September 11, 2009

ROAD TRIP THIS FRIDAY

Join us in Kesler Park (near The Dock) – site of this weekend’s Smoke on the River. PLEASE BE THERE BY NOON if at possible. Friday is of course 9/11. We’ll start our program with a tribute to the 9/11 anniversary – with help from the Quincy Police and Fire Departments. After our tribute, we’ll welcome the gridiron coaches from Quincy University (Coach Bill Terlisner) and Culver-Stockton College (Christian Guenther) to tell us about their squads. QU opened the season with a HUGE victory at Indiana State but were brought back to earth this week with a drubbing at Southeast Missouri State. Culver-Stockton opened their season with a loss at Central Methodist last Saturday. We’ll undoubtedly fit in some Smoke on the River information as well. Lots on the agenda (thus the early start) and all of it good. Invite a guest (perhaps a PROSECTIVE member) and join us in the park.

FRIDAY LAST

Nice to have Todd Friye from Bergman Nurseries with us. The Friye family (Dad, Tom, Mom, Nancy, and brothers, Todd, Trevor, and Travis) purchased the nursery in January of 1999. Todd spoke a little about trends in landscaping and answered a several questions. Despite the unsettling economic times, Todd reports their business is doing well. Your humble editor with the introduction.

VIP DATES

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

9/11 – Richard Howell celebrates a birthday, ROAD TRIP to The Dock, and later that evening, the Smoke on the River Steak Fry (along with a number of other great activities).

9/12 – Dan & Chris Veihl celebrate their 17th anniversary and Smoke on the River.

9/14 – September Board Meeting @ The Pier.

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

10/12 – October Board Meeting @ The Pier.

11/7 – Veterans Day Parade.

SMOKE ON THE RIVER

38 teams are set to Smoke on the River this weekend! Wow! How fast has this event grown? Gentlemen, it is time to step up to ensure a great event. You should know by now where help is needed but if not, please call Chairman Mel Dillman. Show up Thursday night for the set-up, Friday evening for the steak contest and dinner, Saturday for the event itself, and/or Sunday for clean-up. As mentioned before, AT A MINIMUM, please sell the raffle tickets assigned to you. If nothing else, pray for the rain to stay away until Monday!

CHARACTER CHAMPIONS

No time to rest after Smoke on the River as the Character Champions program is next Tuesday, September 15th. The event will start at 9:00 a.m. at Quincy University. Volunteers are needed starting just a bit after 8:00 a.m. to help register the student athletes and give them their packets. Stay for the event as it is always worth your time. Don’t forget help is needed preparing those packets on this Sunday, September 13th, 7:00 p.m. at Kirk Frageman’s home.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Russ Goehl and Vic Welper celebrating an anniversary this week.” President Kevin Curran let it slip before quickly catching himself. Both celebrated birthdays last week but are not married (to each other anyway).

THIS & THAT

Rev. Ron Fritts with the prayer and Scott Westhaus leading the pledge… Bill Barry’s grandson, Andy Wemhoener, a guest again last week. I heard that Andy served four years in the military but I didn’t catch which branch. Thank you for your service, Andy… President Kevin Curran presented Rev. Ron with his certificate and pin from National… Good to see the newest Man of Action, Jonathan Tuttle in attendance… So far, nearly 70 club members have opted out of the Exchangite mail list. President Kevin would like to see the number grow even more. Contact Cullan Duke (dcd@mail.klingner.com) if you would like to do so – just send him an e-mail… Jim Benz and Immediate Past District President Dennis Koch with some more great news about Character Champions and the possibility of taking this program to the national level. Hopefully I’ll have more information about this in next week’s Exchangite… Gary Hillebrenner won the 50/50 but picked the wrong card (seven of spades) so the pot grows… The bulletin is out a day later than I had planned but after the three day weekend, just crazy on Tuesday. I should have known better… Pray for sunshine and warm temperatures this weekend… Don’t forget Friday is a ROAD TRIP and we will be starting a bit earlier. I’ll not be there as Friday is also the Pvt. Joe Golf Outing (fundraiser for the All Wars Museum). I thank the Exchange Club of Quincy for being a hole sponsor and look forward to seeing several Exchangites on the course… I look forward to seeing most, if not all of you at some point over the weekend… That's all for now, 'til next time, may God’s love, grace, and peace be with you and the ones you love.