Thursday, February 25, 2010

Newsletter 022310


_____________________
 
LEGION OF HONOR!
 
Yes, this ol' club is 87 years young today. And there was a very rousing rendition of  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!
 
AND WE HAD A BEVY OF VERY HONORED GUESTS to help us celebrate the momentous occasion. To start with, young B. Rice introduced an even younger special guest named Esther. Next, E. Goodman introduced Vivian Coe, honoring our longtime favorite BK'er Allen Coe. D. Leonard then introduced the fabled current president of the Albany-El Cerrito Club, none other than Ms Karen Euston. B. Lowman introduced longtime
 
 
good buddy Jerry, who has provided many years of community service in Berkeley, and S. Hearn introduced former BK'er Z. Sher who came all the way from the Alameda Club to help celebrate our historic affair.
 
Duo Prez Tamara presided and did a memorable job of hosting this affair. Notorious Past Lt Governor V. Carpenter immediately jumped up and started cutting the grandiose special birthday cake which was passed all around.
 
And Now for an Interlude
 
And a refreshing one, at that. Diane introduced other esteemed members of the world's #1 Circle K Club.  (unfortunately, there was a confession that sometimes "classes" are MORE important than "Kiwanis?"). Big event tonight @ 112 Worster – ELECTIONS! (That means no more Diane, Josh, et al??...boo hoo)
 
 On a Clear Day
·         P. Khong reminded us of important youth conventions coming up: Circle K on Mar 26-28 (V. & C. Carpenter in charge) & Key Club Apr 9-11 (P. Khong in charge)
·         B. Lowman: diapers still going on @ Vera Casey
·         S. Hearn: St. Patty's Mar 14 at her house; "YEAH" next Mon same location. Be there!
·         Sunshine Report: J. Rosano gave us a "thumbs up" on Past Prez Denise's other half Nicky!
 
 
On a Happy Day
 
·         B. Barnwell offered big bucks since he had to leave early to see his "girlfriend" in San Francisco (there's a much longer explanation, much of which most of you already know). Where is Gavin Newsome anyway?
·         In the proper spirit of today's anniversary, B. Fay reminded us that he was ordained in 1923, the same year than Kiwanis was born!
·         J. Piercy quit playing his trumpet in 1922. Thank gawd none of us heard him.
·         Z. Sher mentioned that MANY awards were given out for the Alameda Chili Cookoff and that P. Khong didn't win any of them for his carefully prepared entry.
·         V. Coe was delighted to be here.
·         Josh is REALLY looking forward to CK's elections tonight!
·         V. Carpenter gave away her risqué mauve hat to the "POLE DANCER" who showed us a little of her stuff (but we won't mention any names!)
 
And Now for a Little History
 
Rather than going back so far that no one remembers, Emcee J. Piercy pulled out a 1982 Membership Roster and went through the highlights. Yup, well over a hundred members! He pointed out who was still here today and who's not. This prompted many stories like B. Fay's about the old days at State Farm Insurance with the likes of E. Hernstein and many more. GREAT MEMORIES!!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And Now for a Little Legion
 
Or rather it's about the BIG BOYS  (Sorry, no girls have made the ranks yet). All the details won't be repeated here, so follow along on page 8 of your roster –
¨  Frank Bliss & John Piercy – 28 years!
¨  Jack Rosano – 29 years!
¨  Bill Fay & Bob Skrak – 34 years!
¨  Bob Rice – 45 years!
¨  Leo Iodice – 46 years!
¨  And the king Borden Price – 49 years!!
 
And then the "oldest timers" were invited up to the mike….and they weren't shy! B. Rice told stories about starting the Science Fair in 1934, and B. Price told us what it was all about in the good ol' days at the Shattuck Hotel. We certainly wouldn't repeat it here.
 
And One More Little Surprise
 
Well it seems that one of the above esteemed honorees has just "retired" from an amazing stint of no-less-than 20 Years as our illustrious Club Secretary ------And quite fittingly our very own J. Rosano duly presented with none-other-than a Distinguished Service Award.
 
