President Liz Quinn opened our meeting with the Pledge and singing of God Bless America. Bill Hague gave the prayer.
Announcements:
Johnathan Davis reported that the Turkey Chase Run/Walk held on Thanksgiving Day had 7000 participants- the most in its 20 year history. Members of our club along with Key Club students ran in the race as well as working as volunteers. The money helps Family services of the YMCA as well as scholarships to summer camp for kids. Liz Quinn announced that the Christmas Party would be at her home on Thursday, December 13 in lieu of the weekly luncheon. A Board Meeting will be held at the Kiwanis Club of Rockville's Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, December 8 at 9 a.m. Tickets in advance may be purchased from Pat Tiede.
Bethesda
Kiwanis Club visited Fisher House on November 15th, which was founded to provide support to wounded
veterans and their families while they are at medical facilities. The
Fisher House is a house with rooms similar to a hotel suite. Each house can accommodate
seven or eight families where they can sleep, eat, relax and share
their challenges with others.
Several members (see above) of the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda visited and had a box luncheon meeting and a tour of the Fisher House facilities. The Club will be providing a dinner for the residents of the two Bethesda Naval houses on December 3rd. They will provide dinners, desserts and other meal items by bringing them to the site that day. For understandable privacy reasons, there is no direct contact with those being assisted.
Happy Dollars:
Johnathan Davis - 5 HD for all the club members who worked on the Turkey Chase race. Ben Schlesinger- 5 HD great to be back in the US. Stephanie McCabe - great to be back for fellowship. Dick Ruprecht - HD for Shira Oler who put an article in the Bethesda Gazette about Veteran”s Day Ceremony, also HD for Jeanne Smith and all who organized the luncheon at Fisher house on November 8. Bob Cressy - HD for Fisher house visit and our upcoming meal preparation on December 4. Jeanne Smith – HD for Gary Boswell who serves as Treasurer of the club as well as the Foundation. Also for Key Club at Blair High School with 45 active members.
PROGRAM FOR THE DAY:
Jeanne introduced our speaker Miranda Spivak, the editor of the Washington Post Metro section and reporter for 20 years. She had worked for the Gazette newspapers before the Post bought them in the 1990s. People under the age of 35 are not reading newspapers as much as they did 10-20 years ago for many reasons. The Post has increased their coverage of local news and plans to increase coverage of local sports news. The Extra section that runs each Thursday in the Post is different depending on the location of sale. During the Q&A many comments were made that good news such as volunteerism to the community by high school students- does not make the news. We were encouraged to send Miranda newsworthy items about club functions.
Parker Dorman won the 50-50 and returned it to the club’s funds.
George Patterson, Editor