Lindenhurst Kiwanian January 2019

Kiwanis Club of Lindenhurst, N.Y., Inc.

Serving the Children of the World

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Lindenhurst Kiwanian Vo l u m e

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Jan uar y

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‘Twas the Season of Kiwanis A Joyously Busy Holiday Season and Happy New Year!

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2019 Mid-Year Convention

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Guest Speakers

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Kiwanis Kalendar

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Circle K Projects

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Welcome Back

Inside this issue: President’s Message

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Lt. Governor’s Message

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Kiwanis Kalendar

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Circle K Lt. Gov. 3 Charles Hager Literacy Partners

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Schedule Change

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In Memoriam: 4 Charlie Groeling

By: Paula Magdalena-Vidal and Ralph A. Somma

The Kiwanis Club of Lindenhurst had a joyfully busy holiday season. On Dec 2, with the help of Key Club, we hosted our annual Children’s Christ-

tures with Santa.

We helped local senior citizens celebrate at the Rainbow Center Park throughout the holiChristmas holiday luncheon day season. The event on Dec. 6. raised over $3,000 for In conjunction with the Lin- local families in need. denhurst Community Cares Finally, our annual club Coalition, Lindenhurst Kiholiday party was celewanis took part in “Spirit of brated at BACCA Arts the Community Light Up Center where members Lindy”. The club was one of and guests enjoyed a spemany civic groups and busicial performance of It’s a nesses who donated money Wonderful Life: A Live for a tree which was decoRadio Play by the Phoenix mas party where local kids rated by its members with and their families enjoyed ornaments made by our Key Repertory Theatre Group under the direction of a complimentary breakClub. The trees were disfast, magic show and pic- played at Irmisch Historical Paul Lichtman and James Black.

Scout Pack No. 645

Boy Scouts By: Melody Anne Butler On January 25 the Pack will after host its annual Pinewood The boys and girls of Cub completDerby featuring handmade ing their Scout Pack 645 have been racing cars. In February, quite busy learning, servArrow of ing, volunteering, and hav- we’ll host a drive to support Light ing fun with council hikes, the Babylon Animal Shelter advancements. popcorn sales and pancake and visit the shelter to learn how homeless animals are All are welcome to attend our breakfasts, to name a few.

Pinewood Derby and Blue and cared for and placed into In November, the scouts loving homes. March 2nd is Gold Award Dinner. Please participated in the annual contact Cubmaster Melody Lindenhurst Veteran’s Day our Blue and Gold Awards Butler dinner where scouts receive Parade. In December, we (melodyanne521@gmail.com) hosted our first toy drive to their advancements and for more information. achievement badges and benefit Good Samaritan Webelos Scouts will become Hospital Pediatric Unit.

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President’s Message: Welcome Back By: Ralph A. Somma

in Kiwanis. Then, as his involvement in extracurricular activities grew, mine diminished. There was a period of about seven years where my membership was “active”; but not really. When my son beThat’s right ... wavering! came more independent, I It’s not that my commitment to returned and was welcomed to Kiwanis with open arms. the mission of Kiwanis ever floundered. Rather, it was my Eventually, I accepted a position on the board and now availability that fluctuated. as president.

When my son was just a babe, I had ample time to participate Kiwanis understands that the balance of family, work, At my installation as President of the Kiwanis Club of Lindenhurst, I shared my wavering experience during the 15 years I’ve been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Lindenhurst.

life and Kiwanis can be difficult. It’s never too late, no matter the reason, to recommit to the mission of Kiwanis “Improving the world one child and one community at a time.”

The start of a new year is a great time to commit to community service.

If you’ve been away from Kiwanis for a while or would like to join, we could sure use your help and would welcome you with open arms!

Lt. Governor’s Message “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”

Mahatma Gandhi

By: Lt. Gov. E. Janice Bar

I wish you a very happy and healthy new year.

I am happy to report that our Suffolk West Division is off to a great start and our clubs are busy planning their fundraisers for the upcoming year.

We’ve been growing steadily since the start of our Kiwanis year in October. This is certainly good news. With new members come new ideas, different interests and ventures into unchartered territory.

The New York District Mid-Year Conference is at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, Friday, February 15 through Sunday,

February 17, 2019. There will be several interesting forums and Suffolk West will host a hospitality room to allow members to meet and socialize. You can register for the hotel and convention at http:// kiwanis-ny.org/ I look forward to a very successful 2019.

Kiwanis Kalendar Jan 25 - Pack 645 Pinewood Derby. Albany Ave. School Feb 7 - Guest Speaker: Maureen Mantesta, LI Birthday Wishes

Feb. 15-17 - NY District Mid-Winter Conference. Albany Feb. 21 - Deer Park/North Babylon Divisional. South Bay Diner Feb. 28 - Guest Speaker: Capt. James Vaz, US Army Mar. 2 - Food Pantry Collection. Stop & Shop. West Babylon Mar. 14 - St. Patrick’s Day Dinner & Raffle Apr. 12 - Country Music Dance Party III Jan. 23 – Happy Birthday Mark Dawson Jan. 24 – Happy Birthday Kelly Drummond

Volume 2, Issue2

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Charles Hager Circle K Lt. Gov. By: Paula Magdalena-Vidal

The Kiwanis Club of Lindenhurst was honored to welcome Long Island Circle K Lt. Governor Charles Hager as guest speaker at our first regular meeting of the new year. Charles. a senior at Adelphi University, is a Lindenhurst Kiwanis club scholarship recipient and the son of Lindenhurst Kiwanian, Chuck Hager.

and clean drinking water. They recently sponsored an event at Washington Square Park where participants carried five gallon water jugs to simulate the burden of those having to carry available water long distances. Donations were raised to benefit the Thirst Project. During their recent food drive – Stuff the Bus – NY Circle K collected 1800 pounds of food to donate to Island Harvest, a Long Island food bank.

