Greenfield Junior High Builders Clib

Greenfield Central Junior High Builder's Club incoming president Esther Michael presented the club's report to Kiwanis on Tuesday.  The Builders Club is one of four youth clubs sponsored by the Greenfield Kiwanis.  Esther related that club collected over 2000 cans of food for the food drive, decorated a bus for the Christmas parade, organized a Valentines Day Dance, and raised money for local charities. Doug Apple, faculty adviser for the club for the past thirteen years was praised by club members for his service to Builder's Club and as a teacher in the school system.  Mr. Apple will be retiring at the end of this year.

Junior States of America

Daniel LaBore and James Colter spoke to Kiwanis about the Greenfield Junior States of America chapter.  The mission of the Junior State of America is to strengthen American democracy by educating and preparing high school students for life-long involvement and responsible leadership in a democratic society.

In the student-run Junior State and at JSA summer schools and summer institutes, participants learn statesmanship as they engage in political discourse. They cultivate democratic leadership skills, challenge one another to think critically, advocate their own opinions, develop respect for opposing views and learn to rise above self-interest to promote the public good.

Greenfield has 20 students in its chapter.   Daniel LaBore is a senior and past president of the chapter.  James Colter is a sophomore and incoming president of the chapter.

Greenfiled Intermediate K-Kids

Katie Creamer, adviser; Ellei Coleman; Angie Bishop, adviser; and Taylor Johnson.

Greenfield Intermediate K-Kids Club reported on their activities to the Kiwanis club on Tuesday.   K-Kids clubs at Greenfield Intermediate and Maxwell Intermediate club have members in 4th, 5th and 6th grades.  The Kiwanis also sponsor a Builders Club at Greenfield Junior High, and a Key Club at Greenfield Central High School.

The Greenfield Intermediate Club has about 20 members.  They are sponsored by Angie Bishop and Katie Creamer.  Taylor Johnson and Ellei Coleman members of the club reported on Pink Day, the canned food drive, coin containers for Leukemia, and their nursing home project.  The Leukemia project raised over $1,000.  The club made paper flowers for nursing home residents and will return next month to visit residents and play games with them.

Toastmaster of Greenfield

Dr. John Lebore with Kiwanian Benny Eaton.

Dr. John LeBore spoke to Kiwanis about Greenfield Toastmasters.  Toastmaster International was founded in 1924.  Greenfield Toastmasters is a local chapter of Toastmasters International, a non-profit organization which gives its members the opportunity to develop and improve their public speaking and leadership abilities through local club meetings, training seminars and speech contests. Toastmasters International includes more than 199,000 men and women in more than 9,300 clubs in more than 70 countries. 

Toastmaster members learn by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment. Each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice conducting meetings, giving impromptu speeches, presenting prepared speeches, and offering constructive evaluation.

Greenfield Toastmasters also sponsored a Youth Leadership program for youth aged 11 – 17.  The program had 6 graduates this year.  Greenfield Toastmasters meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Ameriana Bank at 1810 N. State Street in Greenfield, Indiana. For further information email info@greenfieldtoastmasters.org or see their website www.greenfieldtoastmasters.org

Relay for Life June 13-14

Brooke Melton and Nicole Roland of Relay for Life

Brooke Melton and Nicole Roland spoke to Greenfield Kiwanis about Relay for Life which will be held June 13 and 14 at Greenfield Central High School.  The relay funds 80% of the needs of the American Cancer Society.

The Relay includes a Survivor’s Lap, Luminaire Ceremony, and food and games in a family friendly environment.  The funds raised are used to fund cancer research.  The American Cancer Society is the largest non-governmental funder in the United State.  Road to Recovery® which provided cancer patients with transportation to and from treatments is also funded by the Relay.  Look Good…Feel Better®, another program funded by relay, teaches women battling cancer beauty techniques to help them improve their appearance and self-image during chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Last year, Relay for Life – Greenfield raised over $75,000.  The goal for 2014 is $85,000.  To become involved as a sponsor, volunteer, or survivor see www.relayforlife.org.

My Very Own Book

 

Grant Gellert, a Greenfield-Central Senior, told Kiwanis about his project, “My Very Own Books.”   Grant is a member of the Student Leadership Academy at the high school.  The academy requires that each senior have a project.

Grant participates in Project Read Up at Weston elementary where he tutors 3^rd grade students in reading.  Many of the students would like to take books home but the books must remain at the school.  While working on another program to provide school supplies and back packs to at risk students, Grant realized that it would be good if each back pack had a book in it as well as the supplies.   Last year, Grant raised money and donations from friends, Youth as Resources and the Kohls Cares programs to provide 262 books to distribute.  They ran out of books about half way through. 

Grant would like to expand the program this year so that all the eligible students in the county could receive a book.  The books are purchased from Scholastic Books at a very deep discount.  Contributions can be sent to Greenfield Central Schools, 110 West North Street, Greenfield, Indiana 46140.  Write “My Very Own Books” on the memo line of the checks.

 

Past Presidents Remebrances

Front Row from left, Bob Gullion, Karen Kleine, Fred Applegate and Dan Riley

Back Row from Left, Steve Emmons, Scott Kleine, Carmen Hall, Bill Redmon, and Bob Bogigian

Nine past presidents of Kiwanis spoke to the club about their year as president.  Bob Bogigian spoke about membership growth and the fun all had as we tackled new projects.  Steve Emmons noted that during his term that the club members began donating a children’s book to the Hancock County Public Library on their birthday.  Fred Applegate presided over the club the year that the K-Kids Club was chartered at Eden Elementary  and sponsored a student to attend the People to People program in Australia.

Carmen Hall, the second female president of the club talked about the increase in membership from 64 to 95 members and the 4,000 carrots the club sold for $10,000.   She also noted that the highway cleanup program began during her term.  Karen Kleine noted the highlight of her year was getting to know the members and that the club helped make all of the projects a   success.  Bill Redmon noted that the J. B. Stephens Elementary K- Kids Club started during his term.  Several past presidents mentioned J. B. Stephens who was an active member of the club until his death at the age of 100.  Bob Gullion noted that his year was the vagabond year as we moved from Victorian Rose to the American Legion and later to Willies Restaurant.  Scott Kleine noted that Randy Ollis, WISH Channel 8 weatherman was a guest speaker during his term.  He also noted that efficiencies were made in setup for the Entertainment on the Plaza.  Dan Riley noted that Bill Redmon brought school bus simulators to club and that the toilet paper drive for the food pantry began during his term.  All agreed that the job was enjoyable and urged anyone who had an opportunity to agree to be President.