Wow, this brought a few tears to some eyes… but he sure does deserve it. Congrats JR!!!
 
je
 
 
 

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Newsletter 021610

Happy belated  St. Valentines Day to all you loverly Kiwanians!
Denise still has a few heart shaped boxes
of chocolates, if anyone needs to atone
their forgetful ways!!
 
Lots of announcements:
1.      Per Virginia---Our next RIF dates are;   March 10 & 11 and May 12 &
13.  Mark your calendars.
__________________________________
      2.  Per Piercy---Annual Meeting;
The President of the Kiwanis Club of            Berkeley  Foundation   has called for the Annual meeting of the membership for Tues., April 13, 2010, concurrent with the
Annual meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Berkeley.    AGENDA   
 
1.      Call to order
2.      Report of  Foundation Activities
3.      Election of Directors
Members nominated by the Board:
        John Piercy
        Jack Rosano
4.      Open discussion
5.      Adjournment
__________________________________
 
 
3.      Club Nomination & Election  of
Officers schedule:
a.      Mar. 18th--Nominating Committee presents Slate to Board.
b.      Mar. 30th---Slate of nominees presented to membership.
c.      Apr. 6th---Nominations closed with
call for election.
d.      Apr. 13th---Annual Meeting, w/
election of 2010-11 Officers.
 
Today was take-over day by our BHS
Key Club.  They brought lots of cakes
and cookies (homemade, of course) to
auction off to our sweet-tooth members.
And they were not hesitant to lay a fine
or two on several members in attendance.
Shocker of the day!!!!!!! Sandy Hearn
was fined for being too rowdy!!!!!  VC
was fined quite often for being too
mouthy!!!  As usual.   There were several
guessing games to be played after the
food was all gone.  I may have lost count
but I believe they fattened their budget
with approx.  $300.00 from all this.  A
good time was had by all.
Be sure to ask VC how she got to be a
Cougar!
 
Next week--------Our Annual Legion of
Honor luncheon.  Bob Rice will be a
featured honoree. 
 
jr

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Newsletter 020910


Here's to another somewhat warmer day amidst the crazy, wet and cold days we have had these past weeks.  The first sign of great things to come was that we were directed upstairs to our former dining room, always a cozy and friendly place.  We were greeted at the check-in table by J. Rosano, led in a WONDERFUL rendition of GBA by B. Rice and invocated by J. Piercy who asked for blessings for our great work, fabulous comraderie and this great weather.
 
Trying to bring us all under control was ½ Pres. T. Paradis, whilst the other ½ Pres. and her daughter are in ??? doing service.  So far, dad F. Bliss has heard they are hauling bricks.  T.P. called on our lovely B. Lowman to fill up that fine box!  And… there was a Secret Greeter in the person of E. Goodman, who could not catch anyone having missed shaking her hand.  Some still did pay insurance!
 
T.P. honored B. Barnwell by asking him to join her at the front table.  He earned the seat of honor for all his service hours in San Francisco and the quiet things he does for the Berkeley Club.  Round of applause for Bob!  Other guests included Esther, loving wife of B. Rice, and Karen Euston, president of the Albany/EC Kiwanis Club who brought along a friend Sharon.  (I missed the last name!)                 
 
THEN:  Circle K family chair Diane introduced her male followers- Peter, Kenneth and John- so that's an interclub!  She shared info about service projects including St. Vincent de Paul and a Baking Party
 
 
for sending cookies to our service members overseas.  They also had a bowling social event and chocolate Valentine roses are now for sale as a fundraiser.  They are always doing something!!!   
 
