Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.
Kiwanis defining statement, adopted October 2004.

NEWSLETTER

Kiwanis Club of Cedar Rapids

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

The meeting was called to order by President Bob Hatala, Esq. 30 Members in attendance.

Guests: Jamie Levy (Charlene Boardman) just moved from Sheridan, WY and had been in Key Club; Christina Djerf (friend of Mike Poggenklass); Byron Taber made an official visit

Birthdays: None

Anniversaries: None

Announcements: Byron Tabor – Hiawatha Crew is holding a pancake breakfast on July 4. He’ll have tickets on his next visit. The Crew Club is up to 33 members.

Still time to volunteer to work the Wendy’s Four Oaks Golf Tournament on June 8. See Dan Breitbach to sign up.

Perfect attendance pins were awarded to:
- One year: Kevin Carlson, Bob Dye, Katie Hiatt-Braasch, Kelly Moore and Mel Rhodes
- Two year: Dan Breitbach
- Three year: Don Grimm, Jeff Hollingsworth and Chuck Wehage
- Four year: John Schweitzer
- Nine year: Doug Dix
- Ten year: Sister Charmaine
- Thirteen: Gerry Kneeland
- Sixteen: John Anderson
- Twenty-two: Dave Graeff
- 35 years and the Legion of Honor Award: Duane Kurrelmeyer

Congratulations to all!

Happy Bucks: Don Grimm ($2) – Martha went out of town and now she’s back; Keith Sutherland ($5) – both sons and wives were in town this past weekend to visit; Kathleen Hedlund – just happy; Bob Hatala – daughter’s graduation is over; Charlene – a buck to thank Janet for the symphony tickets to Memorial concert; Mel Rhodes – lost a bet to Dick Boardman; Dick Boardman – happy to get Jim Moriarty’s long overdue happy buck loan paid in full + another buck for something – probably his son; Jim Platt – for surviving a sleepy ride back from Dubuque; Jim Moriarity – happy his trial schedule has lightened up to attend today and for his younger son’s upcoming Americorps Vista job; Chuck Wehage – happy to see several Kiwanians here today; John Anderson – one for John Waggoner now that Cubs have one game winning streak; Sister Charmaine – a buck for overdue perfect attendance pins; Byron Tabor – will get caught up on Lt Gov duties; Dan Breitbach – Xavier girls’ state track experience.

Upcoming Programs: June 3: Kevin Carlson – NING website for our club
June 10 – Brian Fagan – update on the city council
June 17 – Libby Slappey – UW update
June 24 - TBA

Speaker: Chuck Wehage introduced another neighbor, Dr. Rick Larsen, a psychiatrist. Let me just say this was one of the most entertaining and informative programs we’ve had. Rick had a humorous delivery style on a topic that’s not always humorous. I’m not sure how he fits everything into his daily schedule, but he wears many hats. Dr. Larsen completed his MD in 1988 at U of Iowa then spent next four years in residency program. Upon completion, he and his wife started Eastern Iowa Psychiatry Services and did that for approximately 13 years. He currently is the medical director at Tanager Place (has been for 10 years) and provides psychiatric care to uninsured patients at St. Luke’s, the largest psychiatric center in the state with 72 beds. It’s difficult to report all that Dr. Larsen covered, so let’s just say he informed us of the shortage of qualified psychiatric care, the lack of funding and the challenges those factors have on helping people, and in particular, young people. Unfortunately for several members of our club, he is no longer taking new patients.

Word for the day: Don Grimm stumped us again, but barely with: “extorsion” – the outward rotation about an axis or a fixed point. Not to be confused with the extortion that occurs weekly in our club when it comes to prying happy bucks out of yours truly.

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