Gables Kiwanians All Fired Up!

Members of the Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables are turning up the heat on their participation at community events with the debut of their new massive and mobile Holstein grill at the 4th of July Independence Day celebration at The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.

The Holstein arrived just a few short weeks ago to the delight of the newly dubbed “Grillin’ Kiwanians” and was delivered to Poe’s Hardware and Rentals, whose owner Frank Poe has been a member of the Club for over 45 years. The grill was custom built and shipped direct from America’s heartland, in Holstein, Iowa, where they know a thing or two about hogs and cattle. The two-sided trailer mounted gas grill is 6’ long and has over 240 square feet of grilling space, enough to feed the masses at many of the local festivals and events that make Coral Gables and South Florida such a great place to be. The "Grillin' Kiwanians" will be serving up home-style backyard favorites like hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages and chicken at local festivals and family-oriented events, such as the recent 4th of July Independence Day celebration at the Biltmore.

“Our members are actively engaged in the civic and cultural community and what better way to get out and meet our neighbors then by participating at these events with our grill.” said Robert Burr, club president. “We’ll make folks aware of our club and mission while we raise funds for our various youth-oriented sponsored programs. Needless to say, our group is pretty fired up about it!”

Money raised through the sale of food specialties helps the Club fund a number of ongoing youth programs such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Horses for Handicapped, Foster Care Review, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, the Key Clubs at Coral Gables and Gulliver High schools, and the annual Christmas party for migrant children at West Homestead Elementary.

Be sure to look for the “Grillin’ Kiwanians” at the next big cultural event in town, you won’t be able to miss the new Holstein grill or the aroma of homemade backyard delicacies.

The Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables is a thriving organization of service minded men and women who respond to the unique local needs of the South Florida community and address worldwide issues by “Serving the Children of the World”. Founded in 1926, the club holds weekly luncheon meetings every Tuesday at noon where interesting and noted speakers are brought in to discuss a wide variety of relevant and local issues. For more information about the club and membership opportunities please visit www.kiwaniscoralgables.org

Members of the venerable Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables are welcoming dynamic new leaders as they begin their 79th consecutive year of community service in South Florida.

Now stepping up to the helm is Robert A. Burr of Quantum Leap Network in Coral Gables. Along with wife Robin, the Burrs are quite active in civic and community affairs in the Gables, dedicating much time and effort to help Boy Scouts, Key Clubs, Citizen's Crime Watch, the Chamber of Commerce, the Merrick Festival, the George Merrick Foundation, local historical societies, cultural arts groups and numerous other non-profit organizations in South Florida.

Robert's goals for the year include presenting the club members as a dynamic group of youthful professionals that believe in carrying on the grand tradition of community service in Coral Gables. "Some of the most prominent persons in the history of Coral Gables have been members of this club over the past eight decades. Today, there are many like-minded people in this city that will join us as we put our best foot forward," said Robert.

"In addition to our weekly lunch meetings at the Country Club, we're going to gather on the last Thursday of each month at a local restaurant and encourage our friends and associates to join us." Thursday, October 28 the group will be meeting at JohnMartins Irish Pub from 6:30 to 8pm. "This genial interaction will offer an opportunity for those like us that believe in giving something back to the community to get to know each other socially."

Recently installed as First Vice President of the club is Captain David Albury of the Coral Gables fire rescue team. David is a dedicated member of the club and serves as Scoutmaster and Kiwanis Advisor to their Troop 7 scouts. The boys, with the support of Kiwanis youth leaders, recently completed a clean up effort on the Gables Waterway on the anniversary of September 11, a community service project suggested by City Manager David Brown. "Kiwanis offers us an opportunity to make a difference in the lifes of children and young adults during their most formative years. These tried and true programs offer critical leadership skills to our next generation and promote the values of self-reliance, honor, patriotism, teamwork and service to the community," said David.

