Dateline: Rockville, MD - August 28, 2005
Topics Wide-Ranging for September Speakers
Civility, Memory, Mental Health Services, Sports on the Agenda
Our new Kiwanis member Miriam Gandell has arranged for our speaker on September 8. It will be her sister, Esther Kaleko-Kravitz, the Executive Director of NAMI of Montgomery County.
NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) of Montgomery County is an affiliate of a national grassroots non profit organization with 225,000 members. Esther Kaleko-Kravitz will talk about the state of mental health services in the county and the services they provide.
Here's a re-cap of this coming month's speakers:
September 1: Ken Mease, probably best known for 17-years of sportscasting with WUSA-TV until 2003. Currently, he is doing Redskins post-game coverage on their radio network. He works full-time as the media relations coordinator for the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development with my primary assignment in the Capital Region Office in Rockville.
September 8: Esther Kaleko-Kravitz, executive director of NAMI of Montgomery County
September 15: Gary Golman, one of America's leading experts in the field of memory development. He has shared this technology with thousands of sales and management professionals, executives, students and educators, and professionals from many backgrounds. They have learned specific techniques for greater retention of people's names, faces, technical information, power phrases and many other details that must be remembered.
September 29: Steven Michael Selzer, Rockville attorney and author. Selzer has received the Hjortsberg Award for Civility and Professionalism, 2001, and wrote "By George! Mr. Washington's Guide to Civility Today," published by Andrews McMeel, 2000. From the Andrews McMeel website, it says: "Steven Selzer has been in private law practice in Montgomery County, Maryland, for 25 years. He has campaigned to increase civil behavior in the legal profession and is a staunch advocate of civility. He is a graduate of George Washington University, both as an undergrad and as a law student. He is also the author of "Life's Little Relaxation Book."
Amazon.com describes his book "By George!" in this way: " Rudeness. Crudeness. Thoughtlessness. Uncivilized behavior is everywhere. From the boss who publicly chews out her assistant and the student who bullies his professor to the sports fan who yells obscenities at the ballgame, there's little doubt that we live in an increasingly barbaric world. When author Steven Selzer was researching the subject of civility, he found that George Washington had written 110 rules of civility and decent behavior at the age of 14. Although these guidelines are 250 years old, they are still pertinent in today's society. By George: Mr. Washington's Guide to Civility presents the 110 rules with engaging and conversational commentary after each rule, describing how it can be applied in modern life. Interspersed throughout the book are anecdotes, sidebars, and quotes. The tips and principles in By George will enable readers to better handle interpersonal conflicts, conduct business, and manage everyday stress with grace and civility."
by Beth Homan
Dateline: Montgomery Village, MD - July 22, 2005
Durschers Receive Awards at Charter Night Dinner
Citizen of the Year; Kiwanian of the Year The Kiwanis Club of Rockville bestowed honors on Past Lieutenant Governor Eldon Durscher and his wife, Jean Durscher, at its 56th Annual Charter Night Celebration Dinner, held last night at the Sir Walter Raleigh Inn Restaurant in Montgomery Village. The awards, presented by visiting Capital District Governor Warren Kane, cited the years of volunteer work both Eldon and Jean have devoted to their community, church and the Kiwanis Club.
The room was jam-packed (good thing the fire marshal didn't stop by!) with Kiwanians from our club, spouses and guests, and Interclubs from Bethesda, Gaithersburg-Germantown, Leisure World, Montgomery Village, North Bethesda, Olney, Rossmoor, Silver Spring and Wheaton. Conviviality and fellowship was the theme of the evening.
Special Guest Speaker Bill Offutt delighted the crowd with a narrated slide show about the history of Rockville and Montgomery County, going back to 1950, when the Kiwanis Club of Rockville came into existence, and even earlier, back to the the early, early days of Rockville. Who knew history could be so entertaining?!
We learned that our event was one of the last at the Sir Walter Raleigh Inn. The company closed down the Montgomery Village restaurant ten days later, on July 31. Hope it wasn't something we did or said!
Dateline: Emmittsburg, MD - May 29, 2005
Rockville Kiwanis Club Sponsors Three HOBY Ambassadors
Three-Day Leadership Seminar at Mt. St. Mary's The Kiwanis Club of Rockville sponsored three area high school sophomores at the just-concluded Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Seminar, held on the campus of Mount Saint Mary's College in Emmittsburg, Maryland.
The three "HOBY Ambassadors" sponsored by our club are Grace Wahlbrink from Rockville High School, Jessica Preusch from Richard Montgomery High School, and Kelley Smith from Thomas S. Wootton High School. They were among some 14 Montgomery County High School sophomores sponsored by Division 17 Kiwanis clubs at this year's HOBY Maryland Seminar.
