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June 17, 2008 No. 35 Vol. 86
This Week’s Program: Bill Foster, Traffic Signal
Coordinator for the City of St Petersburg
The Stormwater,
Pavement and Traffic Operations Department maintains the city's
drainage, sidewalks, roadways and traffic signal systems. The department
also performs street sweeping, maintains pavement markings and provides
regulatory and advisory roadway signage. Bill Foster has worked
for 35 years in the City Traffic Signal division. Jeff Klinkenberg,
writing in the St. Pete Times last year, said ”in practical terms, the
virtually anonymous Foster wields more influence on a larger number of
people on a daily basis than Mayor Rick Baker. He can get you to work on
time or, for that matter, make you late..Not every city in America has
someone coordinating traffic lights. In fact, anarchy reigns on most
roads, in big cities and in small. Most of America's 272,000 traffic
lights change from green to red to green again with no regard to the
demands of traffic - resulting in 295-million vehicle hours of delay on
major highways, road rage and wasted $3-a-gallon gasoline.”
Mr. Foster’s current duties include developing
synchronized timing plans for the City's 299 traffic signal
intersections. In his office there is a traffic signal control computer
that through communication lines can adjust the timing of all of the
City's traffic signals. The computer system also monitors all traffic
signals for malfunctions so that repairs can be made in the shortest
amount of time.
Bill is married to wife Kathy. They have two
children.
Thanks to Bill Foster, we in St. Pete can reap the
benefit of a carefully planned out system of traffic signals. Welcome,
Bill. We’re glad you could “stop” by!
Last Week’s Program: Nancy Whitlock, Elections
Office
Nancy Whitlock ably stepped in for
Deborah Clark, who sent her regrets due to illness. Ms. Whitlock
announced that paper ballots will take the place of several previous
voting systems that caused problems in earlier elections, noting that
our reputation as a state has been tarnished in recent years. Promising
that the new system is easy to use, Ms. Whitlock explained that voters
will circle ovals on the paper ballot, much like college tests, and take
the ballot, in a privacy envelope, to a computerized reader or scanner
that records votes electronically. Volunteers will be present to help
with the new system and to ensure that the paper ballot is also
collected as the paper trail for which many citizens have clamored.
Mistakes such as skipping a race or voting twice on one line will cause
the scanner to beep and send an error message. The voter can then
request a new ballot on which to re-vote. Up to three “re-do” ballots
can be requested by statute.
Because the new system requires approximately 20
minutes to complete, Ms. Whitlock suggested that voters mail in or drop
off their ballots at one of nine locations throughout the county. All
eligible voters will automatically receive a paper ballot through the
mail or you may request one at
www.votepinellas.com. When mailing in your vote, your signature is
very important. A Pitney Bowes software system will have recorded your
signature and a volunteer will compare it to the signature on your
ballot, so that the polling place has a record of already mailed in
ballots. If you receive a ballot by mail and decide to vote at your
designated polling place, you must use the ballot issued to you at the
polling place, not the one that was mailed to you. The new system was
tested in the St. Pete Beach elections and performed well. Ms. Whitlock
said the new system replaced the previous one at a cost of 12 million
dollars.
Guests and Visitors
Our Club boasted 51 members and 10 visitors last
week. Harry Eisnaugle brought Michael Scribner to our luncheon, Tom
Nelson brought Emeel Salem, two-time All American and new Ray, Kevin
Kelso introduced Mandy Hand, who’s interested in becoming a member, and
Ron Braun hosted Greg Foster from Curbside Recycling. Markus Mittermayr
introduced his guest, Bill Krautler, and David Feaster presented his
daughter, Lane Feaster. Biff Baker hosted Adalyz Atanacio from Circle K
Club and faculty advisor for that Club, Barry McDowell. Welcome,
everyone. Join us full-time and host some guests of your own!
What’s Happening?
Bruce McKelvey Recovering In California Hospital
We were sorry to learn that fellow member Bruce
McKelvey suffered a heart attack en route to California to participate
in a reunion of the Southern California baseball team he played on more
than fifty years ago. Bruce, our hopes and prayers for your speedy
recovery go out to you. Our meetings aren’t the same without you.
