3 .....A MESSAGE FROM GRETCHEN
4 .....END OF AN ERA
7 .....HEARING AID PROJECT
8 CLUB SPOTLIGHT
12 ...ANNUAL FUND DONORS
15 ...COMMUNITY GRANT STORY
18 ...THIS YEAR’S INSURANCE IS HERE
20 ELECTION & CANDIDATE INFORMATION
REGIONAL DIRECTORS
ALLEGHENY/CANADA REGION
Richard Garipoli
ATLANTIC COAST REGION
Buzz Lewis
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PRESIDENT
Gretchen Nielsen PRESIDENT ELECT
Renee Ward
VICE PRESIDENT
Bea Gabany
TREASURER
Stuart Fujiyama
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jason Camis
GREAT LAKES REGION
Joseph Schneider
GREAT PLAINS REGION
Chris Huether
HEART OF AMERICA REGION
Stephanie Marks
MOUNTAIN WEST REGION
David Oppenheim
SOUTHEASTERN REGION
Lucy Stolfi
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
Cindy Markham
Tina Turner
Graphic Design & Editor Melanie Quinones Content Manager mquinones@sertoma.org
infosertoma@sertoma.orgThe Sertoman is published three times per year for Sertoma members by Sertoma, Inc., a nonprofit service organization comprised of Sertoma clubs across North America. Subscriptions are included in Sertoma dues. Have a story to share with us? Email the editor!
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 1912 E. Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64132-1174
Hello Sertoma family. Many of us are in mid-winter, and I hope you are all staying warm and safe from bad weather. Spring is around the corner, and with spring comes, so do Sertoma events nationally. First up is Regional Conventions. If you still need to register for your Regional Convention, please visit Sertoma.org/events for more information. If you need help logging in, please get in touch with Headquarters for help. Also, the educational sessions will be the same for each Regional Convention, so if your region’s date fits outside your schedule, let me suggest you attend another one from a different region. This will allow you to get the education we have been working hard on, and you can also meet some new Sertoma family members and make great connections.
Second is the upcoming elections. Several members have thrown their hats in for your next Sertoma National Vice President and Regional Director. Elections will be conducted through the Sertoma Member Center at sertoma.org and mail. Once again, if you cannot access the website, please call HQ. I look forward to seeing y’all at Regional Conventions!
“Sertoma Picks LynnHaven” was the title of an article about Sertoma Headquarters’ last move from our first home at 3700 Broadway. After a fire consumed the Sertoma orginal headquarters in the late sixties, a site for a new headquarters was needed, leading us to LynnHaven.
In early 1970, this property was purchased from Research Medical Center by the Sertoma Foundation and leased to Sertoma International. A total remodeling took place, and the building was converted into ten private offices and work areas for the additional personnel.
The real estate section of the Kansas City Star wrote about the purchase of our headquarters saying, “Sertoma International now has a total of more than 7,000 square feet to manipulate for its purposes. The organization plans to keep the residential integrity when purchase plans are completed, for during the move, Sertoma officers discovered how well-suited the house was for their office space. The house doesn’t have the original furniture, accessories, and draperies. Still, the crystal chandeliers, walnut paneling, wall paint in pink, cream, and pale green, and rose-beige wool wall-to-wall carpeting are the same as when the first lady of the home Mrs. Lynn, owned the place.”
As you can imagine, while beautiful for its time, the building no longer fits the needs of this organization.
Twenty-five years ago, Sertoma had 20+ staff, occupying every office space and all three floors. Now with only seven full-time staff and the Hearing Aid Project, it is simply more than what is needed. Additionally, in the coming years, a number of larger remodeling projects would likely be needed, and those would have a significant impact on the organization’s operating budget. In 2021, the Sertoma Board authorized the staff to sell the building. While it’s taken a little longer than initially planned, staff negotiated a better sale price in the end, which will lessen the impact on the budget for the coming years.
A new location for Sertoma HQ has already been identified, and staff is working on a transition plan between now and June 30, 2023. The new office space represents the future: technology-enabled meeting spaces, amenity-rich, functional, and flexible office space, easily accessible to visitors. We will miss the grand fireplace and vintage pink 1950s kitchen, but a building does not make an organization — the people do. The new Sertoma home represents a new era for Sertoma, and we look forward to inviting you, fellow Sertomans, to visit this fall.
