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Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven
Volume 5, No 4
February 28, 2010 |
The Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven is moving its meeting from the Garden Ballroom to the Cypress Room at the Ramada Inn. The time of the meeting is still 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. The Ramada Inn is located at 1150 3rd. Street SW, Winter Haven FL. Our first meeting at Ramada will be on March 2, 2010.
Has it been 10 years? Already ?
Just 10 short years ago they took our census. Now they are going to take it again !
My, how time flies (whether you’re having fun or not). Jeffrey Thornton, local recruiter for the Census Survey (Department of Commerce), was our Club speaker today. He came with not only the reasons behind census taking but with opportunities for employment! The Polk 
County area will need about 1,200 part time, temporary census takers from March through the summer. These workers will follow up on all households who do not respond to the mailed census sent out in late March. After the initial enumerations for non-responders there will be a follow up “spot” check for the purpose quality control and accuracy. Every reasonable attempt will be made to cover every individual, including the homeless. The canvassers will be paid a rate of $11.75 per hour plus car allowance of 50 cents per mile, point to point. There are 4 full days of required training which will also be compensated at those rates. The U.S. Government is providing 13 billion dollars to obtain the most accurate census possible.
There are several reasons for obtaining a census :
- Federal (U.S. House of Representatives) legislators are apportioned
- Federal and state funding for infrastructure and recreation facilities
- Federal and state funding for schools
- Provides basis for state legislative redistricting
- Provides the basis for federal many resource allocations
The census questionnaire information has been reduced to 10 questions in 2010. All information is confidential and is not shared with any other agencies. Underreporting only denies the proper opportunities for services and representation. By Tom Dryden
Avon Park Air Force Range and Wildlife Area
In an unusual shared use and responsibility operation, the Avon Park Range is one of Florida’s unique multiple use military facilities. Florida has more such entities than any other state.
Troy Hershberger, Florida Fish and Wildlife biologist spoke to our Club today on the Avon Park programs. Troy came from Maryland to our area with a Master’s Degree in Environmental Biology and Wildlife Management. He heads up the Fish, Wildlife 
and Outdoor Recreation programs at the Range. There are 106,000 acres within the whole area. Of that 20,000 acres are set aside for Air Force impact (bombing) practice. The acreage is pretty much pristine, unchanged since the open range era of the mid-1800’s. There are timber and pastured cattle leases over much of the Range. It is the primary survival range for 2 species of birds and several plants and insects.
Another unusually feature – the area is open Thursdays through Mondays. For several years our own Club has sponsored an annual youth fishing derby on the site. This year another youth program was initiated – a youth alligator hunt !
The Air Force works in a close and symbiotic relationship with the Wildlife and community services. It serves as a good community outreach P.R. for the military. By Tom Dryden More than 700 served during Pancake Breakfast The Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven held Special th Bob Conley again took responsibility for the placemat ad sales and Joe Schroeder designed the placemat layout. Karen Phillips and Sal Moraco chaired t We had 46 club The next big fundraiser for the Kiwanis Club is the 13th Annual Charity Golf Tournament held on Saturday May 1 at the Cypresswood Golf and County Club in Winter Haven. By Joe Schroeder Key Club Members of the Lake Region High School Key Avon Park Bombing Range – A Unique Military / Civilian Site Air Force Lt. Col. Buck McLaughlin from the military side of A.P.B.R. gave us another prospective of that facility. For the second week in a row, we had a speaker review the advantages Surprisingly, the parent wing for basic and tactical training is Moody AFB in Valdosta, GA. There are additional plans to have F-35 training out of Jacksonville, FL in the near future. The size of the Range allows optimum low level bomb runs for ground observers and delivery coordinators. Another feature that is unique to A.P.B.R. – the full cooperation between the local citizens, National Conservancy and the Air Force. Multilateral negotiations and agreements between the surrounding communities, the National Conservancy and the Air Force are ongoing to offer cooperation and best use land management. The exceptional eco-system and fire control needs are at the forefront of concerns by all parties.
its 46th annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday February 13, 2010. The event was held for the second year at the St. Matthew Catholic Church on Overlook Rd., Winter Haven. St Matthew is a beautiful location for this event. More than 700 people were served with all you can eat pancakes, sausage, coffee, milk and orange juice. Tickets were priced at $5 each (children age 6 and younger were free).
anks goes out to Amanda Nicholson, committee chairman and her committee. They were well organized and did an outstanding job. Amanda arranged for the pancake tickets to be donated by Cromer International Press in Haines City. She also arranged for Garfield’s Cleaning Services to clean up the banquet hall after the event.
he gift baskets sales again this year. This was a highlight of the breakfast. They had 22 beautiful baskets available for a silent auction. Some of the baskets were donated by local business, Bok Tower, Camp Mack, Lasater's Flowers, Azteca Mexican Restaurant, Tanner's Restaurant, Manny's Restaurant, Luigi's Restaurant, Antonio's Restaurant, Computer Geeks, Doty's Farm & Garden, Nails of Orchid Springs and Lifestyle Fitness and others were put together by donations from members. Karen and Sal sold tickets during the breakfast and set a record for the auction. Tickets were drawn at the end of the day and the winners were called to pick up their baskets.
members working different shifts. Les Adams headed up the kitchen crew and started cooking pancakes at 6:30. Many of our members rotated through the serving line stacking plates high with pancakes and sausage. Other members served coffee, milk and orange juice. Erin Sutyla and Joe Schroeder manned the ticket table throughout the morning and Georgia Fisher was at the Kiwanis information and recruiting table. Many people told us how much they enjoyed the pancakes as they left. We also had eight Key Club members from each high school. They cleaned up the tables, reset the placemats and eating utensils. They also served coffee and juice to people while they were eating.
Club attended our Tuesday’s meeting. Courtney Flowers on the right spoke to the club about her run for the Division 15A Lt. Gov. office. The Lake Region Key Club has had a great year and participated with our club on a number of projects.
of the huge (106,000 acres) operation. Col. McLaughlin is a graduate of the Air Force Academy and has flown A-10 and F-117 fighters in combat roles. He clearly understands the needs and opportunities afforded by that Range. First off, it is almost impossible to duplicate such a range in today’s land use environment. Building encroachment alone precludes community support for bombing runs. This, even though 90% are inert bomb drops, the balance are live and loud !
the back page
Officers: President Immediate Past President President-elect Vice President Secretary Treasurer - Admin. Treasurer - Foundation Birthdays Next Month Mar 1: Edward E Ethington(Ed) Mar 7: William O Grimsley(Bill) Mar 5: Serena Kurtz Mar 27: Curtis L Ulch(Curt) Mar 11: M L Wright(Lewis) Spouse Birthdays Mar 0: Barbara Coppock Anniversaries Mar 30: Leslie D. Adams and Patty(Les) Mar 9: Rodney K Chauncey and Trish Mar 23: William R Doty and Cathy(Bill) Mar 1: Tommy Thompson and Jeanette(Tommy) |
Coming Up: March 1: Happy Birthday Ed Ethington March 2: Kiwanis Meeting March 5: Happy Birthday Serena Kurtz March 7: Happy Birthday Bill Grimsley March 9: Kiwanis Meeting March 9: Kim Bowden - Innovative Senior Care March 11: Happy Birthday Lewis Wright March 16: Kiwanis Meeting March 16: Stacy Williams - Achievement Academy March 23: Kiwanis Meeting March 23: Lisa Baker - Humane Society March 27: Happy Birthday Curt Ulch March 30: Kiwanis Meeting |
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