Program: Hazel England, director of education and outreach for the Great Swamp Watershed Association presented "Saved But not Yet Safe – The Ongoing Battle to save the Great Swamp".

Hazel England of the Great Swamp Watershed Association was welcomed to the September 25 Kiwanis Luncheon by Kiwanis President-Elect John Eyre. Hazel gave an interesting and entertaining presentation on the Great Swamp of New Jersey.

She started her illustrated talk with a primer on the subject of New Jersey’s Great Swamp, including ancient geologic history and recent steps taken to save it from being used for a huge airport. She went on to explain that there are continuing issues to be addressed so that this valuable resource, which serves as a pure water source for the Passaic River, will serve the area now and in the future.

Her presentation closed with a Q and A session followed by an enthusiastic round of applause. To learn more about the Great Swamp Watershed Association, please visit their website.

Announcements: Kiwanis September 25 Meeting

Nancy Boucher urged members to buy supermarket gift cards. The club receives five percent, which is used for contributions to worthy causes. Marty Sechehay reminded everyone to sign up for CPR classes to be held on Tuesday October 16, 7:00 to 10:00 PM and Monday October 22, 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Please send Marty an email to RSVP for this important training. Gary Arnesen gave the latest info on the upcoming October 18 Pasta Diner to be held at the CHS Cafeteria. Price per meal from Tony Arminio is the same as last year. Mary Anne Maloney reported that the St. Pat’s Builders Club is quite active – they have many good service projects under way. She passed around an article that appeared in St. Pat’s newsletter. She and Betty Anne Keat attended the installation of Builders Club officers. Mary Anne thanked Rich Behling for producing the new club directory. Monty Montague announced that a proposed budget for next year is available.

September 18, 2012 Kiwanis Installation Dinner at Brooklake Country Club

In photo (L to R), Joseph Teti (Kiwanis New Jersey District Governor Designate), Joan May (Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club President 2012-13) and Lt. Gov. Gordon Meth (Division 9) were all present for the 82nd annual Installation of Officers of the local Kiwanis Club.

Former Kiwanis President Dick Plambeck (L) and Treasurer Monty Montague (R) served at the registration desk, handing out the 2012-13 annual directory and name badges.

Good friends Alan, Joan, Diane and Pat (L to R) found seats with a good view before the installation ceremony began.

Dick Ligertwood and Sharon Johnson enjoyed a quiet time before the installation ceremony began. Sharon was inducted as the 2012-13 Vice President of the club.

Gordon Meth, Division 9 Lt. Governor (at podium) officiated at the installation ceremony. In the above photo, he installed the new members of the board of directors (L to R): Simon Mandal, Nancy Boucher and Dave Mutchler.

Mary Anne Maloney (right in the above photo), who was recognized for her dedicated leadership as President of the club in 2012-13, announced a special recognition to all the women in Kiwanis. This year is the 25 anniversary of women membership in Kiwanis International. She recognized the past presidents who were women. In the photo are Sally Deatly (left), Nancy Boucher (middle, the first woman president of our club) and Mary Anne. She also recognized Cordelia Fuller, who passed away in 2010. The club’s fifth woman president will be Joan May, who was inducted for the 2012-13 year.

 Renowned Madison jazz pianist Jerry Vezza, for whom the annual Kiwanis Madison High School Music Award is named, highlighted the evening with his beautiful music.



September 11 Kiwanis Program: - Hal Wittlinger provided an illustrated talk: The Theremin, a "Space Musical Instrument", developed as early as 1918.

Hal Wittlinger with his wife Marilyn presented a talk entitled “The Theremin Space Musical Instrument developed as early as 1918". The talk and demonstration, presented at the September 11 Kiwanis meeting included several YouTube videos. Click here to view a video which provides a demonstration of how the Theremin works.

Hal demonstrated an actual working Theremin (a recently manufactured copy). The audience enjoyed the overview of this interesting musical instrument.

Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, Representing the 11th District of New Jersey spoke at the September 4 Chatham-Madison Kiwanis luncheon meeting.

Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, Representing the 11th District of New Jersey spoke at the September 4 Chatham-Madison Kiwanis luncheon meeting. Mary Anne Maloney, President of the club, welcomed Congressman Frelinghuysen. Kiwanis meets at Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse on Southern Boulevard in Chatham Township.

Frelinghuysen thanked Kiwanis for the work they do in their community. He mentioned that he visits many community organizations – “in many ways they are the backbone of the community.” He also thanked the audience for letting him be their Congressional Representative. With Congress out of session this summer, he enjoyed the opportunity to come home to New Jersey and get “out and about” with his constituents.

