Blackhawk Golden ‘K’ General Meeting
Minutes
August 5th, 2026
President Richard Johnson presided, and called the meeting to order with a ring of the bell at 9:30AM.
Richard Johnson led with the singing of America, the National Anthem, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Invocation: Richard Johnson, mentioning the strength to help others, and the children.
Raffle: John Janes oversaw the ticket sales and drawing this week.
The weekly pot was $12 and the big (Joker) pot was $254.
Jerry Langdok drew a ticket from the bucket, ticket number 144. Congratulations to the winner, Linda Bontly.
The deck of cards has 35/53 cards remaining. Linda Bontly drew the 3♥.
A collection was passed for ECHO.
Happy Box: Linda Bontly announced she is happy because she won the raffle, and is donating the proceeds to the Rock County Children’s Museum.
Tom Neumann announced he is happy because he has been married for 53 years.
President Elect Tom Neumann announced that Duane is a guest today. Duane introduced himself, a member of Kiwanis in Elkhart, where they have their signature project, ‘Tools for Schools,’ and are active in the second biggest county fair in the country. The Elkhart Kiwanis meet Thursdays at 6:45am and finish by 7:30am.
Jokes: Joker Steve Skelly had a good joke about an elephant and a giraffe at a watering hole. The elephant, seeing a turtle, kicks it and sends it flying. The giraffe asks the elephant, “Why’d you do that?” The elephant replies, “the turtle bit me 50 years ago, and I have turtle recall.”
Kiwanians Tom Neumann, Maury Frey, April Wright, Dan Heerey, Carl Cramer, Luci Cramer, Dave Peterson, Jim Farrell, John Bennett and Greg Turco have birthdays this month, and a song was sung.
Other Announcements: Tom Neumann spoke upon the September 9th meeting, which will be at the Oakhill Cemetery Chapel.
Steve Skelly spoke upon “Spotlight on Kids” events at JPAC, which could use volunteer assistance. Should Kiwanis attend, in gold?
Committee Reports: Tom Neumann announced the Buckley Picnic is approaching. ‘Anytime Catering’ is being contacted for catering the event, on September 16th.
April Wright introduced the day’s speakers, Laura Kenyon and Kristin Hesselbacher. They joined us today to speak upon Rotary Botanical Gardens’ Community Engagement and Volunteerism. Rotary is a large and growing operation, including now 20 paid staff, two of which are newly added gardeners, with many things going on. Some of them will be detailed, and many opportunities to engage the public. They began with ongoing programs.
Rotary hosts a walking club Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9am, led by Dale Griffa. Dale has a path planned. Those sharing ten walks with Dale receive a t-shirt. The group are known as the Royal Walkers.
Rotary Botanical Gardens has 25~30 themed gardens. A bonsai garden is being started. The rose garden is newly replanted (and received better deer fortification).
A new signage project is underway. An artist was hired, who has worked on numerous National Park signs.
Rotary’s Holiday Light Show, including two million lights, began setting up last week.
Garden After Hours is a series of regular events, started in May, open to the public for a small ($5) fee. Members attend without cost. With two rain delays, the plans extend to October 8th.
A returning event this year, the Dog Days of Summer, is fast approaching. It includes the Humane Society, a JPD K-9 unit, and dog painting (the dogs paint while licking peanut butter off of a helper). It is rain or shine.
Rotary has a sponsorship from Blain’s Farm and Fleet for a holiday garden giveaway raffle. A $25 ticket gets you a chance to win a prize package valued at over $3,000.
Rotary is partnered with RSVP, Retired Seniors Volunteer Program. If volunteering, RSVP will pay mileage.
Rotary are repairing the arch / Japanese bridge, slated for finish later this week or next. It should be done in time for a re-dedication, during the International Day of Peace.
In parting, Laura and Kristin extended a big ‘thank you’ to Marsha Mood, who has taken nearly all Rotary’s photos.
Laura and Kristin’s presentation was well received and appreciated.
April Wright thanked Laura Kenyon and Kristin Hesselbacher for speaking and presented them with Kiwanis Parker pens.
Richard Johnson adjourned the meeting with a ring of the bell at 11AM.
