August 25, 2009

THIS FRIDAY

We’ll welcome our good friend, Matt Schulte from Spirit Knob Winery to tell us about the Grape Escape. The event, being tabbed, “A Grand Celebration of Wine, Food, & Music”, will take place this Saturday and Sunday in Clat Adam’s Park on Quincy’s Riverfront. The event is being hosted by the Illinois Grape Growers & Vintner’s Association – to which Matt belongs. To learn more about the Grape Escape before Friday, visit this website: www.quincygrapeescape.com.

FRIDAY LAST

Perhaps the most unique program I have ever seen in my nearly two decades in this club… “Lincoln-Douglas Debates After Dark” was an entertaining and hypothetical play based on the presumption that Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas had met in one of the local taverns after one of their famed debates. The talented Jason Wellmeyer and Phil Quivillion wrote and starred in the skit. If I heard correctly, they have performed it at nearly 30 Quincy bars/taverns. Like several other Exchangites, I truly enjoyed the play but was a little shell-shocked – just not our normal Friday thing. It was good and we thank Jeff Dorsey for setting it up and for doing the introduction.

VIP DATES

9/24 – Dr. Tom Klincar celebrates a birthday

9/25 – Bill & Brenda Stalder celebrate their 16th anniversary

9/26 – Carlos & Sarah Fernandez celebrate their 17th anniversary

10/10 – Fall Brawl at Cedar Crest Country Club

10/12 – October Board Meeting @ The Pier

11/7 – Veterans Day Parade

11/9 – November Board Meeting @ The Pier

FALL BRAWL

The 2009 version of the Fall Brawl will take place on the evening of October 10th at Cedar Crest Country Club. The menu will include rib eye steaks with all the fixings. This event is a social for members, their spouses or girlfriends (but as we love to say in the Quincy Exchange Club, not both please), and invited guests. Chairman Mel Dillman has not established a price for the event yet but in years past it has been ridiculously low. Add it to your schedule and plan on a great time. Sign-up sheets will be out this week.

SMOKE ON THE RIVER RAFFLE WINNERS

Green Egg – Kelley Cole

Traeger Smoker/Grill – Lynn Wiewel

Gas Grill – Bing Lammers

Hy-Vee Gift Certificate – Korey Cole

County Market Gift Certificate – Cory Sturdevant

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“What are you laughing at Kevin?” Jeff Dorsey’s remark to President Kevin Curran as President Kevin and other Exchangite’s laughed at yet another ex-wife(s) joke directed toward poor Jeff. While Mr. Dorsey often gets the blunt of this abuse, there are other Exchangites (including President Kevin) who have nearly as many or more ex’s than Jeff. It ain’t easy being Jeff Dorsey! (There was another candidate for Quote of the Week that dealt with a Lincoln Log but I thought it best to leave that one alone…)

THIS & THAT

Mayor John Spring with the prayer and retired Air Force Colonel Dr. Tom Klincar leading the pledge… Please keep the John Ballance family in your prayers as John’s mother passed away last week. Our condolences, John… President Kevin Curran noted two significant actions from the 9/14 board meeting – a $250 donation to Junior Achievement and our Student of the Year will now receive a $500 scholarship… President Kevin thanking Smoke on the River Chairman Mel Dillman and his committee on a job well done and doing the same to all the men involved in Character Champions… Our thanks to Dennis Koch for taking on the club directory update. As Mel Dillman testified, the directory can be a great tool – especially now that nearly half the club is receiving the Exchangite via e-mail… Max Johnson gave us an update on Adopt-A-Grandparent. 38 students will participate in the great program when it resumes at the Veterans Home on October 14th. Max, Sonny Christner, Skip Reuter, and Dick Wentura are all assisting with the program… The results from Smoke on the River are now posted on-line. You can check them out by using this link: www.smokeontheriver.net. The Grand Champion was Twyford BBQ & Catering with Uncle Fuds & Lickins BBQ named as the Reserve Champion. I got the Reserve Champion and the People’s Choice Winner confused last week... Sonny Christner won the 50/50 but picked the wrong card (eight of spades). Pot still at $200… That's all for now, 'til next time, may God’s love, grace, and peace be with you and the ones you love.