Online Newsletter 
by Ed Meny 269-429-2025 or 269-930-4824  (Last updated on July 27, 2010)  Program reports and recaps below are in date order with the earliest at the beginning and the last meeting at the end.  Future programs, member birthdays, district rating and calendar of events, and news about new links and features added to this page and site are at the top of this page.

Where Our Parks Committee's Rubber Meets the Road!
Check out the photos In The Photo Gallery

 Contents
Section 1 News In Brief
Section 2 Meeting Notes
Section 3 Announcements
Section 4 Program Schedule
Section 5 Membership
Section 6 Treasurer’s News
Section 7 Additional Information

Section 1 News In Brief
 
Member birthdays:

Lou Pinderski, Sept. 20
October:
Jon Sauer, Oct. 12

John Helsley offered the Invocation and Bruce had everyone get to their feet to sing Smile.  Dave Brown was the 50/50 Raffle winner.  Dave’s prize was $10.00.  He did not draw the Ace and I think he deposited the $10.00 in the spittoon.   
Bill Hanley introduced his guest, Julia Gourley.  Julia is the first associate member representative from the Krasl Art Center. 
Ron Lyness introduced our speaker, Terry Kubasiak.  Terry is the President of the Schoolcraft Kiwanis Club.  On Tuesday Terry represented the Kiwanis of Michigan Foundation.  The Kiwanis of Michigan Foundation has a long, approximately 90 years of continuous service, history supporting the needs of hospitalized children and their families.  The Foundation supports Child Life Development programs at the Mott Children’s Hospital connected to the University of Michigan Health Center in Ann Arbor, Mary Free Bed Hospital in Grand Rapids, Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey and Detroit Children’s Hospital.
Kids and hospitals really don’t, in all fairness, belong together.  Kids shouldn’t be sick or injured.  A hospital stay for a young person is stressful for both the young person and his or her family.  Stress just adds to the discomfort, pain and is not conducive to healing.  Child Life Specialists collaborate with the young patient, parents and other healthcare workers to meet the individual needs of the young patients in managing the effects of stress and trauma.  Kids are given a sense that they have some control over their hospital situation through understanding of the procedures and routines and a greater familiarity with the hospital environment.  A child’s wellbeing also is related directly to the family, and parents and siblings are a very important part of this process.  I can tell you personally that this is a very important thing.  Our son, Patrick suffered a shattered hip in a high school football game and spent a long painful and stressful time at Motts.  His stay was made easier because he was made to feel special and a part of the process rather than the object of the process. 
Terry pointed out that these are tough economic times.  Similar to the St. Joseph Kiwanis Foundation, the Kiwanis Foundation of Michigan has experienced a reduction in revenue and as a result a reduction in their ability to provide service to the kids of Michigan.  Terry asked Kiwanis members to consider a personal contribution as well as support for the Club’s contribution.  Individual contributions are credited also to the Club.  The Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 organization and is recognized by the IRS.  Any sized contribution is welcome and should be mailed to Kiwanis of Michigan Foundation, PO Box 231, Mason, MI.  48854-0231.  If you find it in your heart to contribute personally, make sure to tell them that you are a member of the Kiwanis Club of St. Joseph/Benton Harbor.
 

Section 3 Announcements
Pancake Day:
Pancake Day is scheduled for October 9^th at the Whitcomb.  Think Saturday….Tickets have been distributed to members.
Installation Banquet.  Tuesday, October 5^th will be a special meeting including the installation of officers and a special award.  Spouses are welcome.  The meeting will be a dinner meeting.  Talk to your wife/husband/significant other now.    
Parks Committee Work Bee:  Ted Green announced that the next big step in our Parks improvement activities will be new rubber mulch at Kiwanis Park.  The Work Bee will take place on October 14^th and a sign-up sheet will be passed.  New bricks will be placed at Kiwanis Park and they are available for a donation of $50.00.  Nice way to add your or a family name to a great project and place.  Checks are payable to the Kiwanis Service Foundation and slips for donations and designation of the name on your brick are available from Ted.
Harbor Habitat – Joint Key Club project October 2^nd.  Our four Key Clubs will be working at the Harbor Habitat project/neighborhood across Territorial Road from the Airport on Saturday, October 2^nd.  We have asked each Key Club for 15 volunteers.  These young people will be working with homeowners laying sod and seeding at four homes.  Dirty and hard work!  We will be serving the kids and Habitat workers lunch.  Please consider volunteering to supervise on Saturday October 2^nd.  We will need at least four Kiwanians to supervise.  One at each house.  It would help to have another couple members on site to help cook and serve hot dogs, chips and drinks at lunch time.  This is rewarding duty with great kids and nice - proud new homeowners.  This is what Kiwanis is all about!    Please sign up to help at our next meeting or call Ed Meny or Bill Hanley to volunteer. See the roster for numbers or email addresses.

 
Section 5 Membership

Membership is the life blood of a Club.  Invite a friend to our meeting and encourage him or her to join our Club.  Promote your Club!

Section 6 Treasurer’s News

Pay your statement promptly!
 

Additional Information

 Our regular meetings:  Cassava Restaurant, 518 Broad Street (SW corner of State and Broad in Downtown St. Joseph; Noon – 1:00 PM; Every Tuesday – Lunch Served and Guest Welcome!

Members!  
Please attend our meetings!!!!  Our programs have been excellent and interesting.  It really hurts our Club's reputation when speakers have just a few members to present to.  You can read about it here but there is no substitute for having lunch and fellowship with at your Kiwanis Club!  Put Tuesday, Noon to 1:00 PM on your schedule.  COME ON!

Key Clubs
Key Clubs are a very good thing.  Those of us who have been involved in an advisory role, have found the young members of our Key Clubs to be great ambassadors for Kiwanis and hopefully future Kiwanians at some point in their lives.  
Key Club allows the High School students involved to take leadership roles at their schools and involve themselves in organization and community service.  Key Club is a little bit of the outside world in a High School setting.  Given a chance, the Club becomes a very important part of the High School experience and a big contributor to the school.

 

Hey!  Attend meetings regularly!  Its important! 



Come to the meetings!  Fellowship and entertainment abound!!!