Donations Sought For Back To School Shopping Spree

The start of a new school year is hard enough for some kids. Not having new clothes shouldn't make it harder.

That is why the Sierra Nevada Women's Active 20-30 Club sponsors a back-to-school shopping spree each year for underprivileged children.

This year the women are in need of donations as more kids are expected to need their help.

Each child is allotted $100, and is assisted by a 20-30 club volunteer to select and purchase new clothes for the school year.

The 20-30 club said they are expecting 80 children from grades K-12 to need their services this year.

The Family Support Council and Douglas County Social Services provide the children's names.

The shopping spree is Aug. 11 at the Topsy Lane Walmart. Donations are needed by Aug. 10.

Checks can be payable to Sierra Nevada Active 20-30 No. 730 and mailed to P.O. Box 2231, Minden, NV, 89423 or donations can be made online at www.sierranv2030.org.

For more information or to volunteer call Lauren Spires at 790-0266.

Congratulations to the 2012-2013 National Board of Directors:

2012-13 National Board

 

Congratulations to the 2012-2013 

National Board of Directors:

 

President Jason Deshayes, Albuquerque #103

 

President-Elect Vineet Wahi, Seattle #215

 

Immediate Past President Trena Roudebush, Indianapolis #1036

 

National Director Region 1 Corey Arashiro, Indianapolis #1036

 

National Director Region 2 Gino Fortis, Sacramento #1

 

National Director Region 3 Steven Dinkel, Albuquerque #103

 

National Director Region 4 Sheri Russell, Reno #8

 

National Director Region 5 Paul Gordon, Bakersfield #27

 

National Director Region 6 Juliana Landrum, Napa #57   

Sister-brother team open ‘fun center'

Sue Willis and Rick Reeves in Whimsical Games in Minden on Friday. 

At right, Pac-Man Battle Royale inside Whimsical Games in Minden.

Scott Neuffer

A whimsical “fun center” in a corner suite of Minden's Ironwood Center has been described by its owner in a single phrase: “It gives the kids something to do.”

“We decided to open a business together, and the first thought that came to both our minds was that there's nothing for the kids to do here,” said Gardnerville resident Sue Willis, co-owner of Whimsical Games.

Willis and brother/business partner Rick Reeves officially opened the center on June 2.

“I think it's a market that's totally ignored,” said Reeves, who lives in Dayton. “I came out here in 1999, and there was nothing around for the kids to do.”

The 2,300-square-foot suite, formerly Video Library, has been filled with arcade games, pool tables, foosball, vending machines, tables, chairs, board games, and, as the centerpiece, a 120-foot radio-controlled car track that curls in a figure-eight.

The latter feature warrants a story of its own.

“It was a slot-car track,” said Willis. “We drove to Iowa to get it and spent the winter modifying it, so that it could run RC cars instead of slot cars. We had to fill in all the slots, paint it, and put in the retaining wall.”

“It actually took two to three redesigns to get it to where it wouldn't launch cars into the air,” said Reeves. “We can run eight cars at a time. We have 32 cars that we rotate. They do tend to break.”

On two peg-boards hang trigger controllers for the cars. Above the track is a flatscreen television used to monitor the races.

“There's a sensor under the track counting the laps and lap times,” said Reeves. “Each car has a transponder on it. The kids can actually see how much time they have left and who's in the lead.”

The brother-and-sister team bring disparate but mutually beneficial skills to their new center.

Reeves, 56, spent 20 years in information technology, so he knows his way around gadgetry.

Willis, 51, who has lived in the Gardnerville Ranchos for 22 years, worked as a bookkeeper most of her life. She also raised three sons and one daughter, all Douglas High grads, so she knows how to entertain bored children.

“This took about two years to come together,” she said. “We thought of doing miniature golf, but the kids didn't seem into it. We thought about doing laser tag, but we couldn't find a place big enough.”

The sibling duo concluded that RC racing and arcade games would make a good first step into the market.

“The kids really seem to like it, but it's slow-going getting the word out,” Willis said.

The partners have been trying to spread the word at the movie theater in the same complex.