• Aberdeen Sertoma Club
• Aiken Sertoma Club
• Alexandria Sertoma Club
• Arapahoe Sertoma Club
• Aurora-Golden Triangle Sertoma Club
• Austin Bluffs Sertoma Club
• Baton Rouge Sertoma Club
• Bill Parker Sertoma Club
• Bismarck Sertoma Club
• Brainerd Area Sertoma Club
• Broad Ripple Sertoma Club
• Cayce-West Columbia Sertoma Club
• Cedar Valley Sertoma Club
• Clemson Sertoma Club
• Darrel Bland Sertoma Club
• Dayton Sertoma Club
• Dry Creek Sertoma Club
• Dubuque Sertoma Club
• Endicott Sertoma Club
• Endicott Sertoma Club
• Fergus Falls Sertoma Club
• Five Flags Sertoma Club
• Five Flags Sertoma Club
• Fort Dodge Sertoma Club
• Gaylord Sertoma Club
• Gleneagle Sertoma Club
• Greenfield Sertoma Club
• Heart of the Ozarks Sertoma Club
• Hearts-n-Hands Sertoma Club
• Hickory-Palos Sertoma Club
• Highlands Sertoma Club
• Hilton Head Sertoma Club
• Jamestown Sertoma Club
• Jeffco Sertoma Club
• Jollyville Sertoma Club
• Kingsport Sertoma Club
• Lafayette Breakfast Sertoma Club
• Lafayette Sertoma Club
• Lexington Sertoma Club
• Lincoln Northeast Sertoma Club
• Littleton Sertoma Club
• Manheim Sertoma Club
• Mansfield Sertoma Club
• Minnehaha Sertoma Club
• Morgan County Sertoma Club
• New Ulm Sertoma Club
• North Augusta Sertoma Club
• North Lake Sertoma Club
• Old Salem Sertoma Club
• Omaha Sertoma Club
• Palmetto Sertoma Club
• Platte Canyon Sertoma Club
• Port Arthur Sertoma Club
• Powell Sertoma Club
• Pryor Creek Sertoma Club
• Queen City Sertoma Club
• Ranch Hands Sertoma Club
• Richland Sertoma Club
• Schuyler Sertoma Club
• Sertoma Club of Columbia, South Carolina
• Sertoma Club of DTC
• Sertoma Club of Fargo Moorhead
• Sertoma Club of Laurel
• Sertoma Club of Mesa
• Sertoma Club of Nashville
• Sertoma Club of Springfield, Illinois
• Sertoma Club of St. Petersburg, Inc.
• Sertoma of Greater Mankato
• Sertoma Promotion Club
• Sioux City Noon Sertoma Club
• Southglenn Country Club
• Southwest Omaha Sertoma Club
• St. Cloud Area Sertoma Club
• Tacoma Sertoma Club
• The Sertoma Club of Bradenton, Inc.
• Topeka Evening Sertoma Club
• Topeka Heartland Sertoma Club
• Utica Sertoma Club
• Wade Hampton Sertoma Club
• West Pasco Sertoma Club
• Willmar Sertoma Club
• Winston-Salem Sertoma Club
• Yellow Rose Sertoma Club
• York Sertoma Club
The Sioux Falls Noon Sertoma Club, SD, has been collecting used hearing aids for Sertoma and Hearing Charities of America’s Hearing Aid Project. Currently, they have 15 collection boxes located throughout Sioux Falls. Drop boxes exist at audiology clinics, funeral homes, and churches; donations have also come from the Lions Club in the area.
The Sioux Falls Noon Sertoma Club contact info is also part of the collection tub, sharing the project’s mission and letting the community know of the club’s efforts and presence. The committee regularly collects from the participating locations two times per year. The community has come together to assit in the project, recognizing the need and supporting the club’s effort.
Club member and project chair, Chris Fischer, shared, “The project was launched in July 2021 and continues to grow. We are very pleased with the local support. We feel like this project certainly does meet the criteria for our overall mission, Service to Mankind.”
Bryan Mulder, president (left), is accepting 385 used hearing aids from Chris Fischer, project chair (right).
The Rochester 700 Sertoma Club donated $17,500 to the Rochester Public Schools Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) department. This donation will allow the Department to continue its efforts to provide an equitable learning experience for students and staff. The donation will aid in the purchase of Phonak Roger Touchscreen Transmitters to aid students in directly streaming sound from their 1:1 iPad to their hearing devices.
The Sertoma Club of Bradenton, Inc. donated $59,000 to renovate the dental clinic at the Turning Points free health center. The renovation allows Turning Points to continue to improve the lives of others and give them hope for their future. Just in the past year, 1,411 men and women received medical or dental care at the health center, and 126 men and women received oral prosthetics in the Dental Clinic.
The Lima Sertoma Club started the new year with high spirits. The club hosted its annual donation presentation with the money received from its Christmas auction. The club contributed to five organizations: the Lima Salvation Army, Children’s Development Center of Lima, Lima Rescue Mission, Samaritan House, and Family Promise.
The Anderson Sertoma Club in Anderson, IN, donated $500 to the Cops & Kids Foundation of the ANDERSON FOP Lodge #48. This donation supports the program, which aims to build relationships between Lodge 48 and the Madison County community. Officers taking underprivileged kids shopping for Christmas presents or school supplies shows those children that the police in their area are friends and are always there to help.
The Uptown Sertoma Club of Spartanburg, Inc.’s 2022 annual Auction for a Cause event raised over $70,000. All proceeds go to benefit Spartanburg area nonprofits. Each agency provides an invaluable service to the community, and the The Uptown Sertoma Club of Spartanburg, Inc is proud to partner with them.
