Kiwanis News

Kiwanis Rose Parade float wins trophy

2009-01-05T18:42:00Z

Msnbc.com
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28462176/

The 120th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade began under sunny skies, warm temperatures and thousands of people still stuck in traffic jams trying to find parking places, police said.

A float called "Entertaining Expedition" and featuring towering, feathery trees won the Sweepstakes Trophy this year, and the Princess's Trophy for most beautiful float under 35 feet went to "Sharing The Great Outdoors," Kiwanis International and Phoenix Decorating Co.

Third local Kiwanis Club planned

2009-01-05T18:41:00Z

Group organized for morning meetings

Mlive.com, Ann Arbor, Michigan, News
http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/news-30/1230968420131270.xml&coll=2

Ann Arbor will soon have a third chartered Kiwanis Club designed for those who'd like morning meetings of the service organization.

Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor-Morning Edition reached the magic number of 25 people required to become a chartered club on Dec. 3, said Fred Model, membership growth chairman for the Michigan District.
It's the first new club in Ann Arbor in 10 or 15 years, he said.

Club President Bela Sipos said the new club grew out of interest in a morning meeting.

Model said the Plymouth Road area on the north side of Ann Arbor has been without a club for many years. The Morning Edition club meets Wednesdays for an hour at Flim Flam Restaurant and Deli, 2707 Plymouth Road, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The club will be officially chartered by Kiwanis International on Jan. 17 at a ceremony in the downtown club's building at 200 S. First St. It received sponsorship from Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor-Downtown, and about 10 clubs in Washtenaw County have been invited to attend the celebration, Model said.

There are about 200 clubs in Michigan. A new club is about to be chartered in Livingston County in Howell as well.

At one time, there were six Kiwanis Clubs in Ann Arbor, Model said. Today, there is the downtown club that meets Mondays in its building at noon and Ann Arbor Kiwanis Club-West that meets Tuesdays at noon at Weber's Inn, 3050 Jackson Road.

Sipos said once the new club is officially chartered it will determine its individual mission. Nonprofit charitable groups are welcomed to contact members about support.

"We're excited about giving back to the community,'' Sipos said.

50 children get to ‘Shop with a Cop’ at Kmart

2009-01-05T18:40:00Z

Maui, Hawaii, News
http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/513093.html?nav=15

KAHULUI – Fifty children got to eat breakfast and shop for Christmas presents in Kmart with members of Maui's finest in the "Shop with a Cop" event.

Thirty Maui police officers participated in the event, which is meant "to give children the opportunity to see that the police are friendly and here to help them," said Lauren Tanouye, event coordinator. "Many at-risk youth have the potential of meeting a police officer for the first time when the officers are taking away their parents or arresting them for some reason."

The youths were selected by Maui Family Support Services, which identified the 50 disadvantaged youths.

This was the fourth annual event, coordinated by the Kiwanis Club of South Maui.

The day began at 6 a.m. with a breakfast, presentation of a gift and a visit with Santa, all provided by Kmart and its employees. Then with the assistance of Maui police officers, the youths went shopping, using $100 gift cards—$60 of which came from assorted donors and $40 from Kmart.

"We wish to acknowledge Kmart, Akimeka, Kiwanis Club of Kahului, Memory of Maui, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Maui Prince Hotel, and the members of the South Maui Kiwanis Club for their generous donations that made this event a positive and memorable one for the participating youth," said Tanouye.

The Kiwanis Club of South Maui is involved with projects to help children and inspire families.
For more information on the Kiwanis Club of South Maui, visit www.southmauikiwanis.com or call Tanouye at 879-1720.

The South Maui Kiwanis meets at 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Stella Blues Cafe.

Wozniak named Kiwanian of the Year

2009-01-05T18:38:00Z

Erwin, Tennessee, Record
http://www.erwinrecord.net/Detail.php?Cat=LOCALNEWS&ID=58576

A member of the Kiwanis Club of Erwin for only three and one half years, Jim Wozniak has jumped into the community service role and not only succeeded in raising thousands of dollars for club projects but fueled the drive to build the club’s first park.

