Krsiti Barber HRH Foundation Director

Christi Barber, new Executive Director of the Hancock Regional Hospital Foundation, spoke to Kiwanis. She was introduced by May program chairman, Walt Waitt.

Barber hopes to see the foundation continue to grow and support Hancock Regional Hospital. Presently they are working toward funding of a new Hospice Unit. Barber says the need for hospice care is growing as our population ages. To meet this need, the HRH Foundation has begun raising 3.1 million to fund an endowment which will support the care of hospice patients now and in the future. They have raised $750,000 and will continue fund raising to make the new unit possible.
The foundation also recently awarded eleven scholarships totaling $22,000 for Edith Zike nursing scholarships. Fund raising events on the calendar include the 33rd Annual Golf Benefit on June 17 at Hawk’s Tail of Greenfield Golf Course. Sponsorship contributions provide funding for Edith Zike Nursing Scholarships. For more information about the golf outing, call 468-4583.

October 12, 2011, will be the Women Helping Women dinner. To make a contribution to either the golf outing or dinner or the hospice unit, contact the Foundation at the number above or visit the website www.hancockregional.org.

Economic Development Council for Hancock County

Dennis Maloy, Director of the Economic Development Council for Hancock County, spoke to Kiwanis.  He considers his job as being a salesman (marketing/selling) of Hancock County as a good place to locate and invest.  While working for Hancock County, he spends much time away from Hancock County, making contacts and getting our name out there.  Companies interested in Hancock County need to know about our tax structure, zoning, and availability of work force.  Much information is gathered through web sites but relationships are helpful.  Information usually comes from the state to us, but there are times that it comes to us first, from contacts made by the Council.

Habitat for Humanity

Photo:Janice Boring, guest speaker from Habitat for Humanity, was introduced by May program chairman, Walt Waitt.

Janice Boring, from Shelby County, spoke to Kiwanis about her work with Habitat for Humanity. Habitat International is a nonprofit Christian housing ministry that seeks to make decent shelter available to needy people. By working together in partnership to help build houses, Habitat has built more than 225,000 houses around the world, providing 1 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds with the help of homeowner families. They are sold to the chosen partner family at no profit, financed with affordable mortgages. One of the most familiar names associated with Habitat is that of former president Jimmy Carter.

Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a modest down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor “sweat equity” into building their house and the houses of others.

In Shelby County there is a waiting list of applicants who are screened by a committee and take classes about home management. Janice Boring teaches some of the classes.

Habitat for Humanity’s mission statement is that they are building houses, building communities and building hope. Habitat works in partnership with God and people from all walks of life to develop communities with people in need so every person can experience God’s love and can live and grow into all that God intends.

Mt. Vernon HighTech Academy

   From left; Kiwanian Mike Adkins, program chair for April, introduced Matthew Remmel, student and Tom Shaver teacher from Mt. Vernon High School. 

They presented a fascinating look at the Mt. Vernon HighTech Academy.  The academy was formed with help from an Eli Lilly grant and includes students from all the county high schools.  There are no other academies like this in the whole country.  Students are involved with Rapid Prototyping, Motion Capturing, Animation and 3-D Visions and are learning and using a whole new world of concepts.

SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)

From left; Amy Ingram, sponsor of SADD, with her Mt. Vernon High School students Jackie Hernandez, Ellie Nowak, Savannah Poe and Kiwanian Mike Adkins.

Kiwanis heard members from SADD (Students against Destructive Decisions) from Mt. Vernon High School. The group was originally associated with a group called VOICE that worked against the use of tobacco but the group now advocates against all destructive behavior. Behaviors such as Drinking, Drugs, Smoking, Texting or Eating while driving or anything that might take attention away from driving or living responsibly. The group works to enhance awareness of harmful activities that could lead to problems. They work to educate younger students about making healthy choices. Questions about the group may be directed to mvhssadd@yahoo.com.

New Member Deborah Smith

Deborah Smith, a new Kiwanis member, with her sponsor Kathy Medved.

Sister City Program young

Robert Young was introduced to speak to Kiwanis by friend Nancy Ferdon.

Robert Young spoke to Kiwanis about the problems following the earthquake in Japan. He is a representative of the Sister City Program and told of communications with Kakuda friends. He told of the many problems Japan is dealing with and how we can be of help to our Sister City. Due to the tragedy, there will be no student exchange between our cities this year. Cash donations are being collected to send to Kakuda to use as needed. Donations may be sent to: Community Foundation marked for Kakuda.