kiwanis club of reno sunrisers newsletter · 1/27/2020 · kiwanis club of reno sunrisers...

KIWANIS CLUB OF RENO SUNRISERS NEWSLETTER

KIWANIS Serving the Children of the World

FEBRUARY 2020 www.kiwanisrenosunrisers.com

ǁ PO Box 20847, Reno, NV 89515 ǁ

Chartered January 11, 1972

California – Nevada – Hawaii District; Division 23

Sunrisers Meetings, Fridays at 7:00am, Gold ‘n Silver Restaurant

President Bobbe’s Corner Good morning, Sunrisers! This is a “letter-to-self” but maybe it will resonate. You are the kindest and most generous unpaid, unrecognized group I’ve ever worked with. But, we can do more; at least I

know that I can and I’m projecting that you can too. It is February. It’s cold, sometimes wet and snowy outside, dark. Some

days I just want to wrap up in a

blanket on the couch and watch mindless tv. In January I put together a 2000 piece puzzle while

books for kids sat on the dining room table; they are still sitting there. I haven’t done my household books since October and the IRS looms. (Haven’t you ever felt that way?) Well, shake it off Bobbe and get busy.

I have inspiration: YOU. Dan’s probably at the Food Pantry right now; Gary is probably stacking Nancy Gomes food supplies, probably helping Catherine, and headed to a Key Club meeting; Sharon is probably at WACCS; Al and Tom are always

everywhere at once. YOU are probably busy and helping the community and each other. Probably. And if not, if you are more

like me, well, let’s just shake it off and get busy. Be kind to your family. Valentines Day is just ahead. I’m going to make a date with Steve. Be just a little more generous with your resources. Get your name on a Sunrisers list (and your rear off the couch, Bobbe!). Ronald McDonald House and the

Food Bank need you. Nancy Gomes families need food and WACCS babies need diapers. Help a committee with its club and community projects. None of this is difficult or expensive; and it only takes a little bit of time.

Whew. Thanks for letting me open a window. The air is lovely.

It’s an honor to be your President. Have a great day and make it count! Bobbe Brown, Sunrisers President

2019-2020 OFFICERS

President:

Bobbe Brown

President Elect:

Donna Meyers

Vice President:

Secretary:

Donna Meyers

Treasurer:

Tom Leahy

2018-2020 Board Members:

Sharon Barnes, Dan

Bouzek, Al Stilley

2019-21 Board Members:

Gary Benedetti, Rich Clark

Immediate Past President:

Michael McStroul

Division 23 Lt Governor:

Roger Jacobson, Sparks

Cal-Nev-Ha Governor:

Gary Gray, Santa Barbara

http://www.kiwanisrenosunrisers.com/



FEBRUARY 2020

Food Donation, canned fruit; WACCS Diaper Drive

» 1984 Gary Benedetti joins Sunrisers

» 1996 Ralph Voss joins Sunrisers (1981 Council Bluffs, IA Kiwanis)

» 2000 Chip Latham joins Sunrisers (1995 Reno Kiwanis)