“Even with all his various achievements within the club, he will be most remembered for initiating our current project, a new Kiwanis Park,” said Sarah Bailey, current club president. “During his presidency and even now, he has worked tirelessly to ensure that his vision of a new park in Erwin comes to fruition.”

By an overwhelming majority, club members voted Wozniak as the Kiwanian of the Year for 2007-2008. “It was a huge honor,” Wozniak said. “I am touched that the club gave me the award.”

Wozniak dedicated the award to his wife, Emily, and 12-year-old son, David, whom he said were understanding and supportive of the time he dedicated to the club.

“I didn’t spend that amount of time just to get an award,” he said. “I truly enjoy what we do. I find it enjoyable and fulfilling.

“I derive a lot of pleasure from working with Kiwanis, where we are able to help others.”
He described the weekly Tuesday lunch meetings as “fun” and filled with a near brotherly and sisterly bond that can only be achieved by those of no family ties.

“What I enjoy most is the service work,” Wozniak said. “That’s what it is really all about. I joined the club to do things like the Christmas shopping tour, cleaning the Adopt-a-Spot and working toward building the park.”

Just a year after joining, Wozniak was elected to serve as vice-president. It was during this time that he quickly established himself as a leader within the club.

“His good humor and easy rapport with other members helped him find other members who were willing to work hard alongside him,” said Bailey in her speech to honor Wozniak. “Under his leadership as vice president, the pancake breakfast profited $2,500 and gained lots of local attention.

“After serving as vice president, he moved directly into the position of president, a position he gladly and wholeheartedly took on. As club president, he took great strides to make sure that every member of the club knew what was going on and what projects and activities were happening within the group. It was under his leadership that our Kiwanis Christmas Shopping Tour had an extremely successful year and raised more than $16,000 in the community that went directly to local children.”

“What drives me is no matter who you are it is your responsibility to leave the world a little better than what you get it in,” Wozniak said.

Although the award is given to one Kiwanian each year, Wozniak reiterated that many others in the club contribute equal amounts of service.

“The award recognizes an individual,” he said, “but you can’t have a club based on the work of one person. We have an outstanding club. I am not by any means the only one who contributes to our activities. Many club members contribute significantly. On the park, I am getting credit but there are a lot of people who have chipped in—Ashley Whitehurst and Lori Erickson have headed up the committees, and there are others too. The bottom line is we’re all focused on the community, both the children and adults who need assistance.”

This park will be located on the Erwin Linear Trail and will feature a gazebo, open play space and playground equipment for ages two through 12. But the uniqueness of this park will be seen in its equipment that will be specifically designated for children with special needs.

“It’s like an outlet,” Wozniak said. “I don’t fish. For me, this is like a substitute hobby. I am obviously good at Kiwanis. It gives me confidence and leads me to do more.”

The family resides in Johnson City and Wozniak is a parishioner and vice chairman of the St. Mary’s Catholic Parish Council. He is the Erwin bureau chief for the Johnson City Press and is a 2006-2007 graduate of the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class.

Kiwanis project spreads holiday cheer

2008-12-19T14:16:00Z

Members of the Gorham High School Key Club help sort and
wrap gifts for Operation Holiday Cheer.

Marc Badeau has been as busy as a holiday elf the past several months. It’s not easy gathering, wrapping and shipping toys to almost 16,000 children—but that’s exactly what this certified public accountant has been doing, with a lot of help from his friends.

Badeau is president of the Kiwanis Club of Gorham, Maine, and chairman of Operation Holiday Cheer, a project to help ensure all children of military parents in New England receive a gift for the holiday. The project was a hit in 2007, with about 8,000 gifts shipped to kids across Maine. This year, Badeau says, the goal was to reach even more—including families in New York.

“We have 15-16,000 children registered this year,” he says, noting there are about 65,000 military family children throughout New England and New York. “It’s been unbelievable. There is no sleep from about 5 in the morning till about 2 in the morning.”

That’s a normal schedule for any holiday elf, but Badeau doesn’t claim to wear bells and felt shoes. And there’s no magic to speak of. If there were, he and countless volunteers would have very little trouble coming up with the approximate US$500,000 it takes to reach all the children registered this year.

But it’s all worth it. Badeau isn’t a military dad. But he does know what it’s like to be away from family.

