12/18/07

T'was the week before Christmas when all thru the club…

 

On ticket we have S. Hearn, who wanders as the beginning of the meeting slowly starts up.  There are not too many around until… around 12:35p, the men in black from upstairs trickle in and walk around shaking hands. 

 

President Khong starts the meeting of the greatest club in Berkeley. Our substitute song leader B. Price tries as best he can tame the wild tones with the help of  F. Bliss assists with the piano.    

 

 

The CKIers were nestled all snug in their desks, while visions of A plus danced in their heads;

 

CKIers seem to have disappeared behind piles of finals and papers.  But with us we have Distinguished Lt. Gov, V. Carpenter and immediate-past L. Gov F. Bliss. 

 

 

Sunshine report: 

C. Finch, from rehab is back home and sends greets and apologies. No worries!  We are all wishing you well!

 B. Barnwall who got in a fight with a street person and sustained several fractures around the eye socket.  Give him a call to wish him well. 

            Additionally, Tammy has fractured her leg and has finally gotten back into the office.  Give her a call too to see how she is. 

Virginia reports on her blood pressure rising and silent violins play all around. 

 

 

Foundation News:  Make donations, get tax write-offs.  Very much appreciated.

 

Virginia has 20 more 15 dollar Sees Gift Certificates for only 13 dollars each.

 

No meeting the next two weeks.  The Thursday after new years  (3^rd of January) will be a Round Table, meeting at pyramid brewery at noon on Gilman and 8^th. 

 

Annual "Pass the Hat" event is today.  We contributed for thanks to our wait staff each week.

 

Virginia updates us on the Holiday Auction.  She praises Denise on her hard work and success this year while she was on vacation.

 

Christmas Caroling at Berkeley Pines Care center on Saturday December 22, 2007.  The address is: 2223 Ashby Avenue Berkeley, CA 94705.  We will be meeting at 11:45am in the front.  I'll have Caroling books, Cocoa and cookies for after.  Additional goodies and musical instruments welcome!  Any questions OR IF YOU NEED A RIDE email me back here or call me at 831-229-0337

 

Salvation Army has volunteering opportunities.  Contact Suzanne.Mondell@usw.salvationarmy.org for more information on how to get involved with donation distributions.

 

Virginia:  Holiday Cards are done and will be delivered to the hospital with toys from ACE hardware

 

 

Interclub report:  Oakland Club has interclub.  Berkeley Kiwanis must support other Kiwanis clubs' events!  San Leandro has a crab feed on Jan 12^th.  Alameda has a chili cook off (Jan 26).  Talk to Bill for more. 

 

Birthdays?  A bunch of them. Ask Phuoc

 

:) Happies and Sads :(

 

Bill C. Virginia finally went to a doctor

Virginia adds was told that doctor has no idea and has to go to dermatologist, but cannot sleep due to terrible itchies. 

 

Denise:  Happy that it's the holidays and gets to have family over

 

Evie:  Happy for the rain cause plants are looking sad. 

 

Virginia:  Happy to have family going away (to Idaho) to enjoy a quiet house.  Now son has to go to the doctor so must babysit

 

(Notice everyone is HAPPY!)

 

Guest Speaker:

Patrick to entertain and Wow us:

            The Founder and artistic director to the Shotgun players.  Part of Berkeley since the early-90s.  Now are at the Ashby stage.  Patrick talks about fundraising, as they are most from donations.  Currently running is Shaker Chair. http://www.shotgunplayers.org/shakerchair.htm

  Shakers known for chair hanging and their service to the community.  After praise, talked about his grandparents' involvement in Kiwanis, perhaps time to continue the family tradition? 

 

            An east coast boy starts up this place.  Lots of moving around with free shows but has finally moved down and bought a theatre.  How to integrate into community?  Mural was one idea, and another is to remove carbon footprint (and save some money) by going solar.   Will be the first 100% solar theater. 

 

            Patrick was lively and funny and extremely personable.  The theater is on Ashby and is extremely Bartable, in fact, he instructs us to park at BART. 

 

First week of every show is whatever you can pay!  (38 and under get special discount!)

 

Also pay what you can under 25$  and half price on goldstar any night

 

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

 

 

 

12/11/07

Twelve drummers drumming

Fa-la-la-la-LAAAAA…

It was a brisk and windy day, snow flurries swirling everywhere (or was that on Monday Night Football?)…yes, a perfect setting for "chestnuts on the fire" (only things missing were the chestnuts and the fire) …..But it didn't keep many people from coming out and enjoying a perfect setting for the

Berkeley Kiwanis Club's always festive annual Holiday Auction!

