September
2, 2008 No. 46 Vol. 86
Ronald A Rippo is the Postmaster
of St. Petersburg Florida Post Office.
A native of Queens, New York,
Rippo began his postal career as a city letter carrier in 1973 at the
East Norwich NY Post Office. He graduated from Syosset High School in
Syosset, NY, and received a degree in business administration from the
State University of New York at Old Westbury.
Rippo was the Manager of Postal
Operations until being appointed to his current position. Rippo has also
served as the Postmaster of Largo; Dania, Florida; East Norwich, NY and
Commack, NY.
Other management positions held
were Officer-In-Charge, Jericho, NY; Garden City, NY; Marathon, FL;
Pompano, FL; Brandon, FL; and Sarasota, FL.
He is married to Kelly Hearn of
Sarasota, FL and has three sons who reside in South Florida. He and
Kelly have two grandchildren.
What’s Happening
Club Elections – Scott
Boyle announced on September 16th, we will hold a special
election to fill the Board of Director positions vacated by the
resignation of Cynthia McGowan and the promotion of Cyndi Mulligan to
Vice President.
The candidates will be:Worth
Blackwell, Hunter Booth, Bret Jahn and Guy Van Middlesworth
Jim Fischer Scholarship:
- Bob Byelick read letters from the recipients of scholarships of the
Jim Fischer Memorial Scholarship Fund. Please go to the
www.spkiwanis.org to read the letters.
Installation Banquet: -
Let’s have a fine turnout to the Installation Banquet to celebrate the
beginning of Biff Baker’s reign as our new President. All members have
been sent an invitation to this wonderful event which will be on Tuesday
night, September 30 at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.
Club Directory: - Al
Karnavicius will be checking with those members who have not sent in
updated membership information for the club directory.
Happy Workers: - Jane
Baldwin reminded everyone to bring books to the next 3 meetings for the
Book Fair on Saturday, September 27.
Last Week at Kiwanis
Kiwanian of the Day, Al
Karnavicius, introduced Stacie Blake, executive director of Community
Tampa Bay. Community Tampa Bay (CTB) promotes dialogue and respect among
all cultures, religions and races through education, advocacy and
conflict mediation. CTB was first organized in 1949 and has a paid staff
as well as 25 volunteers.
To achieve their objectives, CTB
hosts a camp for 50 teenagers three times each summer for a week in
Ellenton. Their goal is not to change one’s values but to make one aware
of other people in their community and to reach an understanding that
while people are different, they all can get along.
The following is a letter read
by Al from a camp participant that illustrates CTB’s objectives.
Dear Anytown Funder,
This week has
been by far the best week of my life. It represented (to me) what my
dream world would be like; free of stereotypes, and full of acceptance
and love. To be in a place where you are free to speak your mind, it’s a
powerful thing. Anytown has opened my mind to many new things and many
new ways to stand for what you believe in. Anytown has changed me in a
way that when I go back home into the real world, I will not hesitate to
stand up for what’s right . . . even if it means standing alone. When I
get home I plan to give back to my community with the knowledge that
I’ve received from Anytown. I can now say I am a supporter. When
I see someone standing up for what they believe in, I will be their
support. Anytown has given me hope for a world free of discrimination,
and has taught me that I can be the change. These past 4 days
have fulfilled me. I’ve made a second family . . . my Anytown family,
and I know that they’ll always be there for me. Anytown has given me
hope, taught me much, and showed me that I can make a change. I love
Anytown. It is amazing. I wish I could explain it better, but what
Anytown has done for me is indescribable. I am blessed to have been
here.
Sincerely, Hàlay
Parents learn about the camp
from presentations or from school guidance counselors.
To further spread their word CTB
visits 50 local schools a year. Additionally, staff visit corporations
in the Tampa Bay area. Stacie brought to each table to 10 THINGS
You Can Do To STOP DISCRIMINATION.
- SPEAK OUT when you
see injustice. Somebody is listening.
- CHOOSE your
battles wisely. Don’t put yourself in danger.
- ASK questions.
Don’t fear what you don’t know.
- CHALLENGE your
attitudes, stereotypes and expectations.
- STRETCH your
comfort zone. Get to know people who are different from you.
- LISTEN.
- IDENTIFY who you
are and what you believe in.
- FIND things in
common with others instead of concentrating on differences.
- REALIZE the words
you say affect others. Think before you speak.
- SUPPORT Community
Tampa Bay.
For more about CTB, their
website is:
www.communitytampabay.org
TODAY’S QUIZ
SEPTEMBER 9, 2008
1. Who wrote the Monroe
Doctrine?
2. What year did ESPN debut?
3. Name the largest naval battle
in history?
4. Who said: “Luck is the
residue of design?”
Last Week' Quiz
- Typhoon is the word to
describe hurricanes and storms in the Pacific, and Cyclone in
the Indian Ocean.
- The Quad Cities are as follows:
Davenport, Moline, Bettendorf, & Rock Island. They are located
in Illinois and Iowa
- The Waffle House had their first
restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia
- The formula for finding the circumference of
a circle is 2 ∏ R.