The Minot Sertoma Club completed the 25th year of its annual fundraiser, Sertoma Christmas in the Park. This fundraiser brought in $60,000 after expenses last year, and “that helps us not to have to say no when there are needs in the community” says club member Dave Gowan. Proceeds help support children’s programs, such as speech and hearing at Minot State University.
$5,000 + Oticon, Inc.
$2,000 to 4,999
Darryl Ching
Sertoma Club of Mesa
The Grace A. Crowley Scholarship Fund
Birmingham Metro Sertoma Club
Brainerd Area Sertoma Club
Broad Ripple Sertoma Club
Five Flags Sertoma Club
Honolulu Sertoma Club
Let’s Pave
Mary Elizabeth Martin Scholarship Trust
Sertoma of Greater Mankato
$1,000 to $1,999
Action Sertoma Club
Ameriprise Financial
Anderson Sertoma Club
Andrea Arnold
Austin Bluffs Sertoma Club
Bismarck Sertoma Club
Geneva Britt
Carroll County Sertoma Club
Laura Ching
Clemson Sertoma Club
Bette Colvin
Stuart Fujiyama
Gallatin Sertoma Club
Lois Gau
Gaylord Sertoma Club
Gleneagle Sertoma Club
David Gomez
Courtney Green
Heart of America Region
Heart of the Ozarks Sertoma Club
Irmo Sertoma Club
Jollyville Sertoma Club
Patrick Kravitz
Christopher Kuzlik
Lafayette Sertoma Club
North Augusta Sertoma Club
Pine Belt Women’s Sertoma Club
Port Arthur Sertoma Club
Powell Sertoma Club
Dale Robinson
Timothy Romero
Robert Sall
Lorrina Segovia
Sertoma Club of Laurel
Sertoma Club of Nashville
Sertoma Club of Springfield, Illinois
Helen Sherer
Southern Cross Sertoma Club
Southwest Omaha Sertoma Club
Sparks Sertoma Club
Deborah Spitzer
St. Cloud Area Sertoma Club
The Sertoma Club of Bradenton, Inc.
Topeka Heartland Sertoma Club
Twin Cities Sertoma Club
Uptown Sertoma Club of Spartanburg, Inc.
Weyerhaeuser NR Company
$500 to $999
Aberdeen Sertoma Club
Alexandria Sertoma Club
Arapahoe Sertoma Club
Dale Blankenship
Ray Brooks
Carlisle Area Sertoma Club
Jo Carroll Citrus Sertoma Club
Edwin Dlugopolski
Royanne Doi
Dry Creek Sertoma Club
Dubuque Sertoma Club
Endicott Sertoma Club
Fergus Falls Sertoma Club
Fort Dodge Sertoma Club
Beatrice Gabany
Gateway Sertoma Club
Grand Strand Sertoma Club
Great Plains Region
Greenfield Sertoma Club
Hastings Noon Sertoma Club
Hickory-Palos Sertoma Club
Lafayette Breakfast Sertoma Club
L.R. Lewis
Lexington Sertoma Club
Liberty of Pensacola Sertoma Club
Littleton Sertoma Club
Susan Love
Loveland Sertoma Club
Manheim Sertoma Club
Cindy Markham
Stephanie Marks
Eunice McArdle
Tim McMurry
Meta Payments, Inc.
Gretchen Nielsen
Platte Canyon Sertoma Club
Pryor Creek Sertoma Club
Queen City Sertoma Club
Richland Sertoma Club
Brian Riegel
Sertoma Club of Fargo Moorhead Sertoma, Inc.
Larry Shealey
Sioux City Noon Sertoma Club
Sioux Falls Noon Sertoma Club
South Seminole Sertoma Club
Spartanburg Executive Sertoma Club
Tampa Gem Sertoma Club
Third City Sertoma Club
Topeka Evening Sertoma Club
Tri Village Sertoma Club
Vestal Sertoma Club
West Pasco Sertoma Club
James Wolslegel
Richard Woodard
Woodmen Valley Sertoma Club
Yellow Rose Sertoma Club
York Sertoma Club
$250 to $499
Erwin Arends
Aurora-Golden Triangle Sertoma Club
David Barnes
Donald Bartelmay
Beatrice Sertoma Club
Miko Brandner
Steve Brown
Amanda Brown
Brownsburg Sertoma Club
Richard Carter
Cedar Valley Sertoma Club
Charles Codd
Freeman Coggins
College City Sertoma Club
Martha Collins
Paula Cure
Marcus Daley
Darrel Bland Sertoma Club
Stephen Dawson
Donald Dreesen
Jim Edwards
Charles Failing
First Aviation Sertoma Club
Foliage Sertoma Club of Apopka, Inc.
