|
October 28, 2008
Today's Program: Tampa Bay Super
Bowl Host Committee Speaker: Reid Sigmon
Reid Sigmon is the Executive Director of
the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee, and is responsible for ensuring
the readiness of the Tampa Bay region to host Super Bowl XLIII in
February 2009. Sigmon brings more than a decade of sports management
experience to the job, having previously worked on Super Bowl XXXIX in
Jacksonville, Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa and the 1999 NCAA Division 1
Men’s Final Four in St. Petersburg. Most recently, he served as
Director of Stadium Development and Event Operations for the Cleveland
Browns. Raised in North Carolina, Sigmon graduated from Wake Forest
University with a bachelor’s degree in politics in 1996 and later earned
his MBA from the University of Florida.
Last Week at Kiwanis:
Special guest, Linda Son, of
the St. Petersburg High School Key Club gave a Power Point demonstration
on her trip to Denver for the Kiwanis International Convention. Outside
activities for Linda included a visit to the Air Force Academy, a raft
trip, a drive to Pike’s Peak, and a visit to the “Garden of the
Gods”.
Currently, Linda is in the
middle of her term as Lt. Governor of Key Club. She reported to us that
the Governor’s project is to “Go Green” and that their division project
is to organize a charity soccer tournament next spring. She appreciates
our involvement in their Key Club, and the opportunity to go to
Colorado, thanks to us.
Kiwanian of the day, President
Biff Baker, introduced Armanda Lampley, manager of the South County
Connection Center.
Armanda’s role in County government is to
act as liaison between the citizens and their government leaders. The
county has conducted surveys in 2003, 2005, and 2007 to determine a
vision and strategy for County policy.
The survey helps the county shape policy in
the following areas:
·
Transportation, utilities, and
storm water
·
Public safety
·
Economic Development,
Redevelopment, and Housing
·
Efficient Leadership
·
Annexation
·
Environmental, Recreational,
and Cultural concepts
·
Health and Human Services
Currently, in Pinellas County there are
24 cities or towns plus the County government, with the incorporated
county having more residents than even St. Petersburg. Next month the
County commission starts an ambitious project with the cities to discuss
the best use of police and fire services, as well as the road and sewer
systems. Additionally the enhancement of parks and access to them will
be discussed.
Armanda’s office fields citizen response to
all of the above and feeds it back to the respective officials and
departments. Recently, a case in point involved the county brokering a
deal with St. Petersburg to help in recycling.
Armanda left us with several brochures
featuring parks, contact information, and a citizen’s guide to the
County Commissioners. Lastly, Armanda takes great pride in the county
park system. Parks that she highlighted are Booker Creek Preserve, Ft.
DeSoto Park, Weeden Island Preserve, The Florida Botanical Gardens and
Heritage Villages.
Guests:
Linda Son – Key Club, guest
of Tom Nelson
Catherine Lester – Key Club, guest of Tom Nelson
Derek Bersat guest of Susan Doll
(Derek is turning in his application to be a member.)
What’s Happening:
Fine Master:
President Biff
wants you to answer his call to be a Fine Master. Try it. It’s a lot of
fun.
Save a Smile Day:
Member Dr. Ron O’Neal is
hosting the 4th annual Save a Smile Day at his office at 7401
Dr. MLK Jr. Street North, St. Petersburg, Saturday, November 15. Please
call Ron to volunteer for this notable event.
Get Well Soon:
Jim Lyle and his wife are
both ailing. Give them a call to wish them good cheer and to get well
soon.
Donation:
Jeff Francis donated a
six-pack of beer, which he auctioned off to Bob Byelick for a $25.00
donation to the club. Thank you, Bob and Jeff.
A
Letter from Dr. Ann Steele:
Dear
Kiwanians!
First, I
would like to tell you all that I am so honored to know you all. You are
an amazing group of folks who do so much good for so many! I am truly
inspired to know that there are wonderful people like you out there who
stand up for the Community’s needs and who reach out actively moving
mountains - your support enables me to use my expertise to reach out
and help additional children whom I just could not have helped
otherwise.
Good is
something that cascades and really keeps on giving. The sense of joining
our strengths together for such a worthy purpose – in our case – for
these little children who are facing losing their hearts – gives me a
special strength. I know that my immediate Team includes an extended
Team of Kiwanians….I don’t know if it can get any better than that for
our kids or for our Team members working on the front here at All
Children’s Hospital.
When Kathy contacted me about your additional gift which
was spearheaded by Mr. Renker and which you all generously supported, I
truly was totally speechless! I never even expected such a MIRACLE for
our kids …and that miracle came at a totally critical time. Just the
day before Kathy contacted me, I had been laboring over how to stretch
funds to include the 5 children we have listed for heart transplants…and
I was really coming up empty. We just never expected this research to
hold such promise and when it proved so, we petitioned to extend the
study so that we could keep on helping these children….and the children
in need just keep coming.
To be very
frank with you all, I turned to prayer. As I told Kathy, I think that
an angel was listening to my thoughts and whispering the need into
other's ears! When Kathy’s email flashed onto my screen – I was totally
speechless…the Kiwanians had come to the rescue and provided the means
our kids needed!
This money is
a miracle and will help us work toward a miracle for these children. We
will now be able to grow stem cells from these 5 new children and do the
very critical testing and monitoring that is only available in the heart
stem cell program. Without Kiwanis, this would not have happened. We
could not have bought the essential cytokines, chemokines and other
signaling factors so necessary for the stem cells and to perform this
work.
And, to share
something very special with you all, just yesterday, I received a
call from another hospital. An unborn baby suffering from a fatal heart
problem has just been enrolled in my program….and it is the Kiwanis gift
that will enable us to include that 6th child and do a
“first ever” stem cell derivation for this unborn baby.
I hope to see
you all around Christmas or early New Year – I would like to share some
of our challenges and successes in our fight to help these
little children! Your support has been so integral to our many successes
for these children.
I say that
very sincerely - we cannot do this alone BUT, together we can triumph
for these kids!
Thank you so
much, so very very much from all of us at All Children’s.
Thank you for truly joining hands and hearts with us to
help these little ones!
Sincerely,
Dr. Ann
Today’s Quiz
- The Philadelphia
Phillies last went to the World Series in what year?
- What is the
capital of Pennsylvania?
- Name the Big Five
Schools (collegiate) in Philadelphia.
- In what years was
Philadelphia the nation’s capital?
Last Week's Quiz
1. In the game of SCRABBLE, a
player can receive 50 extra points for using all seven (7)
tiles in their tray
2. James Madison
was the President during the war of 1812.
3. Coach Doug Dickey of
the University of Florida after yet another stunning loss to the
University of Georgia said, “If you avoid losing, you have a chance to
win.”
4. There are 27 cubic feet
in a cubic yard. |
