1.  Trivia Run:  Brand new fundraiser for our club!  Our club will be joining the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Club, Redline Charlies, and the Jeep Club in hosting a great event!  On Sept. 26, 2026, 4 non-profit groups will set up at predetermined locations, host games, crafts, auctions, etc. and wait for the general public to come over, answer a trivia question, and get a stamp on their "Passport" and a chance to enter a raffle for cool prizes.  How can club members help?  Consider getting businesses to sponsor for $200, purchase a passport for $25, and spread the word!  Confused?  Attend our Kiwanis Thursday meeting at Grins, for more details and answers.  This fundraiser is a great way to get donations for our Disaster Backpack Service Project, as well.

 

 

2.  Installation Banquet: Just a reminder, for each member that signed up, our annual installation banquet is this coming Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm, at the San Marcos Activity Center.  Setup will be at 5:00 pm.  Thank you to Kelli Whigham for picking up the food that has been prepared by San Marcos BBQ.  Thanks also go out to those members that have agreed to provide desserts or appetizers.  See you on Friday!

 

3.  New Honorary Member: The Board of Directors have voted to give Chester Banks recognition as an Honorary member.  This is a well-deserved membership, as Chester has been a Kiwanis' member for 65 years!  Way to go, Chester!

 

4.  Bylaws addendum and addition vote:  Rick Pickering made a motion and Kristin Wingard 2nd the motion to include the option choice in using an external CPA auditor, verses an inhouse auditor for yearly required audits.  This decision will be dependent on future grant requirements. The motion was passed by majority vote.  Kristin then made a motion to add to the bylaws that the San Marcos Kiwanis Club is a non-profit organization.  Lon Shell 2nd the motion, and this motion was passed by majority vote.

 

5.  Veteran's Day Parade: The Veteran's Day Parade and Bicycle Brigade is scheduled for Nov. 7, 2026.  The request for member commitment in assembly, participation, and disassembly of the float, as well as decoration of bikes, was placed by Lon Shell.  In recent years, volunteers have dwindled, and the question has been asked as to whether the club wants to continue with this event.  Penny Slavik and Cheryl Petre have volunteered their time, and the club is interested in continuing the event.  Please contact Lon Shell if you are interested in donating your time and energy.

 

6.  Annual Audit: Willie Garza will meet with Gary Nelson and Glen Rydl on Sept. 25, 2026, at the San Marcos Public Library to review the financial records for the San Marcos Kiwanis Club.  As there are currently no grants available, this audit will not require an external CPA.

 

7.  McBride Wilson:   It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of McBride Wilson.  Funeral service will be Oct. 9, 2026.  More details coming.

 

 

8.  Dues' invoices:  Rick Pickering has sent out invoices requesting next year's payment of dues.  These will be due by Oct. 1, 2026.  If you have not received your invoice, please contact Rick.  It is very important that these dues are paid on time, as these funds assist in the functioning of the club.

 

9.  Thursday meeting venue change:  Due to several factors, the need to change meeting venues has become necessary.  Plans are in the final stages, to move.  Please plan to attend the upcoming lunch meeting, at our current location, to get more details.

 

10.  Virginia Volpe:  Kristi Dame and Jennifer Richmond met with Virginia Volpe, president of "Friends of Fine Arts and Communication".  This is a student-support organization for Texas State University, and they are looking for a non-profit organization to connect with by providing mutual support of programs.  This organization gives out scholarships and travel support for study abroad programs, for conferences, and competitions, etc.  Kristi suggested possibly using the Kiwanis camp for activities such as outdoor performances, or drama camp for kids.  This connection could bring in more interaction between the Kiwanis Club, and the university, and possibly bring in other Kiwanis clubs for the students.

 

Today's program took us into the world of honeybees, and how our lives would suffer without the pollination and honey produced.    "Honeybees ARE the stewards of the land!"

 

How is honey made?  When the nectar is obtained, during pollination, it has an 80% water content, and as the bees carry it to the hive, they transfer enzymes into the nectar, through repeated processes of regurgitation, until the nectar has very little moisture and is very acidic.  These enzymes have peroxide type of chemicals that kill off all bacteria and takes away any chance of spoilage.  All of this "regurgitation process happens after it is in the "honeycombs"

 

How long has honey been around?  Archeologists have discovered prehistoric cave drawings that give evidence of bee and honey existence, as far back as 9000 years.  

 

Why does honey from different locations around the world have slightly different tastes?  The honeybees have different types of flower food sources, so the nectar may have different taste properties.  Local honey is extremely beneficial for people suffering from local allergies because it helps sufferers build up immunities from those local allergens.  

 

What happens if honeybees die off?  Our food production depends on pollination.  Simply put, if the plant is not pollinated, the food will not produce.  About 76% of the world's food crops depend at least partly on bee pollination.  Not only would we have food shortages, but food prices would skyrocket and eliminate the number of things that farms could produce.

 

What causes the honeybees to die off?  The average life span of a bees is approximately 8 weeks to 6 months.  Unfortunately, things like pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides are used to protect plants from bugs, and are ingested by the bees, Also, ants, animals, weather, and relocation of hives can be very detrimental to their survival.

 

What else will we lose if we lose the bees?  We would lose medical benefits, including antiseptic qualities, venom recovery for bee allergies, and anti-inflammatory benefits.  We would also lose many beauty products and anti-aging creams.  

 

Bees are probably one of the most important resources on our planet.  They are definitely the "Stewarts of our land", and we need to remember to take care of our land, or life will change, drastically, and negatively, for all of us!