Peggy Frick
Richard Garipoli
Preston Garner
Dennis Graffious
Great Lakes Region
Conrad Griggs
Dennis Handke
Bruce Hanson
Hilton Head Sertoma Club
Donald Holecek
Christopher Huether
Jeffco Sertoma Club
Lori Keller
Donna Keller
Kingsport Sertoma Club
Charles Lake
Lawrence Sertoma Club
Lebanon Valley Sertoma Club
Lincoln Northeast Sertoma Club
Mansfield Sertoma Club
Skylar Martin
Midtown Sertoma Club of Tucson, Arizona
Minot Sertoma Club
Terry Moehnke
John Moran
Morgan County Sertoma Club
North Lake Sertoma Club
Northwest Austin Sertoma Club
Old Salem Sertoma Club
Omaha Sertoma Club
David Oppenheim
Cathe Picek
Ranch Hands Sertoma Club
Dennis Saylor
Joseph Schneider
Marvin Schrader
Schuyler Sertoma Club
Sertoma Club of St. Petersburg, Inc.
Sertoma Promotion Club
Debra Sharrick
James Sharrick
Southglenn Sertoma Club
Space City Evening Sertoma Club
Audrey Spear
Daniel Spitzer
St. James Sertoma Club
Sumter of South Carolina Sertoma Club
Sunrise of Brainerd Sertoma Club
Tampa East Sertoma Club
Jeanne Tapp
Tulsa Southside Sertoma Club
Renee Ward
Alexandra Waterman
Maureen Williams
Willmar Sertoma Club
Winston-Salem Sertoma Club
$125 to $249
William Allbritton
Eileen Anderson
Rhon Anderson
Dean Arens
Edward Austen
Roger Backhaus
Nancy Bakker
Tamara Bartlett
Baton Rouge Sertoma Club
William Baur
Terry Beck
David Beeson
John Beeson
Vicki Beeson
John Bennett
Ronald Bennett
Mark Benson
Carrie Betzen
Bill Parker Sertoma Club
Nelson Blue
Marvie Bonnette
Larry Book
Terry Boucher
Frank Bouknight
Louise Bouknight
Martha Bouknight
Nancy Brannan
James Bransford
Mary Frances Bransford
Tiffany Brink
Robert Brockmann
Richard Brokke
Michael Brown
Kimberly Bryant
Ray Byington
Alexander Campbell
Randy Carpenter
Rebecca Carver
Joby Castine
John Christensen
Amy Church
Todd Church
Bea Cole
Louise Colletti
Alan Collier
Gene Collins
Stephen Coup
Celia Cuthbertson
Terry Cuthbertson
Jack Daley
Susan Daley
Charlene Dame
Barbara Daniels
David Darby
Susan Darby
Tim Dardis
Dayton Sertoma Club
Jana Delli-Gatti
Barry Dickerson
Patricia Diesing
Deborah Drewel
William Drummond
Gerald Dunn
Norman Dusseault
Susie Duvall
Kevin Dykema
Steve Ellis
J. Steve Estill
Donald Ewer
Lisa Fabro
Carol Farr
Doug Fellers
Louis Fermo
James Festi
David Fischbeck
Susan Fix
Wayne Foster
Robert Foster
William Foster
Suzanne Frasier
Jonathan Gayek
Paul George
Robert Girard
Joe Goehner
Geoffrey Goodman
Greater Tampa Sertoma Club
Alan Grimsley
Duane Gritzmaker
Donald Hampton
George Hampton
Wanda Hampton
Dale Hand
Gloria Hand
Richard Hansen
K. Pete Hansen
Tommy Harman
Dana Harper
Lavella Harrison
William Harrison
Deborah Hartman
Chuck Hazama
Timothy Hazel
Hearing Loss Association of America
Hearts-n-Hands Sertoma Club
Kenneth Hendrix
Patrick Herzog
Richard Hettinger
Vicki Highstreet
Billy Hixon
Leonard Hogan
Eden Holt
Michael Hoppman
William Howell
Roger Hull
Nancy Humphries
John Hussar
Les Hutchinson
Amy Iddings
Waylon Iddings
James Irwin
Roderic Jacobus
Rainer Jakob
James E. Shepard Sertoma Club
Jamestown Sertoma Club
Bill Jenkins
Michael Jilling
Pamela Johnson
James Johnson
Stacie Johnson
Mitzi Jones
Gary Jones
Steven Juhan
John Kehm
Alfred Kelley
Danny Kepner
Steven Kerr
Kathy Kerr
James Kite
Helen Kittle
Kenneth Kluck
David Kolding
David Kolozar
Theresa Kopischke
Eugene Kreinbring
Kevin Kroeze
David Kruse
Jonathan Kubala
Sheryl Kubala
Jeanne Laney
Keith Lavender
Lori Lavender
Richelle Lewers
Carl Linck
Wayne Lines
Mike Long
Margaret Lorren
Marguerite Love
Susan Makosy
Allen Marsh
Gail Maschino
James Mason
Elizabeth Masunas
Elmer Mayberry
John McElveen
Harry McFate
Kyle McGinnis
Charles Meldrum
Eric Merritt
Sandra Milby
Dave Miley
Kevin Miller
Roberta Miller
Charles Moore
Carol Moore
Kevin Moore
Carl Mossberg
Mountain West Region
Gary Murfield
Mike Murfield
Dewitt Myers