From early on the morning of Friday, May 27, until late in the afternoon of Sunday, May 29, more than 175 energetic 10th graders from across the State of Maryland participated in workshops, heard dozens of motivational and educational speakers, took part in a talent show, and danced the night away on Saturday. They cleaned up "The Grotto" on campus, then clean up themselves before participating in a unique luncheon experience in which they were divided into four groups, some served sumptuous gourmet food, others served everyday fare, still others receiving only minimal servings of "beans and rice" for their meal. The last group, "victims of a disaster," had nothing to eat until a Red Cross wagon appeared outside and served them food and drinks better than the "everyday fare" served to another group, and almost as good as the "gourmet" food! This lunch, which was a complete surprise to the HOBY students, was quite a learning experience.
Dateline: Silver Spring, MD - May 25, 2005
HOBY, Builders, Key Club Students Receive Youth Awards
Division 17 Banquet Honors Young Leaders A total of 13 student members of Rockville Kiwanis Sponsored Youth Programs received awards for their outstanding service and volunteer work during the past school year.
Outstanding Service Award winners from the Builders Club of Christ Episcopal School: Erin McAuliffe, Devon Balicki and Robbie Troiana;
Outstanding Service Award winners from the Key Club of Thomas S. Wootton High School: Sara Li, Caryn Cohen, and Elissa Israel;
Outstanding Service Award winners from the Key Club of Richard Montgomery High School: Helen Goldberg, Cameron Hanson, and Desiree Gonzalez;
Outstanding Service Award winner from the Key Club of Rockville High School: Greg Moritz;
HOBY Award winners: Kelley Smith from Wootton High School, Jessica Preusch from Richard Montgomery High School, and Grace Wahlbrink from Rockville High School.
Congratulations to all of our award winners, and to all of the Division 17 award winners!
Dateline: Rockville, MD - November 15, 2004
Santa To Visit Rockville Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast Benefit Saturday, December 11, 7 AM-Noon
Event Will Feature Raffle, Coloring Contest, Bake Sale, Pictures with Santa Claus The Kiwanis Club of Rockville will hold its Annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, December 11, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, at Montgomery College’s Rockville Campus Cafeteria, which is located in the Campus Center Building, North Campus Drive, Rockville.
Proceeds from the event will benefit and support the Kiwanis Club of Rockville’s Young Children: Priority One projects, such as Children's Hospital and Head Start at Twinbrook Elementary School; community service projects, such as our work with Rock Terrace School and Lincoln Park Boys and Girls Club; Sponsored Youth organizations, such as Key Clubs at RIchard Montgomery, Wootton and Rockville High Schools and a Builders Club at Christ Episcopal School; charitable organizations in Montgomery County; and Montgomery College scholarships.
Guests will be treated to an all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast with a South Beach option. Musical entertainment will be provided by local choral groups. The event promises plenty of fun-filled activities for the entire family with a bake sale of fresh goodies, perfect for holiday entertaining or gift-giving; prize raffles; a coloring table and a coloring contest for kids; and photographs with Santa Claus himself!
To get a head start on the coloring contest, children and parents are invited to visit www.kiwanis.org/club/Rockville to download the coloring sheets. Finished coloring sheets should be brought to the pancake breakfast. The winners will be notified after the event to pick up their prizes.
Tickets to the pancake breakfast are $ 5 in advance or $ 6 at the door. Children under five years old will get in for free. For more information about purchasing tickets, please contact Tracy Bush or Rich Pencek at 301-294-6001, or Bill Stabler at 301-774-5876.
Dateline: Rockville, MD - November 1, 2004
Club To Serve Sunday Dinner at Children's Inn The club is signed up to take and serve dinner at the Children's Inn at NIH on Sunday, November 14 at 5:30 p.m. Children's Inn is a residence for the families of children who are treated at the National Institutes of Health. It is located on the NIH campus, at the corner of West Cedar Lane and West Drive (7 West Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892).
Every effort is made to provide a good quality of life while they are undergoing a very stressful time. Often families arrive hungry and tired from traveling. The family suppers provide a wonderful opportunity to eat together and ease the stress of adjusting to a new environment.
Young Children Priority One Chair Cathy Ernst says we need to bring and prepare food for 50-60 residents, so it requires everyone possible from our club to participate. Only eight members will be able to serve the food on Sunday. They will also have a chance to sit down to dinner with the families.
Please let Cathy know via e-mail (cbowerernst@hotmail.com) if you are available to go to the Children's Inn to serve dinner on Sunday the 14th and/or if you can help with the food.
