Kee-Notes

Weekly Newsletter of the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda, Maryland

Serving the Community Since 1945

Meeting Date: August 20, 2009

President John Ratnavale led us in the pledge and My Country 'Tis of Thee and George Patterson gave the prayer.  We had only seven members for lunch and our speaker has been rescheduled.  It was good to see the return of Pat Norry.  She has been traveling extensively and spent her birthday in style at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. 

Announcements:

Pat Tiede sold more Ducky Derby tickets which will be part of the District Convention in Dover, Delaware on August 21-23.  Proceeds will go to the seven Pediatric Trauma Hospitals in the Capital District.  We met our club quota of $130.  On Wednesday, August 26 at 7 p.m. there will be an emergency meeting of board officers at John Ratnavale's home to discuss the upcoming golf tournament.  We will have a Roundtable luncheon meeting at Moongate at 4611 Willow Lane, Bethesda.  It is across the street from the Women's Market.  In September we will resume our regular schedule of meetings on Thursday at Tragara.  By the way, the parking fees have been reduced in the garage and you only need to pay $1.00 instead of $2.00.  Pat always has quarters if you don't have them.  A get-well card was circulated to Jeanne Smith.

Happy Dollars:

John Ratnavale 12HD -- one for Jeanne Smith and for Pat Tiede and the rest for upcoming meeting at his house to talk about the golf tournament.  Pat Tiede HD for becoming  great grandmother this morning.  Her son's daughter is the proud parent of a baby girl born in Colorado Springs.  Bob Gradle HD for his granddaughter who is starting her freshman year in the golf management program at Florida State.  Jim Leder HD - glad to be back.  Pat Norry HD  is also glad to be back with everyone.  She has been traveling to the West Coast recently.

We discussed reasons for the drop in membership of our club.  It is not just our club but most social and service clubs in the area.  Some reasons mentioned were the recession, career changes, people are too busy in other activities and it is too much commitment to attend meetings every week.  We regretfully discussed the resignation of Bernadeen Zivkovic who has been an outstanding contributor and very interested in Kiwanis.  She is moving to Sacramento, California to be with her family.

Two of our readers identified the happy faces in the photo in last week's Kee-Notes and shown to the right.  Former Kiwanian:  Gordon Arey and his wife Ginny.  Their son, Gordy was a member for awhile as well.  Gordon added 13 new members during his term as Club President in the early 1990s.  That's a record!   

Jim Leder won the 50/50.

George Patterson, Editor