Michael Myers
Delane Neville
David Neville
Joy Newman
Caren Noda
Diane Oppenheim
Palmetto Sertoma Club
Daniel Paxton
Franklin Payne
Margaret Peddycoart
Joyce Peluso
Cheryl Pence
Wayne Plagge
James Purvis
Rick Rauschenbach
Sheila Reding
Thomas Reding
Jennifer Reid
David Richins
Terry Riggins
Margie Robinson
Steven Roers
Vickie Romero
Gevan Rudd
Patricia Ruffing
John Runsvold
Jeff Sahr
Robert Schaller
Larry Schluntz
David Schmidt
David Schumacher
Russell Schwalbert
Dean Senne
Dennis Serratt
Sertoma Club of Columbia, South Carolina
Sertoma Club of DTC
Robert Severson
Alva Shomaker
Bruce Shove
Kenneth Shultz
Robert Simons
John Smart
H. Neal Smith
Jacqueline Smith
Shaylene Smith
William Sommers
Emily Sonier
Julia Southwick
Roger Spitz
Kris Stark
David Staudt
Joe Steiner
Lucy Stolfi
Tim Stotz
Warren Stowell
Phillip Strach
Kim Strach
Fred Streetman
Beth Summers
Darrel Surgi
Arleen Swanson
Jim Swanson
Jon Sweeter
Tacoma Sertoma Club
Jean Teal
Linda Teal
Roger Terveen
Sandy Thiel
Steve Thrash
Salvador Torres
Mary Lynn Townsend
Kathleen Tragon
Bettina Tucker
Geoff Turley
Paige Turley
Tina Turner
Kelli Van Steenwyk
Linda Vandiver
Darrell Vasvick
Gerard Veneman
Margaret Veneman
John Vierthaler
Gary Vitt
Wade Hampton Sertoma Club
Kirk Walters
Monica Watts
Robert Watts
Alan Weeks
Merris Welge
Chris Weston
Delore Wetzel
Thomas Whitaker
Patricia White
Arthur Whiting
Gerald Wicklund
Ilene Wieder
Bill Wilkes
Deborah Williams
William Williams
James Wilson
Beverly Winesburgh
Jodie Wood
Michael Wyland
Alan Zemla
Walter Zimmerman
Julie Zweep
Mark Zweep
Action Sertoma Club
Anderson Sertoma Club
Arapahoe Sertoma Club
Aurora-Golden Triangle Sertoma Club
Baton Rouge Sertoma Club
Bennett’s Creek Sertoma Club
Birmingham Metro Sertoma Club
Broad Ripple Sertoma Club
Brownsburg Sertoma Club
Carlisle Area Sertoma Club
Carson Valley Sertoma Club
Citrus Sertoma Club
Clemson Sertoma Club
Dry Creek Sertoma Club
East Indianapolis Sertoma Club
Fergus Falls Sertoma Club
Five Flags Sertoma Club
Foliage Sertoma Club of Apopka, Inc.
Fort Dodge Sertoma Club
Gateway Sertoma Club
Grand Strand Sertoma Club
Great Plains Camp Sertoma Club
Gulf Breeze Sertoma Club
Heart of the Ozarks Sertoma Club
Hearts-n-Hands Sertoma Club
Hickory-Palos Sertoma Club
Honolulu Sertoma Club
Jackson County Sertoma Club
James E. Shepard Sertoma Club
Jeffco Sertoma Club
Kingsport Sertoma Club
Lebanon Valley Sertoma Club
Leona Valley Sertoma Club
Lima Sertoma Club
Lincoln Northeast Sertoma Club
Littleton Sertoma Club
Loveland Sertoma Club
Manheim Sertoma Club
Mapleton Sertoma Club
Minnehaha Sertoma Club
North Lake Sertoma Club
Northeast Pensacola Sertoma Club
Old Salem Sertoma Club
Overland Sertoma Club
Platte Canyon Sertoma Club
Port Arthur Sertoma Club
Powell Sertoma Club
POW-R Sertoma Club
Pryor Creek Sertoma Club
Queen City Sertoma Club
Richland Sertoma Club
Sertoma Club of Columbia, South Carolina
Sertoma Club of DTC
Sertoma Club of Fargo Moorhead
Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota, Inc.
Sertoma Club of Nashville
Sertoma Club of Springfield, Illinois
Sertoma Promotion Club
South Seminole Sertoma Club
Southglenn Sertoma Club
St. Cloud Area Sertoma Club
Sunrise of Brainerd Sertoma Club
Tampa East Sertoma Club
Thamesville Sertoma Club
The Sertoma Club of Bradenton, Inc.
The Sertoma Club of Raleigh, North Carolina, Inc.
Topeka Heartland Sertoma Club
Upper Bucks of Pennsylvania Sertoma Club
Utica Sertoma Club
Wade Hampton Sertoma Club
Watauga Sertoma Club
West Pasco Sertoma Club
Womens Sertoma of Venice
Yellow Rose Sertoma Club
“The Sertoma Club Grant program was established in 2021 to help further the club’s efforts to support community charitable programs and organizations. Thanks to the support of members and donors over the years, we can offer this program.”