“I used to spend a lot of time at the office, busy, and couldn’t be there for my kids,” Badeau says. “I couldn’t imagine what these military kids go through when a parent goes away. Oftentimes, they think the parents leave because of something they did. We figured we really need to do something. These kids are the unsung heroes.”

Jack Savastano, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Manomet-Cedarville in Massachusetts, is chairman of Operation Holiday Cheer in Massachusetts. He says the program is really like no other.

“As far as we know, no one has ever done anything like this before, acknowledged and thanked children of military families for the personal sacrifices they endure,” Savastano says. “This has nothing to do with one’s feelings for or against war or any other military actions. This is to thank the children for all the worry they go through—wondering if a parent will be called up for active service, or if one on active duty will get injured or killed while serving. This is something these children live with 24/7.”

Funds raised in each state are used to provide top-quality gifts to military children ages 16 and younger in that state, Badeau says. Each gift-wrapped item includes a letter of appreciation, a yellow ribbon, and a list of each state’s sponsors.

“I’ve been amazed by the show of support,” Badeau says. “We’ve had a huge number of people come out for our wrapping parties, and we have some major donors who have signed on.”

A few of those donors: the National Football League’s New York Giants, Walmart, Dunkin Donuts, Time Warner Cable and the National Hockey League.

“This is such a great opportunity for recruitment,” Badeau notes. It’s also proved to be a great way to get Kiwanians working with youth in the community. The Gorham High School Key Club members have shown great interest in helping with Operation Holiday Cheer, with many members coming out on cold nights for wrapping parties.

“This program will have a significant impact on the lives of a large number of children who have always suffered in silence and asked for nothing,” says Jason Badeau, Gorham High School Key Club chairman of Operation Holiday Cheer, and son of Marc Badeau. “We raised more than US$8,000 for this tremendous project, and hope to speak at the New England Key Club convention to try and convince other Key Clubs to participate next year.”

Parents and children who have received gifts have been absolutely thrilled.

“There was one little girl who received a Barbie doll,” Badeau says. “That Barbie doll was a favorite gift that year, not because it’s a Barbie, but because of where it came from.

“We also went out to Rockport recently for a deployment. Santa was there, and we took gifts. We got a standing ovation. It’s a cool thing. The parents tell us, ‘You’re helping us with our kids.’”

Operation Holiday Cheer shipped its last gifts of the year on December 15. But that’s not the end of this project. The goal, Badeau says, is to expand into every state.

“Having served in Vietnam, I think that showing patriotism and support of our military children by helping make their holiday season a little brighter while their mom or dad is far away serving their country while being in harm’s way is wonderful,” says Kiwanis International President Don Canaday. “This is a great Kiwanis project.”

Local agency delivers Christmas spirit, joy to children

2008-12-15T18:42:00Z

Greenville, North Carolina Daily Reflector
http://www.reflector.com/news/local-agency-delivers-christmas-spirit-joy-to-children-295978.html

It takes a concentrated and coordinated effort to bring Christmas to 200 children.

They arrive in shifts, loading up on pizza and sweets before caroling at high volume.

Next, there's a visit to Santa Claus, who asks about school, their behavior and their Christmas wishes.
Then comes the best part.

Kiwanis Club “elves” lead them to an open area and hand them a plastic sack full of individually wrapped presents—presents they requested through wish lists earlier in the year.

“It's like a dream come true,” 6-year-old Keyuana cries, grinning and ripping wrapping paper off a High School Musical 3 sticker book. Remote-controlled cars whiz underfoot and razor scooters cruise by.

That was the scene Sunday afternoon at the Minges Unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Pitt County on Fire Tower Road. It's been about a decade since they began their Project Santa program, dedicated to making Christmas wishes reality for some of the area's most needy and deserving children. Local Kiwanis Clubs quickly got involved.

“It's not just random gifts. We found out exactly what that child wanted and what they needed,” explained University City Kiwanis Club President Will Sneed. “For some of them, this may be the only Christmas they get.”

Sneed's organization oversees the fundraising and the gift-presentation portions of the event. They raised around $20,000 this year to ensure each child's satchel held $100 worth of goodies.

