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March 24,
2009
Today’s
Program WTSP Chief Meteorologist Tammie Souza
What better way to end the day than with
thousands of friends? That's the way I look at my job. I enjoy being
part of your day. I am very passionate about the subject of weather and
I will always do my best to give you the most accurate forecast
possible. After all the forecast I give you is the same one I give my
family. No pressure there, right?
I am Certified Meteorologist and one of only
a handful of women in the nation that holds both the prestigious AMS/CBM
Certified Broadcast Meteorology Seal of approval from the American
Meteorological Society and the NWA seal of approval from the National
Weather Association. It is an honor to sit on the Board of Broadcast
Meteorology for the AMS and the NWA and act as an evaluator for new
applicants.
Prior to joining 10 Connects, I worked in
Chicago for nearly nine years. First at NBC in Chicago as the weekend
meteorologist and then I moved to FOX in Chicago as the morning and noon
meteorologist. Before that I was at the CBS station in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, where I was promoted to chief meteorologist and was chosen
"Best On-Air Personality". My start came in Chico, California at the CBS
station as the morning and noon meteorologist.
So, where did this interest in weather
originate? As a child my grandfather would take me flying in his small
plane over the farmlands of northern California. The excitement of
soaring through the sky led to questions about why clouds form, what
causes storms, and where wind comes from. Ultimately that curiosity has
been transformed in to a career as a meteorologist and a love of flying.
Teaching youth that weather and science can
be both interesting and fun is important to me. I've enjoyed sharing my
interactive weather presentation at over 600 schools.
What’s Happening
Special Olympics Report
Pat
Biscotti reported that along with himself, five Kiwanians, assisted at
the Special Olympics. A big thanks to Jane Baldwin for organizing the
Kiwanis volunteer effort.
Thank You Letters
Bob
Byelick read several letters from the recipients of the Doorways
Scholarships. Bob, always entertaining and heartwarming to hear those
letters read. Go to our Kiwanis website to view the letters.
Mark Your Calendar
Bob
Byelick reminded us the Fischer/Carr Memorial birthday bash is on June
6. Remember, this is our biggest fundraiser.
Donation from Youth International Services
for Boys and Girls
Lorin
Bridge gave a check of $1,500 to the Horses for the Handicapped Fund to
the Seminole Kiwanis Club, represented by Gene Mohney. Gene praised our
club for our generosity as the money is spent to feed and care for the
horses.
Finemaster
Cyndi
Mulligan, Finemaster, with a St. Patrick’s Day theme presented this
limerick:
There was a young lassie one fall
Who wore a newspaper dress to a ball.
The dress caught fire
And burned her entire
Front page, sports section and all.
Last Week at Kiwanis
Kiwanian
of the Day, Markus Mittermayer, introduced Gary Shelton, sports
columnist for the St. Petersburg Times. His presentation mirrored the
way he writes his columns, as he explained in so many instances how
sports intersect life. His goal as a writer is to spur his readers to
think and react.
A native
of Tifton, Georgia, he went to Auburn, returning to Georgia to work for
the papers in Albany to Columbus. From the plains of Georgia his career
took a quantum leap as he landed with the Miami Herald. Next, in
1990, he jumped to the Times where he has been a fixture on the front
sports page.
At the
Times, he has written feature stories from the Olympics to Super Bowls.
He spoke with delight about our local teams and their rise from ashes to
awards: the Super Bowl trophy to the Bucs, the Stanley Cup to the
Lightning, and the pennant to the American League Champion Rays. As Gary
said, “Moses got nothing on Tampa Bay.”
Although
these were all stories of great local interest, Gary’s favorite pieces
are from unknown or unlikely sources. He spoke with great reverence
about a player for the Turini, Italy, soccer team that did not fly on a
plane that crashed and all his teammates perished; about a one-legged
swimmer at the 2008 Olympics in China; the recent tragedy of the fishing
trip gone bad in the Gulf; and the suicide of Jamie Dungy. There you
have it, seen sports intersecting life.
However,
as Gary explained that while the sports section is about fun, games, and
the stories that go along with it, the grim reality is that he works in
a business to generate revenue. And this, he said, is much tougher for
all papers as ad revenue is slipping as well as circulation. (Editor’s
note: last week, the Rocky Mountain News, folded.)
In the
question and answer segment, Gary’s unabridged opinion was that the
recent Super Bowl in Tampa was a huge success and the best game ever.
Gary feels the Rays will continue to succeed for a long time as they
have young players at the key positions. Having said that, the Yankees
and Red Sox loom large with their fat payrolls. As to whether the
Glazer’s ownership of Manchester United impacts their spending on the
Bucs, who knows, as the financial documents are closely guarded.
Gary made
special mention to Kiwanians who helped him along the way. First, the
Tifton, Georgia club gave him a scholarship of $300.00. Later, President
Biff moved him to St. Petersburg, and finally, Markus handles all of his
travel needs. Our Kiwanis network reaches far and wide to all those that
intersect with us. Thanks, Gary, for your insider’s view of the world of
sports.
Attending
We had 53
members and 9 guests attending.
Judy Stuart, Michael Sampson, and Larry Sharer, guests of
Charles Stuart
Toby Krayer, guest of Ron Braun
Jenn Maxwell, guest of Bill Holloway
Eric LaVenturers, guest of Lorin Bridge
Cindy Buchanan and Eugene Mohney, guest from Seminole
Kiwanis Club
Today’s Quiz
- Name the Channel
10 first weather lady.
- Where is Gonzaga
University?
- What NBA Hall of
Famer played his basketball at Holy Cross University?
- Who said, “Don’t
look back, something might be gaining on you.”?
- Where did French
Toast originate?
Last Week’s Quiz
- The Times
was founded in 1884 in Dunedin, Florida.
- On November 7,
1986, the Evening Independent merged with the Times.
- Six Pulitzer
Prizes have been won by the St. Pete Times since 1964.
- The Independent
was given away free for 296 days with no sun (From
1910-1986).
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