— Amy Ellington, Director of Finance/Administration
All children need a voice. When facing difficulties with speech and language, they deserve professional services designed to help them communicate effectively. Since 1956, the Magnolia Speech School in Madison, MS, has utilized the latest classroom techniques and technology as a pioneer in education for children with speech and language disorders.
Here, students are given a curriculum tailored to their specific needs. By offering early intervention, extensive resources, and a nurturing community, they give families the tools to help their kids succeed.
Magnolia Speech School is a recipent of a 2021-2022 Community Grant. The grant has supported the purchase of new equiment like the Flex VRA.
“The Flex VRA system is a great addition to the new Magnolia Speech School clinic. With this equipment, I can better test the children who attend the school and the children within our community. I can reward the children with various videos and lights after they respond to a sound. I can choose between toys, animals, or cartoons with or without lights appearing around the videos. The variety of videos help keep the children focused for better listening results.”
- Gina Russell, Au. D., Pediatric Audiologist
November 1-January 31, 2023 Names are listed alphabetically
Delore E. Wetzel
Randy Carpenter
J. Patrick McArdle
John Kelly
Eunice McArdle
Pamela Johnson
James A. Nutt
Margaret Grant
James C. Wolslegel
Pamela Johnson
Jean Bridger John Kelly
John A. Schmidt
James Wilson
John E. Brunk Ronald Bennett
KS Arthur Collins
NC D. C. Dean Springfield MO
Robert Dye Beatrice NE
Patti Eiman Saint Joseph MO
Andrew Emerson Indianapolis IN
Billy Evans Springfield OH
Mitchell Foster Chester SC
Frederick Gillotti
Robert Gladman
Peter Gyza
Bob Hankey
Don Hartman
Steven Huyber
Donald Killman
. Dayton OH
Troy OH
Colorado Springs CO
Manvel ND
Anderson IN
Rochester MN
Beatrice NE
Kaleel G. Aswad
Hudda Aswad
Larry W. Shealey
John Kelly
Quentin Parker
John Kelly
Robert G. Hauptman
Carolyn Hauptman
Sparks Sertoma Club
Donald Redican
Thomas L. Whitaker
John Kelly
Veterans Day
West Pasco Sertoma Club
Dwight Kuster
Cedar Rapids IA
PA Charles Looper
Mary Lank
Mansfield AR Marvin Lyman
Karen Marston
Sheila Miller
William Moeller
Jack Mullin
David Pasco
Jim Quesenberry
C. Reffitt
Johnny Robinson
Don Scheiding
Carol Schulz
Larry Shealey
Lincoln NE
Littleton CO
.Lima OH
Westfield IN
Aiken SC
Greenfield IN
Springfield MO
San Francisco CA
Lincoln NE
Beatrice NE
Beatrice NE
Raleigh NC
Ernest Skinner Venice FL
L. Wayne Smith Fort Smith AR
John Stumpf Lancaster PA
Judi Thomas Silverton OR
Judith Thomas Richmond TX
Judy Thomas Gardnerville NV
James Tiemann Beatrice NE
William Turner
Jody Vigness
Joseph Walker
Charles Watson
Harlan Watson
Delore Wetzel
Thomas Whitaker
Durham NC
Grand Forks ND
Brookline MO
Ninety-Six SC
Zionsville IN
Springfield MO
Greenwood IN
May 22, 1947, - November 9, 2022
Mr. Shealey leaves behind his wife, Julia Shealey; son, Christopher W. Shealey (Sharolyn) of GA; brother, Valdoston Shealey of FL; grandchildren, Jordan Avery Shealey and Payton Alexander Shealey.
Mr. Shealey is remembered as a humble, southern gentleman; quiet, humorous thinker; giver, and supporter. He was born in Chambers County, Alabama, to Hattie Henrietta Shealey. He was raised by his aunt and uncle, Leonard and Ruth Foster. During his life, he was committed to service. He was a life member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.. He served as a charter member of the Capital City Sertoma Club in Raleigh, NC. Larry held every club office in the club and from 20062007, he served as the Sertoma International President. In addition to his community service, he also served as a mentor to a host of nieces and nephews.
November 3, 1942 - December 4, 2022
Mr. Foster was born in Chester, SC, to Ray Blane Foster and Sue Carter Nesbitt. Mr. Foster was owner/operator of Carolina Clean for 30 years. He was passionate about serving his community. Mr. Foster was active in Sertoma and served as the International President from 1983-1984. He also was a member of the Chester Rotary Club for 28 years and served as president from 20012002. Mr. Foster served as a councilman on Chester City Council for 12 years and as mayor for eight years.
Mr. Foster is survived by his wife, Judy; daughter, Blaine Bradford (Quint); brother, Milan Foster (Phyllis); grandchildren, Quint Jr., Lydia, and Mitchell Bradford; two aunts, Marie Roberts (Kirk) and Shirley Moore; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
February 8, 1937 - December 18, 2022
Born in Columbus, IN, Mr.Whitaker was one of two children born to the late Lester Cleo and Elizabeth Marie (Glaubke) Whitaker.