“Our first customer was a 3-year-old,” Reeves said. “But we have several developing groups of regulars. Some are in their early teens, and some are already driving cars.”

“Adults seem to like it, too,” added Willis.

Willis and Reeves hope to generate enough business to expand their hours of operation and also rent out the suite for parties.

“We can squeeze two or three more arcade machines in here, but we want to see what the kids want,” said Reeves.

Located at 1770 Highway 395, Unit C, Minden, Whimsical Games is open 2-10 p.m. Thursday through Monday.

For more information, call 782-1055. 

via Record Courier

History & Tradition - Whopper Gavel via Active 20-30 Blog

History & Tradition - Whopper Gavel

It's been a while since I've posted an article from National Historian, Michele Spilman's blog. This one made me smile and reminded me of the caution from our installation ceremonies: we cannot wield the gavel (our titles, our power) as a weapon for risk of it losing it's authority. That's a soap box for another day. Enjoy!
History of the Whopper Gavel


As I was browsing through the magazines, I came across this fascinating story regarding an object made.  I have no idea how accurate this is.  There is one photo showing a couple of men with a large gavel.  Looks like I will have to dig around to find out more information on this whopper gavel and perhaps find out where it might have become misplaced.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading the article as I did.


In August of 1928, Rex T. Kearney, of the 20-30 Club of Stockton, No. 2, was elected to the high office, of the President of the Association of 20-30 Clubs.  He realized well, his duties and responsibilities and promised, upon the taking of the office, to use all the strength he possessed to better the organization.  But he knew, also, that he lacked instruments to carry out his ambitious program. 


It came to pass, that a one Dick Denton, of Bakersfield, then District Governor, of District Three, became aware of the needs of President Rex.  Whereupon, he went out into the vast open spaces and meditated.  Deeply he pondered, and finally arrived at a solution.  He would have made, a gavel – of such size and proportions that it would command respect for the President of the Association.  It would enable our chief executive to have order constantly prevail at Convention assembled.  Eureka, the big problem was solved, in a still bigger way!


Plans and specifications were immediately drawn by Governor Dick.  The gavel would be 36 inches high, 8 inches in diameter, and the handle, made of strong sturdy wood, would be 36 inches in length – that it would weigh 45 pounds.  And it came to pass, that this gavel, at a great cost, became a reality.


Now, on the 30th day of August, 1929, A.D., Governor Dick, presented, to President Rex, at the Convention in Hollywood, this mammoth gavel – and whereupon, President Rex used it in style that was fitting to the high office.


It was decreed at that Convention, that from then on, Rex T. Kearney, was to be the Custodian of the Whopper Gavel.  This office he held, with honor and pomp, til August 31st 1930.


On that date, in the Sainte Clair Hotel, in San Jose, Calif., said gavel – the Whopper Gavel – the sacred property of the Association of 20-30 Clubs was found, unguarded in the hallways of the aforementioned Hotel.  Consternation reigned, tumultuous raptures pierced the ether, and two men came boldly forth to protect this holy instrument.


These men, valiant and loyal Twenty-Thirtians, took possession of the gavel and with great care and tenderness transported it to the City of Sacramento, and turned it over to the 20-30 Club of Sacramento, No. 1.  These men will ever live in the history of 20-30 – Russell Harris, lawyer, and statesman extraordinary, and George Barnes, Past President of the Sacramento Club, a diplomat of no mean calibre.


The Sacramento Club, aware of the sacredness of the gavel, and appreciating the spirit and bravery of these two, have bestowed upon these men, the high office, of “Custodians of the Whopper Gavel.” Immediately, these men took possession of said instrument, and fearing that an invasion from other clubs might relieve them of the gavel, rented a safe deposit box in a local bank, the name of said banking institution not being divulged, in order to further protect the sacred gavel.  The Association in recognition of their services, has placed their names on the Honor Roll.
(written article in the September 1930 Twenty-Thirtain Magazine)

via Active 20-30 Blog ... 

Pictures from the 2012 National Convention in Reno NV

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click the link to view the pictures ...