» Monday, February 3, Ronald McDonald House, Tandy Gach

» Tuesday, February 4, Interclub, North Reno, Jack’s Coffee Shop, noon

» Tuesday, February 4, Board Meeting, 5:30pm, Atlantic Aviation

» Friday, February 7, Banana-versaries, Reno Philharmonic

» Friday, February 7, WACCS diaper drive begins

» Saturday, February 8, Food Bank 9-11am

» Saturday, February 8, CNH Mid-year South, San Gabriel, CA

» Monday, February 10, Interclub, Downtown Reno, Famous Dave’s BBQ,

11:30am

» Friday, February 14, Dr. Nario, Holistic Heart Health

» Friday, February 14, Valentines Day

» Sunday, February 16, RLT social, Murder on the Orient Express

» Monday, February 17, Presidents’ Day

» Friday, February 21, Hat & White Elephant Friday, Trivia

Contest begins, Naomi Duerr, Reno City Council

» Saturday, February 22, CNH Mid-year North, Modesto Double

Tree Hilton

» Monday, February 24, Newsletter distribution

» Thursday, February 27, Carole Slater’s birthday

» Thursday, February 27, Paul & Debra Richied’s anniversary

» Friday, February 28, Gary Benedetti’s birthday

» Friday, February 28, Trivia Contest week 2, Miranda Hoover,

Lobbyist

» Saturday, February 29, LEAP YEAR ---->>>>>>>>>>>>>>

REPORT YOUR FEBRUARY SERVICE HOURS

MARCH 2020

Food Donation, canned chili, baked beans, packaged beans

» 2014 Catherine Garbacz joins Sunrisers

» 2016 Bobbe Brown joins Sunrisers

» 2017 Rachel Jo joins Sunrisers

» 2017 Justin Jo joins Sunrisers

» 2018 Sharon Barnes joins Sunrisers

» Monday, March 2, Ronald McDonald House dinner

» Tuesday March 3, Board meeting, 5:30p, Atlantic Aviation

» Friday, March 6, Banana-versaries, Trivia Contest week 3, John Yuspa, Honor Flight

» Friday, March 6, Interclub, Sparks, Denney’s, noon

» Tuesday, March 10, Justin Jo’s birthday

» Tuesday, March 10, Lynda (Bill) Siminske’s birthday

» Friday, March 13, Trivia Contest week 4, Jim Lopey, the Active Shooter

» Friday, March 13, Pat (Al) Stilley’s birthday

» Saturday, March 14, Food Bank, 9-11am

» Tuesday, March 17, St Patrick’s Day

» Friday, March 20, Hat & White Elephant Friday, Trivia Contest Awards, Jessica Wolff, NDOW

» Saturday, March 21, Barbara McMeen’s birthday

» Monday, March 23, Fernley Interclub, noon

» Friday, March 27, Key Club takeover

» Monday, March 30, Sunrisers Newsletter distribution

REPORT YOUR MARCH SERVICE HOURS



SUNRISERS COMMITTEE CHAIRS, 2019-2020

Education, KI, CNH Liaison (Mid-Yr, DCON) Tom Leahy

Fundraising (HAN, RARA, Rummage Sale) Tom Leahy

Guest Speakers Chip Latham

House Mgt Ralph Voss

Inter-Clubs Bruce Johnson, Faye Gormley

Membership, Standards Al Stilley, Gary Benedetti

Membership Ck-up Faye Gormley

Newsletter Bobbe Brown

Socials Tom Leahy, Donna Meyers

Spiritual Aims Bruce Johnson

Trivia Contest Chip Latham

Bookshelf Al Stilley, Ed Lynn

Community Pantry Dan Bouzek

Food Bank Wayne Thomas

Food, Mittens, Caps Gary Benedetti

Patriotism (Veterans) Rich Clark

Ronald McDonald House Donna Meyers

Holiday Charity (KTMC, Salv Army, Auto Msm) Rich Clark

Sponsored Youth (CKI) Tom Leahy,

(Key Club) Michael McStroul, Gary Benedetti

Spring Roundup (Children’s Cabinet) Al Stilley

WACCS Sharon Barnes

TELL US YOUR STORY MICHAEL McSTROUL

As told by Michael McStroul

“I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My mother suffered

from Asthma and was advised to look for a better climate.

My parents visited San Diego and the night they returned

to Milwaukee my mother had her worst attack. A month

later, we were living in San Diego. I was eight years old.

I have worked many jobs, starting with my dad’s

hardware store at age 11. At 18, I joined my aunt and

uncle in Real Estate. In college I worked in big box stores

such as Fed-Mart and White Front.

I was drafted my senior year of college due to an

administration error by SDSC. My cousins encouraged me

to enlist for a safe military occupation to evade Viet Nam,

so I did. There were 25 in my training class and 22 of

them went immediately to Nam. I became a General’s

Aide and completed several classified reports that were

sent to the Pentagon. I did this for about a year when

once again I received orders for Viet Nam. I complained

and was offered embassy duty in Sweden, but was

bumped when I got to Germany. I stayed for the

remainder of my tour, bought a car and traveled Europe.