He graduated from Howe High School in Indianapolis and received a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Cincinnati. Mr.Whitaker was a dedicated and passionate architect, owning and operating his company, Architects Plus, in Greenwood for over 30 years.
Though his residence was in Johnson County, he maintained a membership in the Martinsville Sertoma Club for over fifty years. He was an active Sertoma member and had held various offices over his tenure, like 2001-2003 National Treasurer, 2005-2008 National Foundation Trustee, Club President. He was also a Life Member of Morgan County Sertoma Club.
He leaves behind his four children, Jeff Whitaker of Indianapolis, IN; Kelly (husband, Drew) Lambert of Martinsville, IN; David (wife, Ronica) Whitaker of Spring Lake, MI; and Jill Whitaker of Martinsville, IN; one sister, Jean (husband, George) Franklin of Massachusetts; 10 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Part of having a Sertoma club is understanding what is legally and ethically required to be a reputable service organization in your local community. This includes filing your club’s federal taxes annually, ensuring that any registrations with the state are current, and reviewing the budget and other financials with careful consideration. It is also your responsibility to make sure that your club is protected for both the sake of the entity and its members.
All Sertoma clubs participate in our national club insurance program. This general liability insurance policy protects clubs and club members in their activities while acting within the scope of their duties, provided these activities have been scheduled on the policy. The policy provides coverage for the insured for their liability for bodily injury and property damage arising from accidents on premise or during the course of their business operations.
Limits of Liability
· Each occurrence (bodily injury and property damage) – $1 million
· Annual aggregate limit - $2 million
· Medical payments coverage - $20,000
· Damage to premises rented to you – $1 million
· Hired and non-owned automobile liability - $1 million
· Liquor liability - $1 million
You can see how the Sertoma insurance policy defines these terms and their full details beginning on page 5 of the manual. Clubs should ensure that all proper documents and notifications are filed with Mylo, our insurance provider, prior to holding any club events. They should also be aware of program exclusions (page 6) such as fireworks displays, events involving firearms, concerts and more. The Special Scenarios supplement also provides excellent additional clarification.
Event insurance is not the only type of coverage your club should carry. Sertoma also recommends that each club have its own directors and officers (D&O) insurance, which is typically offered through most insurance providers with organizational liability coverage. D&O insurance is designed to protect volunteer leaders and their families against losses and lawsuits against a company or organization.
To learn more about Sertoma’s club insurance program, check out the manual online by visiting the Member Center on Sertoma.org
Lucy has been a Sertoman for 33 years with perfect attendance. Since joining Sertoma, she has served as her club’s president, secretary, and treasurer. Lucy has also served on one of the biggest fundraisers held by all the local Sertoma clubs called Springfest, being a part of the board for four years and running the beer booth.
At the national level, she was her region’s International Director from 2005-2006, National Ambassador, Trustee, and is in the Distinguish President Club for building three clubs. As the Southeastern Region Regional Director, she is proud to serve all the clubs in the region. She was club Sertoman of the Year in 2000 and 2001 and District Sertoman of the Year in 2001. Sertoma is her passion, “I am proud to be a Sertoman and serve my fellow Sertomans and my community.”
Cindy joined Sertoma in 2012 and is one of the founding members of the Southglenn Sertoma Club in Centennial, CO. She is retired and enjoys spending her days golfing, walking granddogs, and volunteering. She lives in Highlands Ranch, CO, with her husband, Dean, and has two adult daughters. Since joining Sertoma, she has developed a passion for this organization, its members, and the communities we serve. Cindy has held almost every leadership position in her club, including president, vice president, and secretary. She is currently finishing a three-year term on the National Board of Directors as a Director at Large. In addition, she worked closely with the Policy Committee and helped implement needed changes to bylaws and procedures. This work has inspired her to continue to offer her skills and energy to Sertoma.
“Volunteering has always been a passion of mine, and I hold it close in my heart. My friends and family tell me I have volunesia.” The definition is “the moment when you forget you’re volunteering to help change lives because it is changing yours.”
Tim Romero joined Sertoma as a charter member of the Triplex Breakfast Sertoma Club in January 1986. He became the club’s second president and served two consecutive terms. One of his proudest moments in the club was developing a fundraiser called the Teddy Bear Corral that donated stuff animals to the Port Arthur Police department to help childern. In 2012, he joined the Port Arthur Sertoma Club. Within a year, he was on the Board of Directors and soon after served as club president.
“The greatest strength I will bring to the position of Vice President is the understanding of leadership. Through my mentoring in the Boy Scouts, I extolled the virtue of servant leadership. Servant leadership means that as a leader, you don’t force your agenda on others. Instead, you determine where those who have chosen you to lead want to go, and in your role as leader, you create the environment for them to succeed. If elected, at the end of my term, my biggest hope is that Sertoma has taken positive steps to be successful in advancing its mission and that its place among charitable organizations is enhanced and viewed with pride by the membership.”
