Final plans are underway for the Second Capital District Key Leader Weekend being
held April 25-27th at Arlington Echo in Millersville, MD.
The menus have been selected, the camp visited by Capital
District Key Leader leadership, and registration well underway.
All we need are for the Kiwanis Clubs to be sure their sponsored
youth participants are getting registered and subsequent
invoices paid. Woodbridge
Kiwanis Club and its Sponsored Youth Clubs
by Al Knehans
THE WOODBRIDGE KIWANIS CLUB CELEBRATES THE 61ST ANNIVERSARY OF ITS CHARTER NIGHT AND RECEiVES A KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL "DISTINGUISHED CLUB" AWARD FOR 2006-2007
On the evening of March
13, the Woodbridge Kiwanis Club celebrated the 61st
Anniversary of its Charter Night at the Montclair Country
Club. As with other Charter Nights, it was a gala event.
Guests of honor included: Governor of the Capital District
Kiwanis, Art Riley, Past Governor of the Capital District
Kiwanis, Warren Kane and his wife Dale, and our very
own Charter
Member, Howell Barnes and his wife Nellie. Other guests
included: members of
the Manassas, Battlefield, and Arlington Kiwanis Clubs
and members from the Forest Park, Gar-Field, and Hylton
Key Clubs and the Woodbridge Middle School Builders
Club. The featured speaker, Randy Acosta, Area Executive
Director of the Prince William/Manassas Boys and Girls
Clubs and his assistant, Caroline Brodeuer, gave a
very interesting Power Point Presentation on the functions
and activities of the Boys and Girls Clubs. Another
"WOW" presentation was given by members of the Key
and Builders Clubs in highlighting their school and
community activities during the year.
The ultimate highlight of the evening, was when the Club were awarded an official Kiwanis certificate, stating that it has been designated a Distinguished Kiwanis Club for 2006-2007. The certificate was signed by Nelson Tucker, President of Kiwanis International. This is an especially noteworthy achievement, as it puts the Club in the top tier of nearly 16,000 Kiwanis clubs located in more than 70 countries and geographical areas around the world. The special recognition associated with this outstanding award, was achieved by the dedication and hard work of the members of the Club and its Sponsored Youth Clubs. All members are to be congratulated for this outstanding accomplishment.
Another high point of the evening, was when the Club gave a check for $500 to ACTS (Action in the Community Through Service) Food Pantry. The check was significant for two major reasons. First, the shelves at the pantry are almost bare. All types of food was urgently needed!! Secondly, for all cash donations made to the Food Pantry during March 1 to April 30 timeframe, the Feinstein Foundation, will match the donation. So, the Pantry will now be able to purchase $1,000 worth of food, instead of the $500. They get double the value. This was $500 very well spent!!
THE PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY SCHOOL FOOD DRIVE FOR THE "ACTS" FOOD PANTRY
During the last two months, the Woodbridge Kiwanis Club's Hylton High School Key Club had conducted two food drives for the ACTS (Action in the Community Through Service) Food Pantry. This seemed to be a very good project for all our Sponsored Youth Clubs, so we were in the process of planning a food drive; when the Supervisor of the Food Pantry, was informed that all the schools in Prince William County, were going to conduct a County-Wide Food Drive on April 24th and 25th, for both ACTS and SERVE (in Manassas). This is great, as ACTS, and probably SERVE, really needs the food. Because this drive occurs in April, both agencies will receive a $1.00 contribution for each pound of food items donated from the Feinstein Foundation. Essentially, doubling the value of the food received.
THE STORY BEHIND THE WOODBRIDGE KIWANIS CLUB AD IN THE POTOMAC NEWS
In early February, a member
of the Woodbridge Kiwanis Club, received an invitation
to attend the Potomac News Ad!mpact presentation at
the Old Hickory Golf Course, on February 14. Each attendee
would be entered into a drawing to win a brand name,
large screen HDTV. The member figured that there was
some gimmick to it, so he set it aside. A few days
later, he got a personal invitation to attend from
an Advertising Account Executive at Potomac News and
decided to go. When he arrived at the presentation,
he was informed that each attendee would receive a
free 3 column X 5 inch Ad in the Potomac News. We didn't
win the TV, but, we did get the Ad. Several days later,
he submitted some facts on our Club. It looked more
like an article in the club newsletter, than an Ad
for the newspaper. He figured that the Potomac News
would just add the Kiwanis logo in the background and
that would be it.
