On Monday, Jan. 4, Kiwanis of California gathered for a home cooked meal at St. Paul's Lutheran to celebrate a most productive 2015 year. Under the leadership of President Bobby Roll, Kiwanis achieved 15 milestone moments.
Working with young people in the community as well as Military Veterans for the Honor Flight Kiwanis not only was able to enhance and save lives. After the club surveyed the landscape of last year, Kiwanis member Ben Dugan said it all in a non boastful but joyful manner, "We done good!" Indeed a lot of good was done.
One of the major milestones was the California Kiwanis Club reaching its $9,000 pledge to save lives of little babies in Africa through its Maternal Neonatal Tetanus program. Without these tetanus shots little babies die a horrifically painful death. With the shots they live to be in a position to be "all they can be," the meaning of Kiwanis.
Last year Kiwanis joined with the Boy Scouts of the community with the Blueberry and Banana Pancake meal working together to support the Scouts in their good work for the community. Not long after that Kiwanis was busy working with veterans raising money for sending Veterans to D.C. to be part of the Honor Guard carrying out the patriotism aspect of the Kiwanis Charter. Just before the Kiwanis awarded four $750 scholarships to high school students who performed well academically and made good citizenship contributions to the community adorning well the gift of freedom.
One change last year was Kiwanis deciding to meet not every Monday at St. Paul's Lutheran but one the first and third Monday's of the month. To date this has worked well and allowed new members to commit to helping children in the community without having to make an every Monday commitment.
Gene Wickham spearheaded the Cow Patty Scholarship fund raiser and although the cow was more reticent to deliver this year than usual, all that mattered is Cow Patty splattered and the winner of Cow Patty Fund, Norma Jean Martin, graciously gave back to Kiwanis a portion of her winning drop. Martin typified the generous support of the citizens of the community. That same week Kiwanis conducted the fair service breakfast as a give-back-to the community event. Kiwanians want to serve the world, the community and the children.
Along the way throughout the past year Kiwanis supported the Middle School children's effort to send a 1,000 books to African children for the building of a library. They became part of the postage people endorsing this noble effort with monies raised to build good bridges in the world to other children in need. The fifth graders once again raised over $2400 dollars in the Circle of Sharing to give to Kiwanis who in turn added a $1,000 to purchase $100 gift certificates in town for needy families during Christmas time. Cal's Supermarket was great to work with per usual as they added to the certificates making Christmas for children in the community. Along with this Kiwanis supported the Boy's State project and Share the Harvest. Moreover, Kiwanis conducted an essay contest for seventh and eighth graders to write about an aspect of freedom and responsibility fanning the flames of liberty and good citizenship. Kiwanis also has given $1,000 per year the last two years for school beautification projects.
The Golf Tournament during Ham and Turkey week was a blend of hard work and a lot of fun for a great cause. Tyler Davis once again was kind enough to be the key catalyst for this day of good will with great resolve. Thanks to all the merchants and patrons who contributed to the support of children via this venture. Similar thanks go to the community from People's Bank and Charlie Rackers for their behind the scenes help to support children in the community.
During the year Kiwanis was blessed to have guest speakers and one of the highlights was Democrat Editor Paula Earls speaking to us about the nature of her calling and the work of the staff of the Democrat. All the members of Kiwanis went away with a deeper appreciation of what a blessing the Democrat is to the community and how it takes alert citizens to see that one cannot have a newspaper and radio station to advance the good things they do without intentional support.
The meeting ended with Kiwanis members deciding when they would take down the Christmas lights they put up with the help of the city workers. The resolve was to get this done quickly and put good lights in safe keeping for next year. All of this business, good fellowship and celebration we finished in less than sixty minutes.
If anyone wishes to know more about Kiwanis contact Vice President Bobby Roll, President Pastor Peter Kurowski, treasurer Deanna Benne or secretary Norm Rohrbach.