This week we were greeted by Joe Breman and Kevin Price.  President Kristin was back at the podium and gave thanks to Dennis Durmas and his meeting in her absence last week.  In Jeannie Thomas’ absence we sang “God Bless America” anyway and did a pretty good job.  There are many of us who will be very glad when Jeannie returnsJ Rick Nisley delivered our invocation and President Kristin led us as we delivered the Pledge of Allegiance and our Defining Statement.  Kristin thanked Joe Breman and Team 2 for providing the programs, the greeters and the invocations in the month of December.   

Dennis Durmas reported on the money that was raised last week by our club for the Community Food Bank.  The fines that Dennis imposed totaled $177.00 and the hat that was passed around to the members gathered $573.00 for a grand total of $750.00 to the Community Food Bank!! Thank you all for your donations to a great cause. 

This week was Family Week at Kiwanis and the turn out was great.  The Kiwanians that brought family members and friends this week were Ken Willard, Amy Hand, Kevin Price, Bruce Hill, Rita Crumpton, Joe Breman, Stacey Mascarenas, Jim Corley, Deanna Colaizzi, Paula Voytilla, Dennis Durmas, Bob Burger, Wes D’Aponti, Mike Kelly, Chris Gumone, Kristi Adams and Bob Colony.  The room was full of children and they were enjoying the face painting by Willow and the great hats that balloon artist, Steve, was making.  We thank Willow and Steve for participating as our program this week. 

The members of the birthday club this week were Amy Hand (December 26^th), Bonnie Pehl-Petersen (December 28^th), Heather Smith (December 29^th), Dave Harris (December 30^th) and Barbara Lovett (January 1^st).  We wish you all a very Happy Birthday. 

President Kristin talked about an upcoming joint venture with the Rotary Club and the Grand Junction Lions Club.  The clubs are trying to develop a ski day at Powderhorn Resort on a Friday afternoon and the proceeds from this venture would be donated to Colorado Discoverability.  If you are a skier and would like to participate, please see Kristin.   

Mike Moran talked about the Habitat for Humanity Work Day that is scheduled for Saturday, January 26, 2008.  There will be two shifts; one from 8am-12pm and the second shift is from 12:30-4PM.  Mike will have sign up sheets on the tables at lunch soon.   

Mailyn D’Aponti talked about the Kiwanis Winter Wonderland Party on Saturday, January 26^th at the Grand Vista Hotel.  There were invitations on the table last week with all of the details. The party will start at 6pm with a cocktail hour, dinner will be from 7pm-8pm, and dancing will be until 11pm.   The cost per person is $35.00 and tickets will be on sale January 3^rd through January 24^th at our meeting.  You can pay for your tickets via credit card, invoicing, cash or check. How convenient is that??! 

President Kristin spoke about a reading program through Lincoln Park Elementary School that she would like for us to become involved.  Kristin has talked to the school’s librarian, Michelle Hanson and there are 24 students that need our help.  They need help from us as tutors to help them become better readers or maybe they need help from us just by reading to them.  Kristin passed sign up sheets to the members of the club with the days, times, and the student’s name that needs help.  When you make this commitment to the reading program, please turn your sheets back to Kristin.  This program will begin on January 14, 2008.   

Happy Bucks were paid this week by Gabe DeGabriele, Kevin Price, Laura, Bill Byers, Joe Breman, Deanna Colaizzi’s daughter, Bob Burger, Orville Boge and Chris Gumone. The only fine that was imposed this week by President Kristin was on Toni Heiden-Moran.  Mike Moran paid that fine for Toni in her absence.   

Joe Breman was the winner of this week’s raffle and as it turned out the Foundation was the real winner.  Joe donated the $59.00 from the raffle to the Foundation.  Thanks, Joe for your generosity. 

LeAnne Zetmeir presented President Kristin with a gift from her trip to Seattle.  One of the gifts was a “Swedish fish” and the other was an ornament that she picked up in a little shop in Seattle.   

Bruce Isaacson delivered the “Joke of the Day” that actually turned out to be a riddle.  He asked the children in the room “Why did the chicken cross the road?” There were several answers given to Bruce but they weren’t quite what he was looking for. The answer that Bruce was looking for was “Because the skunk never made it.” Think about that one for a while, Fellow Kiwanians.  

Rick Nisley delivered our “Thought for the Day”.  Rick thought about all of the activities that our club was involved in this year.  As he mentioned the Safety Walk, Pancake Day, Aktion Club and Oktoberfest he had members of the club stand if they participated in these activities.  Those members that stood did so with pride. The last time Rick asked us to stand was if they had attended a weekly meeting. Everyone in the room stood and as Rick left the podium, please note that he did so to a standing ovation.  Great job, Rick!!

On another note I would like to back up to our meeting of December 13^th.  During this meeting Mike Stahl talked about Camp Kiwanis.  The main message that Mike was trying to get across was that Hilltop will not be running Camp Kiwanis in the future.  They will put some resources into fixing the water system next summer but our club needs to find another operator for the camp. Camp Kiwanis will not be operating next summer while the repairs to the water system are being made. Kiwanis members will be meeting with the Forest Service in January to explore other options for the camp. If you would like any more information about Camp Kiwanis and its future, please contact Mike Stahl or Kristin Winn. 

Until next time…..Roxie Denning, Bulletin Editor