August 26, 2009 - Lunch

We received a warm welcome from our friendly greeters Don Basta et.al, a welcome respite from the unusually high temps. Max Link and crew efficiently prepared our meeting room and Michael Moore provided a thoughtful invocation. Our musical selection was handled by Richard Saunders acappella.
Greg Smith and David Shirey were the lucky drawing winners and will handle the greeter duties next week.






Wellness Report – Nancy Carpenter reported that Blaine Keith recently fell from a ladder and broke several ribs. Fortunately a member and experienced caregiver, Gale Totten, was available to come to the rescue.
Don Parks continues his battle with cancer and would appreciate cards and support.

Guests – Matt Dingman brought Jim Shephard, Dave Bell introduced Larry Wangler, and Nancy Carpenter hosted Bonnie Wills. Bob Hesselgesser brought Dana Gonder and Gary Hayward introduced Bob Gemmill.

New Member Induction – Deborah Adams introduced our newest member, Morgan Keil, who was sponsored by Herb and Jane Hayde. Morgan is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch and hails from Portland OR. With a 5 handicap, he should be a real asset on someone’s team at our Golf Tournament.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Aktion Club – This is a Kiwanis Club being formed for young adults that are mentally challenged. See Kathy Haugner for details.

“Risky Behavior” Committee – A new committee is investigating such behavior in our community. See Dave Bell for more info.

Flea Market – Next market is Sept. 12 and as usual volunteer help is needed for the 11th setup as well as the 12th.

Pancake Breakfast and Lunch – This will be served at Sky Ranch from 8:00 to 3:00 on Oct. 3, as part of Carefree’s 25th Anniversary celebration. A large crowd is expected and thus Brian Kunkel is looking for plenty of volunteer help.

Joe Devito also needs members for selling tickets prior to the event. The dates are Sept. 21, 25 & 28 and Oct. 2 & 3. The times are 9:30-12 at the Town Hall and Post Office.

New Club – Kathy Haugner announced she is trying to organize a new Club in Anthem.

PROGRAM

Our speaker was Jo Gemmill who is in charge of the Carefree 25th Anniversary celebration on Oct. 3. She mentioned it will recognize the 25th anniversary of the town’s incorporation but also 50 years of history. A brochure, which our Club is underwriting as part of our PR efforts, is being printed to include many photos from that era plus some history of our Club.

On Oct. 3, there will be a display of 20 vintage aircraft at Sky Ranch plus a car show in the parking lot near Bashas. Over 90 cars are expected to be on display. Following these events will be a Cocktail Party in the Amphitheatre. A “Passport for Carefree” is being printed which highlights many of the buildings and structures that are a significant part of the town’s history.

Ms. Gemmill stressed she is striving to involve the entire community in the events, recognize merchants and long time businesses, and community non-profit organizations. Most of all, her committee wants to “celebrate the good things”.

Next Meeting – The program will be Andrei Cherny, author of the book “The Candy Bombers”, the untold story of the post WWII Berlin Airlift.

August 12, 2009 - Lunch

Kathy Haugner and Elaine Adrian greeted us as we entered the space set up for us by Max Link, John Skarda, Don Basta, and Nancy Carpenter. Look for lucky drawing winners Ed Knight and David Shirey to welcome you next Wednesday.





President Dave Bell called us to order and invited Ted Dimon to offer the Invocation. Ray Arnold then directed our a cappella singing of The Club Song and “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee.” The Pledge of Allegiance followed.

Guests
Our guests (and their hosts) included Morgan Kiel (Herb Hayde), Bonnie Wills (Seth Jorgensen), and scholarship recipient Jessica Lehr (Elaine Adrian) who presented the club with a set of acryllic paintings of our club seal and the sundial.

Wellness Report
Nancy Carpenter sent greeting cards throughout the dining area to be signed and sent to the members and friends of our club who need our thoughts and prayers. They include: Betty Neal, Nancy Totten, Bill Chester, John Voss, Lou Snodgrass, Bob McBreen, Joan Dimon, Sherman Agins, Don Parks, Mickey Rosenquist, and Martha Keith.

District Convention
Southwest District Convention is to be held August 21-22 in Laughlin, NV. For registration information, go to http://www.kiwanis-southwest.org/.

