This week we had guests Diane Johnson, Moe's wife, and Rhonda's adorable granddaughter Steevie.

 

Rhonda reiterated that the date for the Clay Shoot is April 27th. She has emailed sponsor packets to all members and also brought hard copies to the meeting. Last year's sponsors have already been contacted so please ask new potential business sponsors from this point on.

They also need new raffle items.

 

Lon mentioned that Pancake Day is coming soon. He requested that if anyone has leftover "tickets" for Pancake Day to please bring them to our next meeting.

 

He showed the very shiny Kiwanis bell that Stacie had polished to a blinding gleam. The polishing and deep cleaning revealed etched in lettering of the words "San Marcos Kiwanis Club" and "Charter February 8, 1923." Cheryl took the bell home to try to provide more shine, if that is possible. (She was told to put some fingerprints on it and wipe those off.)

 

Moe introduced Charles Smith who gave us an entertaining and extensive presentation on the remarkable history of the USS Texas battleship. Building of the 27,000 ton ship started in 1911 at Newport News, VA. She was commissioned in March of 1914 and went on to serve in both World War I and World War II along with many other operations and training services around the world. She is one of the "dreadnaughts" big gun battleships with 10 14-inch/45 caliber guns in 5 turrets with a 13 mile range. She became a testing ground for such things as anti-airicraft, using a crane to place the planes on the ship.

 

Charles told a number of interesting stories including the time the captain made a wrong turn in 1917 which resulted in the ship getting grounded on Block Island. The USS New York sistership showed up to lend moral support for the many attempts to set the Texas free. A battlecry of "Come on Texas" was begun which became the ship's motto.

 

The battleship is currently undergoing extensive renovation as a museum ship and is located in La Porte, Texas. She is owned by the people of Texas and is administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. For anyone interested in battleship history, this would be a great historical site to visit.

 

 

March 7th – Victoria and Marissa, Greater San Marcos Youth Council

March 14th – Radio Station

March 21st - **Tentative** Peter Baen, History of Rotary Club

March 28th – Debby Lawrence, Bluebonnet Lions Club

EVENTS:

March 21 - Board meeting at Sunflower Bank, 5:00 pm.

 

Regular Reminders:

Don't forget to click "like" and "share" on Facebook and other social media to promote the Kiwanis Club. We need to keep getting the club's name out there to promote our community involvement and to add new members to help in our endeavors.

"The road to success is always under construction." Lily Tomlin

 

"Whatever you do, always give 100% unless you are donating blood." Bill Murray

 

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)