The goodies themselves are purchased and wrapped by a team of women from the Greater Greenville Kiwanis Club, and there's nothing lacking. There are batteries for every gadget, helmets for every bike.

“We try to fulfill every wish,” Dawn Broome said of her fellow shoppers. “We put a lot of thought into it.”

By the time everything arrives at the site, Broome said she's just hoping every box has been ticked and everyone is in place. But she and the volunteers get plenty out of the experience, too.

“Once I get here and see the smiling faces and the paper flying and the jubilee,” Broome said, “everything it took to put it together just melts away.”

They have remarkable memories — Kiwanis moments, Broome calls them—of years past: Weeping grateful mothers, a 9-year-old who had never had her own doll to play with before.

Sneed recalled a young girl who stopped opening her presents halfway through. He thought she was saving some for Christmas morning, which many children do. But she quickly corrected him. The remaining gifts were for her little sister, she said.

“It's a phenomenal community thing,” Sneed said. “We're just blessed to give it out.”

Like many other nonprofit and charity groups hurting under current economic conditions, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Pitt County are hoping to trim budgets without cutting back on services during the next fiscal year. But this Project Santa was as much a success as those held during more prosperous years.

“I was a little nervous, to be honest, when we first sent out the letters (requesting donations),” said Executive Director Jay Faron. “But for the most part, the names are the same. There are still generous people out there, even in these times.”

Vilonia organizations receive funds

2008-12-15T18:41:00Z

Conway, Arkansas, TheCabin.net
http://www.thecabin.net/stories/121408/loc_1214080010.shtml

All Santa Clauses don't have to wear red outfits, sport long white beards and holler "Ho, ho, ho," to be the real deal.

But all seem to have one thing in common they are trying to do something good for children. At least the ones working in the Vilonia area.

Friday, members of the Vilonia Kiwanis Club including President Johnny Reed, Jill Bonnema and Jackie Fowlkes presented checks to representatives of the Vilonia Angel's Network and Make A Child Smile to help with providing Christmas for needy children. A new Kiwanis club, Reed said, he wished it could have been more.

"Maybe next year," he added. "We are all about children."

LaRhonda Roberts of Vilonia Angel's Network said the $200 will help that organization meet the growing demand this year of providing Christmas to more than 100 families. Roberts is a counselor at the Vilonia Middle School and has been working alongside a group of volunteers for the past 15 years or so to fill a number of needs for area families from providing shoes to coats to food and toys.

"There are a lot of us here that help with this," Roberts said, modestly speaking. On that note, she also complimented the Make A Child Smile program.

"They took some of our kids," she said.

She turns to many each year for a helping hand, she said. Vann's Restaurant in Vilonia held a spaghetti supper recently providing the organization with close to $1,000.

And, at the school, more than 4,000 cans of food have been collected this year by children and will be distributed to the families. Last year, one family had a need for a stove. A good Samaritan stepped forward and provided that need. This year, Roberts said, there's a family in dire need of another appliance and she's looking for another Samaritan Santa.

"I'm looking for a dryer right now for one family," Roberts added. "The family has one income. They really need this."

Roberts has seen a difference this year than she has seen in past years.

"We are hearing more and more that no one in the family has a job," she added.

Tracy Stocks of Make a Child Smile said the $200 check would also help that organization provide eight to 10 kids with Christmas.

"Or, provide 15 kids with coats," she pondered. "We've given out every coat that we have. We have given more than 150 coats out this year and we are getting emails every day with more needs."

With less than two weeks to Christmas, Stocks said Make a Child Smile still has several stockings to fill.
"We are still short items for teenagers," she said. "We are working on boxes for 120."

She worries about some families falling through the cracks and some children ending up on Christmas morning with empty stockings. She can't stand to think about that scenario--children with tears running down their cheeks as well as those going hungry.

She knows of two families who probably would have been in that boat if someone hadn't anonymously turned their names in to the organization. The two families are connected with 16 children between them, both paying funeral expenses with unexpected losses of income.

"They didn't ask for help," she said. "We discovered the need. It was turned into us. The kids had told the parents they had rather not have anything than let anyone know they were in need."

The names of those two families along with all the others will be kept in strict confidence. Stocks only interest is that the families will have food and the children will have presents on Christmas morning.