Captain Albury has also been quite active with the Key Club at Coral Gables High School in the past year, recently recruiting fellow fire rescue professional David Vargas to continue the legacy. "We're pleased to be supporting young adults at the local high schools with programs that encourage community service," said Captain Albury. "We also delight in honoring those that excel in these worthy endeavors with much-deserved recognition, modest scholarships and other rewards."

The members of the Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables have been meeting for lunch once a week since the club was founded in 1926. Everyone is welcome to join them at the Country Club of Coral Gables (997 North Greenway) each Tuesday at noon for a delightful meal, a guest presentation and the company of good friends. For more information about the club and the many youth sponsored programs they support, see the club web site at www.kiwaniscoralgables.org.

Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables Celebrates 78 Years, Returns to Country Club

Tuesday, June 1st, the Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables will celebrate 78 years of community service during their lunch meeting. The event also marks the return of the group to the Country Club of Coral Gables after being displaced while the historic building was under construction.

"Our Kiwanis Club is proud to celebrate our legacy of 78 years of service to the community," said Robert Burr, first vice president. "We're also very pleased to be returning to the country club of Coral Gables where our members have been meeting for lunch every Tuesday since May 11, 1926. After 18 months of construction, we are delighted to return to our "home" at 997 North Greenway Drive."

The Kiwanis club is inviting friends and neighbors, fellow Kiwanians and civic leaders to join the celebration June 1st. A lunch buffet for $15 will be served and a brief presentation about the history of the club will be featured.

This Kiwanis club has long supported programs that enhance the lives of children and families, including boy scouts, cub scouts and girl scouts, horses for handicapped children, foster care review, the migrant students Christmas program, the Key Clubs of Coral Gables high school and Gulliver Preparatory school, Coral Gables Police Appreciation awards, plus a host of other worthy initiatives in the community.

Kiwanis members are prominent business leaders, executives and upstanding members of the community who dedicate a significant portion of their time, energy and resources to helping others in a selfless manner. During the past 8 decades, members have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars and more than one million man hours to local and international charitable causes supported by Kiwanis.

New Member Induction

Bob Guest was inducted as our newest member on November 17, 2003 by Membership Chairman John Knowles with sponsoring member Morgan Heacock.

77-year old Organization Installs its First Female President

The Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables installed its first female president, Ruth Dowell Myers recently at its annual installation banquet held at Renaissance at the Gables restaurant. The Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables, founded in 1926, installed a new slate of officers and directors and along with Ms. Myers as President, two new female members joined the Board of Directors, Robin Burr, and Anne Knowles.

Kiwanis Lt. Governor Myra Perez performed the installation of officers, and the Aviation Director of Miami International Airport, Angela Gittens, will gave the keynote address.

Kiwanis International is a thriving organization of service minded men and women who respond to the unique needs of local communities and address worldwide issues by "Serving the Children of the World". The Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables has spent the last 77 years serving the needs of the South Florida community since it’s founding in 1926. The club donates time and money to several local youth oriented organizations like Horses for Handicapped, Foster Care Review and the Troop 7 Boy Scouts. It also sponsors the Key Club at Coral Gables Senior High School. The club holds weekly luncheon meetings where interesting and noted speakers are brought in to discuss a wide variety of relevant and local issues.

Frank Poe named Kiwanian of the Year

The Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables has awarded member Frank Poe as the Kiwanian of the Year for 2003, recognizing his outstanding support for youth programs and charities sponsored by the club.

The award was given at the recent annual installation dinner by outgoing president A. Kenneth Baxter where Mr. Poe received a standing ovation. With more than 50 years of service to Kiwanis and a nearly perfect attendance record at weekly meetings, Frank Poe has set a standard that all Kiwanians can look up to now and in the future.

Kiwanis of Coral Gables celebrates
more than 300 years of service on Club’s 77th Anniversary

On Tuesday, March 13, 2003, the Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables celebrates its 77th year of uninterrupted service to the community of South Florida. To mark this historic occasion, the Club will be hosting an anniversary celebration during its normal lunch meeting hour, with several Kiwanis dignitaries and local members, including the Florida District Governor in attendance.

