Kee-Notes

Weekly Newsletter of the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda, Maryland

Serving the Community Since 1945

Meeting Date: October 15, 2009

Jeanne Smith opened the meeting, Scott Brewer led us in the pledge and My Country 'Tis of Thee and Bill Hague gave the prayer. It was wonderful to have Bill back with us and he will be speaking at one of our meetings in the next few weeks.  Our newest member Tracy Miller was inducted. Tracy works with the YMCA and is also a member of the Arlington Kiwanis Club and lives in Falls Church Virginia.  A card was passed around for encouragement for Jim Aylor's mother who has had several strokes, please remember Jim and his family in your prayers.  Pat Norry was elected to fill the club board vacancy of Sue Kirk who has resigned.

Announcements:

• October 17, Saturday – Wheaton-Silver Spring – We will have an Interclub for their PANCAKE BREAKFAST
• October 18, Sunday – SERVICE PROJECT NIH CHILDREN’S INN  5 PM.  The Potomac Club will also join us.

• October 24, Saturday – SPIRITUAL AIMS BREAKFAST- LEISURE WORLD 9-10:15 -  $18.  Checks must be submitted by 21^st –

                 LET’S DO  AN INTERCLUB

Happy Dollars: 

Pat Tiede HD for Tracy Miller, our newest member and for our speaker Eric Latham who drove all the way from Gainesville, VA to speak to us. Scott Brewer HD for the 100 mile bike trip in Salisbury, Maryland,  He is also leading a trip for Asbury residents to Gettysburg next week. Bill Hague HD is glad to be back from a long sabbatical in Maine and a trip with his parishoners to Israel. Tracy Miller  HD glad to be part of our club and happy that we will help with the YMCA Turkey Chase race on Thanksgiving.  Eric Latham our guest gave a  HD for being our speaker.  Pat Norry HD for Tracy and glad to be elected to the board.

Speaker:

Pat Tiede introduced our speaker Eric Latham, a former Key Clubber and new member of the Manassas Kiwanis club.  He walked 3500 miles across America to raise money for cancer research.  It took 206 days and his daily mileage ranged from 18-35 miles/day - less in the mountains, more on flat stretches and he lost 45 pounds. The best aspect of his walk was meeting people along the way and at the cancer centers he would visit. As he got to know the patients he experienced a bond of friendship with them and he felt admiration for the courage of these patients as they fought their disease.  A few of his new friends died from their disease as he continued his walk. There were several reasons for his walk- his mom is a cancer survivor, he father is in cancer research and he volunteered at the Massey Cancer Center in Richmond, Virginia.  The most difficult part of the trip was across the Nevada desert - hot and flat and no shade and he saw very few towns to rest. His backpack weighed 65 pounds including his tent, food, water, etc and he wore out two pairs of boots. In the end he raised about $20,000 for research plus the precious memories of friends he made along the way. A fascinating and inspiring talk. 

Pat Norry won the 50/50 and donated it back to the club.

George Patterson, Editor for the day.