When discharged I returned to San Diego,

started a mattress company with friends, and

met Cathleen. We were married 11 weeks from

the day we met. The mattress business went

belly up and I went to work for Thrifty Drug

Stores as a Manager Trainee. I was promoted

fairly quickly and moved to corporate as the

merchandising manager. There were about 1000

stores ranging in size from 2000 to 35,000

square feet and I was to make them all look the

same. (I never could do that.) I did standardize

the drug departments and implemented changes

that saw sales increase by 15% to 35%; I

became a hero. I kept at this until the stress of

corporate politics finally got to me. We put our

house up for sale; at 18% interest, it took two

years to sell.

I had no job prospects, so it didn’t matter where we went. I was thinking Arizona or New Mexico,

but Cathleen’s sister lived in Carson City and her ex-husband was the mayor of Reno, so I

thought my job prospects would be better. As it turned out his Honor the Mayor did nothing to

help but we were in Reno to stay. I suffered being a Craps dealer at the Nevada Club for a year.

Then I took a “temporary” job selling toys, stationary and sporting goods. That lasted 20 years.

My youngest daughter had her architecture degree and her husband Robb had a General

Contractor’s license, so we started GuiDenby (Robb’s and Allyson’s middle names.) GuiDenby

developed a great relationship with Wild Island and now does most construction and repair work

for them plus residential work. I retired two years ago but still participate a little.

I joined Kiwanis in April

1995 and have been

involved ever since. I was

President of North Valleys

Kiwanis many times,

President of Sunrisers and

Division 23 Lt Governor.

My real love of Kiwanis is

Key Club and I have been

a club advisor and

Regional adviser. It is my

intention to continue to be

involved.



WOMEN AND CHILDRENS CENTER of the SIERRAS ~ DIAPER DRIVE FEBRUARY 7-28

Contributed by Pam Russell, Director WACCS

“Can one diaper make a difference?

“Five years ago, Lena came into WACCS seeking diapers for her twins who were 1 ½ years old

and already gearing up to take full advantage of their terrible twos. She received two packages

of size four diapers and had the opportunity to talk with one of WACCS’ advocates.

Fear and sadness filled the room. Lena had immigrated to the United States before her twins

arrived. Other than her husband with whom she immigrated, she knew no one, she had no

support system, and she was an overwhelmed new mother of twins. At WACCS she had found

someone who would help and understand. There were days when Lena just needed time to be

quiet, other days when she needed to vent, and still other days when she needed to know

specifics about babies.

“Every time Lena came in she would spend time with an advocate, at first her original advocate

but as she became more comfortable, she got to know us all and gained confidence in her ability

to care for the twins.

“Lena would attend various classes at WACCS and began working to acquire her nurse’s aide

certification so that she could continue on to get her nursing degree. (She had earned a BS in

Biology while still in the Philippines.) Lena would come to WACCS to take advantage of a quiet

place to study and some respite from her now three children.

“Lena has taken advantage of many of the services offered through WACCS. She continues to

take Language Arts classes to gain a solid understanding of English grammar and vocabulary.

Last year she took part in a Women Empowerment’s Day given by Soroptimist International of

Truckee Meadows. Upon leaving she proclaimed that she “was going to change her life!” And she

is doing just that!

“Oh, and those twins we

talked about? Last week they

both received honor

certificates at school!!!!! All

this is because this tenacious

woman came to WACCS for

diapers!

“Makes me kind of wonder

whose life will be changed

because of your diaper

donation!”



Thank you for the fresh diaper.

That feels much better.

I think I need a new diaper too.

DIAPER DROP OFF LOCATIONS:

3505 Neil Rd, Suite #2 or

Friday morning Kiwanis Sunrisers meetings



KEEP TRUCKEE MEADOWS BEAUTIFUL

SUNRISERS RECYCLE TREES ON January 5

As we have for many years past, our Sunrisers Kiwanis Club put on work gloves and showed up.

Here they are, The Magnificent Seven, lifting and toting Christmas trees from 9 til 1 at Bartley

Ranch. Thank you for your work, Mike Miele, Tom Leahy, Rich Clark, Sharon Barnes, Dan Bouzek,

Al Stilley and Wayne Thomas.

kiwanis club of reno sunrisers newsletter · 1/27/2020 · kiwanis club of reno sunrisers...

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