Kee-Notes

Weekly Newsletter of the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda, Maryland

Serving the Community Since 1945

Meeting Dates: June 17, 2010

President Jeanne Smith opened the meeting.  Roger Heymann led us in the Pledge  and Bob Gradle gave the prayer.  It would be nice if everyone arrived at 12 noon, so we could have our opening before we sit down to eat.  It is interesting that some people are always early and some people are always late. 

Announcements:

It was great to see Roger Heymann at our lunch meeting as well as John Beck, Robby Brewer and Bob Gradle.  President Jeanne Smith presented Roger with a certificate from the Kiwanis Children's Fund as a Sustaining Donor for the year 2009-2010.  Roger has donated $200 to this fund through his membership in our club.  Congratulations!!  We will be going into our "summer vacation" schedule, so please check your emails or call Pat Tiede if you have any question about forthcoming meetings.  As you know our big fundraiser the golf tournament will be held Friday, September 24.  Shira Oler has completed the brochure and it will be available soon for our members.  We had inter-clubs for the Governor's Picnic for Division 17 on June 13--Pat and Jim Leder and Pat Tiede enjoyed the hour long pontoon boat ride.  On Monday, June 14, We also had an inter-club for the  RICA /Wheaton-Silver Spring. Golf Tournament- John Beck and  Gary Boswell played golf and Jeanne Smith and Pat Tiede attended the dinner.  Past President Debbie Van Horn was also present and it was a fun event.

·         Thur-Sun, June 24-27-95^TH ANNUAL CONVENTION IN LAS VEGAS - Jim Leder will attend.

·         Thur., June 24 – NO MEETING

·         Thur., July 1 – NO MEETING

·         Thur., July 8 – BOARD MEETING/regular lunch meeting

·         Thur., July 15 – NO MEETING

·         Sun., July 18 – COOKOUT @ NIH CHILDREN’S INN WITH POTOMAC CLUB @ 5 PM

·         Thur., July 22 – MEETING – BRANDON HOWARD FROM Bethesda Urban District

·         Thur., July 29 -  NO MEETING

Beverly Gough is no stranger to the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda.  In 1986, the Carol Jean Cancer Foundation, Inc. (CJCF) was founded in memory of Beverly's sister, Carol Jean Eiserer, a Maryland schoolteacher who died of a malignant brain tumor at age 43.  It is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, dedicated to teaching children that life offers opportunities for joy and hope even in the face of pain and illness. CJCF serves families throughout Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.   This year they relocated to NorthBay, an hour from Baltimore.  The camp  is  located on a mile of Chesapeake Bay waterfront in Elk Neck State Park. NorthBay has the experience, space and infrastructure to serve Camp Friendship's growing needs. This new, vast facility offers Camp Friendship the opportunity to enhance, expand and enrich its programs for the increasing number of children diagnosed with cancer. Camp Friendship will now have facilities it never had: a gym, computer lab, photo lab, state-of-the-art amphitheater, heated in-ground pool, a dining hall that seats all campers at one time with an on-site chef preparing meals, recreational center, multiple nature trails and a beautiful waterfront for boating, swimming and tubing. Camp Friendship will open July 11-16, 2010, welcoming 180-200 children struggling with cancer.  Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Beverly at cjcf4kids@live.com.

Speaker:

Our speaker Todd D. Lamb,was introduced.  He is the Executive Director for Maryland Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, a non-profit, non-partisan grassroots watchdog organization dedicated to educating the public about the costs and consequences of lawsuit abuse .  Previously, Todd served as Special Assistant to President Bush at the U.S. Department of Education from 2001 to 2004.  He pointed out that  "we sue too much in this country."   Lawsuits hurt and threaten the economy and delay justice.  Small businesses take the biggest brunt.  Truly injured people are the real victims.  Our civil justice system is intended to make people whole, not rich.  Unfortunately our courts are viewed as a lottery machine where any dubious claim can lead to a huge payday.  Why do we care?  Because WE PAY FOR IT. You have all heard about the man who sued McDonalds, Wendy's and Burger King, blaming them for his obesity.  Remember the woman who sued because she spilled hot coffee in her lap?  The U.S. tort system cost $247 billion a few years ago.  That translates to $825 per person.  We must take a stand and demand an end to the games that are being played with our courts.  Todd's organization will expose lawsuit abuse, inform elected officials to represent Maryland's best interest--not special interests, encourage personal responsibility, protect legal consumers and promote jury service.  A very interesting talk.

Happy Dollars:

John Beck HD  for the golf tournament put on by (RICA) Regional Institute for Children & Adolescents in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Wheaton-Silver Spring.  Bob Gradle HD for Todd Lamb our speaker.  Roger Heymann HD for being able to attend a luncheon meeting--he always participates in the golf tournament.  Beverly Gough HD for trusting Camp Friendship even though they have relocated from the Laytonsville location.

Bob Gradle won the 50/50 and returned it to the House Fund.

Pat Tiede, 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)