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July 8, 2008 No. 38 Vol. 86
This Week’s Program:
Young Children Priority One Committee
and Dr. Ann Steele of All Children’s Hospital
As most of you know, "Young
Children: Priority One" receives special emphasis in Kiwanis as
a whole. It is the committee which focuses on the special needs of
children from prenatal development to age 5. Our Club’s committee is
headed up by Ron Scoggins and Kathy Condon . Their report will
include a special check presentation to stem cell researcher Dr. Ann
Steele of All Children’s Hospital, a video story about her research
breakthrough and brief comments from her.
Dr. Steele last visited us on December 11th
and her research and achievements left a deep impression on all in
attendance. Dr. Steele is a Cardiac Stem Cell
Scientist at All Children’s Hospital and is one of the original
scientists who discovered and isolated a “cardiac stem cell.” Her
research program focuses on accessing these reparative cells within
one’s own heart, irrespective of age, and utilizing them in conjunction
with novel and effective transplantation strategies she has developed to
attempt reparative cellular engineering of damaged cardiac tissue. Last
December, she told us the story of a child whose only chance at life
depended on her latest research. We look forward to hearing about recent
developments in her work and about the outcome for the child she was
treating.
Last Week In A Nutshell – The Comedy Of Bob
(He’s A Pip!) Piplitz:
“Last week we had 43 members and 4 guests. Paul
Renker mumbled his way through the introductions. Harry Eisnaugle
brought someone named Paul and Worth Blackwell introduced Pat Free &
Diane Sundon. I have no idea who the fourth guest was. Very weak effort
Mr. Renker.
Peter Hamilton gave his three minute speech that
clocked well under three minutes. Excellent job! Peter gave up Chicago
after 53 years and came to St. Petersburg to get into business with a
friend at Florida Home Scapes, a do-it-all general contractor complete
with custom cabinets, so throw some business Peter’s way. Peter plans to
be an excellent citizen of St. Petersburg and Kiwanis for a very long
time and has left his life of crime in Chicago. I don’t know if Peter
has any family, if so, he didn’t mention them.
Worth Blackwell presented checks of unknown value
to Pat Free of Mt. Zion Human Services to help increase literacy in
children ages 3 – 12 and to Diane Sundon of Brookwood to provide life
changing support for 150 at-risk girls and young women per year. Worth
gave neither recipient time at the mic to say thanks.
To bring excellence to a mediocre agenda, Bob
Piplitz dazzled the crowd with a call to follow-up last week’s
successful membership drive (38 potential new members) with calls to
prospects from their hosts and collection of e-mail addresses for Frank
Ranieri to add to our distribution list. Bob’s wordsmithing brilliance
was only exceeded by his washboard abs.
Kathy Condon pre-announced this week’s meeting
(held upstairs due to construction) with an encore presentation from Dr.
Ann Steele (Stem Cell research) to discuss a secret breakthrough. She’s
also picking up a $1,500 grant from our Club. Marcus added that the San
Diego Kiwanis club gave a $500 to a medical researcher and he cured a
disease. So if my math is accurate we can expect Dr. Steele to cure
three diseases.
FineMaster Stan Shaver fined himself $5 for going
to an interclub the wrong week. Will someone explain to Stan how
finemaster is supposed to work? Stan hit stride saying the Synovus
sounds like a nose spray, BB&T like a railroad, & Wachovia like an
Indian Princess. Harry Eisnaugle added a happy fine for his guest who
became a great-grand father right at our table which was kind of messy.
Will Slicker announced his daughter will be the next governor of
Florida.
Niel Allen of Preserve our Wallets and Waterfront (POWW)
talked about why we’re not getting a new stadium. Here’s what I caught
from his presentation: The timetable was too short; St. Pete boasts of
the longest downtown continuous waterfront (7 miles); all buildings on
the waterfront are 501c3 – must have a vote to change zoning; $300
million in public funding estimated; no shortage of issues; city already
facing budget cuts and reduced services; the Vinoy expansion was allowed
because part of the deal included the Vinoy giving Vinoy Park to St.
Pete; Rays are #1 and we don’t want to ruin that by changing venue; and
the Rays withdrew their referendum last Wednesday. Niel said the Rays
public reasons for pulling the idea (timeline & money) was a smokescreen
for the real reason which was the St. Pete residents hated the idea. A
blue ribbon committee is going to investigate stadium options and
include all aspects of the community. Other venues under consideration
include the Toy Town landfill and Tampa. Mayor Rick Baker wants a St.
Pete downtown stadium. If I missed anything please e-mail me your
desire to write this column the next time the editor is out.
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Thank you to all the “guest editors” of the
Kiwanian who have filled in during my unavoidable absences – Cyndi
Mulligan, Debbie Deeb, Jane Baldwin, MaryAnn Lynch, Doug Lampe and,
especially, Bob Piplitz, who entertains us all with his breezy manner
and barbed humor. You’ve all been great sports and I and this Club
appreciate beyond measure your willingness to lend a hand.
What’s Happening?
In Memoriam Bruce
McKelvey (click here for Memorial page)
We were devastated to
learn that while we were pleasantly anticipating Bruce McKelvey’s
continuing recovery and his expected return to our midst, he passed away
in California having never fully recovered from the heart attack he
suffered last month.
As of this printing, we
do not have an obituary or date for services for Bruce, but will provide
more information as it comes available. A former CPA, Bruce was a
long-time member, leader and award winner in our Club,
a Marine WWII veteran of Iwo Jima, and a
valued friend. Past Lt. Governor Ray Watson issued the following
statement upon learning of Bruce’s death:
“Lois and I are in Vancouver, BC. Today we received the very sad
news of Bruce's death in California. Bruce was a wonderful professional
as a CPA, a great Kiwanian and a wonderful friend and mentor. He will be
missed by all that knew him. Please give my condolences to Bruce's
family and to the St. Petersburg Kiwanis Club.”
We’ll miss you greatly,
Bruce. You were a faithful contributor of time, heart and financial
support to our community and Club and a great friend to all.
French Foreign Exchange Students Coming To
Tampa Bay
President Markus
announced that a group of French foreign exchange students are coming to
our area and need housing later this month. They’re eager to learn about
Tampa Bay and Kiwanis, so if you and your family would enjoy the
cultural exchange and can extend your hospitality to one or more
students, please speak with Markus to get the dates and particulars.
TODAY’S QUIZ:
1.
What number did Walter Payton wear for the Chicago Bears?
2.
What was the big news in Washington D.C. on July 2th, 1881? A.
Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel B. President Garfield
was assassinated C. The Republican Party held its first convention
D. The Spanish/American War ended E. The first female U.S. Ambassador
was appointed.
3.
Holstein cows have a unique physical identifier similar to
fingerprints in humans. What is it?
4.
The Milky Way galaxy is approximately 100,000 light
years in diameter, and is believed to be, on average, about 1,000 light
years thick. What length is one light year?
LAST WEEK’S QUIZ:
1.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.
2.
Michigan is “The Wolverine State.”
3.
Legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed Fallingwater, the
home in Pennsylvania which has been called “the most famous residence
ever built.
4.
Zenzizenzizenzic
is the correct spelling for a word that
means the eighth power of a number.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
(For the family and friends of T.
Bruce McKelvey)
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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