Kiwanis Club of Historic St. Augustine

Newsletter – 15 June 2006

President’s Message:

I got up here last week, still under the influence of those pain killers I had to take because of my accident, and attempted to read the bulletin, and clearly my meds had not worn off. I’m feeling much better and hope that being a short-timer won’t effect my ability to run the meeting for the remainder of my administrative year.

                I feel amid very important company, as I saw that Big Ben laid his cycle down too. He was certainly hurt worse than I, as I did not have to be admitted to the hospital. I’ve let Pittsburgh know that if Big Ben is not available to start, I would be most happy to step in and since I am about half his size, I will work for half his salary.

                Then there was the columnist on the sports page on Wednesday morning. Typical liberal do-gooder, he’s back to start beating the drum for wearing a helmet again. Why is it that these people (who don’t even ride) think it should be mandatory for everyone to wear a helmet on a motorcycle? I mean they just don’t know the feel of the wind through their hair, etc., etc. I mean I may have a death wish and feel that I want to go out if I have an accident. Why should they care? They just don’t want you looking at dumb stuff they do.

                Speaking of pain medication, I want my room mate at the drug rehab to be Patrick Kennedy. He seems like such a nice guy, and he takes responsibility for his actions, just like his Dad.

               

Coming Events: [Advise the editor of events of interest at 797-4332]

7 July 2006: First Friday Art Walk, check out the local galleries and taste the food and wine.

10 July 2006: Regular monthly board meeting to be held at The Allegro. The meeting will start at 1700 hours. There is much to discuss, so be prompt and be prepared to share some ideas. (Delayed because of July 4th weekend.)

 

Guests: None were noticed.

 

Programs: (Check the website for your speaker assignment date.)

LAST WEEK: Human and Spiritual Values meeting slipped up on Skeeter. After all, school is out and the siren call of the golf course is pretty strong. At any rate, he saw our own Dennis Hollingsworth coming through the door and asked him to say a few words. Like the trooper he is, Dennis gave us a very uplifting message.

THIS WEEK: Tom Fonner is scheduled to have the speaker, and he e-mailed me to advise that Brent will fill in for him since he is far, far, away. (I must say that Tom has never responded to an e-mail I have sent in the past as fast he did to the one I sent him telling him he had the speaker.)

NEXT WEEK: Joy Day is scheduled to have the speaker. I have not heard from her, so I assume she will cover this assignment as well as she has in the past.

 

⅓-⅓-⅓ DRAWING WINNERS: Tom Pace and Chief Hedges were the big winners. Congrats and mix those tickets up better next time. Buy your tickets early and often.

 

Late Breaking News:

FLORIDA DISTRICT CONVENTION--Please mark your calendars for August 24-27. All new members, seasoned members, officers and Board members should plan to attend this annual event for Florida Kiwanians.  For those who have been to past Florida conventions, you'll agree that these conventions include a lot of great workshops, speakers, and our election of October 1st District officers--and there is still time for fun, so bring your families. Our club secretary will be getting info on the Convention frequently; and it will be in your Florida Kiwanis magazines--or go to www.Floridakiwanis.com.  Do yourselves a favor and plan to go! Also received an e-mail from Lt. Gov. Bill this week saying if you are going you’d better get your reservations in NOW!

                The Heat and the Mavericks are in the finals of the NBA tournament. The Mavs took a quick 2-1 lead in the series, and from what I read Shaq is falling down in the performance category this series. I have no money in this match up, and don’t even have a dog in the hunt.

                I did see a spot in the paper that indicated that Miami was happy with their new quarterback. In my opinion, Anyone But Jay!

                Good news in Iraq, and it was reported by the mainstream media as well. How about President Bush making a surprise visit over there? Great symbolism, and in that part of the world symbolism means a lot more than it does here. Personally I’m with those “experts” who think we should send in a large force and clean out Baghdad once and for all, and one or two others too. If we would go in and fight as if we were mad, we would be much better off.

Quote(s) of the Week:
The quote I mentioned to Dennis last week is one I found recently and I really think it says a lot about human nature.  "As long as you don't forgive, who or whatever it is will occupy rent-free space in your mind."-- Isabelle Holland  I don’t know who the lady is, but what she said makes much sense.

"This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent Being... All variety of created objects which represent order and life in the universe could happen only by the willful reasoning of its original Creator, Whom I call the Lord God." —Sir Isaac Newton

"Atheism comes from, literally, the Greek word a-, 'the negative'; and theism, the word theos for 'god' —'negative God' or 'there is no God.' It is affirming the non-existence of God. It affirms a negative. Anyone with an introductory course in philosophy recognizes that it is a logical contradiction. It would be like me saying to you, 'There is no such thing as a white stone with black dots anywhere in all of the galaxies of this universe.' The only way I can affirm that is if I have unlimited knowledge of this universe. So to affirm an absolute negative is self-defeating, because what you are saying is, 'I have infinite knowledge in order to say to you, "There is nobody within finite knowledge".' Atheism, as a system, is self-defeating." —Dr. Ravi Zacharias

"This country has lost control of its borders. No country can do that and survive." —Ronald Reagan