Kiwanis Programs
June, 2008

Programs/Events

Tuesday morning, June 3. Class 2-A Iowa State Champion PCM Golf team! We will hear about their experiences and expectations for the future.

Note: Since June 3 is primary elections, location of the meeting will be announced this week.

Tuesday morning, June 10 – regular morning meeting. Larry Ambroson, Pharmacist at the Medicine Shoppe in Newton will be our speaker. His topic will be. “Too much thumb exercise.” That’s our title. Larry will fill in the gaps. This will be an interesting and valuable program.

Guest Night on June 17 will be our annual Kiwanis family and guest picnic at Darrell and Karlin Hjortshoj’s home. 

Board Meeting will be at 6:15 a.m. on June 17.

Tuesday morning, June 24. Doug Balmer, Manager of the Earl May Nursery & Garden Center in Newton will tell us “Why the Grass is Always Greener on the Neighbor’s Side of the Fence” and other lawn and garden things.

Backpacks & Helping Kids

We have nearly 60 backpacks to be filled with items a child would need if they had to leave their home quickly with only what they are wearing at the time. In some cases, that is exactly what happens when child protective agencies have to step in. 

So far, a number of Kiwanians and friends of Kiwanians have stepped up to the plate and provided supplies and/or cash. If you have provided something and are not on the following list, please tell us as we don’t want to miss somebody. 
As part of the club, you have all helped with the purchase of the 60 backpacks at a cost of only $3 each. The Nebraska-Iowa Kiwanis District Foundation has paid more than half the cost of those backpacks to encourage clubs to do this project.

Lana Keuning made 12 (if I counted right) really nice blankets. Kay and John Van Ryswyk, Opal and Doyle Van Der Hart and Jane Fennema have returned a total of 5 filled backpacks. Ellen Dunaway and Norma Nash have provided a good quantity of supplies. Kiwanian Donald Peery has given cash to buy supplies and at least one other has given cash (please remind us who). 

The backpack project was Marvel’s project as First Lady of the NI District in 2004 – 2005 and has now become a continuing project. To all who have helped: Thank you very much!

On the light side…

Can you possibly live without this priceless information?

Coca-Cola was originally green.
It is impossible to lick your elbow.
Honey is the only food that will not spoil.

There are more collect calls made on Father’s Day than any other day of the year!

The approximate average cost of raising a medium size dog to the age of 11 is $6,400.

Miracle League

The start of the Miracle League play at the new special diamond by Principal Park where the Iowa Cubs play has been delayed by weather. The first game was to be played about the middle of June. 

Work is progressing well, but the start of the Miracle League season will be a little later. 

The idea of Miracle League – ballparks for children with disabilities is that “Every child deserves a chance to play baseball.”

We will keep you informed so, hopefully, all of us can find a time to go see one of these special games. 

More Trivia – About Iowa

How wide is Iowa from east to west?

In April, 1994, what town was officially proclaimed the Ice Cream Capital of the World by the Iowa legislature?

What does the name Pella mean?
Iowa’s longest and highest bridge crosses what body of water?
What is the distance in miles between Iowa’s northern and southern borders?

In case somebody asks…

Kiwanis and its Service Leadership Programs have membership of more than 600,000 men, women, and youth in nearly 16,000 clubs in more than 70 countries.

Easy to use display

click image for larger view

If you have an opportunity to go somewhere to show off Kiwanis – and especially our club – please don’t hesitate. The display shown in the photo above will “Do all the talking for you.” 

This board highlights the backpack project. Plus there are table display pieces that give information about the service and fund raising projects we do. There is also a list of the members of our club.

It’s easy to tell others about Kiwanis. This is the display that was used May 10 at the open houses.

Trivia answers

Iowa is 324 miles wide.

Lemars is the Ice Cream Capital of the world.

“Pella” means City of Refuge.
Red Rock Lake is spanned by the longest and highest bridge in Iowa.
Iowa is 210 miles from north to south.

Officer training

A learning session for all Kiwanis officers and board members is available close by. 

The session will be at the Altoona Library on May 31 – this coming Saturday.

We need a new secretary for the coming year. This would give him/her a chance to “learn the ropes.” Marvel will also teach a new secretary how the job is done.

Training hours in Altoona are 8 a.m. to noon.

From your board

At the May 13 meeting, it was reported that Amanda Buckingham and Stacy Fossenberg are the winners of the 2008 Kiwanis scholarships - $500 each. Both graduates are members of the PCM Key Club.

The Gazebo at the Kiwanis Park at the library is in need of a new tarp for the roof. Because of the cost to buy a new one, Larry Diekema and Howard Van Der Pol are looking into the different choices. 

Would you believe that, 
in 1903...

The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 0nly 47 years.

Only 8% of the homes had a telephone.

There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S. and only 144 miles of paved roads.

The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was 30.

More than 95% of all births in the U.S. took place at home.

By the way, did you try to lick your elbow?

Monroe Kiwanis Newsletter
Volume 12 Number 9
Howard Van Der Pol, President 
Bob Dunaway, Editor
Website: monroeiowakiwanis.org

Return to home page

May 08 Newsletter
March 08 Newsletter
February 08 Newsletter
December 07 Newsletter
November 07 Newsletter
October 07 Newsletter
September Newsletter
August Newsletter
July Newsletter
June Newsletter
May Newsletter
April Newsletter
March Newsletter
February Newsletter
January Newsletter