The feedback he has received is that “a lot of people are struggling”. New Jersey unemployment rate is 9.2 percent and the national rate is 8.3 percent. He said that the percentages don’t tell the whole story, and many qualified people, including recent college graduates, can’t land a job. Member of Congress, regardless of political party, are acutely aware that they have to do something.

He talked about the New Jersey redistricting caused when the number of New Jersey Representatives went from thirteen to twelve.  District 11 now extends into additional areas of Essex County. He has represented six towns in Essex for almost 18 years. Redistricting added many constituents in West Orange, Bloomfield, Montclair, Nutley, Wayne, and other towns. After the November election he will represent close to 730,000 people. He has enjoyed the opportunity to listen to his new constituents.

Frelinghuysen has been working on the House Appropriations Committee. He said that Republicans and Democrats have worked together pretty well over that past two years.
Frelinghuysen heard from constituents that there is a lot of uncertainty and lack of confidence out there. Small businesses are reluctant to hire employees because of uncertainty about the new healthcare law. Also, banks are not lending money. Many realtors have told him that the real estate situation is even worse than the numbers indicate. Many of these problems can be addressed by relaxing overly tight rules and regulations.

After a brief question and answer period, the Kiwanians in the audience gave Congressman Frelinghuysen an enthusiastic round of applause.

Kiwanis August 28 Program: Dr. Joseph J. Murphy spoke on Chiropractic Service Benefits.

Dr. Joseph J. Murphy spoke on Chiropractic Service Benefits at the August 28 Kiwanis breakfast meeting. Joe is a long time member of Kiwanis, a certified Chiropractor and Director of the Suburban Chiropractic Center in Chatham. Chiropractic means “to work with the hands.” This comes from the Greek language. “Chiro” means with the hands and “practic” is to do work.

To explain how Chiropractic developed, he gave an overview of the history of medical treatments. As recently as the late 19th century, people had no idea how our bodies work. They didn’t know what health was about or what sickness was about. There were various theories about why diseases developed, like blockages in the circulatory system or blockages in the nervous system. At that time, there were many alternative treatments which were not proven scientifically.

In the early 1920 period, the introduction of drugs like antibiotics and sulfa was based on real scientific understanding of what health was about.
 
Today, most of the health problems we have are not caused by organisms, but are chronic malfunctions of our body, like cancer.
 
At the end of the 20th century, Chiropractors believed that blockages in the nervous system causes the body’s immune system to not be able to fight off infections or not be able to repair itself as it should. Removal of the blockage would help the body cure itself when under attack.

Joe distributed a brochure from the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners explaining the scientific studies that support Chiropractic services. The body will be able to better fight of problems if we eat the right food, exercise, drink good water, breath good air, etc.

Even though the citizens of the USA spend a lot on medical service and have the best services available, we are the 37th healthiest nation in the world. Improving the outcome of medical treatment is probably not to use more technology. Instead, it could be use of alternative treatment methods.
Chiropractic treatment removes nervous system interference. Chiropractors are trained to treat disorders that don’t require surgery or medicine. Examples of problems Joe treats are a sore shoulder or back. People also come to him for headaches. He treats sports injuries.

Joe used a model of the human spine to explain the function and importance of the spine, which contains the main nerves going from your body to your brain. The spine is the first part of an embryo to develop – it is probably the most important part of the body.

After a question and answer session, the audience enthusiastically applauded Joe’s entertaining, interesting and helpful presentation. To learn more, please visit Dr. Murphy’s website.

Announcements: Kiwanis August 28 Meeting

Announcements at the Kiwanis August 28 Meeting: Mary Anne thanked Tom for leading the very successful Chatham Library Summer Reading Club Picnic. Tom responded that it was an easy project to run. The kids loved it. Diane O’Brien thanked everyone for providing the food part of the celebration and she presented a special photo to Tom.

Mary Anne also invited everyone to attend the installation dinner on September 18. The NJ District incoming governor will attend the dinner meeting. She also announced that the Somerset Patriots minor league baseball team will have a Kiwanis Day on September 22. If over 30 people attend the 7:05 PM game, there will be a price of $7.50. Even without the discount the price is quite reasonable.  Also, there is a fireworks show at the end of the game. It should be a fun night. She reminded everyone to respond to Marty’s offer to hold a CPR training session.

Dick Plambeck thanked Monty and John for spending a couple of hours clearing parts of a fallen tree (a snag) which was blocking the Passaic River near Stanley Park. He invited all club members to join the team for another work session at the site.