Paul Brandt marks 50 years in Kiwanis Club
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STEUBENVILLE -- What happened in 1968?
Members and guests at the Steubenville Kiwanis Club luncheon meeting on Dec. 18 at the YWCA of Steubenville heard some moment-in-history examples from that year, courtesy of Tom Timmons, club secretary/treasurer.
It was the year of the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy; the introduction of the first Bic Mac at McDonalds, selling for 49 cents; the first successful heart transpant; and the Hong Kong flu epidemic.
The Dow Jones was at 943; a new house cost $14,950; average annual income was $7,850; monthly rent averaged $130; gas was 34 cents a gallon; and the minimum wage was $1.60.
A new car cost $2,822.
"And on Dec. 17, 1968, Paul Brandt joined Kiwanis," Timmons said, pointing toward his club peer in the audience in what was a surprise but informal acknowledgment of his years in the service organization.
"Yesterday would have been 50 years to the day," Timmons said.
Applause for the membership milestone was followed with a tongue-in-cheek selection performed by the "club choir" to the tune of "Jingle Bells." Then came cake.
Special words of congratulations came from special Kiwanians in attendance -- Nancy Hoffman of Newton Falls, division 26 lieutenant governor, and Faith Levine of Columbus, state governor. "Growing Great Clubs" is the Ohio Kiwanis theme.
"Paul, you are an inspiration," Levine told Brandt, to whom she later presented her president's pin.
"I can't imagine the number of children's lives you have changed in your 50 years," Levine said, adding, "Thank you for being a solid gold Kiwanian."
Levine also announced three future Kiwanis events, including Mid-Year Education Day on March 23 in Lewis Center. It will include a new "Kiwanis 101" type of class for first-timers and "Coffee with the Governor," allowing attendees to meet with Levine and discuss why they joined the organization.
Other events on the 2019 calendar include the international convention in June at Walt Disney World in Florida and the district convention in August at Sawmill Creek Resort in Sandusky.
Hoffman noted there will be a division meeting on Jan. 17 in Canfield.
Winners of the Christmas ugly sweater contest led by member Phyllis Riccadonna were Dr. Frank Petrola and Parker Dalton.
Club President Mike Emmerling presided at the meeting. The prayer was given by Lt. Erik Muhs of the Salvation Army of Steubenville who later applauded the Steubenville Key Club for exceeding the goal to collect 4,000 canned goods to fill the world's largest Salvation Army red kettle that made its way to the high school earlier this month. Muhs said more than 4,700 canned goods were collected.
Christmas musical selections were performed by the Harding Middle School jazz choir under the director of Abby Macre.