 

Eleven pipers piping

To start with, the City Club did it right and looked beautiful. Then the Kiwanis team put another layer on top of it, with its own touch. The tables were filled with offerings too great to meet the eye. Exotic cookbooks, strange and rare wines, unusual

 

 

 

candies and concoctions, hard-to-find antiquities and inequities, and a mind-boggling array of treasures, large and small, old and new,  unique and ordinary, hot and cold, tall and short.

Ten lords a-leaping

Young Prez P. Khong was poised to kick off the event in fine form and awaited the City Club's finest to set up the gourmet buffet. Oswaldo and troups showed up shortly. Meanwhile, Sec'y J. Rosano barked orders all around (ignored by most as usual) and made seemingly important announcements over the mike. (the other 8 lords were standing by)

Nine ladies dancing

Yes, they were dancing and prancing -- Chair V. Carpenter, Asst Chair D. Haughin, Honorary Member S. Silveira, Past LtGov R. Bliss, Neophyte Treasurer S. Hearn and others were scurrying around, busy as elves, hanging stockings, gay apparel, and sugar plums all over the place (not to mention boughs of holly figgy pudding, and frankincense, incense and nonsense).

Eight maids a-milking

As said, the tables were filled with great treasures, many of which were hand crafted by the amazing L. Hannawalt (rumors have it that hubby B. Hannawalt actually chipped in and handsomely at that), jams, preserves, and other creations by V. Carpenter, S. Silveira, R. Bliss, and others, all of which drew handsome offers.

 

 

 

Seven swans a-swimming

The silent auction took off with much anticipation and intense bidding. To the rescue came the famous UCB Circle K (there were at least 7)  having been poised to run and run, and did more than keep up with the fast-paced auction, and handled the check-out table for fast final payment and processing, when we finally filed out, drained of energy but filled with satisfaction.

Six geese a-laying

We had some very generous donors, ranging from the Berkeley City Club, Olympic Circle Sailing Club, Tilden Park Golf Course, Oakland Raiders, SF Giants, Cal Bears, Northside Travel, Berkeley Ace Hardware, Rist. Venezia, H's Lordships. We also had table sponsors Berkeley Ace Hardware, Immediate Past President J. Egeberg, and upstanding Kiwanian J. Piercy (aka the "Christmas Grumpy"), and table centerpieces by the always-crafty R. Bliss.

Five golden rings

There were some very special guests today. First, we had esteemed representatives from our favorite sister clubs, not to mention likes of Oakland, Alameda, Albany-El Cerrito, San Leandro,  and Hayward-Castro Valley. And of course, there were very special guests and spouses, especially at today's sponsor tables. BUT LAST AND NOT LEAST, we had some very special B. K.'ers that we don't see often, of the likes of R. Frisbie, L. Iodice, J. Asher (of course, the latter doesn't have nearly the excuse….)

Four calling birds

Well, it seemed like there were four, but was it really two – of the best barkers in the world. Both S. Silveira and J. Rosano traded volleys and vied to finish this auction on time (thereby outdoing our sister club in Oakland last week). Well, needless to say, our venerable auctioneers met and exceeded this amazing challenge, even closing a few minutes ahead of time.

 

 

 

Three French hens

As the Silent Auction tables were winding down, with a fervent frenzy, the Live Auction got off with much anticipation and ado. There were so many grand prizes, it's impossible to record here. Top prizes included 3 gourmet and exotic dinners hosted by generous Kiwanians, such as an oversized barbeque extravaganza on the Carpenter's deck (won by ???), an Italian gourmet bash at Villa Leonardo  (won by J. Piercy), and the perennial favorite JR's Cioppino Feast (won by D. Leonard).

Two turtle doves

A night's lodging and dinner at the City Club (won by ???), and the Jeff Tedford Football (meaning next season will be what this season was supposed to be), won by F. Bliss.

And a partridge in a pear tree!

Event chair (the amazing) V. Carpenter announced, just before going to print, that according to preliminary results, this event has just set an unforeseen record of proceeds exceeding $7,000! (all of course for SERVICE!) Yes, although many accolades go to many others, as recorded above, it is hereby proclaimed that

Virginia Carpenter is our special partridge for 2007!

 

12/4/07

Holiday Auction is next week!  Do you have your lunch tickets yet?  Get them from Denise at her business on San Pablo Avenue for $15 before you show up at the door next week.  It will cost you and your "friends", neighbors and relatives $20 at the door.  You are bringing "friends", neighbors and relatives, aren't you??  You do have friends, don't you??  And what about your contributions to the silent and live auctions?  If you haven't turned them in yet, Denise would appreciate them delivered to her by Friday so that she can reduce the confusion of identifying and pricing everything just before the auction.  AND BY ALL MEANS, COME PARTICIPATE IN YOUR AUCTION.  

