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Back to Home pageNEWSLETTER Kiwanis Club of Cedar Rapids Wednesday, June 17, 2009 The meeting was called to order by President Bob Hatala, Esq. 24 Members in attendance. Guests: None Birthdays: None Anniversaries: None Announcements: Mary Corkery is still in need of a few volunteers for the Kernels fundraising nights. Happy Bucks: Dave Graeff – KC Royals on 4 game win streak; Doug Dix – good time at Kiwanis golf outing last Monday; Joe Schmall – brother is taking command of the USS Maine in a ceremony this weekend in Washington State; Don Grimm – highly recommends the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, IL; John Locher – happy he fared better than the deer (buck) he hit returning from the Lake of the Woods this past week; Pam Landon – daughter is due to arrive home from Europe after a one day delay; Keith Sutherland – younger brother’s 60th birthday; Bob Hatala – a buck fine for a sick “buck” joke regarding Locher’s happy buck story; Dan Breitbach – paid a buck because Hatala’s joke was sick enough to warrant a $2 fine. Upcoming Programs: Brian Fagan, at-large city council member is next Wednesday. Speaker: Dan Breitbach introduced Leslie Wright, Director of Community Impact with the United Way. Leslie gave a very informative presentation on the focus UW is undertaking in her area, which is preparing our underserved children to be ultimately become productive community citizens. The focus is on education. The UW has allocated $2.3 million for this educational component. She discussed several obstacles to children being prepared to lead successful lives: coming from low-income families; the effects of the flood in displacing children from their homes; the large percentage of kids living in homes where parents work, leaving the home empty at important times in the day and creating situations where children are left to make their own decisions as to how they will fill the time. It’s a big task and one that will take time, money and human resources. Thanks Leslie. Word for the day: The word master, Don Grimm, stumped us again with “effulgent”: shining forth brilliantly; sending forth intense light; resplendent, radiant. Submitted: Dan Breitbach - El Verboso Bloviatoro |