Kee-Notes
Weekly Newsletter of the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda, Maryland
Serving the Community Since 1945
Meeting Date: April 9, 2009 ______________________________________________________________________________
President Jim Leder opened our meeting with the Pledge and Jeanne Smith led us in Gob Bless America. John Walker gave the prayer. Since this is Jim’s first meeting as the third term President for our club, he asked that everyone email him “the reason you joined Kiwanis.” This is a special “homework assignment.” Don’t be shy; send your reason to drno812@aol.com
Guests:
We were so happy to see Lynn Hounslow again, a former past President of Kiwanis. Lynn will be singing with the National Christian Choir at Strathmore on Tuesday, May 5th at 8 p.m. Several members of our club will be attending. Lynn brought a guest Jane Cyran who works with her company. It was also great to see Ann Black, past former President of our club and now a member in the Potomac club. New guest John "JT" Sneely is with Wachovia Bank and learned about our club through the website. Thanks to Pat Tiede for all the website posting and maintenance. Glad to see John Beck, Jim Aylor, and Ken King.
Announcements:
Jim Leder discussed updates on Miracle League Baseball - the issue is which site will Maryland National Parks and Planning support. Nothing decided yet but Jim feels they are seriously trying to finally help.
Happy Dollars:
Jim Leder HD for our club and his three month term as President. Jim recalled that Pittsburg Kiwanis was the third club formed (back in 1920's) and our own Bethesda club was formed in 1945. Jim passed around a photo of the Bethesda Club taken in late 1940's and asked if anyone could recall those in the photo. Naturally Scott Brewer (joined Bethesda Kiwanis in 1951) could recall them. He mentioned several but Sam Eig was the most prominent. If you drive up 270 North you see the highway named after him. Sam owned a golf course and he would charge the club a minimal amount for the golf tournament and if the club had a good year money wise he would donate back to the club the amount he charged. Bernadeen Zivkovic HD for Jim Leder, HD for herself and her son Julian who helped make lunch for Bethesda homeless on Saturday, April 4. Her son learned a lot by helping these "guests." Scott Brewer HD for Jim Leder and for the photograph of the earlier club. Jim Aylor HD for Jim Leder, HD for our guests and the Miracle League. Ann Black HD glad to be back- it is hard with her schedule to make our meetings even though she is a member of Potomac Club she said her heart is here in Bethesda. Lynn Hounslow had 25 HD !! She is glad to be back and hopes to return again soon and she promoted the 25th anniversary concert of her choir. Jeanne Smith HD for Jim Leder. Jeanne also has 50/50 tickets for Division 17 fund raiser Menopause- the Musical on Sunday, April 19. Ken King HD knew one of the members in the 1940's picture of Bethesda Kiwanis- Frank Sholl. Pat Tiede HD for our guests JT Sneely, Jane Cyran, and our speaker Brian Germain.
Speaker:
Our speaker today was Brian Germain -- Master Skydiver and Fear Specialist. Brian is an acclaimed author, entrepreneur, inventor, parachute test pilot, radio personality and keynote speaker. His career started in 1986 when he first jumped out of an airplane. A psychology student at the time, Brian's
skydiving experiences inspired his ongoing research on the topic of FEAR. He has made more than 14,000 jumps - he wanted to be an astronaut and fly planes since he was a kid. He uses skydiving as a metaphor for fear and risk. He had a near fatal para glider collapse in 1993 and his doctors told him he probably would never walk again but a year later he was walking and sky diving again. He became the X-Games World Champion in Free Fly Skydiving. Whatever the situation we find ourselves in that can cause fear; whether it is a fear of the economy by listening to all the news, fear of starting a new business in tough times, or a generalized fear of the future, our fear causes the same reactions in our body - fight, flight or freeze. If you can learn to deal with the fear of jumping out of an airplane you can use the same method to deal with any other cause for fear. His method includes controlled slow deep breathing, focusing less on yourself and more on others and the outside and focusing more on the positive. He used the example of sky diving. visualizing the flat field where you are about to land on. If there is a tree in the middle of the field he will mention to the student to avoid the tree but don't focus on it. Just be aware of it and concentrate on the wide open spaces of the field. Think of the beauty of the sky, your family and friends. It was a fabulous presentation.
Scott Brewer won the 50/50 and Pat Norry won a bottle of wine donated by Jim Leder.
George Patterson, editor-for-the day.
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Editor - GEORGE PATTERSON (301-652-7061,
geopatersn@aol.com)
Website Editor - PAT TIEDE (301-493-6937,
patriciatiede@comcast.net)
Website Advisor - BEN SCHLESINGER (301-951-7266, bschles@bsaenergy.com)