Kee-Notes

Weekly Newsletter of the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda, Maryland

Serving the Community Since 1945

Meeting Date: August 6, 2009

President Jeanne Smith opened the meeting, Pat Tiede led us in the Pledge and Jeanne led us in singing God Bless America (think we need lessons?). John Walker gave the prayer.  It was great to see Harry Lowe and  Scott Brewer return.  Guests attending were Cody Burton, past Student of the Year, who is attending Princeton University, Kiera Zitelman, and her parents Carole and Jeff Zitelman, and her grandparents Roz and George Zitelman.

Announcements:

• A get well card for past member Bob Vigderhouse was passed around.  Bob is currently at Sibley Hospital. 

• Pat Tiede is selling tickets for the Ducky Derby which is sponsored by the Capital District Kiwanis Foundation.  Cash prizes are $500, $400, $300, $200 and $100.  Proceeds go to the seven Pediatric Trauma Hospitals in the Capital District.  The drawing will be at the DECON in Dover on  August 22. 

• We will have an inter-club attending the  Leisure World Luncheon on Friday, August 7. 

• Next Thursday, August 12, we will have a Roundtable and golf committee meeting at Hamburger Hamlet. 

• Pat Tiede announced that Children Hospital has made a special request.  The request is they need clothing for new born babies.  They would like for us to donate one piece outfits for babies, boys and girls.   It would be helpful if each club would donate at least five outfits per club.  (We have 4 now).  They will be taken to the District Convention.  Some of the babies have long term stay at the hospital. 

• Dues notices will be going out this week.  In keeping with a "stimulus" plan, the dues will be $175 instead of $225.  They are due by September 30.

Kiera Zitelman was presented with a $1000 check for tuition aid at University of Maryland where she will start in September 2009 and continue her studies of Arabic, which she had taken for two years previously in high school.  She plans to concentrate in Arabic Study and Maryland is one of only four universities in the US with a flagship program in Arabic.  Kiera was the winner of the essay contest sponsored by our club for seniors in Montgomery County High Schools.

Happy Dollars:

Shira Oler HD for speaker Kiera Zitelman. Jeff Zitelman, father of Kiera HD for our club’s scholarship for Kiera.  Roz Zitelman, grandmother of Kiera gave a HD for her granddaughter. Jim Leder HD for our club who sponsors the scholarship.  Dick Ruprecht HD for Kiera and for  Cody Burton, who was 2008 Teenager of the Year. Both Cody and Kiera were students at Blair High School.   Another HD for his daughter who was a faithful friend to a student paralyzed in an accident. Bob Cressy HD for Kiera.  Pat Tiede HD for Kiera and for her proud grandparents who are neighbors at the Promenade. Bob Gradle HD for Kiera.

Speaker:

Kiera  Zitelman was our speaker.  This summer she spent six weeks in Morocco in the city of Marrakech living with a host family. The trip was sponsored by the State Department. Most her meals consisted of meat; lamb, chicken or beef with vegetables. Morocco is a moderate Arab country and the women rarely are covered up with a full burka as in Afghanistan.  Many only have a scarf over their head. It is very hot with temperatures from 100-110 in the daytime. None of the houses are air-conditioned but they have an open floor plan and all of them have satellite dishes for TV. Morocco was a former French colony and many people speak French in addition to Arabic. Cell phones are carried by many people but internet is limited compared to the US.

Harry Lowe won the 50/50.

George Patterson, Editor