Falls Kiwanis Club welcomes new board members

The Sheboygan Falls Kiwanis Club recently held their 2009 installation and awards banquet at Richard’s. Outgoing president, Pastor John Putnam recapped the year and reiterated what Kiwanis means and what their objective is.

“The name `Kiwanis’ means `we trade’ or `we share our talents,’” Putnam said. “It was coined from an American Indian expression, Nunc Kee-wanis.

“Kiwanians are volunteers changing the world through service to children and communities,” Putnam continued. “Kiwanis members, worldwide, help shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, mentor the disadvantaged and care for the sick.

“They develop youth as leaders, build playgrounds, raise funds for pediatric research and much more,” Putnam added. “No problem is too big or too small. Why? Because working together, members achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone.

“Kiwanians are ordinary people performing extraordinary work,” Putnam said.

“We have some of those ordinary people among us, who have done extraordinary work,” Putnam pointed out, “and they need to be recognized.”

Kevin Kolb was recognized for doing the research and working with the City Park Board in April to successfully plant 20 trees. This idea had been floating around for the year prior and when the club finally took action, Kolb was the person to take that final step and followed through to see that the project was completed.

Nancy Verstrate, club secretary, had come upon an idea to have the club sponsor a food drive and challenged the club in the bringing of a bag of groceries, or a couple of items, each week to the meetings.

The endeavor brought fun and excitement as well as a huge accomplishment, especially when she would give a weekly report from what was donated the week before.

“One week Nancy would declare that we had 52 pounds and the next 36,” Putnam explained. “Each and every week she would give us the count.

“Finally, I can’t remember who asked, but they said, ‘Nancy, how in the world do you get the poundage each week?’” Putnam said. “At this, Nancy replied, ‘I stand on the scale holding the bags!’”

Rae Ellen Weber was also recognized. She is not a member of Kiwanis, but being the spouse of Paul, her interest in being a liaison for the high school Key Club has proved to be a huge success.

“Our local Key Club, over the past few years, had been struggling,” Putnam said. “Whatever the issue had been, the membership had dwindled and even brought into question whether the club would survive.

“With Rae Ellen as the staff liaison, the Key Club has a larger membership role now than in its recent past,” Putnam continued. “It’s involving themselves in community events and areas of service like never before, and has once again become a vital service organization within not only the high school, but within our community as well.”

Retiring board members Lee Gumm and John Hirsch were recognized for giving “their extra time, sacrifice, a listening ear and a true commitment to service.”

The current board members are Mary Blaha and Rhonda Anderson (2010), Jeff Jenkins and Eric Hesselink (2011), and Chris Audino, Dave Wessel and Mike Heinen (2012).

Kiwanis officers are Brian Passehl, president; Darlene Navis, first vice president; Kevin Kolb, second vice president; Nancy Verstrate, secretary; and Carl Paul, treasurer.

The worldwide Kiwanis membership contains: • About 8,000 clubs in 96 countries; • More than 260,000 adult members; • Approximately 320,000 youth; and • Each year Kiwanis clubs sponsor nearly 150,000 service projects raising more than $107 million.