Our speakers represented just some of the organizations we help out during the year with funding and support. The idea was to explain to our guests and potential
members how Kiwanis impacts the community and encourage them to become involved with our club and help us serve the children of Macomb.
Membership chairman Ken Harp began by explaining that Kiwanis is always looking for ways we can serve. "We are a service organization. We receive funds to serve the community through our Pancake Day each Spring and Peanut Days each fall".
Then each guest speaker got up to explain how Kiwanis is making a difference to their organizations.
Carla Bainter of the Y - She said their recent Informal/Formal was a success and planning has already begun for next years which will be April 16 with the theme "Pirates of the Caribbean." Carla said "Kiwanis helps the Y with learn to swim programs for youngsters and is really helping to make a difference." She mentioned that "Kiwanis bought a boat so kids can learn what to do if a boat tips over." Other programs we help support include ones to help with childhood obesity, a pre-school program with about 24 kids 2-3 days a week, gymnastics
and tumbling. The Y also has a variety of health and fitness programs for adults and their Senior Citizen Center serves about 40,000 hot meals a year along with providing exercise and activities for seniors.
Cathy Rigg of the Samaritan Well - Really appreciates what Kiwanis does as "a great supporter of the Samaritan Well womens shelter." Cathy said she's proud of what Samaritan Well is doing. They serve about 35 families a year, helping them learn how to live productive lives.
Paula Blythe - Librarian for Edison and Lincoln Schools said the Macomb Kiwanis Club has sponsored a Picture Book of the Month program for several years. Kiwanis
buys books for the library, members take turns reading the books to the students and then we donate that book to the library. "We really appreciate the book donations and our library has really grown thanks to Kiwanis" Paula said.
Rose Platt, Principal at Lincoln School - Thanked Kiwanis for all we do including the reading program and helping pay for field trips
Karen Nudd, Lincoln School kindergarten teacher - also thanked us for providing money for field trips for kindergarten students. She said they visited a Bushnell area dairy farm "which was a great learning experience for us because the kids got to see the cows being milked, and the whole process".
A couple of our members then gave a description of some more projects we've been involved with.
Hassan Espahbodi talked about the School Sack Lunch program that we have funded each year in partnership with other service clubs and businesses.
It was discovered that after some students leave school on Fridays, they sometimes have nothing to eat over the weekend. This program provides food and healthy snacks for those students. The program raised about $12,000 last year and Hassan says "we hope to increase that next year".
Tim Moss, Secretary-Treasurer, spoke about the new Chandler Park playground that Kiwanis is building. Tim said "over the years, Kiwanis has been connected
to Chandler Park by helping build the Gazebo and the original playground area on the northwest side of the park. Our new playground will be installed on the
northeast side of the park and is scheduled to be built in October". Kiwanis contributed the initial $10,000 to pay for the new equipment and set a goal of $32,000 to pay for the equipment and a brick patio area. We've been selling engraved bricks to individuals and businesses and he announced that we have now gone over our goal by raising $32,017.09!!!
Ken thanked all the speakers for sharing information on how Kiwanis is helping them and encouraged the guests to consider becoming members of Kiwanis and help
us continue to serve the children of the community.
We had a good turn out for our Special Guest Night. Shown in the crowd are some of the invited guests that included:
Rachel Lester of Wesley Village with Ken Harp.
Andrea Smith, manager of the Hampton Inn and assistant manager Ronalyn Pelayo with Tim Moss.
Connie Fisher, Terri and John Pyle with Sunroom Designers and Father Jason Miller of St. George's Church all invited by Becky Almon.
Yuyun Sejati and Marisol Garrivo with Chris Jones.
September program chairman Jack Elfrink announces these upcoming programs:
September 7 - WIU Economics Professor Bill Polley on the economy.
September 14 - No meeting at Wesley Village. We will be joining other Kiwanis clubs for a picnic at the Monmouth Park.
September 21 - Tim Collins - Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs on biofuels.
