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News items and notices are listed within their sections sequenced in reverse order from when they were posted or updated, the newer items appearing above the older.
The webmaster is looking forward to making this page a real "news" page. By that, we mean news items that have aged or notices that should have expired will automatically disappear from this page. However, since some people like to look back at the aged news items from time to time, the webmaster is looking at what can be done to automatically move the older news items to an "Archive" page without having to do too much manual editing of what are basically similar pages. Until this change takes place, please use the datestamps provided for your own personal reference.
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| Marty Wayland |
(Posted October 30, 2004) A lot of things were happening in Anaheim at TCOC's combined Annual Reunion and Queen's Pageant. We were proud to be joined by Nancy Jacoby, the current Miss Tall International. The evening was topped off as TCOC's reigning Queen Debbie Prince passed her tiara on to our newest Queen Marty Wayland.
Marty came to California from Indiana six years ago and has been part of TCOC for two years. She supports herself and her twelve year old prince working as a college administrator.
Marty says she is looking forward to serving as an ambassador for our club during the coming year. Long live the Queen!
Janice Billow and Nancy Freiholtz are commended for coordinating such a great evening.
(Posted October 30, 2004) The TCI Executive Board has chosen TCOC to serve as TCI's Treasurer Club for the 2004-2005 term.
TCOC members named to specific positions are:
— Treasurer: Don Billow
— Alternate Treasurer: Bob Garagliano
— Finance Board Chairman: Jack Hill
— Finance Board Members: Janice Billow,
Nancy Freiholtz,
Gerri Garagliano,
Tonya Klemm, and
Georgia Wedrall.
(Posted August 9, 2004) We were saddened to hear about the death of TJ Van Reusen on August 6th. He passed away peacefully at Saddleback Memorial Hospital in Laguna Hills. TJ is the son of a long time member of TCOC, Eileen Van Reusen. Eileen was a member of the Tall Club of Orange County from 1985 until just recently, when she moved to the Sacramento area, but she still has close ties in the Orange County area, and many of us in the club have watched her children grow up. TJ himself, grew to 6'7".
TJ received one of TCOC's college scholarships. He performed two years of missionary work in the Philippines for the Mormon Church. He was attending law school with the desire of moving to Utah and starting a practice with a college friend.
TJ was only 29 years old when God called him home. He recently had an appendectomy and developed a blood clot in his leg. The clot broke away and traveled up to his lungs and from there to his heart. This caused a sudden major heart attack, and his brain lost oxygen. He was in a deep coma for three days before passing away Friday, August 6th.
TJ is survived by his wife Alysha, his 2 daughters, 3 year old Ainsley, and Kira, age 17 months. TJ was a strong family man, and his deepest joy was spending time with Alysha and the girls. His immediate family also includes his father, Jerry, brothers Carl, David, and Christopher, his sister Julie, and of course, his mother Eileen. He also has a grandmother living in Arizona, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins living throughout the US.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning, August 10th at 11:00a.m., at the Laguna Niguel Stake Center, 22851 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo. The TCOC family sends its sympathy and prayers that God will bless Eileen and and TJ's family and keep them close. If you wish to send a card or note, contact Gayle at 714-963-2275 for information.
(Updated July 22, 2004) TCI Convention is now history for this year. Besides all the fun and parties that naturally happens when tall folk get together, some found time to take care of business, give awards, put together a new Executive Board, review amendments, and crown a new Miss Tall International.
Without further commentary, here are TCI's new Queen and the people and clubs awarded special recognition this year:
The 2004-2005 Leadership positions are as follows:
Three new tall clubs were approved by this years delegates and they are Minnesota Heartland Society, Tall Club of Diamond Valley Lake, and the Metro Tall Club.
TCI Merit Awards were given within TCOC to Margie Richter and Ruthie Scott.
Our own newsletter, The Highlife, made the top 5 finalists for best TCI Club Newsletter for the second year in a row. Kudos to our editor, Nancy Freiholtz.
TCI's 2005 Convention will be July 4-10 in Charleston, South Carolina.
(Updated September 30, 2004) At 7 foot, 7¼ inches, Sandy Allen is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest woman in the world! However her unusual height has caused her various health problems requiring her to stay in a nursing home from time to time and have made it difficult for her to get around strictly under her own physical power and has made her reliant upon using a wheelchair.
But these problems have not stopped Sandy from getting out to talk at local churches and schools. Sandy has always given of her time to talk with children about being different and let them know there is no problem too big to handled if you take pride in yourself and make the best of what you have got. Her honest talk approach with kids about some of the problems she has had to deal with have made them realize their differences are not as big as first thought when you look at them from another viewpoint.
Bonnie Shehan, a friend of Sandy's had been her unofficial chauffeur, using her minivan to drive Sandy to her speaking locations. "It was a bit of a circus act, getting in and out of that minivan," Sandy said.
Sandy's transportation opportunity disappeared in late September when someone stole Bonnie's van. She found another one that had a wheelchair lift and a raised roof, but at $5,200, it cost more than she could afford. Her disposable income is only about $52 per month, 1/100th the cost of the van. She and Bonnie set up an account where those who wished to contribute money towards helping her purchase the van would be able to contact the bank directly.