Summing up the help that she has received thus far, Stocks said, "The community amazes me. People are good to step forward."

And, she said, it's a good thing. More than 600 children will be helped due to the generosity of others.
"We are seeing so many middle class on the list," she surmised. "It's been a tough year economically for everyone."

Stocks offers words of encouragement for anyone with thoughts of helping.

"You don't know when it could be you needing the help," she said. One of the officers of the Make A Child Smile needed help. She's now in a good paying job and paying other's generosity forward.

Groups ring Salvation Army bells

2008-12-15T18:37:00Z

Stillwater, Oklahoma News Press
http://www.stillwater-newspress.com/local/local_story_348231926.html

The sound of bells and songs rang out across the parking lot of Wal-Mart on North Perkins Road, sounding through heavy winds Saturday afternoon.

Members of the Kiwanis Club and the Junior High Builder’s Club, a community service group, gathered in shifts throughout the day at both entrances to the store to ring bells and collect donations for the Salvation Army.

“It’s fun,” said junior high student Brooklin Jones. “You get to sing and ring a bell and give candy to little kids. Who wouldn’t want to?”

Jones and six other students sang festive songs like “Jingle Bell Rock” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause.”

Shoppers walking by couldn’t help cracking a smile or turning to look at the students. Some paused to drop loose change in the kettle or tuck a dollar inside, and others said “Merry Christmas” as they passed.

“When we sing, we make them more cheerful,” said Audrey Bilye, who was not a member of either club, but decided to come volunteer.

The Builder’s Club does a variety of community-service activities. The group made blankets for people in the hospital in October, and volunteered at a pancake festival several weeks ago. Last weekend, members of the group decorated the Renaissance Center. They hung wrapped gift boxes and presents, and covered virtually every door with festive decor for residents.

“It’s really fun to see their faces,” said Alissa Rate.

Lowell Barto, member of the Kiwanis Club and the Salvation Army Board, rang a bell with students at the far entrance to Wal-Mart on Saturday. He said Christmas season was the time the Salvation Army raised most of its money, and the majority of donations from the red collection kettles or mail requests.

Last week a group of bell ringers at Wal-Mart raised $700. Lowell said he hoped they would have as good of a turn out on Saturday.

Lowell said he has been ringing the bell for many years, long before he became a member of the Board.

He said last year the Kiwanis Club rang bells without the Builder’s Club, and it wasn’t as much fun because there was no singing.

“It’s heartfelt helping people who don’t have as much and whose Christmas is going to be affected by this economy,” Lowell said. “We just have fun doing it, but we also know we’re helping people who really have needs. It gives a real satisfaction.”

Children receive shopping spree for new school clothes

2008-12-15T18:25:00Z

Fountain Valley Kiwanis and fire department volunteers help 25 children pick out new threads at Wal-Mart.

Orange County, California, Register
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fountain-valley-old-2256020-year-volunteers

SANTA ANA With her friend Sierra by her side, 8-year-old Katelyn Rocha skipped through the aisles and looked for accessories to match the outfits she had already chosen.

Cozy slippers? A pink headband? Rocha seemed overwhelmed by all of the choices surrounding her. Ultimately, an entourage of volunteers helped the little girl narrow down her selections to a cart full of long-sleeved shirts, pink corduroy pants, pajamas, a sweat suit and more.

Rocha, along with 24 other low-income boys and girls, each received an early holiday treat this morning—a $100 Wal-Mart clothes shopping spree. The children, accompanied by volunteers who helped to tally up the purchases, cruised through the store looking for new clothes and shoes.

Dubbed "Brittany's Closet," the shopping event is named in honor of Brittany Daniels, a 4-year-old Fountain Valley girl who died in January 2002 from a fatal strain of strep. Daniels was known to be a true girly-girl with a room full of Barbie dolls, a princess bed and a closet filled with outfits and hats.

Shortly after her death and a funeral attended by more than 600 people, Kiwanis members paired up with Fountain Valley firefighters to start an annual event to benefit disadvantaged youth in the community. Donated funds would go towards purchasing school clothes for children – most of whom were identified by the Boys & Girls Club.

