The Kiwanis Family Bulletin of the

   •  KIWANIS CLUB OF ST. MARTINVILLE  •   
May 6, 2009  •  Vol. 17-No. 28

Editors/Publishers: Peggy Hardy, Gerry LeBlanc and Marti Harrell

2008-09 CLUB OFFICERS

President: Dennis LeBlanc
President-Elect:  This position could be YOURS!
Secretary: Annie Durand
Treasurer:  Peggy Hardy
Immediate Past President: Jean Potier
BOARD MEMBERS: Dan Berard, Steve Comeaux, Carol Lagarde, Margaret Richard,
Leslie Thibodeaux, Gerry LeBlanc

BOARD/EVENING CLUB MEETING:
1st Wednesday of the month - 6pm
All other club meetings: Wednesday - 7AM

Youth Service Leadership Organizations

• Trinity Catholic School
Builders Club meets
 2^nd Friday of the month,
School Gym @ 1PM.

• St. Martinville Senior High Key Club meets every Thursday in the school library @ 11:20 a.m.


               • Ask about Key Leader!

MAY BIRTHSTONE: EMERALD
Spring is a time of new growth and rebirth.  And the intense brilliant green of the Emerald is as refreshing to the eyes as a spring garden after a rain.  Within it’s depths are often tiny fractures or inclusions, which the French call "jardin," or garden, because of their resemblance to foliage. The Egyptians were known to engrave Emeralds with the symbol for foliage to represent eternal youth, and to bury these jewels with their dead.  The ancient Romans associated this gemstone with fertility and rebirth, and dedicated it to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.   

The Ancient Egyptians mined Emeralds in the eastern desert region 2,000 years before Cleopatra’s birth, braving extreme heat, scorpions and snakes to search for the beautiful crystals. During Cleopatra’s reign, she claimed the Emerald mines as her own, as this was her favorite gem. She often wore lavish Emerald jewelry, and it is said that she bestowed visiting dignitaries with large Emeralds carved with her likeness when they departed Egypt.   

In the sixteenth century, the Spanish Conquistadors were amazed to find the native people wearing Emeralds larger and more magnificent than any they had ever seen. Although the natives attempted to hide their Emerald mines, the Spaniards soon discovered and conquered most of them. But it took twenty years before they found the abundant mining operation held by the Muzo Indians, and another thirty years to overtake this aggressive tribe. The Muzo mine was in the area known today as Colombia, and it remains the source of the most prized Emerald specimens. Other sources of Emeralds are Brazil, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Russia. 

The Emerald is a member of the beryl family of minerals.  The green crystals grow slowly within metamorphic rocks and are restricted in size by the rock, making large Emeralds rare and costly.  Although this gemstone is relatively hard and durable, it must be protected from blows because the inclusions found within make it susceptible to breaking.

Some people believe that wearing an Emerald brings wisdom, growth, and patience. And as any couple in a long-term relationship would agree, all of these qualities are essential for a successful and lasting love.  This may explain why a gift of Emerald for an anniversary -- or anytime -- is considered symbolic of love and fidelity.

   MAY BIRTHDAYS   

Ted St. Julien (Elaine) 5/1; Judy Bonhomme 5/2; Peggy Hulin 5/14; Larry Roy 5/26; Dennis LeBlanc 5/27. 

  MAY ANNIVERSARIES  
                Jean & Ben Potier 5/11; Jim & Janis Robb 5/12.                     

THOUGHT/QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
        When we give it our all,
               we can live with ourselves
                   regardless of the results.
                – William Wordsworth
  

The Third Object of Kiwanis:  To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business, and professional standards.

Kiwanis Education # 48 :  All active, privileged, and senior members of a club who are in good standing are entitled to vote on proposed amendments to club bylaws, the election of club officers, directors, and delegates to conventions, and any proposal that would constitute an assessment of members in addition to the annual dues.

THIS WEEK: 

The busiest time of the year is the busiest time of the year – therefore, this bulletin will be short and to the point. 
     The point being that next week is our election of officers and annual meeting.  The following slate is being offered by the nominating committee:

     President – Larry Roy

     V. President – Margaret Richard (tentative)

     Secretary (to be appointed by the new board
                     but rumor has it that Annie would be willing to be appointed)

     Treasurer – Peggy Hardy

Board members – Dennis LeBlanc (past president), Gerry LeBlanc (Pepper Festival Chair), Elaine St. Julien, Steve Comeaux, Christine Berard, Tommy Romero, Judy Bonhomme, Annie Durand.
 

Every Child A Swimmer Project will begin on May 14 and continue til May 20.  If you are able to volunteer for this project, please call Christine at 394-5264 and tell her what you can do to help! 
 

Key Club Teacher Appreciation projects were held at SMSH this week with the kids feeding the teachers at Sr. High on Thursday and washing cars for teachers at St. Martin Primary on Friday.  Thanks, Kevin Dugas, for all you do for our Key Club.  Without your leadership and advisorship, we couldn’t have a Key Club! 
 

Acadiana Home School Key Clubbers have been busy as well, volunteering at the Food Net and are signing up for Every Child A Swimmer.  Their final meeting will be held on May 18 at Acadiana Lanes in Lafayette from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.  All Kiwanians are welcome to attend.  And thanks also to Donna Andrepont, Advisor for the AHSKC, for all of your hard work and leadership of our new and evolving Home School Key Club.
 

At the board meeting this week, we accepted the application for membership of Ms. Cyndi DeCarlo as our newest member.  Welcome, Cyndi!
 

Remember: We have a lot of fish to fry... in Kiwanis!
Click on the jumping fish for all the details.

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