Kiwanis Club of Historic St. Augustine

Newsletter – 15 February 2007

President’s Message:

Don’t forget the Governor’s Visit to our Division will be tomorrow, Friday, 16 February. I know we won’t forget, because our esteemed Lt. Gov. will be here, and I think he might mention it. (Maybe he might!) We got a count last week. We should have a good contingent to attend and let the Governor know we appreciate his efforts. We know how much we appreciate that when we are in charge.

Don’t forget too, the Mid-Year Conference in Lake City in March. The club will pay the registration fee for those members that wish to attend. I believe we have some going to that event as well.

The Geography Bee is fast approaching. This is a fun event, the teachers there do most of the work, and we all learn something new. A good time is had by all!

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

16 February 2007: Division Council Meeting at Westside Club. This will also be the official Governor's visit to our division. Let’s at least have an interclub. I’ll bet this new governor isn’t as long winded as last year’s, and we probably won’t have to learn a new song either.

2 March 2007: First Friday Art Walk, check out the local galleries downtown and taste their food and wine.

3 March 2007: Uptown Saturday Night, check out the local galleries uptown on the first Saturday of each month, and taste their food and wine.

22 March 2007: Our annual Geography Bee. Again this year it will be held at Sebastian Middle School. Always a great time had by all. Plan to spend the early evening with your fellow members, and Bob will be getting us to fill jobs too.

March 30 - April 1, 2007: The North Midyear Conference for divisions 1-15 to be held in Lake City in conjunction with the Hog Wild Pig Crazy Barbeque festival. See our website for details.

Guests: Back for another visit with our club and our fair city is Harry Matteson, escaping all that white stuff in upstate New York. He’ll be here for a while; it takes time for that stuff to melt.

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

LAST WEEK: Student of the Month, Jennifer Livengood, from FSDB. She was accompanied by her father, and was introduced by Ms. Tempaplacar from the school. Another one of those kids who manages to get more done than I or any of my friends did when we were in HS. Also, our very own Dave Thompson introduced Debbie Verges, the Executive Director of NE Florida Boys & Girls Club. She is a busy woman as there are 11 clubs in her region. She explained that they are planning to build a new building here in our fair city.

THIS WEEK: One of the official visits by our Lt. Gov., Rande Le Fevre. Need we say anything more? I thought not. Be here and say hello to Rande. I know he is anxious to meet one and all.

NEXT WEEK: Bob Corson is up and so is the new list of speaker’s assignments. Check the website. I also e-mailed to everyone this week. Always better late than never.

⅓-⅓-⅓ DRAWING WINNERS: The winning tickets were drawn and the winners were Nick Panepinto and Richard Welty. Congrats you guys. Remember to mix those tickets well, and to buy your tickets early and often.

Late Breaking News:

Continuing my diatribe about the Pro Bowl last week, I was interested to see The Rant by Hays Carlyon, giving his idea on the biggest wastes of time and space in the world of sports. The number one item was the Pro Bowl. I still didn’t watch it. Some others on his list were: David Beckham, The NHL, ESPN the Magazine, the Slam Dunk Contest, Jerry Jones, and Al Davis. I pretty much agree with his assessment.

So what is next on the sports agenda? First, of course, is March Madness. Florida is still ranked #1, and hoping to carry that into the tournament. FSU stumbled and lost in the closing seconds to Boston College. I’ll probably watch most of the tournament as I always enjoy watching that part of the basketball season.

Secondly, you baseball fans, the spring training schedule is beginning soon, and that means the regular season is not too far behind. We have made a trip or two as a club to watch the Suns play. Anyone want to go this year and check out the new stadium? I still haven’t been in it.

And while we are on the subject of stadiums in Jacksonville, what are they going to name the football stadium now that Alltell has removed their name? Maybe we should start a pool, but then I haven’t heard any suggestions yet. Anyone know who’s in the running?

Quote(s) of the Week:
“I hope that someday your children and grandchildren will tell of the time that a certain president came to town at the end of a long journey and asked their parents and grandparents to join him in setting America on the course to the new millennium—and that a century of peace, prosperity, opportunity, and hope followed. So, if I could ask you just one last time: Tomorrow, when mountains greet the dawn, would you go out there and win one for the Gipper?” —Ronald Reagan, November 7, 1988

“If men use their liberty in such a way as to surrender their liberty, are they thereafter any the less slaves? If people by a plebiscite elect a man despot over them, do they remain free because the despotism was of their own making?” —Herbert Spencer

“The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same.” —Stendhal

“Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.” —Frederick Douglass