Federal Coordinating Center

Dr. Shane Robbins, Superintendent of Mount Vernon School System, spoke to Kiwanis about the Federal Coordinating Center where his title is Lt. Col.  In 2017, Lt. Col Robbins was activated on 48 hours notice to staff a Federal Coordinating Center, near Fort Jackson, in Columbia South Carolina. 
The activation was due to the problems associated with Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  Robbins has been in the Armed Services for over 30 years.

The Federal Coordination Center (FCC) Columbia team was responsible for receiving patients evacuated in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria on flights from either Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, evaluating the patients, and then setting them up with care at a local hospital. FCC Columbia, a team led by U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers, was the first Department of Defense team to be activated and receive patients in history. FCC Columbia was a joint operation between the Army Reserve, active Army and multiple civilian agencies.

The team performed this service coordinating with Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, U.S. Public Health Service, and hospitals and human services agencies in the Columbia area.  They place 64 patients over a period of 28 days.  

Dr. Robbins is leaving Mount Vernon Schools to be Superintendent of Kershaw County School Board in Camden, South Carolina.  Camden is about 35 miles from Fort Jackson and Columbia SC.  Dr. Robbbins quipped that his GO bag will now be smaller.

League of Women Voters

Donna Steele, President of the League of Women Voters of Hancock County

Donna Steele, President of the League of Women Voters of Hancock County presented information about the League to Kiwanis.  The mission statement of the League is "We envision a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate. We believe in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy.  The League is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public."

The League has 300,000 members nationally who are members of 700 local leagues.  The Hancock County League  has 25 members who meet quarterly at different locations throughout the county.    

Ms. Steele talked of different priorities for the League which included changing how redistricting maps are drawn, voting rights, and supervising elections in partnership with the United Nations.  

 

Regreening of Greenfield

Sally Parson of Regreening of Greenfield reported on the state of trees in our city,  Regreening began as a classroom project by Marciann McClarnon and was incorporated in 1989 and will celebrate their 30 year anniversary in 2019.    With support from the city the group began planting, tending and givng away trees.  Each year on Arbor Day the group distributes seeding.

Regreening in partnership with other groups plant and tends all the street trees in the City of Greenfield.  Each tree planted including labor costs about $100,   The group attempts to assure that bio-diversity is maintained so that loss of one species such as the elm or ash trees will not devastate the entire city. 

Sally pointed out that the group depends on support from the City of Greenfield, Greenfield Parks Department, Greenfield Power and Light, Indiana Youth Challenge, and the G-CHS Rover team for assistance in accomplishing all the work that must be done each year.

Lt. Governor attends club meeting

Rose division Lt. Governor Julie Henderson of Cambridge City introduced herself to the club on May 29.  Other members of the Cambridge City Evening Club attended with her.  She invited all the members to go to the District meeting this year which will celebrate 100 years of partnership with Riley Children's Hospital. 

Hancock Health Volunteers

Barb Kauchak, Kiwanis President with Dawn Earlywine of Hancock Health

Dawn Earlywine, Director of Volunteers at Hancock Health spoke to Kiwanis about the volunteer opportunities at the hospital.  The volunteers at the hospital contribute enough manpower to be the equivalent of 38 full time employees whose compensation would total over $1.5 million dollars. 
The visible volunteers are at the information desk but others work in billing, the call center, and even assist with Rock Steady boxing program and the hospital's fresh produce distribution program.
Dawn sated that she believes volunteering helps your mental state, your community, your hapiness, and friendships.  For more information on volunteer opportunities call 317.462.5544. 

Lisa Smith, Foster Mother

Lisa was a licensed beautician working in her home when friends started talking about fostering children and that is when she started fostering herself.  Since that day, she has been the foster mother to over 100 children, 8 of whom she adopted.  
Lisa told Kiwanis the process of being a foster parent and discussed the system of foster parenting at length.
She talked about how much they are paid for fostering and is an advocate for changing the law from only protection for the foster parent to also having laws to protect the children. 

G=CHS Key Club

Left to right:  Scott Kleine, Kiwanis Advisor; Michelle Marler, Faculty Advisor; Halle Wynn, Key Club Vice-President; and Dan Riley, Kiwanis Advisor

Halle Wynn, Vice President of the Greenfield-Central High School Key Club reported on the activities of the club and answered questions from the membership. 

The Key Club has 15 members and meets every other Friday at 8 am.  This years projects included Trick or Treat for Riley Hospital, Unicef Fund raising, Birthday bags for the Food Pantry, and the CF Walk. 

Key Club is a youth program sponsored by the Greenfield Kiwanis Club.