| Back to Home page NEWSLETTER Cedar Rapids Downtown Kiwanis Club
Wednesday, October 4, 2006 The meeting was called to order by Immediate Past President Doug Dix. 26 Members in attendance. Guests: Marlene Jesup (Sp?) with African American Museum, guest of Joe Nolte and Pat Sherman, visiting Kiwanian from Duluth, MN Birthdays: Paul Anderson (10/5) Paul received a beautiful version of “Happy Birthday”, not quite as moving as Marilyn Monroe’s version to Kennedy, but then again, that version would not have been appropriate for this occasion. Anniversaries: Sister Charmaine since ’97; Aaron Randolph since ’76 and recently moved Bob Cenek. Announcements: 1. Scribe sheet being passed around. It’s easy to do, even Dan can do it.
2. The honorable Dr. Graeff announced that there’s still time to sign up for the club golf outing to be held tomorrow, Oct. 5 at St. Andrew’s Golf Course. $50 gets you golf, cart and a steak dinner and the chance to wrap a perfectly good club around the old oak tree. Or is that tie a yellow ribbon round…..? Anyway, you can just show up tomorrow for the noon tee time or come for the dinner at 5:30.
3. Board meeting is next Tuesday, Oct. 10 at Bradley & Riley.
4. Congrats again to Sister C and Gerry Kneeland for being named Kiwainians of the Year for our Club. Happy Bucks: Pretty somber group today as there were only 5 happy people: Dr. Graeff for Boof Bonzer, MN Twins pitcher; Pat Sherman for joining us from Duluth; Dan Breitbach for being overjoyed to break bread at the same table as Mom and Dad; John Schweitzer for seeing a Duluthian without a parka; and Dick Boardman for attending his first Coe football game to see his grandson play.
Next week’s program: Funny you should ask. This is like a re-enactment of the “who’s on first” spiel. It goes something like this:
Q: Who’s on for next Wednesday the 11th? A: Someone is confirmed but we aren’t sure. Who maybe be coming instead.
Q: Why’s that? A: Someone can come but is on hold because Who may be able to attend but won’t know for a few days.
Q: Will Someone be mad? A: No, Someone is flexible and would defer to Who if Who can make it next week.
Q: Will Someone definitely be there next week? A: Depends on whether you mean Someone or someone. If you’re asking if someone will be there, the answer appears to be “Yes”. However, if you’re asking if Someone will be there, that depends on Who or who you’re talking about.
Q: Who’s Who? A: Who would be Patty Judge, running with Chet Culver.
Q: I’m afraid to ask: But who’s coming on the 18th? A: Oh, that’s easy, it’s Jim Prosser, new city manager.
Q: Will we have someone on the 25th? A: That depends on Who you’re talking about.Joe Nolte has the October programs well in hand, well sort of.
Speaker: Joe introduced Dr. Ruth White, former Washington HS language arts teacher and academic advisor for minorities. Ruth gave a very informative talk on a program that she started while at Washington called the Academy for Scholastic and Personal Success. It’s actually been in existence since 1989 and has run summer programs ever since, with the exception of two summers. The Academy seeks to improve academic achievement and cultural awareness with its students. Prior to her retirement in 2002, Washington HS had 42 different cultures represented in the student body. The summer program consists of 6 week programs that run from 8:00 a.m. – noon, M-F. The focus is on language arts, social studies, math, science and social skills. The sessions are currently held at Kirkwood CC but have been held at Mt. Mercy in the past. The culminating activity is a cultural trip to Atlanta, GA and every other year to either Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, etc. In intent on these trips is to expose the students to minority role models who are making something of themselves. There are between 25-35 students in each session. Funding comes from several sources but primarily from the CR School District. Funds are tight and the program can always use donations. This year the program is expanding to middle school and eventually Ruth hopes to reach the 3rd grade level. Thanks Ruth for a wonderful presentation.
Word for the day: Don Grimm was absent so the word for today is “Clueless”, as in we have no clue as to what the word would have been.
Submitted - Dan Breitbach, not to be confused with Someone or Who.
Email report to: KCarlson@mchsi.com
Scribe:
Next week: Keith Sutherland
In 2 weeks: Dan Breitbach |
