KIWANIS KEY June 26, 2026
President Stephen Wheeler rung in a small, but enthusiastic, pre-July 4 crowd. Kirby White led us in song and pledge. Bob McAmis provided a heartfelt invocation. This week’s prayer list includes Robby Talton’s wife, Deanna, Tim Dunn, Barbara Porter’s daughter-in-law, Nicole, Kirby White was with us, but still wanted prayers, and Fred Cutter’s daughter, Lee Warren is having hiitp surgery on July 30; Henry Tyson’s daughter Darby, Charles T. Haigh, Norwood Bryan, the Aycock family, Danny Highsmith, Cheryl Gleeson’s mother and Kalli Zieglar who had surgery yesterday.
President Steven read a letter from a friend about the greatness (not perfection of course) of the USA. It was a great reminder of why we celebrate Independence Day, why we are proud to be Americans and it was especially appropriate for our 250th celebration of America. Even the usually salty and unimpressed attendees couldn’t help but give Stephen and his friend a round of applause. So next week, yes, cook a burger, enjoy the beach or lake, relax, but remember what it took to get us to this point and remember the great patriots of 1776 and 1789.
Guests today included Kiwanis spouses and frequent visitors Hank “de LaFayette” Parffitt and Jennie White.
Splash Pad challenge- John Malzone is recruiting members to take the plunge in July. With the hot weather expected, John might get a lot of volunteers. Its for a great cause and we take money from John. It’s a win-win!
Guess the Kiwanian- after some clues about a safety patrol graduate who was a very athletic Eagle scout, student pilot, and various military-type clues, Cheryl Gleeson correctly guessed that our Mystery Kiwanian was our President Elect, Jay Gothard!
Kim Thomas introduced our program: Sgt. Greg Baxley, and Captain Honeycutt, of the Fayetteville Police Department, talked about search and rescue team and gave a great demonstration of their responsibilities, training and their mission in Cumberland and surrounding counties and even out in Western North Carolina. The urban search and rescue team, known as Task Force 9, performs rescues in all types of water such as lakes, rivers, ponds and retrieves anything that someone may throw into one of those bodies of water such as vehicles, guns, ovens, dead bodies. They have performed admirably in numerous NC hurricanes most recently in Hurricane Helene. There was a great GoPro video of them on the Swannanoa River. They use dogs, cameras, measuring equipment and many different types of boats, scuba gear. They do a lot of training to be able to do what they do, including at an indoor facility on Tom Starling Drive which emulates rushing water, storm conditions, subsurface rocks, all while they try to save vehicles, persons in the vehicles, etc. It is one of only three such high- tech training facilities in the US. They do all this as volunteers, although they are in the process of being able to be paid, as are SWAT teams, for example, for their dangerous and heroic work. Great program, Kim Thomas!
Secretary Bob pocketed $45 in winning the 50-50 Raffle.
REMEMBER, we will NOT meet next Friday, July 3, 2026, in observance of Independence Day.
July programs will feature speakers from the medical profession. First up on July 10 will be a nutritionist who will explain to us why we should not have eaten the hot dog, the hamburger, the potato salad, the 4 beers, the corn on the cob, watermelon AND the red white and blue cake in two hours on July 4. Until July 10…
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