Kee-Notes

Weekly Newsletter of the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda, Maryland

Serving the Community Since 1945

Meeting Date: October 9, 2008

President Debbie Van Horn led us in the pledge and God Bless America--Jeanne Smith's favorite song. John Walker delivered the prayer.  Roberta Biese was introduced as a guest of Debbie Van Horn.  We hope she will become a prospective member.

Announcements:

Our club presented a $1,500 check to Gabriel Albornoz, Director, of Montgomery County Department of Recreation.  This money is used to help purchase sports equipment for the recreation department.  Thanks to Pat Tiede and Jeanne Smith we had 30 people at the installation dinner at Alfios's on October 2.  Thanks also to John Ratnavale for hosting the club’s Board Meeting at his house last week.  Jeanne Smith needs help with Walt Whitman and Blair High School Key Clubs. and Dick Ruprecht would love help with the Walter Johnson Key Club. The clubs have meetings during the day at the school- please help if you can.  New member Bernadeen Zivkovic updated us on the Turkey Chase. This is a 10k run/walk which is held on Thanksgiving morning (November 27) sponsored by the Bethesda YMCA.  You can register online at www.turkeychase.com to run or to volunteer- they expect up to 7000 runners/walkers this year. Volunteers are needed for shifts from 2-4 hours and it is a great way to start the Thanksgiving day holiday. Plus it’s a great way to see club members who participate as runners- Bob Quinn, John Beck, Ben Schlesinger.  Sign-up sheets were circulated for upcoming events:  Wheaton-Silver Spring Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, October 11 and District 17 Kiwanis Family Fun and Picnic at Black Hill Regional park on Sunday, October 19.

Happy Dollars:

Robby Brewer –HD for missing the installation dinner.  Pat Tiede 5 HD for our four incoming Presidents of the club and 1 HD for Liz Quinn for her service as President last year. Now Liz gets to eat lunch!  Bob Gradle HD for Debbie Van Horn’s first meeting as President today. Dick Ruprecht HD for Scott Brewer for providing our speaker today. Jeanne Smith HD for Scott Brewer.  Bernadeen Zivkovic HD for Debbie Van Horn.

Speaker:

Scott Brewer introduced our speaker Barbara Knickelbein.  She spoke about an issue on the ballot in the State of Maryland which is a constitutional amendment to permit slot machines. She represents the group No Casino Maryland. Her group believes that slot machines are just a start on the road to having casinos in the state. They believe that the slots will take away money from existing restaurants and crime will increase. There are increased social costs of people losing housing because of gambling loses. Another point is that slots are promoted as a way to raise money for education but the money from the slots will go into the general fund of the state and this money is not specifically allocated to education. Barbara mentioned that since slots were installed in Charleston, West Virginia crime has increased in that county.

Bernadeen Zivkovic won the 50/50.  Ironic to have our 50/50 with a talk on gambling!

George Patterson, EDITOR

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Editor - GEORGE PATTERSON (301-652-7061, geopatersn@)
Website Editors - BEN SCHLESINGER (301-951-7266, bschles@bsaenergy.com), PAT TIEDE (301-493-6937), patriciatiede@comcast.net