Dictionaries for Third Graders

Kiwanis member Dan Riley (center) shows Karen Kleine and President Bob Gullion a dictionary similar to dictionaries presented to all third grade students in Hancock County schools.  The dictionaries were purchased with a grant written by Kristin Fewell and awarded by the Hancock County Foundation

Balanced School Calendar

 


From left; Ann Vail was introduced by Kristin Fewell to speak about the new school calendar

Ann Vail, Assistant Superintendant of Greenfield Central Schools, spoke to Kiwanis about the new “Balanced School Calendar”. The calendar, which is required by state law to contain 180 days of school for students, will now have the school year divided evenly into four quarters. There will be 90 days in each semester. The first semester will end before Christmas break. After listening to parent comments, she feels the chosen calendar is as close as possible to matching requirements and parent concerns. While not everyone is happy about starting school on August 1, she thinks that the two week breaks in October, December and March will help make up for the August early start. Snow or make-up days are included into the first week of vacations but the second week will be left for vacation planning. Most other traditional breaks will remain with Labor Day off and the two day Thanksgiving break the same. Summer break will be eight weeks.

County Extension Educator

Roy Ballard (center) answers questions from Kiwanian Denny Chapman (left) and Dan Riley.

Roy Ballard, County Agent with the Purdue Extension Office, spoke to Kiwanis. He explained that the County Agent is a very busy person who deals with many programs and promotes activities such as Health and Human Sciences, 4-H, Master Gardener Program, SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education), Farmers Market, Agri-tourism and working with the Hancock County Solid Waste Management to mention just a few. He answers questions from people about lawn care, pesticides, tree problems and how to get rid of moles (you don’t). He advises farmers on organic farming. He advised a way to save Ash trees (expensive but worth it for a tree on your lot but probably not cost efficient for whole woods). Contact him at the Extension Office for further details. He told that there is a new federal law which will certify and audit all farmers as Safe Producers of safe food. For questions or more details contact Roy Ballard at RBallard@purdue.edu.

Deborah Smith, Accomplish Artist and Kiwanian

Deborah Smith was the “Meet your Kiwanian” member at a recent meeting.  She told about her life and showed photos and pictures that she had designed.  Deborah has a studio in her home where she does custom art, portraits in any media, and custom framing.  To contact her, call 462-7793.  She is also an accomplished singer and a twenty-four year member of  the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir as well as Bradley Methodist Church Choir

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.