Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.
Kiwanis defining statement, adopted October 2004.

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NEWSLETTER

Cedar Rapids Downtown Kiwanis Club

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The meeting was called to order by President Kelly Moore.  27   Members in attendance.

Guests:  Xavier Key Club: Mike Goldsmith (Advisor), Nicole Meyer, Fouad Khairallah, Joe Maloney and Sam Bandel;  

Birthdays:   Jerry Banes 5/2

Anniversaries:  May 1: Kevin Carlson (’01) and Terry Main (’07); May 3: Lonna Drewelow (’89), Ron Sundermann (’00), Joe Nolte (’01) and Don Grimm (’01); May 5: Gerry Kneeland (’87) and Bob Dye (’05); May 6: Chuck Wehage (’03)  

Announcements:  1. Skip a Meal folder passed around today; 2. State Kiwanis golf is June 9 and sign up sheet passed around; 3. Board meeting is Tuesday, May 6 at Wells Fargo;
4. Foundation Board approved scholarships: 2 each for Xavier HS, Coe, Cornell and Mt Mercy and 1 for Kirkwood;
5. Joe Schmall’s father passed away.  Visitation is today and the funeral service is tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joe’s Catholic Church in Marion. 

 Happy Bucks:  1. Don Grimm happy he wasn’t in N. Dakota under the 15” of snow they just received; 2. John Anderson for remaining neutral on Dan Breitbach; 3. Jim Platt announced that Jim Doyne’s axle is in for his car; 4. Keith Sutherland had several: a sad one on having to take his dog for his final visit to the vet, his different yet elegant? tie and leaving for his son’s wedding in New York this weekend; 5. Dick Boardman gave a buck for John Anderson saying something nice about Dan Breitbach; 6. Dan Breitbach thanking John Anderson for not saying something not nice about him; and 7. Bob Dye on a sad yet positive note that his 11 yr old grandson lost his leg to cancer but has such a great attitude to move on.

Upcoming programs:  May 7: Gale Losco (sp?) – Marketing manager for Parks & Rec Dept; May 14: Pat Ball – Director of Utilities; May 21: David Elgin – City Engineer; and May 28: Joe Hanrahan – outgoing Police captain

Speaker:  Bob Dye introduced Aaron Green, Director of Student Equity for the CR Comm School District.  Aaron graduated from Coe College in 1987 and received his masters from the Univ. of Northern Iowa.  Aaron oversees the discipline for the school district but more importantly works to help students who have difficulty in school.  His message was simple, yet powerful: we can’t afford to weed kids out.  The challenge is to help all kids achieve some level of success to become contributing members of our communities. There are too many kids coming into the schools from violent backgrounds, no meals, coming in with some type of pain.  These kids will either be part of our country’s solution or part of the growing problem of unprepared and uneducated youth.  Aaron has a passion for making a difference in the lives of all kids.  You missed an inspiring talk if you weren’t here today.    

Word for the day:   Don Grimm stultified us today with stultify: To cause to be or appear foolish, ridiculous, or absurdly inconsistent.

Submitted:   Dan Breitbach