Today, about 75 volunteers–including student members of KIWIN's and Key clubs, city of Fountain Valley employees, and city firefighters–shopped with the children and provided a lunch at the fire station in Fountain Valley.

"I'm so excited," said 10-year-old Monique Strather, who received new clothes and toys, along with her 8-year-old sister, Desirae. Their grandmother Joann Pettway, who is raising the two girls, said she appreciated the help, especially during the holidays.

"It is not easy in these times," Pettway said. "They're growing, they're more expensive and they eat a lot."

Julian Crouch, an 11-year-old student at Masuda Middle School in Fountain Valley, said he was most excited about the purple-and-yellow Lakers jersey he picked out during the event. He also selected a Lakers sweatshirt, a few shirts, a belt, skater shoes and two pairs of jeans, with the help of high school volunteers and a Fountain Valley councilman.

"I'm just trying to help," said Councilman Steve Nagel, who is also president of the Kiwanis Club. "It's really cool for us to do this event."

Family’s children live the Christmas spirit

2008-12-09T19:24:00Z

A slice of life as told by Ray Mitchell, a Kiwanian from Indianapolis, Ind.

One of the benefits I get from my Kiwanis Club membership is the opportunity it provides to understand better humanity. The service my club provides allows me to see people as they are and not as they are stereotyped by convention or public opinion.

When I ring bells for the Salvation Army outside a local Walmart store in the cold, or downtown in the heart of the city, I find that you cannot predict who will contribute to the collection bucket (for those of you in other countries, we do this to raise money to help those in need). In fact, more often than not, it is the obviously well to do who won’t even respond to a happy holidays greeting while a child dressed in old clothes will drop in more than they can afford.

My most recent experience resulted in my becoming more optimistic about the future than I was last week. You see, I joined my fellow Kiwanis members at a local store early Saturday morning for our annual clothe-a-child event. I always have some trepidation when I do this, wondering if I will be working with a family that includes unruly children.

Each member of our club is assigned a family who has been selected by a local community organization due to their need to provide their children some winter clothing.

When my assigned family arrived, I found that no parent was joining us as their mother, who was raising them on her own, was working two jobs to make ends meet. There were three boys, a 9-year-old, a 13-year-old and an 18-year-old, who is a senior in high school.

I prepared myself for a morning of frivolous purchase attempts with me reminding them that we had a limit of a few hundred dollars and it had to be used for practical clothes. Was I wrong, they didn’t need me at all!

They decided they would buy for the 9-year-old first, the middle schooler second and finish with the oldest. They chose warm practical jackets, socks, underwear, sweaters and the like.

These boys were gracious; obviously really cared for each other and you know what? They even cared about me.

I wish I had met the mother who has done such a good job. They made sure that each got their fair share of the money we had to spend. They asked for each other’s advice and we had fun together. When we left the store, the two older boys shook my hand, wished me Merry Christmas and thanked me for the day. But best of all, the 9-year-old gave me a big hug and told me he hoped Santa gave me something really good.

These were public school city kids from a family with little money who too often the world thinks of as being the source of so many of our problems. In reality, they were three of the most caring and together kids I have ever met.

Yes, I am more optimistic about the future, because with children like these to manage the years ahead, there is hope. I know I am much better off today than I would have been if I had never met them.

International president visits Kiwanis club

2008-12-09T19:23:00Z

Richmond, Indiana, Palladium-Item
http://pal-item.com/article/20081206/NEWS01/812060303/1008

Kiwanis International President Don Canaday on Friday visited the Richmond Kiwanis Club, where he presided over the largest induction of new local members in memory and was presented a key to the city in a tribute delivered by Mayor Sally Hutton.

Canaday, a resident of Fishers, Ind., was elected president of Kiwanis International at the 93rd annual international convention of the service club in Orlando, Fla., in June. He has visited Richmond on several past occasions, but this was his first as international president.

Canaday was on hand at the Leland Hotel for induction of 21 new members to the local Kiwanis, almost meeting the challenge the International president issued to local club members in August. The local club currently has more than 100 members.

Canaday related stories of the service club's work to assist youth international especially in fields of health care and education.

