July 31, 2009

THIS FRIDAY

Our first meeting at America's Best Value Inn (300 Gardner Expressway)
will be this Friday.  As previously noted, we'll be in the ball room and
J.J.'s Catering will be providing the (buffet-style) meal service.  Our
speaker will be Barb Hicks, Executive Director of the Madonna House.
Most of us are well aware of the wonderful work the Madonna House does
in our community but for those not, here is what I found on their
website, "Madonna House opened their doors to its first family on
Mother's Day, 1988.  Since its opening, Madonna House has successfully
served over 61,000 shelter nights to families in need.  The Madonna
House mission statement is, 'To provide a safe nurturing home
environment where homeless pregnant women and women with children can
break the cycle of instability.'"  See you Friday at ABVI!

ROAD TRIP FRIDAY LAST

A very nice trip to the Gardner Museum of Architecture and Design.  We
thank our host, Museum Director Vicki Ebbing, and her assistant (sorry,
didn't get a name) for the great tours.  The five exhibits were "Gardner
Denver - 150 Years of Industrial Innovation", "Ernest M. Wood -
Architect", "The Gardner Family Mansion", "Lincoln Slept Here", and
Aspiration in Glass".  Good stuff!

VIP DATES

7/29 - Dave Reese celebrates a birthday

7/30 - Smoke on the River meeting (5:30 p.m. @ The Dock)

7/31 - Meet at America's Best Value Inn for the 1st time

8/3 - Mike & Karen Lavery celebrate their 41st anniversary

8/4 - Russ & Lori Gengenbacher celebrate their 19th anniversary

8/6 - Smoke on the River meeting (5:30 p.m. @ The Dock)

8/10 - August Board Meeting @ The Pier

8/13 - Smoke on the River meeting (5:30 p.m. @ The Dock)

8/14 - ROAD TRIP to All American Park - Ski Show

8/20 - Smoke on the River meeting (5:30 p.m. @ The Dock)

8/27 - Smoke on the River meeting (5:30 p.m. @ The Dock)

9/3 - Smoke on the River meeting (5:30 p.m. @ The Dock)

9/10 - Smoke on the River meeting (5:30 p.m. @ The Dock)

9/11 & 12 - Smoke on the River

9/14 - September Board Meeting @ The Pier

9/15 - Character Champions (9:00 a.m. start @ QU)

11/7 - Veterans Day Parade

SMOKE ON THE RIVER

All Exchangites are asked to sell three raffle tickets ($5 each or three
for $10.00) for the Smoke on the River raffle.  This ensures that we at
least break even on the raffle.  Surely all of us could purchase or sell
at least three tickets at those reasonable prices!  See Immediate Past
President Art Awerkamp to pick up your purple tickets.  Again, all
Exchangites are invited to attend the now weekly committee meetings -
5:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings at The Dock.



QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"At the National Convention, the Exchange Club of Quincy was awarded the
National Outstanding Youth Project Award for our Character Champions
program."  President Kevin Curran as he showed off our new banner.  (See
photo below.)

THIS & THAT

Rich Zeidler with the prayer.  Not sure who led the pledge.  Vic Welper,
Perry Terwelp, and Gary Peters wearing red white, and blue so they stood
in as our flag for the day...  President Kevin Curran's brothers, Pat
(from Dallas, TX) and Douglas (from Fresno, CA) joining us as guests...
President Kevin telling us about a nice thank you from Conner O'Neil...
President Kevin thanking 2nd Vice President Steve Green for filling in
the previous week...  Hats off to County Market catering for the nice
meal last week.  Entire meal was good but those cookies were real
good...  Night at the Gems was rained out and so far, haven't heard
about a reschedule date - if there is going to be one.  Better hurry if
we are, only five regular season games left for the Gems.  Where the
heck has this summer gone...  Frank Hays won the 50/50 but after drawing
the wild card, picked the wrong card (king of spades).  The pot grows...
Only 18 cards remaining in the deck (at least that's what we are led to
believe).  The pot was $1,022 last week.  Only one other time has it
reached four digits.  Program Chairman Gary Peters won it that time...
Taking a little vacation next week so Jeff Dorsey will be filling in -
thank you, Jeff...  That's all for now, 'til next time, may God's love,
grace, and peace be with you and the ones you love.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Our National Outstanding Youth Project Award banner.  (Please note
Superintendent Lonny Lemon's expression - this is the same look Lonny
has had throughout most recent school board meetings...)