There were reports from various committees:
 
DINE OUT NIGHT is this Friday the 12th.  Join the fun at Barneys located at Shattuck and Cedar.
5:30pm… 
NOMINATING COMMITTEE is busy, and they are chasing people.  They are looking for some of us to step up to be on the board.
CAZADERO  reconnoiter is sometime next week I think we heard. (I spelled it correctly!!)
BK FOUNDATION has received a donation to the foundation from the family of Charlie Fitch.  J. Piercy also mentioned that donations have come in for Haiti relief, and he will be sending off a check for that in the next few days.  Contributions through the foundation will be matched.  Also, a letter was received from one of our scholarship recipients who is attending Brown.  She is having a fabulous time and is so very grateful for our support.   
COMMUNITY SERVICES will be taking diapers to Vera Casey and cakes to the South Berkeley Senior Center.  And we may do another serving night at YEAH this month!!! 
RIF will be in March.
SECRETARY Bliss requested any hours of service be turned in for his report due tomorrow!
SUNSHINE:  S. Hearn reported that she heard via Vivian Coe that Ruth Iodice is in the hospital.  J. Rosano stated that Nick Haughin had another TIA while at work this morning and Denise was with him at the hospital.   
 
 
There were plenty of JLJLJL$$$  
B. Barnwell very very L re: a recent break-in at an after school program site, and the theft of so many of the things these programs need.  P. Khong L for the funeral of his uncle and J to have heard from our member Chino who is now in Japan and due to start teaching next week.  She misses us!!  And we miss you, Chino!!  VC J to bring remaining caramels to F. Bliss who must be hungry!!  B. Skrak L that he had to come home from Hawaii.  J. Rosano JJ for his guests.  S. Hearn very L to hear about Ruth Iodice.  B. Rice very J his wife Esther joined us for lunch.  K. Euston gave a "startled" $ for a falling fence from across the street at her house (read further on in this rag for more info on this!).  Sharon gave JJ for the scholarship that BK gave her daughter many years back.  B. Rice also J for an upcoming science fair.
 
And then there was THE SPEAKER….        
The Berkeley Unified School District's Superintendent Bill Huyett had been with the city for two years now.  He has two children, both of whom have benefited from the public school system from kindergarten through university.  He feels that the Berkeley school system has very dedicated and very bright, talented teachers and principals.  Many of them come from the UC system and have a mindset of the importance of education in the city.
In spite of reports you might hear, performance is on the rise and there is the continued desire to teach the "whole child".  We still have good arts and academic programs that include college prep tracks.
 
There is concern about the continued loss of funds.  Because of GREAT financial management within the school district Berkeley has been able to keep many things that other districts have had to forgo due to lack of financial planning (we still have monies to stretch out).  However, the time has come that even our libraries for example are going to have to "peel away".  Mr. Huyett is worried about the charter school movement that is given huge amounts of monies.  And, because of lack of planning in the state of California, he is concerned that the 2011-2012 year will be the worst time as tax support and stimulus monies will end and charter schools may take much more of any available funds.  He truly feels that public education as we know it now will not exist in the future.  Thank you, Mr. Huyett, for your honest insights!           .    
 
 
We leave you now with a SAQOTW:
 
 
A LICK AND A PROMISE
Does mail still have value?  Well, are you pleased to receive and unexpected letter from a friend?  Are you eager to open some news you've been anticipating?  Then it should come as no surprise to you that the inscription on the cornice of the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum (the former U.S. Post Office in Washington, D.C.) reads:
            Messenger of sympathy and love,
            Servant of parted friends,
            Consoler of the lonely,
            Bond of the scattered family,
            Enlarger of the common life,
            Carrier of news and knowledge,
            Instrument of trade and industry,
            Promoter of mutual acquaintance,
            Of peace and of goodwill among men
            and nations.
 
Please do enjoy this issue of the
Berkeley Kiwanis Kollegiate!
 
 
 
 
 
 
There is nothing like sealing a letter to inspire a fresh thought.
Al Bernstein
DON'T FORGET DINEOUT AT
BARNEYS THIS FRIDAY!!
                       
Editor:  vc
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SEE YOU ALL NEXT WEEK!!
BRING A FRIEND!!!
 
                EDITOR:  VC