The following is a list of food ideas:
Soups:
Turkey or chicken, with vegetables, rice, or pasta
Beef with vegetables
Potato
Minestrone
Tomato
Entrees:
Lasagna
Spaghetti
Chicken with dumplings
Chicken or turkey tetrazini
Whole turkey - 2 medium sized
Beef stew and biscuits or rice
Chicken Divan
Baked ham (sliced) with baked beans
Macaroni and cheese, with chicken, ham or tuna salad
Platters of assorted salads (chicken, ham or tuna)
Meat loaf with gravy and mashed potatoes
Chili with ground beef or turkey, crackers
Baked chicken
Ham and Macaroni casseroles
Creamed chicken with peas, biscuits
Salads:
Pasta
Green or vegetable
Potato
Cole Slaw
Fruited jello
Desserts:
Cookies
Cakes
Ice Cream
Brownies
Beverages:
Juice
Milk (We will need to bring 6 gallons of whole milk.)
Iced tea
Lemonade
They would like us to use disposable containers and be there no later than 5:30 p.m., when we will set up and serve, and afterward, clean up.
They ask that anyone coming to Children's Inn be in good health - no colds or flu-like symptoms, nor any exposure to chickenpox, measles, or shingles in the prior 3 weeks.
For more information, please call Cathy at 301-774-0552 or send her an e-mail (cbowerernst@hotmail.com).
Dateline: Rockville, MD - October 26, 2004
RMHS Key Club Charters With 39 Originally chartered on December 11, 1955 (and rechartered three times since), the Richard Montgomery high School Key Club held its charter presentation the way the Key Clubbers wanted to -- with an ice cream social on October 26, 2004. Sponsoring Rockville Kiwanians John Gilfrich, Tom McIsaac, Bill Stabler, Phyllis Marcuccio, Ruth Hanessian, George Sauer, John Tyner and Maury Ward [Ed.: THAT'S A DOUBLE INTERCLUB, FOLKS!] attended the celebration to congratulate the 39 charter members and to be sure that the ice cream met Kiwanis standards.
Rockville President John Gilfrich presented the Charter to President Helen Goldberg and Div 17 Sponsored Youth Chair PLG Bill Stabler pinned each of the officers: President Helen Goldberg, Vice President Cameron Hanson, Secretary Dora Larson and Treasurer Desiree Gonzales. Everyone thanked the faculty advisor Barbara Carper for being willing to take on this group of hard-charging Key Clubbers.
Their initial projects will be making PB&J sandwiches for Martha's Table, doing the UNICEF treat-or-treat boxes and arranging to do Christmas gift-wrapping at the Bethesda Barnes & Noble. The club was also informed that they are welcome to help us with our December 11 pancake breakfast.........gotta stress our K-Family connection!
--PG John Tyner II, Kiwanis Advisor
Dateline: Rockville, MD - October 25, 2004
Club Transfers Northwest Key Club As of the Monday, October 25, 2004 meeting, sponsorship of the Northwest High School Key Club has been officially transferred from the Kiwanis Club of Rockville to the Kiwanis Club of Gaithersburg-Germantown. The paperwork, signed by the presidents of the two clubs and the Division 17 Sponsored Programs Chairman, has been sent to Key Club International and Kiwanis International.
Gaithersburg-Germantown Kiwanis Club member Kathy Thompson is the new Kiwanis Advisor, taking over from Rockville Kiwanis Club member Bill Stabler. Nancy Hinnebusch, Child Development teacher at Northwest, is the Key Club Faculty Advisor. Gaitherbsurg-Germantown Club President Diane Thomas was present for the transfer of sponsorship.
The Key Club of Northwest High School is well-organized and involved in several projects, including a Blood Drive at the school, collecting books, a reading program for younger children, and fund raising.
--PLG Bill Stabler, (former) Kiwanis Advisor; Division 17 Sponsored Programs Chairman
Dateline: Rockville, MD - October 23, 2004
Club Members Visit St. Ann's A hardy group of Rockville Kiwanians paid a visit to St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home in Hyattsville on Saturday, October 23.
An Interclub consisting of Board member and YCPO Chair Cathy Ernst, Board member Eldon Durscher, George Sauer and Bill Stabler first fortified themselves with a pancake and sausage breakfast at Wheaton High School (sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Wheaton). They then journeyed to Hyattsville, where they joined Club President John Gilfrich, his wife Eileen and two of their daughters in a guided tour of St. Ann's. Guided by St. Ann's Volunteer Coordinator Franciena Turner, the group saw the inner workings of the home and had a chance to see some of the children and mothers there.