Circle K is the collegiate service leadership program of Kiwanis International. For their GoverThe 33 colleges that comprise the nor’s Project, New York Circle K New York Circle K district have has adopted those in need of food embarked on a signature project

Literacy Partners By: Lisa Kropp, Director Lindenhurst Mem. Library

Local libraries are built to serve their communities’ cultural, educational, and recreational learning needs. Certainly, the foundation of strong library service revolves around all forms of literacy – educational, digital, literacy, financial, etc. One of the most important groups we serve are the children of Lindenhurst.

When I joined the Kiwanis Club of Lindenhurst, I wondered how their

– Mind Your Mind – that strives to combat the stigma of mental illness through education, increased awareness and the provision of resources to individuals, families, schools and communities to promote mental health.

Circle K also helped paint, repairs and winterize Kamp Kiwanis this past fall.

Thanks for your leadership Charles.

We are proud to say you are a member of the Lindenhurst Kiwanis community.

mission of “improving the world one child and one community at a time” could mesh with that of the Lindenhurst Library: “to provide a community forum where quality services and lifelong learning opportunities are offered to all.”

Several current programs come to mind. Our STEAM based early learning programs promote literacy with a focus on science, technology, engineering, arts, and

math. Our early childhood story time sessions – Brilliant Babies and Tot Spot – focus on the five early learning concepts of talking, singing, writing, reading, and playing to help provide children a strong start upon entering Kindergarten. We also offer one-on-one reading sessions to help young elementary students gain valuable practice reading out loud to Chester – a certified therapy dog – who is always up for a good story!

There’s Been a Schedule Change!

By: Ralph A. Somma

With so much going on and all the wonderful new ideas in the works, there just never seems to be enough time.

In order to address the needs of our club, we’ve decided to move our board meeting to the first Monday of the month and add

an additional regular club meeting in its slot on the first Thursday of the month.

On Monday, February 4, the Lindenhurst Kiwanis board will meet at 6:30 pm at Panera Bread in West Babylon and on Thursday, February 7, a

regular club meeting will be held at 6:30 pm at Goccia D’oro II at 485 W. Montauk Hwy. Lindenhurst where our guest speaker will be Maureen Mantesta of LongIslandBirthdayWishes.org which provides birthday parties for homeless children.

Hope to see you there!

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.

Kiwanis Club of Lindenhurst, N.Y., Inc. Serving the Children of the World PO Box 406 Lindenhurst, NY 11757 Phone: 631-388-7891 Fax: 631-587-1760 Email: lindenhurstkiwanis@gmail.com www.lindenhurstkiwanis.org

Since its original charter on April 5, 1950, the Kiwanis Club of Lindenhurst has proudly served the children of its community and the world through the dedication and sacrifice of its members and supporters. Thank you for helping us continue the mission of Kiwanis.

For more information about Kiwanis or our club, please do not hesitate to contact us or be a guest at our next meeting. We’d love to have you!

We meet at 6:30 PM on the 2nd and 4th Thursday at Goccia D’oro Restaurant 118 S. Wellwood Ave. Lindenhurst

In Memoriam: Charlie Groeling By: Paula Magdalena-Vidal

Charles Groeling, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Lindenhurst since 1993, passed away on Dec. 10, 2018 at the age of 79.

the top prizes. He worked the Steak Fry with his wife, Janet and his children and grandchildren shucking corn and manning the soda booth. He

Charlie was president of the club from 1996-97 and again from 1999-2000. He was a recipient of the Arthur P. Jones Fellowship Cup Award in 1994.

Charlie is remembered by our members as “someone who supported everything the club did”, “generous”, “a man who never said ‘no’ to anything”, and “was at every event.”

For many years he cochaired the annual Steak Fry and donated some of

stored items from year to year in the club’s trailer and maintained it for the club. He could be seen fixing the lights on the Christmas tree at the club’s monument on N. Wellwood Ave. Members recall him going to

winter conventions and up to Kamp Kiwanis in Taborg, NY to help with spring clean ups. These trips were enhanced by stops at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino nearby the camp. He enjoyed playing the machines in Atlantic City.

Charlie was a resident of Amity Harbor and owner of Red’s Auto Body and then East Hoffman Auto Body in Lindenhurst. He was predeceased by his wife, Janet and is survived by two sons and two daughters, and grandchildren.

All club members recall and agree that Charlie was there for his family and friends no matter the time and day—a true Kiwanian who will be dearly missed.