|
March 10, 2009
Today’s Program Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) Wit Ostrenko
Wit Ostrenko has
served as President of the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) for the
last 20 years.
He is a 50-year
resident of Florida, with 32 years in the museum field. He has a
Bachelors degree in Zoology from Florida Atlantic University, a Masters
in Aquatic Ecology from the University of Miami, and Ph.D. work in
Oceanography.
Wit is the
international immediate past president of the worldwide Association of
Science Technology Centers (ASTC) and an officer of the Florida
Association of Museums (FAM) and is actively involved with several
community chamber and leadership organizations.
He lectures on
the museum profession, science topics, and creative problem solving. He
leads trips into the Florida environment particularly the Everglades and
the Big Cypress Swamp to help people understand and appreciate the
state's natural beauty and its resources. He has led several trips
through Florida for the Smithsonian Associates Travel Program.
Wit has led the
MOSI effort to make it a successful Florida science center, which
features the nation's first Head Start, a public library, an elementary
school, a charter middle school, and the nation’s largest children’s
science center.
Wit is an avid
sailor of Florida waters, both cruising and racing. His Son Derick is a
graduate of Stetson University in digital art and design, and daughter
Mariana, is a Science Fair winner and athlete.
Last Week at Kiwanis
Tom Nelson, Kiwanian of the Day, introduced Dr. Hank Hine, Director of
the Salvador Dali Museum. Dr. Hine brought along with him Ms. Anne
Drake, Development Manager of Dali.
Dr. Hine swelled with pride as he extolled the benefits of the Dali
Museum in St. Petersburg. As an “economic engine” for St. Petersburg,
the yearly estimate of Dali visitors is over 200,000, with the majority
traveling from out-of-town and staying here for an average of five days.
By extension, the total dollars spent by Dali visitors last year was
over 68 million. This is a lot of zeros and for good reason – the museum
is home to 2,100 Dali originals, more than any other artist’s works in
one locale in the United States.
Dr. Hine pointed out that the museum is free to all students – a perk
not found at any other museum in the area. Additionally, rare in the
museum world, 85% of the Dali revenue stream is earned income, while the
balance is from grants and benefactors. The gift shop alone generates
two million dollars.
After over twenty-five years at the existing site near USF Bayboro, the
museum had clearly out grown their home. A new building is under
construction next to the Mahaffey Theatre. A three story structure, the
building will have a ninety seat theatre and allow for the existing
2,100 paintings to be exhibited. And, as special exhibitions come to
town, the new building will be able to handle those works of art as
well.
Dr. Hine explained in the art museum business that exhibits are lent to
other institutions. Additionally, the new building will allow the staff
to keep the paintings in house in the event of tropical disturbances.
Look for the building’s completion in 2010, an over-the-top design
inspired by Dali on the newly-named street Dali Boulevard, an honor
bestowed by Mayor Baker at the recent ground breaking.
Guests and Visitors
We
had 56 members and7 guests attending.
Jim Newman, guest of Mike Humlicek
Lisa Darretta, guest of Frank Ranieri
Joe Ritchie, guest of Bret Jahn
Kathleen Ford, guest of Harvey Ford
Charles Ray, guest of Louis Murphy
Sharon McCaman, guest of Frank Ranieri
What’s Happening
Program Committee
The Program Committee meets tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Mitch Cochran’s
home. Call Mitch if you wish to attend.
Kiwanis Lt. Governor
Judy Nicholson, of Sunshine City Kiwanis and the current Lt. Governor,
announced that April 4 is the date for all area Kiwanis Clubs to do a
project. Additionally she told us that Sunday, June 14 is Kiwanis Day at
Tropicana Field for Kiwanians and their guests to watch the Rays play at
1:30 p.m. against the Washington Nationals.