There are many ways our club can help St. Ann's. Individuals and groups can volunteer to help once a week or once a month. Items can also be donated. Some of them are listed below. The children are from infant age to 12 years old so they need a variety of sizes. They prefer new items, but will accept used ones in good condition. Because of Health Dept. regulations, they cannot accept used shoes or stuffed animals.
Their wish list is:
Diapers - newborn, 2, 4, 5, 6
Baby wipes
Dove soap
Vaseline
Pull-ups
Deodorant
Flash lights
Batteries (AAA, AA and 9 volt)
Universal remote control
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Payless Shoe gift cards
Boys/girls pajamas - sizes 4-16
Gift certificates to McDonalds
Shampoo
Alarm clocks
Tape recorders
Aveeno products
Larger items -
27" TV
Wooden rocking chair
Cool mist humidifier
Vacuum cleaners
They request that we call to discuss any donations of furniture, appliances or computers.
Their Community Relations Office number is 301-559-5500 extension 168. Ask for Franciena Turner.
If you would like more information about St. Ann's, their website is www.saint-anns.com
Dateline: Rockville, MD - October 22, 2004
President's Column Although the new Kiwanis year has just kicked off, we are moving full steam ahead. We have already had several volunteer events, and we are working on scheduling fundraising events and we are looking for new ways to positively impact our community. I am looking for new ways to raise funds for our projects and new slants on our existing ones.
We are having a quick Pancake Breakfast organizing meeting after the regular meeting on October 28 - the date is Saturday, December 11, and we need to get geared up quickly. Please join us with your ideas on how to make this event even more successful.
I want to thank everyone for their hard work so far. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Yours in Kiwanis Service,
John
John Gilfrich
Kiwanis Club of Rockville
President 2004-2005
301-963-7650
john.gilfrich@mercantile.net
Dateline: Rockville, MD - September 30, 2004
Club Officers, Board Installed at Charter Night Dinner The room was packed and abuzz with excitement as the members and guests of the Kiwanis Club of Rockville gathered at Sir Walter Raleigh Inn on the evening of September 30. Not only was it our 55th Annual Charter Dinner, it was also the evening of the installation of the new officers and board of directors -- and honors.
Board member Bob Lane was honored with a George F. Hixson Fellowship from the Kiwanis International Foundation for his many years of outstanding service with our club.
The 2004-2005 officers: John Gilfrich, President; Tracy Bush, President-Elect; Lois Steinc, Secretary; Sherman Helberg, Treasurer.
The 2004-2005 Board of Directors: PLG Eldon Durscher, Cathy Ernst, Phyllis Marcuccio, Beth Homan, Bob Lane and Immediate Past President Sheldon Sacks.
Dateline: Rockville, MD - June 20, 2004
...AND THE WINNER IS...
The drawing for the raffle prize was held during the intermission (or "halftime," as some of our more sports oriented members call it!) of the Summer Dinner Theatre 2004 Benefit Presentation of "Anything Goes!" on Sunday at Montgomery College. The winner of the 42-inch Plasma TV from Best Buy in Gaithersburg is (drum roll, please!) BETTY MARTINELLI of Halpine Road in Rockville! Congratulations Betty!
The Rockville community is also a WINNER, because all the proceeds from the raffle, silent auction, 50/50 and dinner theatre ticket sales goes right back into our Kiwanis community service projects, Young Children: Priority One and Sponsored Youth programs.
The Kiwanis Club of Rockville says "THANKS A MILLION" to all who participated and supported our THIRD ANNUAL SUMMER DINNER THEATRE at MONTGOMERY COLLEGE!
Special thanks to the following area businesses for their support:
Best Buy, Gaithersburg, MD Holly Hills Country Club, Ijamsville, MD
Woodfin Suite Hotel, Rockville, MD
Sport & Health Club, Rio, Gaithersburg, MD
Michaels Arts & Crafts Store, Rockville, MD
Armand's Pizzeria & Grille, Rockville, MD
Legacy Financial Associates, Rockville, MD
Jeepers, Rockville, MD
KaBloom, Falls Grove Village Center, Rockville, MD
Loews Cineplex, Rio, Gaithersburg, MD
Ramada Inn at Congressional Plaza, Rockville, MD
Hamburger Hamlet
Hooters of Rockville
DoubleTree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center, Rockville, MD
Guapos Cantina, Gaithersburg, MD
Circuit City, Rockville, MD
Quality Suites Shady Grove, Rockville, MD
That's Amore, Rockville, MD
Fitness First Health Clubs, Rockville, MD
Golf Club Fitness Center
The Music Theater Center
Alase, Rockville, MD
...and MANY MORE auction items donated by other businesses and individuals.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
