Kee-Notes

Weekly Newsletter of the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda, Maryland

Serving the Community Since 1945

Meeting Date: March 12, 2009 ______________________________________________________________________________ President

Jeanne Smith led us in the pledge and God Bless America and Bill Hague gave the prayer.  Great to see Bill Pennington back from several weeks vacation in Sunny Florida.  Dick Ruprecht introduced guest speaker Blake Robison, Producing Artistic Director of Round House Theatre and Keri Romani volunteer with Walter Johnson High School After Prom Breakfast.

Announcements:

See website for all upcoming calendar events--www.bethesdakiwanis.com/calendar.htm

The Bethesda Kiwanis Foundation presented a check of $500.00 to Keri Romani for the After Prom Breakfast. Keri said that about 500 students attend the event from Midnight to 5 AM. She raises about $18,000 for this event.  The committee provides police officers, raffles, prizes, t-shirts and food for the event.  Funds are raised through programs, donations and raffle prizes. Students may attend even if they don't attend the prom.  It is a fantastic alternative for students going out after the prom and drinking.

Keri Romani, Committee Chair of Walter Johnson Prom Breakfast

receives a check from Dick Ruprecht, Key Club Advisor.

Happy Dollars: 

Pat Tiede HD for the meal that our group provided last Sunday to the NIH Children's Inn - about 50 families participated with a buffet and Irish music and dancing by members of Christ Church in Kensington.  Another HD for our guests today. Ben Schlesinger HD glad to be back from Berlin and for our special guests.  Bob Cressy HD for Keri, HD for Dick Ruprecht and all the work he does as advisor for Walter Johnson High School students.   Bill Pennington HD glad to be back from Florida.  He stayed at his daughter's house which had a pool, warm weather and  no rain!  Keri Romani HD for our club and support for the Prom Breakfast.  Thank you Keri for the basket of baked goods and t-shirts from the 2008 event.   John Walker HD for his bet with Scott Brewer -- their goal is to be eating lunch together at Kiwanis when they are 110 years old- hard to imagine!! This would be roughly 25-30 years from now in the year 2029 or so.  Makes you wonder who else will still be around!

Blake Robison spoke about the Round House Theatre (RT) which has been around for 31 years. The current main theatre is in Bethesda next to the Chevy Chase Bank Building at the intersection of East West Highway and Waverly. They have a budget of about $3 million, and 27 full-time employees.  Half of the budget is raised from ticket sales and half from contributions. Some contributions are received from Montgomery County, some from state of Maryland but mostly from corporations and individuals.  RT has three main aims. First: Performing arts/plays. Each season they do five productions.  One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is coming up in April. Their second aim is education.  They have five classrooms and a Black Box theatre in downtown Silver Spring next to the American Film Institute. Their third aim is community service which includes sponsoring a Senior Citizen Hey Day acting group.  Similar to most art organizations they are receiving less income this year because of the economy but they also have a rainy day fund to help them. A fascinating talk.

Pat Tiede won the 50/50.

George Patterson, 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)