8/11/09

What does The Kiwanis Club of St. Pete expect from you?

As much or as little as you wish. But like anything else, the more you put into the club -- the more satisfaction you will get out of it.

What does The Club do for you?

SATISFACTION

Participate in community projects that primarily benefit children.

EDUCATION

Learn about current events, developments, and important topics from local, state, and national speakers at weekly club meetings.

BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS

Provides social and business networking contacts with the wide variety of members in our club as well as the opportunity to participate in organized civic and community sports activities.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Combine your interests and skills with other members of the club to improve the community in ways that make a real impact in the lives of others, particularly children.

the Finemaster
Help us raise more money for the kids by reporting "fine-able" offenses to this week's Finemaster.

Click here to snitch.

The Kiwanis Club of St. Petersburg, Florida

8/11/09	Subscribe to Kiwanis Alert \| Newsletter Archive \| Download Color PDF File
August 11, 2009 Today’s Program US Coast Guard USCG Lt. Miguel Torrez The overall mission of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) is to protect the public, the environment, and the United States economic and security interests in any maritime region in which those interests may be at risk, including international waters and United States coasts, ports, and inland waterways. The Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of seven uniformed services. It operates under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, and can be transferred to the Department of the Navy by the President or Congress during a time of war. The Coast Guard, whose motto is "Semper Paratus," (Latin for "Always Ready" or "Always Prepared") has a broad and important role in maritime homeland security, maritime law enforcement (MLE), search and rescue (SAR), marine environmental protection (MEP), and the maintenance of river, intracoastal and offshore aids to navigation (ATON). Founded by Alexander Hamilton as the Revenue Cutter Service on 4 August 1790, it lays claim to being the United States' oldest continuous seagoing service. As of October 2006, the Coast Guard had approximately 46,000 men and women on active duty, 8,100 reservists, 7,000 full time civilian employees and 30,000 Auxiliarists. While most military services are either at war or training for war, the Coast Guard is deployed every day. With a decentralized organization and much responsibility placed on even the most junior personnel, the Coast Guard is frequently lauded for its quick responsiveness and adaptability in a broad range of emergencies. Our speaker today, Lt. Miguel Torrez is the Contingency Preparedness and Force Readiness Planner for USCG Sector St. Petersburg, FL. Mr. Torrez was born and raised in Michigan, earned a B.A. from the University of Texas at Brownsville and has been stationed in Florida, Michigan and Virginia during his 9 years of service. What’s Happening Save the Date On Saturday, September 28TH from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. we will hold the Happy Worker Literacy Fair. Volunteers are needed. Please contact Jane Baldwin to sign up. Our Book Drive will be the entire month of August. So don’t forget to bring you new book for children through middle school age for the Happy Workers Literacy Fair. Interclub The August Interclub will be, Thursday, August 13, noon, Park Station, 5851 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park. Watch for the signup sheet, and please attend this is a wonderful opportunity to network with fellow Kiwanians. Road Trip A reminder that The American Stage hosts the August 18th meeting at their location, 163 Third Street North. Please park at your normal spot. Please let Al Karnavicius if you plan to bring guests. Mouse Trap The Florida District Kiwanis meeting is scheduled in Orlando August 28 – 30. All members are invited to attend. Program Committee The next Program committee meeting will be at Bob Byelick’s home on Tuesday, August 18 at 7:00 p.m. Installation Banquet The date for the Installation Banquet has been set for Tuesday evening, October 6. Currently, your incoming President, Bob Piplitz, is in negotiation with a Wendy’s near you. Slacker Mary Ann Lynch, FineMaster, fined herself $100.00 for having no material. The $100.00 was donated to the Boy Scouts. Other members filled in with happy fines. Last Week at Kiwanis Kiwanian of the Day, Scott Boyle, introduced Paul Dellegatto, Chief Meteorologist for FOX 13. Paul entertained us with weather stories and informed us an updated forecast for the number of hurricanes scheduled was released today (August 4). So far, no named storms have occurred this year. He did say that in August the Atlantic Ocean is at its warmest and the wind shear relaxes, thus creating the ideal conditions for a tropical storm. Due to the occurrence of El Nino, experts have forecast a drop in hurricanes for this year. When asked about why hurricanes do not hit our area, Paul mentioned two reasons. First, most storms move from east to west, and that for a storm moving up the Gulf would have to make a relative sharp right turn. Secondly, it is just dumb luck that we have not been hit lately. Paul mentioned that the 1921 hurricane, a Category Three storm, created Pass-A-Grille pass. Other passes created by hurricanes include John’s Pass, Blind Pass, Clearwater Pass, and Dunedin Pass. Paul mentioned to us that the news business is evolving into different formats to react to changes in advertising and a response to the internet. He was happy to report that FOX is now partnering with WFLA radio to forecast their weather. Additionally, to the viewer the credibility of the meteorologist is far more important that the graphics presented. Reflecting on the “Good Old Days” in broadcasting, he discussed the impact of Roy Leep, for years the leader of local weather forecasting. According to Paul, Channel 13 provided Roy with the nation’s first weather radar. As the highest rated local weather outlet, Roy had his own budget and for years enjoyed the endearing respect throughout the community. Growing up in New England as a young boy, Paul aspired to a career in meteorology. He landed his first job in Portland, Maine at age twenty-four and responded to us that forecasting in the northeastern United States is the most difficult. Today, Paul’s workday starts around 1:30 p.m. as he does his research and radio broadcast at the outset. Later he has to do his own seven step makeup process. After shows in the early evening, the dinner hour, and the late broadcast, he leaves around 11 – 11:30 p.m. Paul, we appreciate your dedication to your weather career and look forward to another visit to our club soon, as it is always important for us to be on the cutting edge of the weather. Guests and Visitors We had 53 members and 4 guests attending; Jeremy Koch, grandson of Dick Koch Today’s Quiz 1. Where is the official memorial site to Coast Guardsmen killed in action in World War II and Vietnam? 2. In 1942, the Coast Guard added horses to their lineup of assets. At its peak, approximately how many horses were part of the service and where were they trained? 3. What were the first aircraft purchased by the Coast Guard? 4. At who's request was the Coast Guard Honor Guard created? 5. On April 15, 1986, a Coast Guard LORAN Station came "under attack". Where was the LORAN station located and who were the attackers? Last Week’s Quiz 1. Some like it hot…and they should just love lightning. The air in the core of a lightning bolt has been estimated to be heated to as much as 54,000°F (30,000°C). That happens to be about six times hotter than the surface of the sun. 2. Most tornadoes occur between noon and midnight. 3. Yakutat, Alaska wins this one with an average of 135 inches per year! 4. If the time between the lightning bolt and thunder is 10 seconds, the storm is approximately 2 miles away. (Divide the number of seconds by 5!) 5. During a wild April storm in 1934, a wind gust of 231 miles per hour (372 kilometers per hour) pushed across the summit of Mount Washington. This wind speed still stands as the all-time surface wind speed record. Below are excerpts from then-observer Alex McKenzie's book The Way It Was which accounts in detail the experience of documenting and living to tell the tale of a 231 mph winds.
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