Meets at 12:00 pm every Wednesday at the Knights of Columbus, 5115 Little Falls Road
Arlington, VA
www.arlingtonvakiwanis.org
VISIT OUR WEB SITE:
Direct Membership Inquiries to David Levy: (703) 314-4567, e-mail david.levy21@verizon.net
John H. Finlator
Editor in Memoriam
Volume: 82
Co-Editors: Jim Thomas - Richard Barr
Editor This Week: Jim Thomas
March 20, 2013
Number: 22
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
March 27th – Our club member “Vinnie” Gaito’s stories may range from his trying-out for
the New York Yankees to being a news service cameraman in the White House.
April 3rd – Marilyn Scholl will discuss “Arlington’s Teenage Parenting Programs.”
April 6th – Kiwanis Club of Arlington will present its Annual Pancake Breakfast, in
partnership with the Clarendon United Methodist Church, to benefit Arlington’s
“Doorways for Women and Families.”
April 10th – President Grantham and Paul Lanzillotta will discuss Club Business and the
Arlington Kiwanis Foundation.
April 17th – Kiwanis International's Capital District Governor Carolyn Richar will speak
about “Capital Caring: Managing Pain for Adults.”
April 24th – Karen Price will speak about “Stop Child Abuse Now – SCAN.”
President Tom Grantham called the meeting order. Pastor Eugene Thomas provided the
invocation. Pres. Grantham led the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and
introduced three guests.
PP Pete Hause provided his weekly update about Members’ Welfare via Pres. Grantham:
Bob Adams has missed several meetings recently to care for his wife and by his tending to
his own health issues.
Scott McCaffrey led a “Happy Dollars” session, during which several members each
donated a dollar and told what they were thankful for today. (Scott also provided his
observation that more volunteers are needed for our monthly “Bagging Party” at AFAC.)
PLG Larry Demarest provided Sign-Up Sheets at each table for several InterClub
opportunities, featuring the March 24th Tysons Corner Club’s 2-4 pm “Bowling Day” to
benefit the “Eliminate Project,” the April 13th Division Council meeting, and the April
14th Alexandria Kiwanis Club-sponsored Annual NSO Ensemble performance.
PP Khalid Siraj thanked all of our club members who have signed-up to assist with
presenting the Annual Pancake Breakfast on April 6. He emphasized the need to notify
him if something happens to affect your commitment (and, preferably, letting him know the
name of your replacement); he also pointed-out that several volunteer opportunities are
still available and you should contact him if you’d like to help.
PP Mary Anthony renewed her request for unused Christmas Cards (boxes thereof are
preferable). They will be annotated by volunteers and, when appropriate, sent to our
troops overseas.
WEEKLY PROGRAM
PP Tom Parker introduced Doctor Jennifer Lynn Bartlett, from the U.S. Naval Observatory, to
discuss “Reasons for the Seasons.” Dr. Bartlett grew up in Arlington, graduated from H. B.
Woodlawn High School, earned her B.S. (Physics) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and her Ph.
D. (Astronomy) from the University of Virginia. She worked as a Systems Engineer with LockheedMartin (Missiles and Space) and Litton Marine Systems, and as a Visiting Assistant Professor at
Hampden-Sydney College; she now lives in Arlington and is an Astronomer at the Observatory. Dr.
Bartlett opened her remarks with the observation that while most people believe that the seasonal
variations that we experience are the result of our changing distance from the Sun; nothing could
be farther from the truth. Although the Earth’s distance from the Sun varies by about three
million miles, we are closest to the Sun in winter and farthest from it during the summer months,
just the opposite of what would be expected. The seasons are the result of changes in the amount of
solar energy that is received at the Earth's surface, but the Earth-Sun distance plays a minor role.