Wednesday we heard from Mayla Ates of the High Cincinnatians Tall Club, that an anonymous, but generous person donated $5,000 towards the new van. That along with other donations has made it possible for Sandy to buy the van.
In Bonnie's old van, Sandy would have to scrunch up on the floor and it was very uncomfortable to be transported that way. The new van is a big improvement in more ways than one. It has a power lift at the back that allows Sandy to roll onto a platform in her wheelchair at ground level and then be lifted up to the level of the van's floor where she can then roll in and have her chair secured during transport. Instead of being scrunched on a floor like before, she can remain seated and still have about four inches of headroom to spare!
Sandy told Mayla she was very grateful and thankful for the van and for the wonderful friends she has. Sandy said Donald Trump maybe rich with money, but she is rich in friends. Bonnie, her nurse, recently got her van back with little damage.
Bonnie Shehan said the special van account would remain open and that any extra money will be used for the van's insurance and upkeep. Donations can be sent to the "It's Okay to be Different Fund," c/o National City Bank, 102 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, IN, 46176.
(Posted September 1, 2004) Around the end of WWII (1948 for the history challenged), the average American male was 5'10" and the average Dutch male was 5'7". But then the average height of the Dutch male began to increase almost an inch per decade. The average height of a Dutchman today is almost 6'1". This increase is not limited only to the Dutch. Other Northern European populations are showing similar growth patterns. Even the traditionally shorter Japanese are growing taller.
"What about today's average American male?" you ask. He has actually lost a little height, about ½ inch and the female average is down about one-third inch to slightly over 5'4".
Is this difference in growth height-patterns merely a geographical coincidence? John Komlos does not believe that to be true. John is a Professor of Anthropometric History [he coined the term] at the University of Munich. He relates the height differences to better average incomes and not so coincidentally better education that corresponds to the same geographical areas, even in what was supposed to be the classless society of Communist Russia; the better the average area income, the taller the average population.
Some noted differences of height that have been tracked through history were between the American Colonists and the British soldiers during the Revolutionary War and between Britain's poor and upper class 15-year old children during the Industrial Revolution. The Colonist averaged almost 4 inches taller than his British counterpart and later, the benefit of being part of the more wealthy British class during the Industrial Revolution measured a little more than an 8-½ inch taller height average, the biggest difference tracked to date.
The difference between the Americans and the British has since almost completely disappeared. All of this information begs the question, "Why are Americans lost their average height advantage over the British since America has a very high gross national product?" Komlos believes this to be due to the uneven distribution of wealth in America and better access to health care in Europe. He says, "It is not about income levels, just how evenly it is distributed." Despite the high gross national product, about 15 percent of its population does not have health insurance and approximately 35 million live below the poverty line. As a result, many US children eat poorly and have limited access to health care during critical growth years.
Locate other pages that discuss the same topic.
(Posted August 6, 2004) Do you know of Eddie Carmel? Have you seen him? No, he has not made recent news and in fact, died in 1972 at the age of 36. However, his story has been getting increasing attention during the last couple of years after its previous secrecy had been discovered.
Even if you don't know him by name, you may have seen him in film. Many people who watched old "B" grade Sci-Fi movies saw him in "The Brain That Wouldn't Die". He also worked for the Ringling Brothers Circus at Madison Square Garden where he was billed as "The Tallest Man On Earth". All of his jobs seemed to exploit his giantism.
There is a photo of Eddie taken with his parents in their house in 1970 that is part of Diane Arbus' collection, "Aperture".
Eddie was a normal sized boy until he became a teenager and started showing symptoms of acromegaly, then an incurable disease of the pituitary gland that causes abnormal growth. His story is one of not fitting in, of the body betraying itself, and of bizarre life-twists. You can hear his story at Sound Portraits.
(Posted July 28, 2004) (PRWEB report of 7/24/2004) - Some items that have been in the news during the last year regarding the situation of tall airline passengers like us have been about the "Knee Defender" (previously posted here), the law suit filed against multiple airlines by the Tall Club of Silicon Valley (previously posted here) that was later dismissed, current cases regarding Deep Vein Thrombosis, and how to snag a seat with more leg room by "qualifying" for an emergency exit row seat.
The "Press Release" web site discusses these items, although not to any great depth.
Read Flyana.com's description of Deep Vein Thrombosis and how it can occur more easily to flyers. Be aware there will be a pitch to buy a $6 guide that promises to help you avoid this medical condition.
[Thank you Diane Matthisen for bringing this release to our attention.]
(Posted June 14, 2004) (AP report of 10/24/2003) - Every cramped air traveler may have the right to lean his seat back, but Ira Goldman wants justice for the tall person stuck behind the reclined seat — and he's found a way to even the score!
(Posted June 14, 2004) Do you think James Bond, fictional British spy, would be shaken or stirred to find out he would not qualify for a job in today's British domestic spy organization? MI5 recently stipulated that male field agents should be no taller than 5 ft. 11in so they will blend in and not stand out. This is shorter than actors Pierce Brosnan, Sean Connery,Timothy Dalton, George Lazenby, and Roger Moore who have played the role of James Bond and are 6 ft. or taller.
Luckily for James, his employer, MI6 has no such rule.
The Tall Club of Orange County welcomes the following new members:
last content change: 12/31/2005
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