Renowned Twilight Zone scholar and pop culture historian Arlen Schumer (author/designer, Visions from The Twilight Zone and The Silver Age of Comic Book Art) spoke at the Kiwanis Club of Weston meeting last Saturday, October 26.

Arlen’s background is in graphic design (RISD), art direction and copywriting in New York City advertising agencies. His book The Silver Age of Comic Book Art, won the Independent Book Publishers Award for Best Popular Culture Book, ABC’s 20/20 named him “one of the country’s preeminent authorities on comics and culture,” the BBC said his works on The Twilight Zone were “a cut above the rest, full of passion and erudition”. Comic Book Artist magazine called him “one of the more articulate and enthusiastic advocates of comic book art in America.”

Arlen also signed hardcover copies of his brand-new book of essays on The Twilight Zone’s greatest episodes, The Five Themes of The Twilight Zone.

Kiwanis photograph by Bob Uzenoff.

Weston resident Ross Colbert awed Kiwanians, guests, and supporters at the Kiwanis Club of Weston meeting on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Ross recounted his participation in the 2024 Mongol Derby – the Longest Horse Race in The World this past August. The race is 1,000 kilometers (621.73 miles) across the Mongolian steppes and wilderness, riding for 9-10 days and navigating only by GPS. The course recreates the horse messenger system developed by Genghis Khan in 1224.

Ross, now a recognized equestrian endurance rider, is also an avid surfer, skier and mountain biker and loves any extreme outdoor adventure. His participation resulted in more than satisfying his self-challenge to finish, he raised over $15,000 for Breakthrough T1D™ (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) through the generosity of individual sponsors and donations to his website, https://www.2024mongolderby.com/.

Ross, dressed in his deel, traditional Mongolian national costume, shows The Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue. The stainless steel statue of Genghis Khan on horseback is the world’s tallest equestrian statue is located about a mile from the Tuul River at Tsonjin Boldog, 34 miles east of the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, where, according to legend, he found a golden whip. The statue is symbolically pointed east towards his birthplace. It is on top of the Genghis Khan Statue Complex, a visitor center, 33 feet tall with 36 columns representing the 36 khans from Genghis to Ligdan Khan. [1]

Photograph contributed by Amy Colbert.

Video from MONGOL DERBY The longest & toughest horse race in the world 7th Aug – 17th Aug 2024 accessed 2024-10-23.

[1] after https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_statue_of_Genghis_Khan accessed 2024-10-23.

Patrick Tokarz, Kiwanis New England, and Bermuda District Division 17 Lieutenant Governor thanked and discharged our retiring board members and installed our 2024/2025 board at the beginning of our 51st year last Saturday, September 28, 2024. Above Patrick is installing Tom Watson as president.

Reed Ameden, Ed Hutchins, David Weber, and Harry Spencer have completed their terms as directors. Karen Chrisley, Phyllis Gary, and Steve Thomas are continuing with the second year of their two-year terms.

2024/2025 officers beginning one-year terms are Dan Lerner, treasurer; Bob Uzenoff, secretary; Amy Jenner, immediate past president; Harry Spencer, president-elect; and Tom Watson, president.

By Dan Gilbert

Three GREAT guys – Dave Burns, Bill Flanagan, Tom Johnson, and I did a GREAT job at the Bigelow 5K on Sunday, September 29, 2024.  We’d never distributed Reservoir Run flyers at the Bigelow race. It was a very productive morning, with parking concentrated at the exit, entrance ramps, and railroad station.  I placed a flyer on the WEBE 108 FM van. Next up, SoNo on October 6^th.