Chipley Kiwanis Club Weekly Luncheon - Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Contributed by Steve Mason, Kiwanis Club Publicity Committee

At the weekly club luncheon on Tuesday, November 10th, of the Chipley Kiwanis Club, three programs were presented.

Kathi Smith of the Washington Holmes Technical Center discussed the Veterans Day Program which will be held on Wednesday, November 11 at 10:30AM at the Washinton-Holmes Technical Center.  Lunch will be provided for all veterans.

Collin Adcock, the Washington County Horticultural Extension Agent updated the Club members about the Chipley Farmers’ Market.  The Market was started in 2007 and has had growth every year.  The Market is open during the summer from May through September and also during the fall months of October and November.  During those periods, the Market is open three days each week:  Tuesday and Thursday from Noon to 5PM and Saturday from 7AM until Noon.  All produce is locally grown and sold by the growers.  Vendors have to be certified as growers in order to sell at the Market.  Some vendors can accept WIC  vouchers as payment for the produce.

The Market charges the vendor a $7 per day stall fee.  The proceeds are used to provide two $500 gift certificates for produce each week.

Rick Davis of the Washington County Health Department updated the members about the H1N1 virus.  The Health Department actually provides two different vaccines:  the regular seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 Vaccine.  Both vaccines are in short supply at this time but new supplies should be available soon.

Mr. Davis pointed out that Tamiflu is effective against most viruses if taken within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.  There are actually several hundred different flu viruses.  Flu viruses mutate easily, so although having the flu educates your body to defend against it, a new strain of flu may not be recognized by your immune system.  A vaccine educates your body to defend against the virus.

Flu viruses are categorized from 1 to 5 similar to storms.  On that scale, H1N1 is a category 2 virus.

 

The Chipley Kiwanis Club supports many worthwhile causes including the Farm-City Banquet.  During the meeting,  member LaMerle Feitsma presented Andy Andreason, Washington County Agricultural Extension Agent, with a check in support of the banquet.