By
the time you read this, the proposed Strategic Plan has
been reviewed in two increments by the District Long
Range Planning Committee,
those incremental results have been endorsed by the
District Board, and four of the eight District Regions
have had
the opportunity to attend presentations on "VISION: 20/15", to include the Strategic Plan. Between now and mid-April, all remaining Regions
will share in that opportunity. From there, all input
from all sources will be considered before the Board
endorses a final version of the Plan. That final version
will be presented to the House of Delegates for ratification
in Richmond this Summer. Once ratified by the delegates,
the plan belongs to the District membership and the
District Board will be charged with executing it. excerpted from "Senior Beacon" March 2008; submitted by Bill Stabler
The
mission statement for Kiwanis International states that
is it dedicated to "changing
the world one child and one community at a time."
To make that happen in the 96 countries it works in takes a great deal of planning and organization. There are county projects, state projects, national projects, and even worldwide projects going on simultaneously.
As Lieutenant Governor for the Capital District Kiwanis, David Benway knows he's one of many cogs that keeps this machine moving.
Benway is a member of the Kiwanis club of Gaithersburg, Md., and also oversees seven others in Montgomery County. He helps plan the agenda and coordinate donations and events. The Gaithersburg chapter helps organizations such as Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children, the Manna Food Center, Children's Miracle Network, YMCA and American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, among others.
Last summer, the Rockville club celebrated a new partnership with Hearts & Homes' Redl House, a therapeutic group home in Rockville for boys 6 to 12. The partnership kicked off with a picnic and pet show. They also donated $1,400 to help the boys attend summer camp.
A chapter in Montgomery Village assists the organization First Book in collecting and distributing books for low-income children.
And in Prince George's County, a chapter is working to educate parents and children at a local elementary school about childhood obesity. They want to help other chapters replicate their work in schools throughout the Washington area.
One project that Benway is especially proud of took place after a tornado in 2002 damaged parts of La Plata, Md. A clean-up crew went there to help with recovery efÂforts. The La Plata residents were so happy, Benway said, that they started their own branch of Kiwanis there.
Local Kiwanis clubs have also established "aktion clubs," a project that allows disabled people to visit or raise money for those less fortunate than they.
"Kiwanis means so much to us because
we're able to give back and to see where it's going," said
Benway. "It's the firsthand knowledge of being able to
help somebody, and themcoming back and helping others."
Pictured right, among other good works, Montgomery
Village Kiwanis Club members help collect and distribute
new
books
to low-income
children.
