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.

Home Page

About Us

What We Do

Committees

Officers

Board Meetings

Current Newsletter

Archived Newsletters

Foundation

Historical Documents

Calendar

Back to Home page

NEWSLETTER

Cedar Rapids Downtown Kiwanis Club

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The meeting was called to order by President Kelly Moore.  27 Members in attendance.

Guests:  None 

Birthdays:   None

Anniversaries:     None

Announcements:  1. The Algiers Morning Edition Kiwanis Club of New Orleans sent a check for flood relief. 

2. Mary Corkery still needs volunteers to wristband at the following two Kernels’ games: 8/29 and 9/3.

Happy Bucks:  Jim Platt – wife happy to have him out of the house today at noon; Dick Boardman – fine for miscalculating their anniversary years; Keith Sutherland – 1st time grandfather; Chuck Wehage – wife was rear ended but okay; Joe Schmall – greatest game in the world begins 8/29 and also a buck for Tommy Breitbach’s article in the paper; Kevin Carlson – asking Joe for a QB update from Omaha on his son; Kelly Moore – happy to be back from Vegas trip with 14 in-laws; John Anderson – going to Cubs game tomorrow; and Dan Breitbach – don’t blame him for his dad’s miscalculations.

Speaker:  Mary Corkery introduced Hal Garwood and Jim Patterson who talked about the SWITCH program and showed a video.  Both Hal and Jim are long time educators in the CR school district.  For a number of years they ran the Skipper Jump Rope program promoting fitness.  Now, they are project consultants for the SWITCH program in CR.  This program began in August 2005 in both CR and Lakeville, MN.  The focus is family obesity prevention and targets 3rd grade students and families in CR, Marion and College School Districts.  It is fully funded by private businesses and operates on approximately $150,000 annually.  The top corporate sponsors are Cargill ($100,000) and Rockwell ($15,000).    

This past year over 900 families signed up and participated in the program.  The battle cry, so to speak, is “Switch what you…Do…View…Chew.  It is all about reducing screen time (TV, cell phone, computer), exercising more and eating healthy (more fruits and vegetables).  All kids who sign up receive a pedometer to track how many steps they take daily.  The overall response from the families involved has been excellent and the results very positive.  

Excellent program – very informative.  Thanks Hal and Jim.  

8/27: Marcie DeVries – CR Library; and 9/3: Steve Fletcher – Gazette Editor

Word for the day:   Don Grimm actually fessed up without spleneticism and paid his buck when his word for the day, “splenetic” was correctly guessed.  Splenetic: marked by bad temper, malevolence, or spite.

Submitted:   Dan Breitbach