Sunfield Area SPY's Report---2/25/10

Disney Program Update

If you recall, back in January the SPY’s announced their participation in a wonderful new program in conjunction with the Disney people. It’s called “Give A Day---Get A Day”. Simply put, if you volunteered to help out on a posted community activity, you would get a voucher for a free day at a Disney park.

The first activity that was posted through the SPY’s portal was the Wild Game Dinner held recently. We had ten volunteers sign-up to work that event and earn their Disney passes. The volunteers came from all over. They were----Richard, Jennifer, & Matthew Magnus; Tom & Stacey Brewer; Angela Schafer; Rachel Kramer; Austin Melcher; and Chad & Angela Husted. They had a great time.

When the program started, we opened this opportunity to other groups and activities in the area to take advantage of as well. So far, we are lining up volunteers to help out on the Mulliken / Sunfield Community Dinners through the month of March, as well as the Woodland Elementary PTA. If you’re interested in finding out more about this great program go to www.DisneyParks.com.

News Briefs

+ The Sunfield Area Sponsors of Programs for Youth wish to acknowledge some recent memorial donations to the Scholarship Fund. They came in from the following fine folks:

* Derek & Dana Desgranges gave in memory of Kylie Erdman.

* Buddy & Jari Collins made contributions in memory of Kylie Erdman.

* Contributions in memory of Harold Hanna were received from:

Daris & Cindy Hart Flo Sayer
Jerry & Bina Schray Bill & Cindy Bosworth
LeRoy Jackson & Elaine Merryfield Cris and Sue Glazier
Ray and Ardath Wilcox Bill & Patti Weller
Buddy & Jari Collins
The children of James & Marilyn Van Buren, (Kathy & Marvin
Hengesbach; Nancy and Larry Brown; Lynn VanBuren; Carol and Tony
Santini; and David and Denise VanBuren).

Thank you all for choosing this means to help us help kids!

+ Thanks Again! The Sunfield Area Sponsors of Programs for Youth are most appreciative that over the years so many people are choosing to make memorial gifts to the Scholarship Fund or the Youth Activities Trust Fund to honor a departed friend or loved one. For instance, contributions to the Youth Activities Trust Fund help offset some of the currently over $20,000 in annual allocations the SPY’s incur in conjunction with our wide variety of youth and community activities and programs we support or provide.

In addition, thus far a total of $136,500 has been awarded in scholarships from the SPY’s Community Foundation Scholarship Fund.

Your donations will make a difference for area youth for many years to come.

+ Trivia Question-Of-The-Week: Founded in October 1923, Disney is the largest media & entertainment conglomerate in the world. Mickey Mouse is the oldest cartoon, created in 1923, but did not air until 1928 as Steamboat Willie, which was the first synchronized sound cartoon. Which Disney cartoon character came next and what was its original name?

+ Thought #1: Sometimes leadership and service is planting trees under whose shade you’ll never sit.

+ Honest Roy’s Quote-Of-The-Week: “I just had a call asking me to donate some of my clothes to the starving people of the world. I told them to go jump in a lake. Anybody who fits into my clothes sure ain't starving.

+ NOTICE: The application deadline for the SPY's annual scholarships is Monday, March 15th. Seniors, make sure your applications are complete!

+ This year’s SPY’s Community Foundation Scholarship Review Committee is now forming. Volunteers are currently being sought for this task. Anyone that would be interested in serving are asked to contact John Fisher (566-8278) for further information.

+ The “Sports Trivia Question Just For ‘Smarty-Pants’ Mac Cready Question-Of-The-Week: When did the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) approve the participation of African-Americans in golf tournaments and who was the first to play? (Answer later in this column)

+ Thought #2: Courage doesn't always roar---Sometimes courage is the voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow”.
+ Andy Woodman’s Sports Trivia Question-Of-The-Week: During the NBA All-Star weekend they hold a 3-point shootout competition. Boston’s Larry Bird won this competition the first three years it was held from 1986 – 1988, which is a record. Who is the only other NBA player to win this competition three times and share the record with Bird-----Was it Michael Jordan---Jimmy Z---Pete Maravich---Craig Hodges---or Steve Nash? (Answer later in this column)

+ Louie “Tech Trouble-Shooter” Trowbridge’s Solution-Of-The-Week: Here’s a couple of winter-time tips---(1) Squeak-proof your wipers with rubbing alcohol! Wipe the wipers with a cloth saturated with rubbing alcohol or ammonia. This one trick can make badly streaking and squeaking wipers change to near perfect silence and clarity. (2) Prevent car doors from freezing shut with cooking spray! Spritz cooking oil on the rubber seals around car doors & rub it in with a paper towel. The cooking spray prevents water from melting into the rubber.