Kiwanis of Coweta celebrates 14 years

2008-12-09T19:22:00Z

Newnan, Georgia, Times Herald
http://www.times-herald.com/close-up/Kiwanis-of-Coweta-celebrates-14-years--603582

Kiwanis of Coweta recently celebrated its 14th birthday, taking advantage of the opportunity to commemorate some aspects that make the club unique.

Keynote speaker Bill Loftin, charter member of the White Oak Golden K Club, listed just a few, prefacing his list with, "This club has been unique in so many ways."

Kiwanis of Coweta is the only club Loftin is aware of with a female-only membership.

The club was originally formed with an astounding 55 members in 1994. The founding members were dubbed "plank owners," a naval term bestowed on crewmembers of a newly commissioned ship at a time when ships were built of wood and iron for difficult sea crossings, Loftin said.

The club's first president, Donna Ruth Foster, shared memories of a pivotal first year.

Foster recalls the challenge of "learning the Kiwanis language," putting together the club's first auction and fashion show, and the $50 gift Kiwanis of Coweta gave to the Make a Wish Foundation.

"We were so proud," she said, pointing out that that same annual gift is now in the hundreds of dollars.
Foster laughed when she shared what she considered her "biggest accomplishment"—“all my charter ladies came back the next year," she said.

"All in all, we had a wonderful time and, remember, we started without any banners at all," Foster concluded, with a sweeping gesture of the blue-and-gold banners almost completely covered with achievement patches.

Polar Bear Plungers willing to go numb to do good

2008-12-09T19:21:00Z

Port Huron, Michigan, Times Herald
http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20081207/NEWS01/812070304

There was no doubt she was cold.

The question was just what color Alissa Toton's legs were when she ran out of the frigid waters of Lake Huron Saturday.

The 17-year-old Port Huron resident took the icy dip with hundreds of others at the seventh annual Kiwanis Polar Bear Plunge at Lakeside Beach in Port Huron.

Toton's legs were left a reddish-purple shade as she tried to warm up after the event.

"They are numb. I can't feel my toes or my legs," said Toton, who participated in the event for the Port Huron High School softball team. "It was cold. But then you couldn't really feel anything, honestly."

Event chairperson Michelle Shepley estimated that 200-250 people took the plunge.

"This is definitely the biggest turnout we have had," Shepley said.

"It's an activity that everyone can get involved in. We have whole families that come out and do it. And if you don't want to get in the water, you can sit and watch and have a great time anyway."

People taking the dip are encouraged to collect donations for the Kiwanis Club to give to youth-oriented programs.

Plungers wore a variety of attire, from bikinis and shorts to Grinch and gorilla costumes. Temperatures were in the 20s, and 20-mph winds and plenty of snow added an extra chill. There were about 40 yards of slush before any open water, where many dove right in and others sprinted right back out.

"It was amazing. It was such a nice experience," said C.J. Liniarski, 12, of Smiths Creek, who made his first icy dip. "Right when I got out there, it killed."

Missy Delano, 17, of Port Huron, didn't mind the trip in, but coming back out was a different story.
"The first few steps, there was so much adrenaline, you couldn't really feel anything," she said. "But coming back out, you had to run."

Everyone had their own reason for participating in the event, including Rob Neumann, 54, of Port Huron, who had a very honest one.

"I'm nuts," he said. "I like to support the Kiwanis, but basically because I'm nuts."

Kiwanis Clubs need to attract youth

2008-12-01T16:12:00Z

Pembroke, Canada, Daily Observer
http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1323631

The Kiwanis Club of Pembroke received some good news and bad news from its division lieutenant governor.

Glenn Pushman told the club its chapter is in good shape with an active membership that is integral to the community. However, the forecast elsewhere is not so rosy.

In recent years, membership has declined in the Kiwanis Eastern Canada -Caribbean District dropping from 10,000 to 8,600. In Division 13, which includes the Ottawa Valley and the western portion of Ottawa, membership has fallen from 431 members to 309.

Ottawa has seen five clubs go under, while at least six have less than 15 members on their rosters.

"Certainly, we are declining," said Mr. Pushman, who will be succeeded next year by Pembroke Kiwanis Club past-president Jay McLaren.