As a tribute to the Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables’ enduring legacy of community service, a special ceremony will be conducted, where 9 of the Club’s most loyal members will be bestowed upon with the Legion of Honor designation. These Legion of Honor members will be presented with a special membership pin and certificate representing all of their dedicated years to the Club. Just between these 9 dedicated individuals, they represent over 320 years of volunteer community service.

• Berney A. Burgess – 25 years
• Daniel E. Harring – 25 years
• Steve J. Moorman – 25 years
• Donald J. Hicks – 30 years
• F.L. Alsobrook – 35 years
• John M Thomson – 40 years, Past President
• Frank H. Poe – 45 years, Past President
• Kenneth F. Kniskern – 45 years, Past President
• William F. Snyder – 50 years, Past Secretary

The Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables salutes these outstanding individuals and thanks them for their lasting legacy of service!

The Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables is a thriving organization of service minded men and women who respond to the unique local needs of the South Florida community and address worldwide issues by "Serving the Children of the World".

The Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables founded in 1926 donates time and money to several local youth oriented organizations like Horses for Handicapped, Foster Care Review and the Troop 7 Boy Scouts.

The club holds weekly luncheon meetings every Tuesday where interesting and noted speakers are brought in to discuss a wide variety of relevant and local issues. Meetings are held at the Renaissance at the Gables restaurant, 2340 SW 32nd Avenue. Buffet lunch is served at noon, with the meetings starting at 12:45pm and ending around 1:30pm.

Kiwanis Sponsor Art In The Tropics at Merrick Festival 2003

"Art In The Tropics," a free festival of visual arts, came to Merrick Park in Coral Gables recently. With more than 30 artists displaying their work, this small park across from City Hall came to life April 12 and 13 thanks to the work of local sponsors, including the Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables, the Cultural Development Group and Rex Art, a local institution for artists since the 1950's.

Using oils and acrylics, mixed media and photographic techniques, these talented artists display a wide range of influences and styles that reflect the international culture of Coral Gables.

The festival chose "Dance" a colorful painting by Cedege as the official poster for 2003. Born in Antibes, South of France, she graduated in Arts and Paintings from the SERMAC (1987) and from the Hong Kong Arts Center in Chinese Calligraphy and Inks (1995). She expresses herself mainly through watercolor and Chinese inks.

Cedege recently organized and participated in several exhibitions in France (Salon des Independants, Art et Creation Paris-jardin des Tuileries-Grands Marche d' Art Contemporain - Bastille) and abroad (Hong Kong Art Centre, American Club Hong Kong) where her personal touch, her approach of the subjects, mixture of reality and fantasy has always found a large audience. Today she is living in Coral Gables where she catches new inspiration, colors and feelings to enrich her palette.

Other notable artists included Eddie Avala, Wolff Bowden, Alicia and Berta Cabarrocas, Alexis Calzadilla, Olga Campos Urdaniz, Jorge A. Cardenas, Nicholas Coroneos, Cristina Duenas, Florangel, Daniel C. Garcia, Gloria Gault, Angie Cohen, Marta G. Ismail, Xucla, Silvia Garcia-Castro, Antonia Gerstacker, Martha J. Lara, Howard Leonard Rich, Mindy Lind-Terk, Christine Lush-Rodriguez, Luis Martinez, Robin Morris, Michael A. Nielsen, Michael Oaks, Nienke Regenhardt, Rosalia Riera, Maria Elena Septien, Paula Sparks, Margarita Vidal, Wayne Whittlesey, Katie Yates and Kathleen Yonon. Also on display will be the Ambrosio Martin Art Collection of Old Cuba.

While browsing a plethora of art work beneath the shady oaks in Merrick Park, art lovers can enjoyed live performances on the stage in front of City Hall and partake in tasty treats from notable restaurants in Coral Gables at the annual Merrick Festival. Kiwanis Club volunteers will be serving wine, sodas and water throughout the 2 day event.

The free "Art In The Tropics" show in Merrick Park was Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13 from 10am to 7pm. For more information visit the festival web site at www.MerrickFestival.org or call 305-491-4180.