Special Olympics
Pinellas County Special Olympics will be on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at
Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, located at 1400 54th
Avenue South. Volunteer (13 yrs and older) opportunities include
timing runs/walks, measuring field events, assisting with awards,
scorekeeping for tennis, soccer, and volleyball, assisting on the bocce
courts, distributing lunches, helping direct and stage athletes and many
others. Anyone wishing to volunteer please sign the sheet being passed
at meetings, or see Jane Baldwin to volunteer. Remember, Special
Olympics have always relied on volunteers, and they need you.
Homeless Shelter
Receives Grant from St. Pete Kiwanis Club
Representing the Boys and Girls Committee, Guy Van Middlesworth
presented a check of $1,000.00 to Karen Butler Bolden of ASAP Homeless
Services at 423 11th Ave S. She is looking forward to many
more visits.
General David Petraeus to speak at St. Pete Kiwanis Club
Dick Koch
announced that on June 9th our speaker
will be
General David H. Petraeus, the current Commander of the U.S. Central
Command. Mark your calendars now and plan to bring a guest.
General Petraeus was
promoted to a four star general on January 27, 2007. Your editor regrets
incorrectly identifying him last week. For those who are militarily
challenged like me, here are the rankings of Generals in order of
service: Brigadier General (one star), Major General (two stars), Lt.
General (3 stars), General (GEN) Army Chief of Staff (4 stars), and
General of the Army (5 stars and this is reserved for wartime only).
Today’s Quiz
1.
The U.
S. Virgin Islands is comprised of three major islands. Name them.
2.
Which
state grows the most wild blueberries?
3.
Who
said “One hundred percent of shots you don’t take, don’t go in”?
4.
Name
the bridge that connects Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsula?
Last Week’s Quiz
(According to Wikipedia)
-
Salvador Dali’s
three (3) styles of work were Cubism, Surrealist, and Dada.
-
Dali’s best
known work is “The Persistence of Memory”. (The melting
clocks)
-
When interviewed
by Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes, Dali referred to himself in
the third person and made this statement, “Dali is immortal and
will not die”.
-
The largest
collection of Dali works is in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain.
The second largest is right here in St. Petersburg.
Thank You Note
from Dr. Ann Steele
Kiwanians,
I would like to
sincerely thank you for the very kind invitation you extended to me to
attend your Luncheon meeting at Orange Blossom on February 17th.
I truly enjoyed sharing the incredible progress and breakthroughs we
have made in our pediatric cardiac stem cell transplant research …all of
which the Kiwanis Young Children Priority One Initiative has played a
very integral role!
I would be amiss
if I did not apologize for my tardiness in sending my sincere thanks to
you for the amazing support you have offered our transplant children. I
am sure that you can well appreciate what a tragedy it would be to have
to exclude any child from our stem cell program. Thanks to the Kiwanis,
I can assure you that no child has been left behind! I am also excited
to tell you that since I last visited you all, ie. in the last 10 days,
three more children, aged 2 days to 4 years, have received new hearts at
All Children’s and now have a chance to live! I already have cardiac
stem cells growing for 2 of the newest children and we are waiting on
the third heart to give up these precious cells to us.
I am humbled by
your generosity to our children, for your support of our efforts and
your dedication to help make possible help, which, amazingly, was
thought to be impossible only one short year ago!
In my talk, I not
only wanted to update you on the continued efforts underway in my
laboratory at All Children’s Hospital to serve the needs of our young
cardiac patients, I additionally wanted to share with you the face of
the children we serve, the disease they battle, the close bonds that are
forged throughout this partnership, the magical moments they give to us
and the unique blessing of sharing moments with them experienced, I
believe, by few on this earth.
Kiwanians, you
have made a true difference in the lives of these children, when they
need this help most, when they and their families look to us for
help….you have joined hands and hearts with us to enable us to reply to
that one question invariably asked of us….and, we can now answer…..
“yes, there is real, new and true hope”!
Again, thank you
so very much for helping the children we serve.
Kindest Regards,
Dr. Ann |