Desert Ridge Club
President Dave Bell announced the success of the new Desert Ridge Kiwanis Club’s recent golf tournament ($3,000) and was pleased as well to announce the club’s assisting in the formation of a new Key Club at Crestview College Preparatory School.

1,2,3… You Are the Key
Nancy Carpenter received a silver key for her sponsorship of two new members recently. Bill Rintelmann also received a key for his sponsoring Wayne Fulcher.

American Legion Aux. Fundraiser
Post #34, 6272 E. Cave Creek Rd, is hosting an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner on August 25 from 5-8 p.m. The post has adopted AZ National Guard 285th Aviation Batallion. 262 soldiers will be deployed on October 6. All funds raised (after expenses) will go toward a send-off BBQ in September for the troops and their families plus additional gestures of support to follow their deployment.

Guest Speakers
Mark Lauch, science teacher at Cactus Shadows High School, introduced the club to the emerging agricultural science called Aquaponics. This innovative, ecologically-friendly technology combines fish and plants in a recirculating system whereby nutrients from fish excrement serve as nutrients for the raising of vegetables in a soilless environment. Tilapia are the fish most often raised in this agribusiness with lettuce, cucumbers, basil, okra, and tomatoes among the vegetables harvested from the “float beds” adjoining the fish aquariums. Mr. Lauch is currently applying for a grant that would allow the high school to develop its own aquaponics system.

Hans Thiele followed Mr. Lau with an “Our Gang” remembrance of his childhood in Germany during and after the Second World War. His memories included the drone of aircraft in the night sky and the sound of artillery fire during the war as well as the scarcity of food and staples at the war’s conclusion. His story continued with the telling of his family’s purchasing steerage to the United States, his courageous and enterprising mother’s sewing money and jewelry into the hem of her clothing in order to ease the family’s new beginning in this country, and a personal interpretation of the trajectories his native country and adopted nation have taken during his lifetime.

August 5, 2009 - Lunch

A warm welcome from our friendly greeters Jim Walborn and Burt Lundquist provided a welcome respite from the unusually high temps. Max Link and crew efficiently prepared our meeting room and Ray Arnold provided his usual thoughtful invocation. Our musical selections were handled by Lloyd Meyer and Richard Saunders. The SW District Key Club Governor, Amber Porter, was visiting from New Mexico and led us in the pledge.





Joe Gilleland and Elaine Adrian (again) were the lucky drawing winners and will handle the greeter duties next week.

Wellness Report – Nancy Carpenter reported that Bill Chester is recovering from a knee replacement and Bob McBreen is recuperating from surgery. Don Parks continues his battle with cancer and would appreciate cards and support. John Voss is another member with medical issues.

Guests – Gerry Samos brought his wife Bobbie, Seth Jorgensen hosted Bonnie Wills and Herb Hayde introduced Morgan Keil and John Lorge. Bob Hesselgesser hosted Hope Ozer and scholarship recipient Jessica Befort was the guest of Richard Saunders.
Key Club members were well represented with Lt. Governor Ariana Caraffa, and Pinnacle members President Michelle Lim, Treasurer Catt Lovins and Editor Emma Frey.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Golf Tournament - Bob Kroyer reported that the Club’s golf tournament, coming up on September 21st, is progressing fairly well with obtaining sponsors and items for the silent auction. However we now need to fill out the field of golfers and members and guests were asked to submit their registration form to Bob, Howard Dicke or Carroll Vanik. Bob also noted that the August edition of the City Sun Times contained an article on the tournament and the Publisher, Hope Ozer, is donating additional advertising space.

PROGRAM

The speaker was John Hall, a retired U.S Foreign Service Officer. He stated that the Foreign Service has 6,000 employees, out of 4 million total federal employees, that support 300 embassies and consulates through out the world. Mr. Hall stressed that the Foreign Service depends on people to accomplish its mission versus hardware and tangible things. Thus a critical skill is the ability to learn a foreign language and officers are not sent to a foreign post until they have a reasonable command of the language spoken in that locale.

Our speaker made some observations regarding U.S. Foreign Aid, which is an important tool of foreign affairs. There are two “pots”, the smaller of the two being funds for economic development and humanitarian projects. The other is military assistance. A good deal of the foreign aid ends up coming back to the U.S. to purchase goods and services, which is particularly true with the second “pot”.

