reporter Bob Piplitz sulked after the meeting for not having had his
stellar contributions to the newsletter acknowledged, but was quickly
appeased at hearing that his name would appear in this news item and
probably a few others.
Expensive Hobby? Golf Tournament A Vehicle For
Service And Fun
Bob Byelick announced that the annual Englander &
Fisher Charity Golf Tournament, of which our Club is the sole recipient,
raised conservatively $31,000 for our Jim Fisher Scholarship Fund. Bob
thanked Dr. Ron O’Neal and Cynthia McGowan for their donations of items
for the goody bags and auction. Worth Blackwell, Club member, partner at
Englander & Fisher and organizer of the tournament, applauded Bob
Byelick for his work with the scholarship fund and the students it
helps. Great work, Kiwanians! Teamwork, fun and service to others – the
hallmark of Kiwanis Clubs everywhere (but especially ours)!
Academy Prep Receives Grant from Boys and Girls
Committee
Gillian Barnes, development director for Academy
Preparatory School, received a $500 check presented by Cynthia McGowan
on behalf of the Boys and Girls Committee. Gillian explained that
Academy Prep enrolls high risk, high achievement potential elementary
and middle school students from South St. Pete in a challenging and
rigorous program focused on helping them achieve academic success.
Gillian told us that Academy Prep students have a 95% graduation rate
and that all of the graduates move into either jobs or college. We’re
pleased to contribute to the success of more St. Pete students through
inspiring programs like Academy Prep.
Easter and Election News From Our Ukrainian
Kiwanis Friends
Recently, Markus Mittermayr received an update from
Lora, President of the Ukrainian Kiwanis Club. After a fascinating
explanation of the Easter traditions of her country (including a recipe
for traditional Easter bread), Lora referred to the upcoming mayoral
election and its effect on her Club’s activities in the following
excerpt:
“Again we have changes in the policy. We shall have
the mayor elections in Kiev. I think in our country the biggest show
these are elections. Each election bring more problems and the main
thing has used millions dollars from the budget of country. And because
new elections we have not get the money which government promised to
finish repair in the children`s center. The center only half done. We
with our Kiwanis club and young people do a lot in this center. I would
want that in the summer we already could feed children in the center and
help them by medicine. I shall be glad if we can have a joint projects.
President Lora, Kiwanis club Ukraine
Thank you, Markus, (and President Lora) for
bringing us these illuminating, cross-cultural Kiwanis updates from the
Ukraine!
Where The People Lead, The Leaders Will Follow
Nominations are in for the upcoming elections for
the next year of Kiwanis and the following candidates will be voted on
at our May 13th meeting.
For President-Elect-Designate:
(President for 2009-2010)
Cyndi Mulligan
Bob Piplitz
For Vice President:
Steve Cunningham
Tom Nelson
Frank Ranieri
and the person who does not win the Pres.-elect
race
For Director:
Hunter Booth
Cynthia McGowan
Dan Stone
Guy Van Middlesworth
Please vote on May 13th! Your participation makes
our Kiwanis the “go to” Club for networking, civic involvement and
mentoring for youth.
TODAY’S QUIZ:
1.
What St. Pete/Clearwater area was voted “Best Beach” in 2008:
A. Caladesi Beach B. Fred Howard Beach C. Fort DeSoto Beach D.
Clearwater Beach?
2.
Which U.S. state flag contains a British Union Jack?
3.
Deinotherium was a giant extinct
mammal related to what
current animal? Clues: The biggest species was up to 15 feet tall and
weighed over 18 tons. Its scientific name Deinotherium was formed
from Greek words meaning “terrible beast.” Deinotherium was wrongly
identified by some early
paleontologists as a giant
tapir or as a giant sea cow.
4.
In 1953, the slogan for a brand of cigarettes was “Just What
The Doctor Ordered.” Can you name the brand?
LAST WEEK’S
QUIZ:
1.
The Galapagos is the largest living
species of tortoise.
2.
Every planet in our solar system except for Venus and Uranus
rotates counter-clockwise as seen from above the North Pole; that is
to say, from west to east. This is the same direction in which all the
planets orbit the sun. Uranus was likely hit by a very large planetoid
early in its history, causing it to rotate "on its side," 90 degrees
away from its orbital motion. Venus rotates backwards compared to the
other planets, also likely due to an early asteroid hit which disturbed
its original rotation.
3.
Earth Day is the day
of observance celebrated on April 22nd in the United
States.
4.
In 1964, The
Objectivist
Ayn Rand said in a
Playboy interview that "I
consider the Birch Society futile, because they are not for Capitalism
but merely against Communism."
PRAYER OF THE DAY - Love Your Enemies
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be
called children of God…But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those
who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also;
and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your
shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your
goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do
to you.
- Matthew 5:9; Luke 6:27-31
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