Since Forestry Agent Paul McDaniel is sometimes referred to as "Smokey the Bear", I thought it only appropriate that he be photographed with the forty-feet tall blue bear sculpture standing right outside the Denver Colorado Convention Center - "looking in." The sculpture is made of concrete and polyresin material. Paul McDaniel attended the Kiwanis International Convention and he and Angie enjoyed visiting with family in Colorado. Lynn and I celebrated our twelfth anniversary and I also served as delegate at the Convention. The first thousand registrations to the Kiwanis Convention were awarded tickets to the Rockies Baseball game at Coors Field.
July 4: Before the game, Katrina Baranko, from Albany Georgia, was recognized on the field by the City of Denver as the Kiwanis International President. And Kiwanis International was recognized as holding a convention in the city.
Lynn and I tolerated only one inning in the sweltering sun, and enjoyed the rest of the game in the shade and sitting at a picnic table, while Lynn gave play by play of the game from the internet coverage to others enjoying "the shade". The Rockies won, and when the sun went down behind the mountains, we went back into the stadium and enjoyed the most fantastic fireworks show that I have ever seen.
Neil and Lynn Weathington and David and Katrina Baranko.
More details of the Kiwanis International Convention will follow. An interesting contrast of cultures was seen as the Civic Center also hosted "Comic-Con" during the July 4th week, with costumed attendees arriving as their favorite characters.
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