News Items:

TODAY'S PROGRAM

El Kidd will introduce O. A. Wilkerson, as the speaker for today.  O. A. Wilkerson, former GMMKC member, will be our speaker.  He and his wife recently returned from a trip to Europe, including Russia, which will be the topic of his talk..  O. A. is a Past President and Director of Good Morning Montgomery Kiwanis Club.  He recently retired as Chief Financial Officer of Smith Industries, Inc./Jay R. Smith Mfg. Company and still serves as a Director and consultant to the company.  He is President of the Montgomery City-County Public Library's Board of Trustees and Director and consultant to the Alabama Technology Network.  He is a Past Director of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and the Birmingham Chapter of the Financial Executives Institute.  O. A. is a Retired Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Naval Intelligence and is married (M.P., his wife.  He will have to explain) with three children and five grandchildren.  His hobbies include tennis, travel, reading and New Orleans jazz.  The editor would like to add something to this bio.  O. A. joined the club in 1983, and became involved in activities immediately.  He engaged in several projects that made money for the club.  He was a top peanut salesman for several years; being the top, second and third salesman.  Due to business requirements and later illness, he was unable to participate in the club.  Today he is back as our speaker.  Welcome back, O.A., we're happy to see you.

LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM

President Wilkinson introduced the Chorus Group STEP composed of 15 young people.  STEP stands for Strategies To Elevate People.  The organization provides opportunities for at risk children in Montgomery to develop self esteem, self worth and self control.  This is achieved through a highly structured program that involves family participation and clear expectations for behavior in a loving, caring environment.  Barbara Thomas, Program Coordinator, introduced Sederwick Fluker, the Chorus Director.  Mr. Fluker accompanied the 15 member carol group on an electric piano.  The young singers sang 4 Christmas carols.  Club members loudly applauded the group.  Their singing lent a Christmas atmosphere to the meeting.

ENTERTAINMENT

Al McLellan (Elvis is back!) set the mood for Christmas season by playing the guitar and singing, "Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer."

ST. JUDE'S READERS
NOVEMBER 21st

Following the meeting on November 21st, the following Club members read to the Kindergarten children in St. Jude's.  They were Sam Wesley, Barnie Paulson, Dick Bennett, George Worley, Mike Winstead and Ken Carrick.  This acknowledgement is coming a little late, but these members needed to be recognized for their efforts in representing Good Morning Kiwanis.

ACTIVITIES AT DALRAIDA

Last week, December 5th, the following members were reported by organizer Ken Carrick to have read to the children at Dalraida School.  They were Dick Bennett, Frank Wells, Dick Price, Barnie Paulson, Al McLellan, Jim Jones and Ken Carrick.  During the lunch period, Club members relieved the teachers from their lunch room duties.  Filling in for the teachers were Frank Wells, Barnie Paulson, James Dill and their leader, Ken Carrick.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
IN DECEMBER

The following members and their spouses celebrate their anniversaries in December.  They are: Clyde and Laverne Dodgen, December 3rd, 1945; John and Betty Burch, December 17, 1954, Michael and Elizabeth Fritz, Sr., December 18, 1992; Chris and Brad Lafferty, December 27, 1976.  Happy anniversary and many more!

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
AT J.C. PENNEY'S

Last Saturday, the Annual Shopping Spree was held for the children from Family Services; children selected by the court.  There were a record total of 17 children accompanied for the shopping by Sam Wesley, Mark Wilkinson, Pete Summer, Milt and Fran Livingston, Mike Winstead, James Dill, Jerry and Shirley Evelan, Ed and Helen Melton, Frank Wells, Barney & Vivian Paulson, Jean Ash, Al McLellan, Dick Bennett, George Worley and John Burch.  A special thanks to J.C. Penney's Store Manager, Doug Scott and his wife, for providing from their own resources the many extra Christmas party gifts to each child!  The club spent an average of $100 per each child.  With all of the discounts offered by Penney's, each child actually received $130-$140 in clothing and shoes.

PEANUT SALES

As of last meeting, profits from the sale of peanuts  $1,522.70.  The leading salespersons in the club are as follows:

El Kidd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,503.00
Malcolm Bush. . . . . . . . . . .     510.00
Ken Carrick. . . . . . . . . . . .      419.20
Pete Summer. . . . . . . . . . .       225.00
George Worley. . . . . . . . .        189.00
Jim Jones. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..      180.00

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
(Mike Winstead's complete remarks)

    From:      Santa Claus

 I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will no  longer serve the States of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas on Christmas Eve. Due to the overwhelming current population of the earth, North American Fairies and Elves Local 209 renegotiated my Contract.  As part of the new and better contract I also get longer breaks for milk and cookies so keep that in mind.

 However, I'm certain that your children will be in good hands with your local replacement, who happens to be my third cousin, Bubba Claus.  His side of the family is from the South Pole.  He shares my goal of delivering toys to all the good boys and girls; however, there are a few differences between us.

Differences such as:

 1.There is no danger of the Grinch stealing your presents from Bubba Claus. He has a gun rack on his sleigh and a bumper sticker that reads: "These toys insured by Smith and Wesson."

 2.Instead of milk and cookies, Bubba Claus prefers that children leave an RC cola and pork rinds [or a moon pie] on the fireplace. And Bubba doesn't smoke a pipe.  He dips a little snuff though, so please have an empty spit can handy.

 3.Bubba Claus' sleigh is pulled by floppy-eared, flyin' coon dogs instead of reindeer.  I made the mistake of loaning him a couple of my reindeer one time, and Blitzen's head now overlooks Bubba's fireplace.

 4.You won't hear "On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen.." when Bubba Claus arrives.  Instead, you'll hear, "On Earnhardt, on Jarrett, on Gordon and Burton, on LaBonte, on Stewart, on Kenseth and Martin."

 5."Ho, Ho, Ho!" has been replaced by "Yee Haw!" And you also are likely to hear Bubba's elves respond, "I her'd dat!"

 6.As required by Southern highway laws, Bubba Claus' sleigh does have a Yosemite Sam safety triangle on the back with the words "Back Off."

 7.The usual Christmas movie classics such as "Miracle on 34th Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life" will not be shown in your negotiated viewing area.  Instead, you'll see "Boss Hogg Saves Christmas" and "Smokey and the Bandit IV" featuring Burt Reynolds as Bubba Claus and dozens of state patrol cars crashing into each other.

And Finally,

8.  Bubba Claus doesn't wear a belt.  If I were you, I'd make sure you, the wife, and the kids turn the other way when he bends over to put presents under the tree.

                       Sincerely Yours,

     Santa Claus