********************************* Published Weekly: 10/20/09 Dawn Fry Editor Valparaiso Kiwanis Club Valparaiso, IN 46385 Meet at Strongbow Inn every Wednesday at Noon UPCOMING PROGRAMS 10/21 - Porter County Chiropractic Clinic 10/28 - VHS Jazz Quartet 11/04 - Bringing Home the Troops 11/11 - Annual Kiwanis Veteran's Day Program ************************************ Notes from last meeting: Our club welcomed State Senator Ed Charbonneau for a visit. Senator Charbonneau has been awarded the distinguished Sagamore of the Wabash award, among other honors he has received. Senator Ed Charbonneau ********************************** VALPARAISO KIWANIS OFFICERS 2009-2010 President Steven Ingram President-Elect Dawn Fry Vice-President Mark Connors Treasurer Richard Serletic Asst. Treasurer Mary Spruitenburg Adm. Secretary Sharon Jackson BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO 2010 Nancy Barone, Jeff Clymer, Lauren Lamb, Michael Stephens BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO 2011 Mark Baird, Tricia Catlin, Brian Hoeppner, Nancy Sederberg, Laura Walker ************************************* Senator Charbonneau was very informative about what happened with the State Senate in the 2009 session. The 28 Billion dollar State Budget did not get completed in the normal session and they had to go back for special sessions to finish it. There is currently a $250 million shortfall in revenue from the projections used to create the budget we are now operating under. If that continues to deteriorate we will either have to cut spending or increase revenues somehow. Indiana s poverty rate is at 13%. Senator Charbonneau introduced Senate Bill 448-High Tech Tax, which gives local business the opportunity to invite new high paying jobs to the Region and be exempt from paying property tax. He was also instrumental in passing the Silver Alert Bill which is a lot like the Amber Alert,
but is an alert for Seniors. There were no education cuts for the 2009 budget, but because education is tied closely with gaming revenues, and those revenues are down, he feels education will suffer. The state did pass the Healthy Indiana Plan which provides insurance to the more than 47,000 uninsured in our state. Senator Charbonneau left us with this thought, our future is dependent on economic development and job creation, and we need to think about ourselves as a part of a region rather than a single city in the state. volunteering and we look for you next year. Senator Ed Charbonneau Foundation: Checks were presented to the Foundation today, from the Balloonfest Committee in the amount of $2000, from the Club in the amount of $9,000 and $1,000. Making our commitment to the future even stronger. Cross Country: Lonnie Steele presented a check in the amount of $400.00 to the club for our volunteer efforts with Cross Country this past year. Thank you for
bring a veteran or active duty soldier to this special meeting. Club Excellence Summit: International President Paul Palazzolo is coming to Northwest Indiana on November 13 th Das Essenhaus, for a Club Excellence Summit. Please register on-line through the Indiana Kiwanis website, www.indkiw.org, The cost is $30.00. Not So Secret Handshake: Aaron Ingram shook Mark Baird s hand for the lucky number. Cheryl Harmon is this weeks New Member. Look for Cheryl and introduce yourself. If you re the lucky winner, you will be entered in the 50/50 drawing. Key Pins: Don t forget about the Key Pins for your efforts to invite new guests into the club. For one new member you will receive a Bronze Key, 2 new members = Silver Key, 3 new members = Gold Key, 4 or more new members = Pat on the Back from President Steve. Citrus: Waiting for the report about the fruit from Jim Haklin. Citrus will be shipping soon, see Jim for your Order form. Coat Drive: We will be having a coat drive again this year, please bring any new or gently used coats, hats, mittens, boots, to the meeting on Wednesday, or drop them off with Jon Groth at the Career Center or President Steve s office, Valuation Services. Veteran s Day Invitation: November 11 all veterans or active duty personnel from Indiana are invited to this annual special day of recognition. Strongbow Inn will be serving a full turkey buffet/$10.00 per person. Members are encouraged to Committee Meetings: Sponsored Youth Committee meeting immediately following our regular meeting on October 21 st. Foundation Board is meeting at 4:00 on October 28 th at the Career Center. Interclub: Scheduled for Valpo A.M. on December 1 st, when the Lt. Governor will be visiting. 50/50: Dick Thompson not pick the Joker and the pot rolls over to $33. Community Cares is sponsoring a Food Drive beginning November 18 th. Please fill the bag and bring it to any Kiwanis meeting. Rebuilding Together First work day was scheduled for Saturday at 8:00 A.M. at Faith Memorial Church, bring a ½ socket wrench October Birthdays: 3-Janet Pakish; 3- Bob Westfall; 3-Jeff Clymer; 6-Alan Corns; 8-Dave Karp; 8-Tricia Catlin; 8- Joan Serfaty; 12-Laura Walker; 12- Aaron Ingram; 15-Dave Collins; 16-Dick Thompson; 21-Leigh Westergren; 21- Carl Phillips; 24-Bill Reed; 26-Bob Ingraham; 26-Joyce Alexa; 29-Brent Wagner