We learned more about the proposed new Kiwanis Playground in Chandler Park at this weeks meeting. Mark Peterson (pictured above) brought a graph displaying the types of equipment it will feature. Click here to see a larger picture of the playground.
Mark is the President of Midwest Sales Company of Bettendorf, Iowa and designs playgrounds and skateparks including new ones in Colchester and Havana, Illinois.
He said all the equipment is ADA accessible and includes swings and climbing ladders and is designed for the 5-12 age group. There's a metal slide, rather than plastic. Mark says that's because "a metal slide will be more tamper resistant than a plastic one."
Installation would be handled by our club with local volunteers. Mark said "it can be done in about 8 hours with about 15-20 people" and he would be there to supervise.
Mark says "the first step is to get the pit ready, that's the actual area where it will be installed. Holes are dug and measurements taken. The deck is installed first then the rest." He recommends beginning on a Friday night getting the area ready then use Saturday as the build day. After the playground is completed, he comes back the next day for a visual inspection and brings along tools to test all the connections.
President Tim Moss said the project will cost about $24,000 plus another $6,000 for manufactured mulch. The city has agreed to prepare the grounds and provide the mulch. The Board has recommended we use $10,000 out of current funds to "prime the pump." We need to raise an additional $14,000 but Tim says "we have a plan." We are working on getting 501(c) status for donations that will be eligible for a tax write off. Jeremy Benson and his wife Angie have announced that they will contribute $500 as a matching contribution. We have also discussed fundraising projects at the upcoming Art In The Park, where we sell ice cream bars and have information available including the large poster that Mark brought. We also plan to solicit funds from the community and hold a fundraiser in February. Tim suggested maybe doing paved stones to recognize donors that would be placed in the area. These stones could be engraved with the name of those making donations. Debbie moved we set aside $10,000 for the project and go forward with additional fundraising projects. That motion was seconded by Owen Thompson and approved on a voice vote of the members present.
John Moon (pictured above with the playground chart) personally donated $1,000 to the playground fund. Thanks to John for making this very generous contribution!
Debbie Vandemark says "the giant graphic that Mark brought showing the layout of the new Kiwanis Playground is on display in the lobby of Macomb City Hall."
Upcoming Speakers:
9/1 - Jeff Nemeth-wind energy
9/8 - Gregg Woodruff-new tax developments
9/15 - Bill Polley-Western Illinois economic conditions
9/22 - Alissa De Roos-her HOBY experience
9/29 - Tim Moss-the state of the club
President Tim Moss presided. Following the Pledge of Allegiance and the Kiwanis Pledge, John Moon led us in singing "Take Me Out To Kiwanis" and Chuck Nicholson gave the invocation.
Special guests were prospective member Joe Eichacker with Edward Jones, Macomb School Superintendent Dr. Alene Reuschel and Vicky Torreson-Vice President of the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce.
Tim announced that incoming Lt. Gov. Nancy Clayton of Monmouth is asking all club members to complete a club survey. Tim encouraged everyone to print and fill it out and bring the survey to one of the next meetings
Tim received some patches at the recent District convention. One was for our participating in the Kiwanis Bowl-A-Thon, which we won. Proceeds go to spastic paralysis.
Tim presented Rick Bulger with the I-I District Website of the Year award patch.
This is the third year in a row our club has won this award!
George Hermann (on right) won a special award from the Kiwanis International Foundation (KIF).
George was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for his generous support of the Kiwanis Children's Fund, part of the KIF Sustaining Donor program.
Thanks to George for all you do for Kiwanis and the community!
Owen Thompson - Happy to show Mark Peterson, our guest speaker, his picture in the Colchester Labor Day Celebration booklet for their playground
project. Another one for his granddaughter visiting last week.
Pat Stout - Happy for Mary Haney and Waneen Stout who made him
tell a story about them being card sharks playing canasta at the Country
Club. Mary and Waneen gave up their last hand of canasta to go to our picnic last week. Pat said that "even though they weren't there, Waneen still won a drawing at the Country Club."
Jerry Carlson - Happy to put one in for himself and one for
'Fred.' Who's Fred? Jerry announced a doctor in Springfield told him he
needed to go in for a stent procedure. Jerry named his stent 'Fred' and says he's "heart
happy now!"
Debbie Vandemark - Happy Mark remembered to bring along some
posters to promote our playground project. Another one for the picture that
appeared in the local newspaper showing that we support literacy.
Kiwanis gave a $250 donation to the READY bus.
Tim - Happy everyone enjoyed themselves at his house for the picnic
last week. Another one to announce a contest. He didn't
tell us what the rules are but it's a treasure hunt. Somewhere
out there is information about Kiwanis and you have to find it.
The only clue he gave us was that "it's in an unlikely place." When pressed, Tim did give another clue which is "you will find it doing things you would normally do and "watch your mail." ??? Wonder what "it" could be?
Jay Carter - Flags of Love will fly in Chandler Park on Labor Day. There are 771 flags and Jay says "it takes a whole community to put them up in the
morning and take down at night." He also mentioned the Macomb High School Marching Band will have a March-A-Thon on the Macomb Courthouse Square
Friday, September 11, and all veterans are invited.
Tim won the 50/50 Drawing (again!). He donated his share to the Salvation Army.
Following the regular meeting, the Macomb Kiwanis Club Board of Directors voted to recommend moving the regular meeting location to Wesley Village and having all members pay for meals weekly.
Wesley Village was selected due to its convenient location, room setup, quality of food and ample storage for Kiwanis related items.
The meal fee will be $8 and can be paid weekly when a member attends a meeting, or pre-paid in advance. Members will no longer be billed for meal costs along with dues fees.
In addition, members will be required to phone in their reservations so we can give Wesley Village a number for meal planning. A plan is being formulated on the best way to handle that and will also be explained at a future meeting.
The various dues schedules now in effect will be eliminated in favor of one category only with all members assessed $40 per quarter.
Both measures must be approved by a majority of the club membership at an upcoming meeting in September. The changes would go into effect October 1 with the first meeting at Wesley Village scheduled for Tuesday, October 6.
Thanks to Walker Robb for providing the information that Glenn Davis of Galesburg has won the Kiwanis Louis Amador Award. You can read the story here.
The latest edition of the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District "Illeiowan" newsletter is now online.
Check out previous Builder newsletters by clicking on a date below.