The main problem is Kiwanis is not attracting youth. Clubs are attracting new members with an average age between 50 and 60, with fewer Key Club high school members seeking to continue with the organization after graduation.

Mr. Pushman illustrated how bad times have gotten for some Kiwanis organizations noting that the night before he oversaw the dissolution of the 65- year-old Brockville club. "They had nobody there, the spark was gone," said Mr. Pushman.

The district recently studied the problem and found the cost of membership is proving too high for some to stick with the club.

Interviews done with exiting members showed some found the club's rituals to be old fashion and outdated, while others saw Kiwanis as a male dominated organization.

There has also been a substantial lack of training for new officers. Clubs tend to have to compete with other activities within the community, he said, while many exist solely for social reasons and offer no incentive to foster new growth. Then there are clubs whose memberships suffer from burnout because they take on more projects than they can handle.

Kiwanis is pursuing some courses of action to stem the membership slide. The organization is recommending membership costs be reduced and that some clubs amalgamate. He estimated 600 members could focus on major projects if clubs pooled their resources.

Kiwanis may also seek alliances with other service organizations and form new clubs in a bid to expand membership.

One pilot project Mr. Pushman is keen on is the launch of a young professional’s wing of Kiwanis, which would appeal to people ages 18 to 35.

As far as creating a new club in each division, he said Deep River might be a possible destination but nothing has been initiated.

Pembroke Kiwanis President Rick Duncan said he appreciates the vote of confidence from the lieutenant governor. He said the area Kiwanis club, which currently has 62 members, has been able to thrive because it has an active membership that wants to be part of the organization. The focus remains to promote the well-being of children through charity, fundraising, the Key and Builders Clubs.

"We've got a large history, we're active and we're getting new members," said Mr. Duncan. "Membership is the health of the club."

Students raise money for Sri Lankan school

2008-12-01T16:11:00Z

Everett, Washington, Herald.net
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081201/NEWS01/712019939

ARLINGTON – Sean Welch helped himself by helping others.

The Arlington High School junior was searching for a way to fit in when he heard about Key Club, wondering what the fascination was with keys, before learning it was an international student-run service organization.

The junior and 15 classmates who make up his school's Key Club want to raise $8,500 to build a new one-room schoolhouse in Sri Lanka. Forty schools were destroyed by the 2004 tsunami that killed 35,000 Sri Lankans, displaced 440,000 more and wiped out 50 homes.

"I really didn't know where I fit in," Welch said. "I really wanted to be involved in the school more and I wanted to be involved in the community a lot more.

Key clubs are part of Kiwanis International, a global organization of volunteers. There are about 5,000 Key clubs in high schools, mainly in the United States and Canada.

"Once I got into Key Club, I just loved it," said Welch, who is now the group's president. "Even though we're a small club, we can have a big impact."

But Sri Lanka?

Kristine Copenhaver, their adviser and the high school's librarian, went through a long list of potential fundraiser recipients with students last year. All were worthy, but students were sold on the idea of providing educational opportunity in areas where it would be particularly valued.

They chose the island off the southern tip of India that has endured decades of civil conflict between the Tamil and Sinhalese people. The Arlington students say the tsunami is a distant memory for most Americans, but the need to help remains great today.

The teenagers also feel fortunate to attend a large modern campus and figure they can spend two years trying to gather the money to build a small school of mud brick that would serve a coastal village.

So far, they have banked about $2,000 through sales of kettle corn, a silent auction, bake sales and a coin drive. They hope to have the rest by June 2010. They recently took their cause to the Arlington School Board, hoping to spread the word about their mission.

Melania Baublitz, a junior who serves as vice president of the school's Key Club, thinks locally as well as globally. She volunteers at a community food bank, but the idea of helping kids lacking what many American students take for granted appealed to her.

"A lot of people around the world don't have anywhere near the resources we have here," she said. "This is something we should be doing."

The Arlington Key Club is working with the Canadian-based Free the Children organization, which argues that education is the best way to break the cycle of poverty. Today, there are more than 500 Free the Children schools serving about 50,000 students around the world.

Copenhaver said she believes her students will add one more school to that total.

"These kiddos are just so committed," she said. "Our group of 16 works hard and they will do what it takes to build that school."