In response to a question, Mr. Hall commented that President Obama is approaching foreign affairs from a different starting point than previous administrations. He is trying to be more willing to talk to, listen and consult with foreign governments rather than just doing what we, as a country, want to do when we want to do it. He believes other countries are still trying to assess the President’s approach.

Next Meeting – The program will be Our Gang, with Wayne Fulcher and Hans Thiele presenting.

July 29, 2009 - Lunch

Our greeters today were Jacquie Goodspeed and Chuck Hoch, with some others rotating through. Our house committee was Max Link and his merry band of men. Richard Saunders, accompanied by Lloyd Meyer, led us in “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.” Susan Vanik – filling in for absent David Bell – led us in the Pledge. Wayne (not Ray) Knops gave the invocation. We all gave thanks for air conditioning. Out ticket winners were Lloyd Dill and Blaine Keith – see them greeting next week.




Click on the photos above to enlarge or download


Next week our speaker will be John Hall who will talk about the US Foreign Service.

Kiwanis Carefree Financials - Please note that the club financial statements have been posted on the members only area of our website under the announcements section. Thank you Bob Swan for your efforts here.

Wellness experienced a remarkable growth rate in “Get Well” cards – eight were circulated today as Blaine Keith and Nancy Carpenter reported on various members. John Voss had back surgery; Cheryl Duncan- Dudgeon (former member and honorary member) is not well; Bill Chester had his right knee replaced; Don Parks is very weak following his treatments for cancer and not taking calls; Bob McBreen had a stroke and is recovering but not taking calls; Betty (Mrs. Pat) Neal is being operated on for cancer; and Amy (not Mrs. Gary) Hayward is ill.

Megan Befort, former President of CSHS Key Club, now in fourth year of Kiwanis scholarship came and thanked us again for all our support.

Special New Member Induction: Heidi Befort was inducted by Nancy Carpenter. Heidi is special because both of her daughters received 4-year Kiwanis scholarship and she “wants to give back.” She is also special because she has already been giving back. As a teacher in CCUSD Black Mountain Elementary School, she has led K-Kids for the last two years and is also leading the Terrific Kids program for Kiwanis. And her K-Kids raised more money than the Builders Club and the Key Club so – welcome Heidi.

PROGRAM

Elaine Adrian introduced today’s speakers David Karsten and Susan O’Donnell. Dave is the incoming President of the new Desert Ridge Kiwanis Club. Professionally he is the owner of three Ace hardware stores including the one right here in Carefree. Elaine made the point that Ace people are local small business owners, as well as operators – not simply franchisers of a chain. Dave is actively involved the Ace Hardware “tour de kids” that raises funds and awareness for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. Susan is involved with fund raising for Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Dave talked about the experience of riding bicycles across large spans of our country – one of two legs from Chicago to Atlanta - in groups to help raise funds and awareness for the children’s hospitals. It is certainly a spectacular event with perhaps 65 bicyclists riding through small towns and to children’s hospitals with police escorts. But it becomes meaningful when the children experience and appreciate that there are others who truly care about them and that makes them feel important. Dave has been doing it for six years and will keep one doing it. In the past five years, the “tour” has raised $30,000 for Phoenix Children’s Hospital – what we raise locally stays local. To learn more or to donate on line, you can go to www.kidsmiracles.org/karsten.

Susan spoke about Phoenix Children’s Hospital – about the 17 million children treated, where the money goes, about the current lack of capacity to serve the demand that has led to the current campaign to raise funds for capital expansion. The hospital is a nationally renowned pediatric campus, but a good deal of the money is spent on making it feel not like a hospital. Kids are in the hallways in wagons and on electric scooters – with crash helmets, have playrooms, school room, library and many other amenities that health insurance and/or government support does not cover. Since the patients can’t go out on fieldtrips, fieldtrips come in: recently San Diego Zoo flew penguins in to wander the halls and entertain the patients. For more information go to http://www.phoenixchildrens.com/

Thanks to Kirk Wilson, you can find pictures to our new member mixer at the link below:
http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n308/eknox_isgr8/pictures/

Many thanks to photographer Sherman Agins and reporter Michael Moore for contributing to this issue of the Sundial. Great Job!