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, June 20th, 2007

The meeting was called to order by President Chuck Wehage.     20  Members in attendance.

Guests:   None

Birthdays:   None

Anniversaries:    None

Announcements: 1. Although not an announcement, Kevin Carlson did a little trivia questioning on Dan Breitbach’s rather forgettable coaching career at Coe.  2. Chris Dodd will be speaking at Coe June 26 at noon in Stuart Hall as part of the Service to America program.  3. No meeting on July 4th   4. The board meeting for July has been moved to July 10th.  (WEBMASTER NOTE: Mr. Breitbach's description of his coaching career as 'forgettable is his own and is not shared by the membership-at-large.  While not exactly the Coach K of Division 2, he is, after all, the only one among us who can say he coached a college basketball team.)

Happy Bucks:  Chuck Wehage – finally figured out his brand new ’80 something car problem – a converter issue; Dan Breitbach – pd a fine and a happy dollar out of pure joy; John Schweitzer – fishing in northern MN; Dick Boardman – happy he didn’t get a present for his beloved son’s recently passed birthday; Don Grimm – termination of his career as an airplane salesman/ he had an article published in the Modern Engine magazine/and he’s happy Chuck fixed his car problem; Jim Platt – happy for Jim Doyne on his birthday; Jim Doyne – happy he’s having another one; Dr Graeff – he loves those White Sox for making his Royals look good – something about smoking mirror theory; and Joe Nolte paid big bucks ($5) for his missed birthday and the upcoming fines from today’s speaker.

Upcoming programs: (If I’ve misspelled any names, I apologize)

June 27 – Mary Lundby

July 11 – Dr. Cathy Graeff – Eastern Iowa Veterinary Specialty Center

July 18 – Charlie Kress – Waste Not Iowa

July 25 – Michael Vale – INS

 Speaker:   Tom Moore, Executive Director of the African American Museum (AAM), gave a very informative talk on his organization and in particular, the currently running Juneteenth celebration.  AAM was incorporated in 1994 in Cedar Rapids and his grown into a statewide organization with ten chapters and 68 communities involved with programs and exhibits.  AAM has ten employees in CR and one starting in Des Moines this fall.  Two key aspects of its mission are education and preservation, serving as a resource for the entire state. 

Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom.  It dates back to June 19, 1865 when the last slaves were freed in Texas.  As Tom stated, it’s actually a celebration for everyone in our country, not just blacks.  Abolishing slavery removed a terrible stigma on our country.  Juneteenth culminates its weeklong activities on Saturday, June 23 at the museum.  Two interesting comments by Tom in regard to the Civil War: 1) at the heart of the Civil War was states’ rights and at the heart of that issue was the legality of slavery; 2) 170,000 black soldiers fought in the Civil War and 30,000 died to keep our country united.

Thanks Tom for the great presentation and thanks Joe for the $4 in fines.

Word for the day:  We were blessed with two from the mighty wordsmith, Don Grimm:

rapacious: giving to grasping or taking for oneself; inordinately greedy.

detritus: Matter produced by the detrition or wearing away of exposed surfaces, especially the gravel, sand, clay, or other material eroded and washed away by aqueous agency (what did I just say?)

Submitted:   : Dan Boardman Breitbach the 1st

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