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NEWSLETTER

Cedar Rapids Downtown Kiwanis Club

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

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

Guests:  Kirk Siders (guest of Duane Kurrelmeyer) and Adam Stradt of Skogman Realty, looked us up online.  His father is a long time Kiwanian from the Quad Cities and decided to check us out.

Birthdays:   None

Anniversaries:      None

Announcements:  Bob presented Kelly Moore with a plaque to honor his year as President of the Club.

Happy Bucks:  Janet Blackledge – reunion cruise for a SIGNIFICANT BIRTHDAY went very well; Janet also gave a check to the foundation as she does on her birthday; Don Grimm – in memory of Don Annestaad, a long time friend; Ron Sundermann seconded that  as did Chuck Wehage; Dick Boardman – honored to be sitting next to John Anderson; Mike Poggenklass – married into a Wisconsin family and has yet to get an earful from Badger fans about the upcoming Hawkeye game; Bob Hatala – that he seems happier than Chuck; and Keith Sutherland – his parents are in town.

Speaker:  Mary Corkery introduced Ed Young, Enterprise Manager for the African-American Museum.  Ed gave a great presentation on the Iowa Underground Railroad, which ran almost exclusively in southern Iowa.  He said that Iowa was a safe haven for many compared to Missouri.  Iowa had the highest number of African American soldiers of any state in the Union during the Civil War.  A couple of interesting facts from his presentation: 1) a majority of the slaves ended up in Brazil and the West Indies and not the U.S. – only 4% of those who boarded ships actually made it to shore as most either died in route or were thrown overboard; 2) their treatment was much worse in Brazil and the West Indies where the life expectancy was 1 year.

Ed also reported that they were able to save over 90% of the exhibits at the museum.  They are up and running on the second floor only but are offering programs.   

Next week: Herbert Hoover Museum

Word for the day:  Wordsmith Don Grimm paid a buck again this week for “arriviste” as someone came close to the definition: “one who is bent on ‘arriving’, i.e. on making a good position for himself in the world; a pushing or ambitious person, a self-seeker.” 

Submitted:   Dan Breitbach - El Verboso Bloviatoro