February 23, 2010--Diversity
Kiwanis Club Meeting
--Original Pancake House--
Attending: Lisa Carlson, Andrea Gunner,
Bill Zortman, Mike Tolzin, Kimberly Stockinger, Nicole Anderson, Bill
Gassen, Jack Stengel, Karen Roth, Vanessa Lopez, Katie Studer, Duane
TeWinkel, Carlos Cobos, Elizabeth Duffy, Cindy Neilsen, Juan Bonilla
President Lisa Carlson called the meeting to order --
between bites-- on Tuesday February 23rd at the Original Pancake House at
41st and Kiwanis.
It was reported that $200 was donated by Downtown
Kiwanis for the Guatemala shoe project. Carla Cooey and other club members
have visited Daybreak, Downtown, East, South, and West telling of the need
for the shoes and for a monetary collection for shipping.
Mike Tolzin reported that busing tables at the 10th
Street Pizza Ranch netted $305.21. Twelve club members volunteered. The
money was originally going to be used exclusively for the shoe collections
-- decided to send $100 to Pam Plasier for Mission Haiti. Julie Irvine is
planning an upcoming trip and at the request of Mission Haiti she will pick
out a couple of kids to go to school on scholarships. Port-au-Prince has
absorbed a number of children and the organization is trying to put together
school kits. It is simply a ziplock bag with 2 pencils, 2 pens, a ruler,
eraser and pencil sharpener. For older students a calculator, compass and
protractor has been added. President Lisa has suggested we put together some
kits to be sent on either 13th or 31st of March. Carla Cooey and Tracy Vik
suggest we assemble kits at our next regular meeting scheduled for March
9th. Tracy will bring pencils for the kit!! President Lisa will be emailing
more but it is hoped that 100 kits can be assembled and the items mentioned
above would be needed to fill the needs.
A social evening is planned for February 24th after
work (around 5PM) at Laibela's at 1001 W 11th. Our Diversity Club knows it
is important that we not only meet as a club twice a month, work on a
variety of community projects, but to have time to talk about who we are,
what we can do and actually get to know each other even better.
Kiwanis Day Backpack event is scheduled for the Food
Bank on April 7th at 5:45. All six Kiwanis Clubs in Sioux Falls have been
urged to participate.
Daybreak Kiwanis has asked that Diversity Kiwanis
work with them on another feeding the hungry project in the next few weeks.
12 member teams would be needed. Much of the food is being shipped to Haiti.
In addition Daybreak is asking for help to work the
Bull Riding Event on Friday and Saturday March 12th and 13th. Help is needed
most Saturday night from 5:30-8:30. If you can help--please contact Bill
Zortman or Randy Hohn.
Membership Chair Bill Gassen installed Karen Roth has
our latest member. Karen was a part of the Mitchell Kiwanis Club in the 80's
and 90's and said when she read a few years ago about the forming of the new
Diversity Club she decided that was the club she was going to join. She is a
Trust Officer at 1st Bank and Trust and is believed to be the 6th attorney
to join Diversity. Welcome Karen.
Our guest speaker was Juan Bonilla who publishes La
Voz Hispana a free hispanic news magazine. Juan is from Puerto Rico and
speaks "spang-lish". Juan was named by Wells Fargo as the Aware of Diversity
Champion. He received the award in Des Moines and is now competiting with
five others around the country for the National Award. Vanessa Lopez one of
our newest member said that Juan has changed the hispanic community. Where
we didn't know how to make a difference in the community Juan did.
Mr. Bonilla, who joined the Diversity Club following
his presentation--said he was sold on what the club was doing. He sees a
need for our Diversity Club--much like what he saw for a Spanish
Publication. In addition to bringing the Latino Community together has
helped law enforcement as well.
Among the projects tackled were credit problems for
home owners, 401 K Retirement plans, a computer center is being developed
and last year he received 3 dozen calls reporting domestic abuse.
Bonilla says in 2008 census figures showed 11,000
hispanics in Sioux Falls. At the close of 2009 it was 22,000. The shy
community now has 27% of the registered voters. A key to the programhas been
to get people registered to vote. In addition -- Sioux Falls Votes has
started helping African Amercians, Sudenese, Native Americans, and the
Chinese Community to get educated and vote. A forum is scheduled with the
Mayoral Candidates on March 20th to ask questions. Diversity Kiwanis has
begun discussions with Mr. Bonilla about helping with the event.
Sioux Falls doesnt not have a spanish speaking
fireman and there are only two police officers who speak Spanish. A My
Future Program has been set up for Hispanic Students at Washington and
Roosvelt.
One Sunday afternoon he received a call from the
Police Department about a "gang" problem at Whittier Park. Bonilla went with
Police and sought out the leader of the Hispanics that were gathered. As it
turned out they were smoking, drinking and playing loud music in the park
and didn't understand our Sioux Falls Parks have those rules -- printed and
talked in English. Those gathered were playing softball and today the same
group doesn't break the smoking, drinking and music regulations in a park.
For those that want to attend -- Juan invites
anyone to attend meetings for the Latino Community at the Multi Cultural
Center at 5:30 on the 1st Thursday of the month.
Carlos Cabos who has attended two of our meetings
has been a part of the financial information for Latino's. We believe Carlos
when he says he wants to join our club.
Juan Bonilla's La Voz Hispana will allow our
Diversity Club to run a public service message ad each month. As he told all
of us --- you will see a community that wants to be a part of what we are
doing as Diversity Club.
Great meeting. Great ideas. And another chapter
started for the Diversity Kiwanis Club that continues to make a difference
in our neighborhoods, our parks, and around the world.
God Bless all of you!!!
Bill Zortman
Co-Secretary