Kee-Notes

Weekly Newsletter of the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda, Maryland

Serving the Community Since 1945

Meeting Date: January 22, 2009 ________________________________________________________________________________

President Jeanne Smith opened our meeting with the Pledge, singing of God Bless America, and Bill Hague delivered the prayer.

Announcements:

President Jeanne Smith welcomed back members Pat Norry who has been battling pneumonia for the past several weeks, John Beck, and Ben Schlesinger.  Dick Ruprecht introduced his guest April Birnbaum who is an attorney with his firm, Scott Brewer introduced Ginanne Italiano, President of the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce and Cliff Cohen who is an attorney with Capobianco & Cohen in Washington, DC.  Upcoming events include Reading to Pre-Schoolers at the Bethesda Ayrlawn YMCA day-care on Friday, January 23, a Foundation Meeting at the home of Liz and Bob Quinn on Monday, January 26, a make-up session for Leadership Training at Leisure World on Monday, January 26.  There will be an inter-club attending the Kiwanis Club of Potomac’s luncheon on Tuesday, January 27.  Jim Leder gave an update on the Miracle League, a baseball field for handicap children.  

Please note, watch for the Miracle League’s Website coming soon!!

Happy Dollars:

Pat Norry had $20 HD as she is happy to be back and she appreciated the get-well card from the club.  Dick Ruprecht HD was for the Steelers and his guest April. Ben Schlesinger HD was for his two days in Geneva representing our country on a UN Committee on Sustainable Energy, Working Party on Gas which is a part of the UN’s Economic Commission in Europe.  Ben’s knowledge of the Russian language is a big bonus for the study he is preparing on liquefied natural gas that could be an alternative to Russian gas.  Bill Hague HD was in appreciation of his birthday and the cake.  Shira Oler HD was for our new President Obama and the upswing attitude of our country.  Bernadeen Zivkovic HD was for the Bethesda Magazine’s article about Ben Schlesinger and his daughter running in the Turkey Chase for many many years.  Our guests Cliff Cohen and Ginanne Italiano had HD for all the projects our club does.  Bob Cressy HD was for the two birthdays we celebrated today – Bill Hague and George Washington!!!

Speaker:

Scott Brewer introduced our speaker Dr. Jerry Morenoff who is currently the Chairman of the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Case Chamber of Commerce which represents over 780 businesses and more than 45,000 employees in the economic engine of Montgomery County. Dr. Morenoff has a distinguished record of achievement as a corporate executive in the fields of computer and information science and environmental technology.  Among many other outstanding achievements he was a past advisor to President Lyndon Johnson, and has been an active leader in civic affairs and is the former managing director of Imagination Stage.  Dr. Morenoff reviewed the top priorities facing the Chamber which include implementation of the Purple Line light rail (16 miles from Bethesda to New Carrolton), the BRAC-related Expansion (combining Walter Reed facilities into the Bethesda Naval Hospital, adding 2,500 additional staff members and about 1,900 additional patients), campus enhancement of Suburban Hospital (last updated 30 years ago) , enhancing volunteerism to assure first class fire, rescue and EMS services, and initiatives to enhance the arts and humanities community. The Chamber of Commerce represents wonderful things to do for our community and business development.  It is one of the more active Chambers in the country.  Scott Brewer presented a Certificate from our club in recognition of Dr. Morenoff's service to the community.

Bernadeen Zivkovic won the 50/50.

Pat Tiede, editor-for-the day.

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