Steve Thrash, has been a member of the Laurel Sertoma Club for 22 years in Laurel, MS. Steve has been happily married to his wife Becky for 48 years and has two sons and ten grandchildren. During this time in Sertoma, he has held club and regional positions such as club liason, Serteen Liason, Secretary, Treasurer, President, and Projects Chairman for fundraisers.
On the regional level, he’s been the past Foundation District Representative, Governor, and currently Mission Specialist and Communication Specialist. “I would like your support in being elected as your next Southeastern Regional Director.”
Cheryl has been a member of the Sertoma Club of Springfield, IL, since 1986, and became a Life Member in 1993. As a librarian, she had always been interested in making sure that those with disabilities had equal access to information. Sertoma’s mission of service to the hearing impaired initially drew her to the club and is still her favorite activity. She has held various postions including club president, secretary, club VP positions, administrative chair, administrative chair for club
CELEBRATE SOUND® walks, Foundation District Representative and many more.
Her club’s longtime relationship with the local Boys and Girls Club is another aspect that she enjoys. She has found that becoming more aware of the larger picture of Sertoma, through conference attendance and committee participation, has helped her in leading and strengthening her club, and she hopes to increase the interest and awareness of clubs in her region as to what Sertoma can do for them.
Election Schedule
• April 3 Individual online voting opens
• April 21 club and individual paper ballots must be postmarked by
• April 24 Individual online voting closes
• May 8-10 Ballot counting and notification
Sertoma has been serving communities in the United States, Canada, and previously Mexico for over 110 years. The work we do is invaluable. The various Sertoma clubs service activities includes coordinating camps for the deaf and hard of hearing, providing programs at local Boys and Girl Club facilities, awarding scholarships to deserving college students, serving meals at community soup kitchens, fitting low-income individuals with hearing aids, celebrating our shared national heritage through Freedom Week activities, raising needed funds for community endeavors and more. Safe to say, our members make an impact in their communities every day.
With a national decline in civic participation, Sertoma services are needed more than ever. However, it has become increasingly clear that we do not have the ability to continue our work with a budget that is not in line with what Sertomans expect and deserve. Thus, the Sertoma Board of Directors unanimously approved a proposal to increase membership dues by $25 beginning in July 2023 for a three-year period. The increase in dues will allow Sertoma to continue to provide the essential services that enable our clubs to better serve their communities. (In related efforts, the board recently voted to eliminate regional fees in the coming year. Beginning in 2023-24, the national Sertoma office will fund each region. Funds will be allocated on a per member basis. Example: the Alleghany/Canada region has 400 members. That will be multiplied by $3.50/member meaning the region will get $1400 for its annual budget, to be spent however the region decides. Funding for regional director travel, etc., that had been previously paid out of the region’s budget, will now come from the national budget. This will streamline billing, ease the burden of dues collection on the region, and standardize national and regional dues for all Sertomans. Because of this change, the overall dues increase for members will be less than $25/member per year.)
Membership support. Financial resources. Programs. Training events. Club/Member networking. Software. Merchandise. Insurance. Leadership support. Tax and legal guidance. These are just some of the services that Sertoma provides for our clubs and members. An increase in dues will allow us to continue these services and strengthen our organization in the future.
Since the hiring of our new E.D. Jason Camis last April, staff has been working diligently to cut costs and explore new sources of revenue. Staffing reductions, renegotiated contracts, and selling our beloved HQ of 50+ years are just a few examples. They are not easy decisions by any means, but necessary ones that will empower Sertoma to invest in what really matters – providing support to our members in order to strengthen the impact our clubs have in their communities. This essential increase in membership dues is integral part of our financial stability AND is an investment in the future of Sertoma for the next 110 years.
If you have questions prior to submitting your ballot, please reach out to Jason (jcamis@sertoma.org) or 816-333-8300 or contact anyone on your Sertoma Board of Directors. A full Q&A about membership dues is available in the Sertoma Member Center or by emailing staff.
1. You will cast one vote for Vice President as listed below:
o Cindy Markham
o Tim Romero
o Lucy Stolfi
2. In order to provide for a strong national organization and to continue to expand services to clubs and members, national dues for Sertoma will be set at the amount of $130 per year per member.
Yes
No
Cast one vote for Director - Southeastern Region:
o Steve Thrash
o Not My Region
Cast one vote for Director - Great Lakes Region:
o Cheryl Pence
o Not My Region
1. BALLOT INSTRUCTIONS
a. Cut out the entire ballot on the dotted line
b. No copies, only original ballots
c. Any votes mailed in by someone who has also voted online will be discarded
2. FRONT OF THE ENVELOPE INSTRUCTIONS
a. Your member number (a multiple digit number located directly below the bar code that prints with your name and mailing address on the back of this ballot)
b. The word “ballot”
3. BACK OF THE ENVELOPE INSTRUCTIONS
a. Member must sign their name across the flap of the envelop after it is sealed
2. MAILING INSTRUCTIONS
a. Must be postmarked by APRIL 21
b. Must be mailed directly to: Sertoma, Inc., 1912 East Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64132
c. Each member’s ballot must be mailed individually in its own envelope