Instead, these energy changes come about because the Earth’s axis is tilted in relation to its orbital
plane that is called the ecliptic. The Earth's axis is the imaginary line about which our planet
rotates. The measure of Earth’s axial tilt is referenced from the perpendicular to the ecliptic. It is
generally stated in the following manner: the Earth’s axis is tilted 23-½ degrees from the
perpendicular to the ecliptic. Another factor affecting the seasons is that Earth’s axis points in the
same direction. Currently the axis is pointing in the direction of the North Star, also called Polaris.
This is why Polaris represents the hub of the wheel about which the sky pivots as Earth rotates.
Expressed in another way, the ecliptic is tilted to the plane of the Earth’s equator by 23-½ degrees.
Our orbital motion has the effect of making the Sun move eastward among the stars. Our axial tilt
also causes the sun to “move” northward or southward with respect to our equator. This change in
the position on Earth over which the Sun is shining directly overhead results in three yearly cycles
that can be readily monitored as the seasons progress: 1) The altitude of the sun changes: The Sun
reaches its highest position above the earth’s horizon at local noon each day. In Allentown, PA when
the Sun is at its most northerly position (with respect to our equator) its altitude at noon is at an
extreme of 73 degrees. This occurs on the first day of summer. The Sun is never directly overhead
in Allentown. On the first day of winter, the sun is as far south of the equator as it can be positioned
and it achieves its minimum altitude - at noon as seen from the city – of 26 degrees. 2) The duration
of daylight changes: The longest day of the year occurs for the residents of the Northern
Hemisphere when the sun is at its most northerly position with respect to the equator. This marks
the first day of summer. In Allentown, the sun rises in the northeast taking approximately 15 hours
to cross the sky before setting in the northwest. The path that the sun takes from rising to setting is
longest at summer solstice. Therefore, the day must also be at its longest because the earth rotates at
a uniform rate. When the sun is at its greatest deviation south of the equator, the day is the shortest.
This marks the beginning of winter. In Allentown during the winter, the sun rises in the southeast
and about nine hours later it sets in the southwest. 3) The positions of sunrise and sunset change:
For observers in Allentown on the first day of summer, the sun rises as far to the north of east and
sets as far to the north of west. The sun is positioned at its maximum extreme north of the equator.
When the sun is positioned as far to the south of the equator as it can move on the first day of
winter, it rises as far to the south of east and sets as far to the south of west as it can for that
location. The sun, therefore, changes its daily rise and set positions with respect to the horizon. In
winter, the northern hemisphere leans back from the sun. The daily duration of sunshine is
restricted, and the sun is lower at noon. The sun's energy strikes the ground at a shallower angle,
and thus less energy is received per unit area. The temperatures generally become colder. In
summer, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. Not only is the daily duration of
sunshine longer, but the sun also climbs to a higher altitude in the sky, so that its energy strikes our
position more directly, and we receive more energy per unit area. All of these effects result from the
CLUB Officers
President
President-Elect
Vice President
Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer
Immediate Past President
Tom Grantham
Steve Bevis
Cliff Clifford
Richard Barr
Vacant
Bankhead Davies
Ben Chatfield
Julia Wright
703-507-4575
703-465-5520
703-725-3186
703-524-6520
TBD
703-527-4030
703-538-7044
703-751-2721
Meets at 12:00 pm every Wednesday at the Knights of Columbus, 5115 Little Falls Road
Arlington, VA
www.arlingtonvakiwanis.org
VISIT OUR WEB SITE:
Direct Membership Inquiries to David Levy: (703) 314-4567, e-mail david.levy21@verizon.net
John H. Finlator
Editor in Memoriam
Volume: 82
Co-Editors: Jim Thomas - Richard Barr
Editor This Week: Jim Thomas
March 20, 2013
Number: 22
tilt of Earth’s axis and its consistent pointing direction.
No one drew the “Red Dot” and our “50/50 Drawing’s” pot is growing.
Past-President Edd Nolen’s’ “Thoughts for the Day”
Originated with John Updike and were and contained in an interesting poem about
Spring time and Golfers’ [well, “Duh”- it’s Edd] and Tennis Players’ “Hope Springing Eternal[ly]”