Have you noticed that the volunteer editors have been using slightly different formats for the Kollegiate?  Probably not: we aren't a very "noticing" crowd.  This format has been touted as better for e-mail readers (don't have to scroll up and down to read the columns) whereas the double column format is better for printed version readers (for reasons unknown to me, except "tradition").  So, let's see if you read this "Most Unnecessary Publication on The West Coast".  Do you want single or double columns of text?  e-mail Chair Jeff ( jegeberg@essic.net), send him a note at home, or call him at home. Use your Roster to get his address or phone.  

Since Christmas and New Year's Day fall on Tuesdays, there will be only one more meeting in December (not counting Auction).  So, you better plan on attending that meeting (Dec 18) since there has been no mention of where or when we will have our last meeting of 2007 or our 1 ^st meeting of 2008. 

When I showed up today, there was no one at the ticket table, but soon Sandy showed up and Charlie could finally get going on his lunch.  Khing Khong was a bit tardy, not clanging his bell until 12:35, but that was OK since we didn't have a guest speaker today.  Hizzoner asked for a "Ho Ho Ho" from everyone, but it was pretty subdued.  Pretty obvious that most of us have not gotten into the Christmas shopping mode as yet.  (Or, maybe we have!)  Since Borden wasn't present we did a pretty good job of GBA under the able hand-waving of Bob Rice and Roberta, our Social Engineer, was prepared with a seasonal invocation.   

Continuing with lightning speed Pres Phouc offered the opportunity for friendly insurance for those who weren't sure they had done a thorough job of hand-shaking.  After Sandy and Duane dutifully ponyed up, Phouc allowed as he hadn't appointed a Secret Greeter, but appreciated the honesty and generosity of those two stalwarts.  
 

Circle K Joe was with us for the whole meeting and gave us a rundown of this last week or so of concentrated Circle K activities.  Of course a meeting tonight (Tuesday) in Wheeler Hall, but by the time you read this it is too late to take any action.  He also announced that today was the last chance to make a reservation for their Fall Dinner to be held at Clark Kerr Campus on Friday (I think).  But, if you e-mail him ( jh_Lee@Berkeley.edu) Wednesday he may be able to sneak you in and tell you just exactly what time and date.  Circle K LtGuv Gail is having her Division Council Meeting in Santa Rosa, including a lunch before and the First Annual Circle K Quiz Bowl after.  Again, Joe can fill you in on details like date, time, and location.  This Sunday (Dec 9) they will be doing holiday baking at the Bliss residence, starting at 4:30 and will also be working on pediatric dolls.  

John reminisced about the "early" years when our Club started giving academic scholarships and noted that Jack Bailey was one of the first selectees and has told John that winning that scholarship convinced him to go to UCB and follow his "dream" of being in music.  Jack is now the music director of Voices of Musica Sacra which is presenting a caroling program on Dec 8 and 9.  Details at www.vmschorus.org , or call 925-944-5239. 

Debra is thinking of getting some of us together with Circle K and friends to do some caroling.  Considering how we "murder" GBA most Tuesdays, it was nice of her to invite us and she actually got a few hands raised.  Details will follow, probably by e-mail or phone.  

It was noted that our Secretary celebrated a birthday (un-numbered) last Friday.  It was also noted by JP that it was great that Jack was back to be the Secretary.  Jeff chimed in with a "wait a minute", wondering how it was that for a short trip to the mid-west Jack was able to miss two meetings, one Board meeting, and countless committee meetings.  Jack "Oh, Well'd" and put in a sizeable contribution in honor.  

Fruit Bob was even happier than usual.  He flashed a very fancy certificate issued by the SF Board of Supervisors in recognition of Bob's important volunteer involvement in his neighborhood in that fair City.  Wonder of Bob furnishes fresh fruit to the meeting attendees?  

Sandy reminded us that she is looking for donations of sox for the homeless and needy.  In response to Jeff's suggestion that most of the folks in the room had a pair, it was noted that the adjective "clean" needed to be added to explain the noun "sox".  They do not have to be new, but probably it would be in poor taste to bring in sox with holes, repaired or not.  She's willing to collect them at any meeting.  

The Paradis's have an anniversary coming up on 17 December, but probably are already celebrating and weren't here for an "alert", and won't get recognized next week at the Auction.  Tammy is supposed to edit this scandal sheet on the 18 ^th, but the odds are poor.  We shall see. 

We finally got to our program which was the annual effort (for us) to put stickers on cards to go to Oakland Children's hospital patients during the holiday season.  That's a challenge for our members, but with lots of prompting by Roberta, and music by Frank, we did it.                        Jp 

DON'T FORGET THE AUCTION