Boys and Girls Committee Awards Grant to Boy
Scouts
Grant Wallin presented a check for $2,000 to a
representative from the Boy Scouts of America for its Learning For Life
program. Learning For Life is a character education program offered
through 35 different schools and Boy Scouts after school programs. This
award is just one of the many ways our Club serves the children of the
world through the Boys and Girls Committee, our Scholarship Funds and
many community service activities.
The Latest Trend In Anniversaries
Dick Koch acknowledged John and Nancy Biesinger’s
recent “anniversary” contribution to the Jim Fischer Scholarship Fund
and took a page from their book. In honor of his and his wife’s 50th
anniversary (congratulations, you two!), Dick made a contribution of
$100 to our scholarship fund last week. And Paul Renker acknowledged his
and his wife’s 37th anniversary by donating a “happy fine” of
a dollar for each happy year (including the courtship) he and his wife
have spent together -- $40 – toward our scholarship fund. Thanks, Dick
and Paul. You’ve chosen a meaningful way to celebrate your unions. We
and the young people your gifts will help thank you.
Newest Member Gives Three Minute Speech
FRANK – IF YOU AREN’T SURE OF HIS LAST NAME EITHER
OR THE NAME OF HIS LIQUOR STORE, JUST OMIT THIS AND I’LL PUT IT IN NEXT
WEEK. I WROTE HERE WHAT I HEARD, BUT AM NOT SURE OF EITHER. Paul Suavich
(sp?), owner of World Liquors, introduced himself to us in his three
minute speech. He and wife Lisa, who works at the Diagnostic Clinic in
Largo, are building a new, state of the art liquor store to meet the
needs of their growing customer base. The couple has a daughter, Rachel,
who is a college student working at Ceviche’s. Paul is on the board of
the Boley Center and has a private pilot’s certificate.
Jim Leavitt Shoots The “Bull” With Potential
Members
Don’t forget – the Membership Committee has planned
a special membership drive for our program on June 24th. To
meet our goals for membership, each of us must make an effort to build
our numbers and increase our impact in our communities. Start talking to
business contacts, friends, relocators you’ve met in your neighborhood
or job, and other people you come into contact with to join us for the
USF Bulls/Jim Leavitt program on June 24th. There is no
charge to you to bring a guest; in fact, you are encouraged to bring as
many potential members as possible. Penalties do apply to those
who do not bring guests on that day! Please let a member of the
Membership Committee know in advance of the 24th how many
guests you are bringing.
Traffic (Out Of) Control
From Floridians in-the-know:
·
I always have mixed feelings when I see an
opening in rush
hour traffic. I’m glad for the opening, but I wonder who died.
·
The faster you drive through a red light,
the fewer chances you’ll have to actually be hit.
·
If you drive fast you don’t have to worry
about your cholesterol.
·
I was so upset when I noticed the woman in
the next lane driving while putting on her makeup in the rearview mirror
that I spilled my coffee and shorted out my electric shaver!
TODAY’S QUIZ:
1.
Myanmar used to be called what?
2.
What is the difference between an android and a cyborg?
3.
How can you tell a roach is about to lay eggs?
4.
Brad Pitt played what character in the movie “Troy?”
LAST WEEK’S QUIZ:
1.
The Sandwich Islands are part of Hawaii.
2.
Jesse L. Martin played a detective on the television crime
series, Law and Order” and also had a lead role in the movie version of
the Broadway musical “Rent.”
3.
Gemstones are looked at with a “loupe.” (You should have
asked Nick!)
4.
On
May 1,
1975,
Hank Aaron broke baseball's all-time
RBI
record, previously held by Babe Ruth, with 2,217.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Please keep us safe each time we drive
To work and then back home
And guide us through the traffic signs
On busy roads we roam.
Help us obey the traffic lights
And defer to other drivers
And help us stay out of the way
Of over fifty-fivers! |