On this day:
1837 First ascent of Mount Marcy, which stands at 5,344 feet (1,629 meters) as the highest peak in the Adirondack Mountains of New York
1846 Oregon Territory is divided between the United States and Britain along the 49th parallel
1858 The first transatlantic telegraph cable lands at Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, spearheaded by Cyrus West Field, but it fails after 3 weeks
1861 Enlistment in US Union Army increases from 3 months to 2 years
1861 President Lincoln signs the first US personal income tax into law, imposing a 3% tax on incomes over $800
1861 US Army abolishes flogging
1884 Cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty is laid on Bedloe’s Island, New York City
1890 British and French accord to divide African colonization
1891 World’s first traveler’s cheques issued by American Express
1901 Peter O’Connor of Ireland sets the first officially recognised world long jump record at 24 feet and 11 3/4 inches (7.61 meters) in Dublin, Ireland
1914 First electric traffic light installed in the US at the intersection of East 105th Street and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio
1914 US and Nicaragua sign treaty granting canal rights to US
1917 The entire US National Guard is taken into national service, subject to presidential rather than state control
1921 KDKA Pittsburgh presents the first radio broadcast of an MLB baseball game with Harold Arlin giving the play-by-play: the Pirates beat the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, 8-0, at Forbes Field
1924 “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip by Harold Gray is first published in the New York Daily News
1925 Plaid Cymru is formed with the aim of disseminating knowledge of the Welsh language, which is in danger of dying out
1926 Harry Houdini stays in a coffin underwater for 1½ hours before escaping
1930 U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the Moon, was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio
1932 Clyde Barrow and two associates kill Sheriff C.G. Maxwell and his deputy, Eugene C. Moore, in the first instance of the Barrow gang killing a lawman
1948 Earl Shaffer becomes the first person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail after hiking for 124 days
1953 “From Here to Eternity,” film based on the book by James Jones, directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, and Frank Sinatra, is released (Academy Awards Best Picture 1954)
1962 The first quasar, 3C 273, is located through radio observations
1963 Britain, USA, and USSR sign the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
1963 Craig Breedlove sets a world land speed record of 407.45 mph (655.73 km/h) in the Spirit of America at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
1966 33rd NFL Chicago College All-Star Game at Soldier Field: Green Bay 38, All-Stars 0 (72,000 attendees)
1966 The Beatles release the single “Yellow Submarine” with “Eleanor Rigby” in the UK
1967 First exhibition after AFL/NFL merger, Denver Broncos (AFL) surprise Detroit Lions (NFL), 13-7 at the University of Denver
1969 Mariner 7 flies past Mars
1969 Pirates outfielder Willie Stargell smashes his first and longest home run ever hit out of Dodger Stadium; the incomparable shot off Alan Foster measures 506 feet
1972 The Moody Blues reissue their 1967 single “Nights in White Satin,” and it reaches #2 on the US charts, higher than the initial release
1973 Fifteen-year-old Australian swimmer Stephen Holland smashes Mike Burton’s 1,500 m world record by a massive 14.78 seconds (15:37.8) in Brisbane
1973 USSR launches Mars 6
1975 Joan Jett forms her rock group, The Runaways, in Los Angeles, California
1975 Stevie Wonder signs a seven-year, seven-album contract with Motown Records that includes a $13 million advance
1985 Establishment of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is announced
1989 NASA’s Venus probe Magellan launches from the Space Shuttle, the first to do so
1998 The American spin-off “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”, starring Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, and Wayne Brady, debuts on ABC
Work Like a Dog Day honors and recognizes those who work the hardest out of anyone. It is a day to show appreciation for these hard workers and to follow their lead. Those who work like dogs put in extra effort, don’t stop until a task is finished and don’t sit idle when there is work to be done. They don’t work all the time, but when they do work, they work extremely hard. There are many breeds of dogs that are considered working dogs, such as Dobermanns, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Akitas. Working dogs include sled dogs, police dogs, military dogs, search and rescue dogs, detection dogs, herding dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs. Once these dogs get working, they don’t take breaks or nap on the job—they stay focused! They can provide a little inspiration for us today!
Minutes by Ryan Lewis.
Credit: Dave Figi, and Ryan Lewis, photographs.
Note: Kiwanis and its members are not responsible for errors or omissions. We are open to discussion if you would like to request an alteration. This content may only be reproduced without alteration and with credit to the original author(s).
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