SILVER CREEK – The members of the Southwestern Division of NY Kiwanis recently honored NY District Governor William Risbrook and First Lady Dr. Lavonia Frances as they made their official Governor’s Visit to the Division. This event was held at the Colony Restaurant in Silver Creek and was hosted by the Silver Creek Kiwanis club.
Governor Risbrook met with the club presidents and secretaries before the dinner meeting. The club presidents reviewed the many service projects that have been completed in the division since the beginning of his term (October 1). Each club undertakes service projects within their communities that are relevant to local needs, with an emphasis on the needs of children. Many clubs also sponsor youth leadership programs such as Key Clubs, Builders Clubs and participation in the Key Leader program. They also complete fundraisers to support these projects.
Each year the Kiwanis District Governor designates a project for the clubs to complete. This year Governor Risbrook’s project is Childhood Asthma. The First Lady’s project this year is Fire Safety and Fire Safety Education for children.
Several awards from the previous administrative year were presented to clubs during the meeting. Five clubs were recognized for attaining Distinguished status. To become distinguished a club must have positive member growth and fulfill several service and leadership criteria. Clubs receiving this honor included Falconer, Jamestown, Olean, Salamanca and Westfield- Ripley. The Jamestown club was also awarded a service award for their participation in the Roseland Park playground project. The Salamanca club was awarded a service award for their bike safety rodeo.
The Southwestern Division has Kiwanis clubs in Cassadaga Valley, Falconer, Gowanda, Lakewood, Jamestown, Northern Chautauqua (Dunkirk/ Fredonia area), Olean, Salamanca, Silver Creek and Westfield-Ripley.
Kiwanis International is an international organization of member-volunteers who give more than 6 million hours of service and more than US $100 million each year to help change the world, one child and one community at a time. Any community need can become a Kiwanis service project, especially if the need involves children, who should have the help and the right to lead healthy, successful lives. Kiwanis believes that helping a child helps the world.
If you are interested in learning about a Kiwanis club in your community, contact Phyllis Belin, Lieutenant Governor for the Southwestern Division, at (716)665-5631 for more information.
