OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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November 25, 2008
Kiwanis member and Salvation Army Captain Susan Thompson (on right with Angel Tree gift tags) spoke about their Angel Tree program. Susan passed around examples of Angel Tree tags with information about actual children that will benefit from donations. The tags show different gift ideas for each child, as well as sizes for clothing. Each childs name is recorded in a ledger for Susan to refer to. No childs name is ever given out. Each child is given a code number and that's the only identification they have.
Families in McDonough County register at the Macomb Salvation Army for Christmas assistance. They can register for gifts for children or a food basket or for both. The baskets have between 15 and 20 items in them. Applicants are cross checked with other providers to avoid duplications. Angels can be chosen from Angel Tree sites at Pella Windows, JC Penney, WIU Union, Heartland Bank, Illinois State Police District 14 or at the Salvation Army office on North Randolph. Susan said, "it's up to the donor, but the average donation seems to be between $40 and $60. Donors put the items they purchase in a bag and then return that bag to the Salvation Army." Each childs name is put on put two angels to increase the variety of gifts they receive. Susan says the Salvation Army get requests for over 300 angels a year and, so far, have nearly 190 signed up this year. Ages are from newborns up to 14. She said the Salvation Army tries to make sure each child receives something for Christmas. She also says a local group is donating wrapping paper so gifts can be wrapped. Distribution is December 23 which is the day we volunteer to help fill and distribute the baskets.
President Tim Moss presided.
Tim says we will vote in December on updating our club bylaws.
A possible vote to establish an Executive Committee that would have the authority to fill-in for the Board of Directors and make decisions about club activities and funding requests has been cancelled. The new bylaws will include a provision to elect seven members to the board of directors instead of five and to change the time they serve.
Jeremy reminded members that "Breakfast with Santa" is December 6 at Macomb High School. Everybody's help is needed to cook and serve pancakes and sausage. There's also two Christmas programs going on at the school that day. Help is needed Friday afternoon at 4:00 to load up grills and equipment to take to the high school. Saturday morning we start setup and cooking at 6 AM. Serving starts between 7:30 and 8. Jeremy says "if you can be there all day that would be great." Any help would be appreciated. Jeremy said letters from the schools have gone out to parents of children we pick up for Kiwanis/K-Mart Christmas Shopping. Children are picked up at 7:30, they're taken to K-Mart for breakfast at 8:00 and then we take them shopping. After shopping, we help the children wrap their presents and then the kids get to visit with Santa. Each child receives $25 to spend on presents for their family courtesy of Kiwanis and Citizens National Bank. Debbie Vandemark reports we still have openings for Salvation Army bell ringing and to help pack Salvation Army Christmas baskets December 23. Here's the updated lists on everything as provided by Debbie. Membership Committee chairman Ken Harp reminded us to emphasize our involvement in December activities as a way to introduce ourselves to potential new members. Ken encouraged all of us to constantly be on the lookout for potential members. Tim had a signup sheet for anyone who wants to order a I-I District polo shirt. The official Governor's visit will be December 13 in the Quad Cities and Tim is planning to attend. If anyone else would like to go, just let him know. Tim read several "thank you" notes. One from the Performing Arts Society for our donation to their recent auction. Another from the Alzheimer's Memory Walk committee for our participation in helping to raise over $22,000 for the Alzheimer's Association of Central Illinois at the Macomb Memory Walk last September. September 19, 2009 is the date for next years walk. There was another note from the Macomb Soccer Club thanking us for letting them use our tables and chairs for a recent fundraiser. The Illeiowan newsletter is going to an email delivery system. The I-I District will provide copies to club secretaries for those members who do not have email addresses. The publication will be printed twice a year, and then delivered via email the rest of the year. Tim says "it's a huge expense to print the magazine and cover the cost of postage." Rick Bulger has prepared a draft of a new Kiwanis Club brochure, a copy of which was passed around for members input. The brochure shows when and where we meet, what our main service and fundraising projects are as well as information about Kiwanis International. The brochure is intended to give prospective members a better idea of who we are and what we do. Tim would like to get the brochure printed and start distribution at our spring Pancake Day. Susan Thompson said our club Christmas party will be either December 9 or 16 at the Sapphire Restaurant, the former Macomb Dining Company, across from Chandler Park. She will be confirming that later this week and we'll have more details at next weeks meeting.
 
The 50/50 Drawing was won by Ken Harp and he donated his share back to the club.
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