Club News
Watts new president of Kiwanis Club
William (“Bill”) Watts was installed president of the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada during the club’s Installation Dinner on Sept. 29 at the Oakmont Country Club. Watts joined Kiwanis in 2002 and has been a director under three previous club presidents.
Also installed were President-Elect Jim Stratton, Vice President Jim Phillips, Treasurer Bob Wallace and Secretary Skip Boyd.
In addition, Carl Christensen, Stewart Lee, Tom Passanisi, Melinda Thompson and Paul Westmoreland were installed as board directors who will serve 2010-2012, with the 2009-2011 board members Diane DellaValle, Brian Fuller, Linda Magarian and Fred Schooley.
The immediate past president, Nicholas Berkuta, will continue to serve as a club officer for the next year.
Berkuta presented two annual Kiwanis awards. The “Rookie of the Year” is given to a newer member who, over the past year, performed the most service to the children and to the community. This year the award went to Kiwanis newcomer Brian Fuller. The “Gil Smith” award, named after a late Kiwanis member who was recognized for his exemplary service in 1973, was presented to another outstanding performer and past president, Diane DellaValle.
Officiating at the installation were Marko Swan, Division 3 Lt. Governor and Roy Talley, Governor, Kiwanis California-Nevada-Hawaii District. Jim Edwards served as the master of ceremonies.
Watts presented Berkuta with a plaque-mounted gavel, a memento of his year as club president. Berkuta also received certificates from the offices of the governor, state Senate, state Assembly, county Board of Supervisors and the city of La Cañada Flintridge.
Watts was born in Hollywood and graduated from Hollywood High School. He spent two years in the Army and then went on to complete his college education at San Jose State University.
He met his wife Margaret at college and they have just celebrated 51 years of marriage. They are the parents of two daughters, Kathleen and Wendy, and the grandparents of William V. Watts II.
The La Cañada Kiwanis meet on Wednesdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Van de Kamp Hall at Descanso Gardens. Those interested in attending a luncheon meeting, catered by Patina for $15, are asked to call (818) 790-9901 to make reservations.
Public welcome at Kiwanis-AM meetings
The La Cañada Kiwanis-AM Club meets at 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays in Fellowship Hall at Lutheran Church in the Foothills, 1700 Foothill Blvd. The public is invited to attend and listen to the guest speaker. For more details, call President Joyce Ruygrok, (818) 249-8680.
Upcoming: Oct. 6, Aida Cera speaks on “Youth Violence and Gang Prevention; Donna Collins address the group on Oct. 13 on the topic “The Power to Save Lives,” about bone-marrow or cord-blood transplants; On Oct. 27 Robert Zaun, a detective with the Glendale Police Department, addresses the subject “Identity Theft and Fraud; and Todd Talbot, director of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, which raises funds for cancer research, will be the featured speaker on Nov. 3.
DAR member creates patriotic display
Connie Cianciarulo, member of Don Jose Verdugo Chapter of National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, recently created a patriotic display in the foyer cabinet of the La Cañada Flintridge Library. Suzanne Stanfill, past historical chairwoman of the organization, arranged displays in both the Glendale main library and the La Crescenta library.
The displays were in the honor of the DAR commitment to further public education about our nation’s history during Constitution Week.
The La Cañada group, which was founded in 1953, is currently led by Liz Craven as Regent. The chapter welcomes members who have revolutionary soldiers and patriots in their genealogy.
The next meeting for this DAR chapter is set for Nov. 5, and will be held in a private home in La Cañada Flintridge. For more information about this local chapter, call (818) 790-6421.