A random thought can ruin your day sometimes.  I was reading a health newsletter and the article was about sweeteners.  One sweetener was listed as two times sweeter than sugar.  I wondered what unit of measurement do you measure sweet with?  I have always used "sweet", "sweeter", "more sweet" and "too sweet".  If the sweetener is two times sweeter (multiplication) that means if I use two teaspoons of sugar, I only have to use one teaspoon of sweetener.  That makes the problem one of division.  I just never thought about "two times as sweet at sugar" would be so complicated.
 
PROGRAM: FEBRUARY 23rd: Kristin Wingard invited Monique Tschurr and Diane Phalen from Green Belt Alliance Program to explain how they are striving to preserve green space and build a trail system around San Marcos.  San Marcos is ahead of this initiative of preserving green space compared to Kyle or New Braunfels.  San Marcos has about 25 miles of trails in the area.  Monique mentioned if you have guests visiting taking them on a trail hike is a good way to entertain them.  Kelli mentioned that you need to start well before dark.  If you try to return from your hike in the dark in heavy foliage it is very easy to wander off the trail.  The group is always looking for volunteers to help build trails on Saturdays.  It was an excellent program and very informative. 
 
PROGRAM: MARCH 2nd: Rick Pickering will give us some ideas from his previous club in Allen that might be applied to some of our projects.  It is always good to hear about other clubs and their projects and how they conduct their meetings.  This will be a good program to listen to and see if any of Rick's previous club can be used with our club.  Maybe a slight adjustment to what they do to make it work of our club.  If you have any ideas that fit this topic bring them to this Thursday's meeting.
Note:  The program on March 9th is about Southside Community Center and members are requested to bring health and hygiene articles such as toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, combs, etc. to the March 2nd meeting to donate to the needs that Southside provides so they can be given to the speaker.
 
PROGRAM: MARCH 9th: Rhonda White has invited Debra Villapando, Director of Southside Community Center to talk to our club. The Southside Community Center provides shelter and necessary items such as clothes and food to individuals needing help.  This program has been a service and helping hand to many people in San Marcos over the years.  This will be a very interesting program to bring a guest to.  Late donations of hygiene products will be welcome.
 
PROGRAM: MARCH 16th: Del Brown has the program.
 
PROGRAM: MARCH 23RD: LuAnne has invited a representative from "Truchoice Pregnancy Resource Center" to be our speaker.  Truchoice has been serving San Marcos and surrounding area for 39 years.  Their mission is to minister to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of women and men who are facing the challenges of an unplanned pregnancy.  They offer one-on-one counseling for individuals.  They provide other services such as pregnancy testing, obstetrical ultrasounds, post abortion healing and recovery.  All services are free and confidential.
 
PROGRAM: MARCH 30th: Jennifer Richmond has the program.
 
KIWANIS EVENTS:
 
FEBRUARY 26th SAN MARCOS DAILY RECORD NEWS had the third article about our Kiwanis Clubs 100th Anniversary.  Good article about our club. Excellent article to read by our members.  
 
MARCH 11th:  Camp Clean-Up and Social Gathering.  Start at 8:00 and work until 11:30 that morning.  Refreshments will be provided and time to relax and be social will be included.  If you have weed eaters, chain saws, shovels, limb cutters, etc. try to bring them to help with the clean-up efforts.  Experienced drivers of lawn mowers are always welcome.  That does not include Moe.  Wear gloves, a head covering, and good boots or shoes.
 
FLAG DAY BREAKFAST: On President's Flag Day 10 Kiwanis members met at Cafe on the Square for some breakfast and conversation.  A very good time was had by everyone.  Maybe it is time to plan another "Social" with our club sometime down the road. 
 
Glen Rydl handed out a list of pens the club needs to order to give to speakers.  His list is for better quality pens to give to speakers along with the notepad.  Let Glen know by next week which pen you think we should order as he has to order them soon.
 
APRIL 1st: STEAM Event at the San Marcos High School.  Our club is planning on having a booth at the event. If you want to volunteer to help maintain the booth let Doug know.
 
APRIL 29TH:  2ND ANNUAL KIWANIS CLAY SHOOT is scheduled.  Rhonda White's committee has been hard at work getting ready for our major fund raiser.  Let Rhonda know if you can provide a sponsor, a team of shooters, or volunteer the day of the event.
 
Remember to 'like' and 'share' Kelli's posts on Facebook about Kiwanis and Children and about our club.  Great way to advertise our club and Kiwanis mission to folks in San Marcos.  
 
Remember to write down any memories you have of events involving our Kiwanis Club to include it in the updated version of the history of our club. Give them to Lon or Jennifer to include in the book.  If you need help with putting your thoughts and recollections down for inclusion contact Jennifer, Lon, or Moe for help.
 
We had two welcome guests at the February 23rd meeting.  Doug invited David Knowles and Penny Slavik invited her husband, Steve, to the meeting.  
 
OTHER EVENTS:
 
MARCH 2nd:  TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY.  Celebrate the day Texas became an Independent State.  
 
MARCH 12th: Oh Yippee, it is time for Daylight Savings to begin.  Time to adjust your clocks forward one hour and either like or hate the switch in time.
 
MARCH 20th:  First Day of Spring.  Watch this day closely as I am not sure the Head Controller of Weather has ever heard of or used a calendar.  If you miss cold weather, you can always head North to the Midwest or the mountains as they will still have cold and snow.  You can either mow the lawn or shovel snow for exercise on this day.  
 
  NOTES AND QUOTES:
 
I am a runner because I run.  Not because I run fast.  Finishing last will always be better than did not start.
 
I woke up this morning still tired from partying last night.  I called my Boss and asked if I could come in a little late.  He said, "Dream On!"  I think that was very nice of him to understand.
 
I can't even imagine the self control required to work at a bubble wrap factory.
 
My wife and I were amazed at how hard we have to work just to maintain a messy house.  Then one day we decided we were tired of sleeping in and doing whatever we wanted in a "clean house", so we decided to have kids.
 
The center of the donut is 100% fat free.  Not the donut hole - just the center of the donut. Donut holes are a special treat in themselves.
 
The previous statement reminded me of my try at my recent diet:  
            8: a.m. = Egg whites and avacado
            1: p.m. = Kale Salad
            6: p.m. = Chicken and Veggies
            10: pm.= 27 Oreos and one pint of ice cream
 
Further diet efforts:  I burned 2000 calories today.  That is the last time I leave brownies in the oven when I take a nap.
 
And further efforts: When you are stressed you eat ice cream, cake, chocolate, and sweets.  Why? Because 'stressed' spelled backwards is 'desserts'.
 
I never thought I'd be the kind of person who'd wake up early in the morning to exercise . . .  and I was right!!
 
If you see me talking to myself, just move along.  I am self-employed.  I am having a staff meeting.
 
I have the right to remain silent.  But being Norwegian I don't have that ability.
 
Research has shown that laughing for 2 minutes is just as healthy as a 20-minute jog.  So now I sit in the park by the running trail and laugh at all the joggers.
 
SEE YOU THURSDAY AT GRIN'S FOR GOOD CONVERSATION, GOOD FELLOWSHIP, GOOD FOOD, AND AN INTERESTING PROGRAM.  BRING A FUN OR HAPPY STORY TO MAKE A MEMBER SMILE OR LAUGH.  WRITE YOUR KIWANIS HISTORY STORY THIS WEEK AND BRING A FRIEND TO THE MEETING TO SEE WHO WE ARE AND MAYBE WANT TO JOIN .