When, we got their draft of the Ad, we were totally amazed and pleasantly surprised at the product. The photo of the kids, that they added at the top, was a perfect representation of what the Ad was all about, ie: our Club, our Sponsored Youth Clubs, and our support to the community. It couldn't have been better. The Ad was published on February 27, in the sports section and, again, the next day in the Life Section. The Ad (with the notation "A Kiwanis International DISTINGUISHED CLUB" FOR 2006-2007"), will be run again on March 27, in the Fest insert in the Potomac News and the Manassas Journal Messenger. This time, the Ad will cost $450; but it is considered a very good expenditure, because of its wide distribution and the fact that a lot of students will be looking at the Fest Section. Hopefully, the Ad will get the attention of potential new Club members, some school Principals wanting to develop Sponsored Youth Clubs, and students wanting to join these clubs.
NEWS FROM THE HYLTON HIGH
SCHOOL KEY CLUB, A SPONSORED YOUTH CLUB OF THE WOODBRIDGE
KIWANIS CLUB
by Sarah Smits and LeAnn Strang
Caring…..Our Way of Life
This is the motto of the new Key Club at C.D. Hylton Senior High School. The club is always looking for opportunities to show caring and kindness. In celebration of "Random Acts Of Kindness Week" (Feb 11 - 15), the Hylton Key Club participated in several activities: On Monday, club members distributed paper hearts with candy, announcing "Random Acts of Kindness Week;" On Wednesday, club officers kicked-off a "Share the Love" campaign by supervising a table during lunches where students could fill out and send valentines to teachers and counselors (for free); also on Wednesday Key Club members collected nail polish for an upcoming visit to Ruxton Retirement Home and books and toiletries for the students at JDH; on Thursday, the Key Club started a food drive for ACTS, and on Friday, the Key Club sponsors, LeAnn Strang and Sarah Smits delivered a car load of food for the men at the Winter Drop-In Shelter.
Other Hylton Key Club projects this year have included: Happy Thoughts Table on Fridays, participation in the Homecoming bonfire, ARC Halloween Party, Veterans' Day Bake Sale (donations made to Men's Winter Drop- In Shelter), Operation Turkey (sorting and bagging), and a visit to Ruxton Retirement Home.
The Key Club is having fun spreading positive vibes throughout the school and providing opportunities for the students to do good things for the community. The students have plans to visit Ruxton Retirement Home again, host another ACTS food drive, make sandwiches for the Winter Drop-In Shelter, send positive notes to the students at the Juvenile Detention Home, participate in a chartering ceremony with the Montclair Kiwanis Club, help to sponsor Hylton's Alternative Prom……and more!
BENEFIT LACROSSE GAME, SPONSORED BY THE WOODBRIDGE KIWANIS CLUB, FOR THE KEY CLUB THAT IS TO BE ESTABLISHED AT THE POTOMAC (VA) HIGH SCHOOL, BEGINNING NEXT SCHOOL YEAR
Several weeks ago, Frank Dunn, who has agreed to be the Faculty Advisor for the new Key Club that is going to be developed at Potomac High School, beginning next year; asked if the Woodbridge Kiwanis Club would like to sponsor a benefit lacrosse game at his school. Of course, we said we would. Frank is also the coach of the school's lacrosse team.
The game will be played on April 17, beginning at 7:30 pm, at the "Chuck Coles" Stadium, at Potomac (VA) High School. The Potomac team will be playing the Richmond Shock. Profits from the game will benefit the American Cancer Society and surviving cancer members of Potomac. A 50/50 raffle will be held, with 50% going to the Cancer Society and 50% to the winner. The cost of the tickets will be $5:00. As people buy an admission ticket, they should put the name of their favorite lacrosse player on the back of the ticket. The winning player will receive a prize. The action and entertainment will be continuous, as there will be a shootout during half time and members of the Builders Club will act as ball boys/girls during the game. Table displays will be set up by our Club and our Key and Builders Clubs; plus the Potomac Hospital's Mobile Health Van will also be there. Good luck to the Potomac team!
