Woodbridge Kiwanis Club Activities
by Alan Knehans

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THE NEW KEY CLUB AT HYLTON HIGH SCHOOL IS NOW CHARTERED

In a pleasant surprise, the Charter, banner, banner stand, gong, gavel, and officer pins have been received for the Woodbridge Kiwanis Club's newest Key Club at Hylton High School. This material does not normally arrive July or August. The items will be presented to the Hylton Key Club on June 4, at 2:30 pm, at one of the Club's regular meetings. The Faculty Advisors, officers and members of the Club, can be very proud of their activities this year; as they have been very active in many school and community service projects throughout the year. Congratulations!!!

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MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED BY THE WOODBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL KEY CLUB

As their final project for the year, the Woodbridge HS Key Club awarded a $500 Memorial Scholarship in the name of Daniel Perez Cueva. He was a student at WSHS for a couple of years before moving to Hylton HS, where he graduated. He was killed in the Va. TEch Shootings. The Key Club awarded it to an ESOL (English Students of Other Languages). The recipient, selected by the ESOL teachers, was Vicente Giron Mazariegos.

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NEWS FROM THE WOODBRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDERS CLUB

On June 12th, Steve Keen, Past President of the Woodbridge Kiwanis Club, will be presenting the Charter to the Woodbridge Middle School Builders Club. The Charter was actually received during Steve's tenure as Club President, but for one reason or another, we are just getting around to presenting it. Their Club is our only Builders Club. They have actually been active for several years and during this time, they have had a profound positive impact in their school and their community. For several years now, they have been making the center pieces for the Thanksgiving Dinner at the Woodbridge Senior Citizen's Center. At the beginning of the dinner, the seniors are told not to take the center pieces with them when they depart. After the meal and the seniors have departed, there is not a single piece is left. Very likely, the center pieces will be on the tables of some of the seniors, during their regular Thanksgiving Day dinner. The center pieces have had a lasting impact on the seniors.

Christine Robison, one of the co-founders of the Woodbridge Middle School Builders Club, has announced that she will be retiring at the end of the school year. Through her and Elaine Pighini, the other co-founder of the Club, untiring efforts, they have developed and nurtured a new club, that is filled with imagination and initiative and has made it an outstanding school and community support organization. At the Chartering ceremony, in recognition for her outstanding efforts in establishing and supporting the Club, Christine will be presented with a well deserved Distinguished Service Award.

Thanks, Christine, for all your efforts in giving us our only only Builders Club. Our Club will be using your guidance and expertise in developing other Builders Clubs in our area. We hope that you have a great retirement.

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LIL KEYS, FACULTY ADVISOR FOR THE WOODBRIDGE HS KEY CLUB, IS ALSO RETIRING

Lil Keys, the Faculty Advisor at the Woodbridge High School Key Club, has announced that she will be retiring at the end of the school year. It is going to be very difficult task to replace someone of Lil's stature and experience in Key Club activities. She has been a dedicated and untiring member of the Woodbridge Kiwanis Club for many years. Several years ago, she helped develop a joint effort with our Club's peanut sales in the Woodbridge High School area. For her outstanding support throughout the years, Lil will be presenting her with a well deserved Distinguished Service Award at out meeting on June 19. Fortunately, the Woodbridge Key Club will continue to excell, as the School Principal has announced that Leon Reed has indicated his interest in taking over as Faculty Advisor. Lil says that he is an excellent candidate. Lil is going to try to get him to attend our meeting on June 19.

Lil, thanks for everything and have a great retirement!!!

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THE WOODBRIDGE KIWANIS CLUB'S PARTICIPATION IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS

On May 17, the Woodbridge Club participated in the Special Olympics that was held at Hylton High School. Members involved were Brian Bell, Ken Stang, John Wiley, and Al Knehans. As in previous years, the Club conducted the Softball Throw. For those of you that caught the Potomac News section on the activities, where the Special Olympian was getting ready to heave the soft, Brian Bell was just to the right of the photo; however, that portion of the photo got cut. It was a real pleasure to see the pleased look on the faces of these special athletics as they participated in the events.

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19TH STEAK 'N' STEAK BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB DINNER

On May 19, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Prince William County, celebrated 40 years of service to Prince William County with a Steak 'N' Steak Dinner at the Heiser Boys & Girls Club in Dale City. The guest speaker for the evening was Ken Harvey, a retired linebacker for for the Washington Redskins. He told all the kids in attendance to be proactive, and "Wake up each morning with a smile and tell yourself 'this is a great country I'm living in' " What a great speech for the kids and for everyone else in the audience. Former Redskin receiver Gary Clark also attended and presented an autographed football to Mr. Walvius, for his 40 years of service to the Boys & Girls Clubs. Also receiving an award that night was Mitch Colston, who received the Golden Boy Award. Mitch is the President of the Board of Directors for the Prince William Boys & Girls Clubs and also, is the Secretary of the Woodbridge Kiwanis Club. Prominently displayed in the area was a large copy of a check, indicating the Woodbridge Club had donated $10,164 to the Boys & Girls Clubs during the year.

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WEGMANS' DONATION TO THE ACTS FOOD PANTRY.

Recently, the ACTS Food Pantry in Dumfries, VA, was notified that Wegmans was donating 22 pallets (15,739 pounds) of much needed food to the pantry. The donation will take place on June 3. Our Club may have been responsible for this donation. Several months ago, Brian Bell, President of the Woodbridge Kiwanis Club wrote a letter to Wegmans, requesting that the Club be granted permission to set up their bulletin board during their Grand Opening activities on June 9. Wegmans subsequently notified Brian, that it was against their policy to allow other activities to participate in their opening a new store. However, in the letter, Brian told them that the Club supported many local community service organizations, including the ACTS Food Pantry, a United Way organization, with a designation of #8001. Maybe the letter alerted Wegmans to the fact that the ACTS Food Pantry was operating in the area. One can only surmise, that the Club helped in getting the food.

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THE WOODBRIDGE KIWANIS CLUB SUMMER KARNIVAL AT GAR-FIELD HIGH SCHOOL

The Woodbridge Kiwanis Club Spring Break karnival did not materiallize this year, as the carnival operator stated that they thought that a carnival in our area in late March was a risky venture and they decided not to come. Subsequently, Steve Keen was able to locate a carnival operator that was available to set up in early July at the Gar-Field High School. Hopefully, this venture will revive our operating funds and allow the Club to meet its community service obligations.

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PROJECT MEND-A-HOUSE

At the Woodbridge Kiwanis Club meeting on May 15, Regional Executive Director, Andrea Saccoccia, gave a presentation on the accomplishments of the Prince William County's Project Mend-A-House (PMAH) Organization. PMAH is instrumental in making vital home repairs and safety improvements for the seniors, disabled, and low income residents of the county. Presently, the Club is considering joining this important Community Service operation in the County.

The Club is in the very initial stages, and must consider appropriate insurance, funds for materials, manageable projects, and technical support. A possible first project could possibly be constructing a handicapped access ramp to a house. With limited limited personnel resources, the Club would probably require the assistance of Key Club members, plus specialized volunteers from within the area, to accomplish electrical, mechanical, structural, and other specialized repairs.

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THE WOODBRIDGE KIWANIS CLUB WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE DALE CITY INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE

The Dale City Independence Day parade will be held on Friday, July fourth, on Dale Blvd. The line up will begin promptly at 9:00 am at Kirkdale Road and Dale Blvd. As in previous years, the Club will have and entry in the parade and will be passing out flags and its new organization card. The Club will also sponsor an ad in the Souvenir Parade Booklet that the parade officials will be handing out.