by Carl Clarke
On September 22nd, the Kiwanis Club of Abingdon, VA celebrated its 65th anniversary at the town's multi-purpose Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. Special guests included Capital District Governor Bob Cressy, Governor-Designate Art Riley, and Governor-Elect Tom Ganse. Since Abingdon is an historic community 2 ½ hours southwest of Roanoke, VA, all three had driven eight hours from Maryland to participate in the ceremony.
Also in attendance were Potomac Region Trustee Jonnie Mann, Division 8 Lt. Governor Jon Rife, Division 8 in-coming Lt. Governor Brian Wills, and the club's own division trustee, Jack White. Malcolm Sprinkle, president of Kiwanis in Bristol, TN, presented the club with long-lost original programs printed when the Abingdon Kiwanis Club received its charter on October 27, 1942.
During the gala emceed by Club President Bob Craig, members George Strong and Gerry Henninger were singled out for special recognition for their long-term and yeoman service as treasurers of the club. Jack Neimann, former Hixson Award winner and a tireless volunteer in the club's fundraisers, received a special plaque from Lt. Governor Jon Rife.
The gala included music, elegant hors d'oervres, and the longest head table that anyone in Abingdon has ever seen. The event was organized by former president and Division 8 Lt. Governor Mickey Tyler.
The evening's special treat was a digital video recapping the club's numerous programs of service to Abingdon and surrounding Washington County over 65 years, assembled by members Jonathan Platt and Joe Goodpasture.
Capital
District Governor Bob Cressy speaks at Kiwanis
of Abingdon's
65th Anniversary celebration. |
 |
Governor-Designate
Art Riley speaks at Abingdon's 65th Anniversary
celebration. |
 |
Abingdon
members George Strong and Gerry Henninger were
singled out for special recognition for long-term
service as treasurers of the club. |
 |
Jack
Neimann, Abingdon club secretary and tireless
volunteer, received a special plaque from President
Robert Craig. |
 |
Malcolm
Sprinkle, president of Kiwanis of Bristol,
TN, presented the Abingdon club with long-lost
original programs printed when Abingdon received
its charter on October 27, 1942. |
 |
Mickey Tyler and the Men of Constant Sorrow entertained the 65th Anniversary audience with "Sunshine on the Hill." (l. to r.) John Dellis, Jonathan Platt, Gerry Henninger and Mickey Tyler. |
 |
In August, Abingdon Kiwanis also completed its second largest fundraiser, a service project in which members staff the front gate of the Antiques Market at the Virginia Highlands Festival. The Festival draws some 250,000 visitors from the southeastern United States during its 16-day run. Members volunteer more than 510 man-hours to collect admission fees for a small percentage of the gate receipts. It is a massive coordination task, but one that allows Kiwanis to return approximately $6800 to programs for children in Abingdon and Washington County.
