Kiwanis Club of Historic St. Augustine

Newsletter – 5 April 2007

President’s Message:

Cheryle Newman, Bob Braden, and I attended the North Midyear Conference that was held in Lake City last weekend. We attended only the Saturday session, but was much impressed with the quality of the program. We all attended different break-out sessions and have picked up more info than you can digest. Of course, the secret is we don’t have to do it all, just pick some projects that would fit into our mold and run with it. Bob picked up some especially nice ideas for YCPO. We learned a lot and returned before the Hog Wild Pig Crazy Barbeque festival started, so we didn’t indulge. “That is probably just as well,” our waistlines said.

I was contacted by the state Key Club and I sent an e-mail message to most of you. If you don’t have e-mail, you may still be interested in the deal:

“We are under contractual obligation to fill a large quantity of unsold rooms at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort for the dates of April 19-21. We need your help. You may reserve 1, 2, or 3 nights at the price of $99/night at this four star hotel which has an average rate of $226/night. Please consider helping Key Club and Kiwanis by spending a weekend at a 4 star hotel, for the price of a 2 star hotel. Please distribute this invitation to all of your Kiwanis, Social and Professional associates. You may visit the Rosen Shingle Creek at www.shinglecreekresort.com. To book your room, give us a call at the Kiwanis District Office at 407-324-9800. Anyone of our staff members will be able to assist you. Starting Monday, you may also reserve your room online at www.FloridaKiwanis.com by clicking on ‘Special Hotel Deal.’”

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

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

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

30 April 2007: The Noon Club is sponsoring their annual golf tournament at Marsh Creek. Shotgun Start is at noon. The price is $100 per person or $375 per foursome. I’m not a golfer, but many in our club are, so go and support another Kiwanis project. You’ll know most of the folks there. Prizes and lunch are included.

22 May 2007: The annual Ag Day at the Ag Center. The service clubs started this some years ago, and the Farmer of the Year is named and honored along with agriculture in the county, of which there is less each year. This will be a luncheon at the Ag Center, and we usually cancel our regular meeting for that week.

Guests: Back for his final visit with our club for this year was Harry Matteson, from Malone, New York. We also entertained an Interclub from the noon club consisting of: Kelly Bland, Jim Pickett, John Evans, Walt Weiser, Debbie Clements, and Greg Reiner. Doug Evans was a guest of Dave Thompson; Skeeter had as his guest, Elaine Edwards; and prospective member, Paul Linser was present, and he touted the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival.

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

LAST WEEK: Rudy Xue had a small contingent from Learn to Read. Janet Hudson, their executive director told us about the program, especially some of the new things they are taking on. They serve about 400 students per year now, and it is a growing business. They are involved now with their Kiss the Pig contest, and one year we had Skeeter and Gary Bernstein representing the club. Neither came in first, but I think Gary beat Skeeter. This is a very worthy organization. Helping those people who got out of government schools unable to read; and the tutors get to finish the job.

THIS WEEK: Our committee meetings and Board Meeting is this week. Come prepared to discuss the new by-laws.

NEXT WEEK: Human and Spiritual Values monthly program. We will not have Student of the Month this week because of Spring Break

⅓-⅓-⅓ DRAWING WINNERS: The winning tickets were drawn and the winners were Charlie Stevens and Skeeter Key. This is Charlie’s second week in a row. Congrats to both. Remember to mix those tickets well (put mine on top), and to buy your tickets early and often.

Late Breaking News:

March Madness is over and what can I say? Got to watch some truly good basketball, and Florida did, indeed, repeat as national champs. Obviously that doesn’t happen very often, and to be national champs in football at the same time! So the questions have begun: Will Donovan stay or go to Kentucky? Will any of the players return for another year? Who taught Noah how to shoot a free throw? Many questions and the answers will arrive soon enough.

The regular baseball season is off and running. Anyone want to make a trip as a group to see the Suns play? We did it a time or two in the past when Bart was active in the club. If you are interested I could check and see if there is a smoking area so we can puff cigars while watching. Some stadiums do have a designated smoking area now a days.

It was just announced that the Iranians were to release the British military personnel after capturing them in Iraqi waters. (I found it strange that not one talking head made mention of the Barbary Pirates, at least while I was listening. Back in the early 1800’s the Barbary Pirates would capture foreign ships and take the crew prisoner. Their government would either pay a ransom, or the crew would be sold into slavery. This is essentially the same bunch we are fighting today, and I have said all along that we will be fighting these folks for years, not months.) What did Britain give up to get them back? I just can’t believe that the warship on station had to call back to London to see if they could fire on these thugs, and they were eventually told that they could NOT! These people do not see that as strength and it only emboldens them, so look for more of the same.

Quote(s) of the Week:

“Now those who seek absolute power, even though they seek it to do what they regard as good, are simply demanding the right to enforce their own version of heaven on earth, and let me remind you they are the very ones who always create the most hellish tyranny.” —Barry Goldwater

“Of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people, commencing demagogues and ending tyrants.” —Alexander Hamilton