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February 10, 2009
Today’s Program Comedic Styling
Killer Beaz
Twenty-seven years of stage,
television and radio and touring throughout the country, Killer Beaz –
with his trademark “Save UP” refrain – has become a familiar, beloved
performer to millions of comedy fans nationwide. Born Truett S. Beasley,
Jr., Killer Beaz delivers edgy, high-energy “everyman” – style humor
that appeals to a wide audience, selling out venues from Anchorage,
Alaska to Miami, Florida.
Truett S. Beasley, Jr., (“Thanks,
Dad!”) got his start in show business playing blues guitar in Jackson,
Mississippi, “Beaz, as his friends call him, played lead guitar. One
night, while playing a solo, someone shouted, “That was a killer, Beaz!”
The name stuck. So naturally, when he made the jump to comedy, he
carried the name with him. And what a jump it was! Using intense desire
and a belief that it was “meant to be” as a springboard, Beaz started
out at the best place possible … the bottom!
Bike bars, pool halls, country music
places, and blues rooms all make up a string of one night stands
throughout the Mississippi Delta, he fondly called “The Chitlin
Circuit.” During his 317 performances in these trenches, Beaz’s “killer”
stage presence was quite obvious. In 1984, Beaz traveled to Chicago on a
business trip. Upon his arrival he heard about ZANIES Comedy Showplace,
he skipped his meeting that evening and headed to check it out. Jay Leno
was the headlining act that evening and the first comedian Beaz had ever
seen perform live. While Leno’s performance was awesome, Beaz was
equally thrilled to discover that there were places that people came for
the sole purpose of seeing stand-up comedy.
Currently, Killer Beaz can be heard on
local radio station WQYK 99.5 FM from 5 a.m.-10 a.m. weekdays.
What’s
Happening
Lithuanian Open Golf Tournament
Al Karnavicius announced that the
Lithuanian Open is back …… into its ninth year of fun and success. The
proceeds go to the children of Lithuania for computers and summer camps.
Call Al to sign up for the golf tournament (March 5-9, 2009).
Kiwanis
Zone Conference
Immediate Past President Markus
Mittermayr gave us a report on the recent Kiwanis Zone Conference that
he, along with President Biff, Charles Stuart, Cindy Mulligan, and Bob
Piplitz attended. And did he bring home the bacon! Awards were plentiful
for our club as our club proved to be the most outstanding in Division
13 yet again.
Our Club was
recognized for the following:
·
First place – Bulletin, Interclub
Relations
·
Honorable mention – Young Children
Priority One. Youth Services, Interclub, Community Service
·
Additionally, Markus was honored as Distinguished President and Charles
Stuart as Distinguished Secretary.
Congratulations to
all those members who helped our club to be honored.
Get Well
Longtime member Bernie Lodge is out of
St. Anthony’s Hospital, and returned to his residence at the Fountains.
Bernie incurred complications after recent surgery for a broken wrist.
Steve Cunningham and Markus Mittermayr visited him at St. Anthony’s last
week and found him to be very spry and talkative. Get well soon, Bernie.
Death in
the Kiwanis Family
Former member Steve Hahn passed away
peacefully in Hospice care two weeks ago. Several Kiwanians attended a
memorial service in his memory including Biff and Ray Baker, Bob Byelick,
Dale Wachner, Bob Huber, and Doug Lampe. Funny stories flowed about
Steve at the service.
For years, each Valentine’s Day Steve
would bring roses to all the female members. But there was a catch;
Steve expected a kiss for his generosity. It made for a lively and
entertaining meeting. Prior to passing, Steve requested that donations
be made to the Al Muter Scholarship.
We will miss you Steve, and appreciate
all of your service to Kiwanis.
Last Week
at Kiwanis
Kiwanian of the Day, Paul Misiewicz,
presented Jennifer Silva, executive director of Clothes To Kids (CTK).
Started in 2002, their store is located in Clearwater. Their mission is
to provide school clothes for children from financially strapped
families.
She presented us with a few sobering
facts that brought her presentation into focus. In Pinellas County,
there are over 111,000 students and of those, over 45,000 are on a free
or reduced lunch program, and many of their families do not have the
funds to buy school clothes. Jennifer pointed out that children who do
not feel right about their wardrobe have lower self-esteem and pride,
which leads to poor performance in the classroom.
Jennifer, an enthusiastic speaker, is
proud that CTK creates a positive atmosphere for the children and their
families. The CTK experience features scheduled appointments, floor
associates who are knowledgeable and cheerful, private dressing rooms
with mirrors, and a clean store.
CTK receives clothes from private
donations, civic clubs, and apparel partners like Macy’s and DOTS. With
this largesse, CTK provided over 9000 wardrobes for kids. Right now, CTK
is looking to establish a St. Petersburg location, as the demand
increases each year for clothes. Good job, Jennifer, and to the entire
CTK organization.
Donation
Jeff Francis donated Super Bowl
memorabilia, which David Abbey snapped up for $25. Thanks Jeff and David
for the donation to the club’s charities.
Today’s
Quiz
-
How did Valentine’s Day originate?
- Where was the St.
Valentine’s Day massacre?
- How many roses are
sold for Valentine’s Day in the United States?
- Which state in the
United States grows the most roses?
Last
Week’s Quiz
1. The tuxedo originated with
Pierre Lorillard, a wealthy tobacco magnate of the 19th century.
He and his family lived 40 miles northwest of New York City in a
residential colony called Tuxedo Park, founded on land acquired from the
Algonquin Indian tribe.
2. The capital of New Zealand is
Wellington.
3.
The events that make up the Grand
Slam of Tennis are the
Australian Open,
the
French Open,
Wimbledon and the
US Open.
4.
The movies nominated for the Oscars
in the best picture category for 2008 are:
- The Curious
Case of Benjamin Button
- Frost/Nixon
- Milk
- The Reader
- Slumdog
Millionaire
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