+ Thought #3: A Pencil Maker once told his pencils about five important lessons they will encounter in their life:
(1) Everything you do will always leave a mark.
(2) You can always correct the mistakes you make.
(3) What is important is what is inside of you.
(4) In life, you will undergo painful sharpenings, which will make you a better person.
(5) To be the best pencil, you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the hand that holds you.

+ Trivia Question-Of-The-Week Answer: In 1932, Goofy, originally called "Dippy Dawg", premiered. Next, was Donald Duck made in 1934, then Snow White in 1937---Pinnochio in 1940---Dumbo in 1941---Bambi in 1942, and so on.

+ Andy Woodman’s Sports Trivia Question-Of-The-Week Answer: Chicago’s Craig Hodges also won three in a row from 1990 – 1992.

+ The “Sports Trivia Question Just For ‘Smarty-Pants’ Mac Cready Question-Of-The-Week Answer: The PGA made the decision on January 19, 1952. Charlie Stifford was the first African-American on the PGA tour.

+ To find out more about the SPY’s organization, download forms or applications, or catch-up on past issues of the “Dirt Sheet”, go to the SPY’s website at www.sunfieldspys.org.

Highlights From Our Last Meeting

+ The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President Day-Roon Weller. Regular business reports were received and approved. We had three guests present. (5)

+ Correspondence reviewed consisted of a very nice thank-you from Craig & Jackie Mulholland---A thank you was shared from the DUV for the recent donation we made to assist them in their endeavors---Project Graduation sent along a nice thank you for the donation we made to that fine annual program which provides a wonderful drug and alcohol free alternative setting in which our graduating seniors can celebrate their accomplishments.

+ Three new members have joined the SPYs in recent weeks. Welcome aboard Jeff Gibbs, Dan Taylor and Chris and Missy Stambaugh!

+ Guest Karen Hathon came to the meeting to announce her candidacy for County Commissioner from our area to the membership. She shared her background, views and qualifications with those present.

+ Sunfield Summer Athletic Association President Brian Wellwood presented a summary report for the SSAA's programs in 2009 and an outline of the changes to the program for 2010. Sign up for SSAA's summer ball programs this year will be March 2nd and 4th at the Sunfield IGA from 6-8 pm.

+ Under old business our very own fearless big game hunter Buddy "Kill 'Em n Grill 'Em" Collins reported that the 2010 Wild Game Dinner was a rousing success! We had almost 150 people in attendance and a very hard working group of helpers and volunteers who helped keep things running smoothly. Many thanks go out to everyone who helped in any way. Thanks to all the hunter/chefs who prepared and brought a dish for the dinner. There are some very talented cooks out there and they brought some fine samples of their abilities. A huge thank you goes out to all of the prize donors for this year's event! There were many, many great prizes for the drawings this year. The event was a lot of fun for everyone.

+ Under new business Sam 'The Dealer' Coan put out a reminder that the next Texas Hold 'em Tournament will be March 11th through the 14th at Tripper's in Lansing. He's still looking for helpers, so give him a call at 566-7182. Folks, this is a very easy gig to work. Check with Sam for details and available time slots.

+ Sam also brought up a new fundraising project for discussion regarding working concessions at Lugnuts Stadium in Lansing. They have a program which reimburses fundraising groups for working during their ball games. Sam will dig deeper to see what is involved in this project.

+ Craig Mulholland also presented information on a new fundraising opportunity for discussion called “Community Day”. This event, which involves selling discount coupon books, is designed for 501c3 organizations and school groups.

+ MDLXXI