Back to Home page NEWSLETTER Cedar Rapids Downtown Kiwanis Club Wednesday, April 16, 2008 The meeting was called to order by President Kelly Moore . 31 Members in attendance. Guests: Krista Woltman (guest of Doug Dix) Birthdays: Three lads had birthdays to celebrate: Doug Dix (18th), Duane Kurrelmeyer (19th) and Bob Hatala (21st). The choir sounded magnificent while singing Happy Birthday. Anniversaries: Duane Kurrelmeyer did a double Oscar performance with his anniversary also falling this week. Started back in 1974. He probably was wearing a very nice leisure suit with bell bottoms to boot. Announcements: 1. Families Helping Families Gala event is this Saturday night at the Crowne Plaza. Two seats still available due to a late cancellation. Contact Ron Sundermann if you’re interested.
2. Skip a Meal – Kiwanis International Foundation is asking all Kiwanians to donate the price of a meal during the last week in April. Project will support children worldwide.
3. State golf outing is Monday, June 9 in Adel. A sign up sheet will be passed around the next several weeks.
4. Six members attended the new Hiawatha Club’s open house last Thursday, April 10 at the Hiawatha City Hall.
5. Our club, under the artful leadership of Jeff Hollingsworth, is kicking in high gear with interclubs. Several more are upcoming.
6. There will be a short board meeting immediately following today’s luncheon. Happy Bucks: John Anderson – Keith’s Bugs Bunny tie; Ray Vaughn – first day of the Kiwanis golf season; Chuck Wehage – tax day is done and gone ( until the audit, Chuck); Don Grimm – announcing the embroidery guild at Prairie Woods Center; Kelly Allen had two bucks – one for Joe Nolte’s announcement and the happiness she felt sitting at a table filled with Boardmans and family love; Charlene Boardman – happy to see son Steve but blessed to sup with son Dan; Joe Nolte – announced his new position as Ex. Director of the Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center; Keith Sutherland had two times the happy – one for Joe and one for his 6 weeks in California and the opportunity to listen to Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” on tape while driving; Mike Poggenklass – didn’t catch what Mike was happy about but I assume it’s because he saw Kelly Allen and I; and Kevin Carlson – happy for Joe and the fact that he must be rich as he had to pay alternative minimum tax this year. Speaker: Bob Dye introduced John Morris, Ex. Director of Discovery Living, Inc. John received his undergrad degree from Wooster College (Ohio) and his MA from the Univ. of Houston. John’s dad was a longtime Kiwanian with the Lake Zurich, IL club. He has been with Discovery Living for 27 years. Discovery Living (DL) was originally started by several Knights of Columbus councils, incorporating in 1977 with the purpose of providing residential living for adults with developmental disabilities and to allow people with disabilities to live/work in the mainstream. Many of their clients have complex needs with multiple developmental challenges. Today the organization has 20 residential homes serving 100 people throughout the CR-Marion area. Ages range from 19-83. Each home has an average of four per house. DL employs 125 staff, mostly direct support staff. It takes four staff to staff one of the group homes 24 hours a day, year round. There is a growing need for their services. DL has a current waiting list of 35. The goal is to add 10-12 homes over the next decade. A year from now John hopes to break ground a new administrative center on Old Marion Road. The land has been purchased. The new center will allow DL to increase its ability to serve more people. Funding for operational expenses comes from three sources: federal (62%) and state and count (the remaining 38%). DL is responsible for raising the capital dollars. Residents are required to pay rent and also are responsible for their food, clothing and household supplies.
John – thanks for the informative talk.
Next week: Mission of Hope speaker and the following is Aaron Green with the CR Public Schools. Word for the day: Don Grimm, master wordsmith, handed off the baton to apprentice wordsmith, Kevin Carlson who whipped out his electronic device to come up with: “bissextile”. We were not up to the task and saved the boys a buck. Definition: of or pertaining to leap year. Submitted: Dan Breitbach | 