Kiwanis Club of Lewiston-Auburn Maine

The Kiwanis Club of Auburn-Lewiston cares about all those in need and especially all the children. That is why we volunteer to ring the bells for the local each and every year. Many members took part in this years campaign willingly braving the cold temperatures at many retailers. Donations were strong and a plenty with most giving what they can in the form of loose change ard small bills–it all helps in the end. Shown in the picture are two members with the kettle (l to r) is Ron Simard of Neokraft Signs and Mike Meservier of Meservier & Associates of Keller Williams Realty Mid Maine. You would like to help those less fortunate and have passion for kids, contact Jan at 795-9614. Or visit our website kiwanisauburnlewistonmane.org or catch us on Facebook at auburn-lewiston-kiwanis-club-of-maine

President:  Jan Dwinal

Immediate Past President:  Mike Meservier

President-elect: vacant

Secretary:  Craig Phillips                                    Assistant Secretary:  Julie Gile

Treasurer:  Buffie Dumont                                  Assistant Treasurer:  Vacant

Directors:  Dan Goff, Mike Meservier, Andy Choate, Doug Dwinal, John Cronin

                                                                November 24, 2010

INDUCTION

Your officers and directors for 2010-11 were inducted by Lt. Governor Bob West on October 27^th. Left to right are Secretary Craig Phillips, Directors Andy Choate and Mike Meservier, Treasurer Buffie Dumont, President Jan Dwinal, Director Dan Goff, and Lt. Gov. Bob West. Present but not in the picture (he was behind the camera) was Director Doug Dwinal.

ACTIVITIES THIS MONTH

Help at the Advocates For Children Holiday Fair, Saturday December 4th. We will be helping to set up the entire fair location, have our own table and help to dismantle after it is done. At our table, we will be helping the children create a simple Christmas craft and hold a raffle for a bicycle and helmet. Contact Ron Bellemore at * to sign up.

Salvation Army bell-ringing. We will be staffing the K-Mart location on December 18. Some slots are still available. Please contact Craig Phillips at * for times and to select a time.

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE UPDATE

          Due to important parts of our program cancelling at the last minute, and our being unable to put together a meaningful program, we had to postpone our membership drive. We will reschedule in 2011. We can use always use help in planning for it. Membership drives are vital to our club’s health, so President Jan could use your help. Interested? Talk to Jan, call her at 795.9614 or e-mail her at jdwinal@millettrealty.com.

NEW MEETING TIME?

          Not yet. We will continue meeting at Noon on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. We continue to meet at Noon at the Ramada Inn, 490 Pleasant Street, Lewiston.

          We considered having one noon time and one at 5:30 or 6 PM, but for now, there was insufficient interest. However, as we talk to prospective members, we should assure them that the meeting time can be changed if there is greater interest.

          Thoughts for today:

          Make your life a mission, not an intermission. Arnold Glasgow, in Uncle Andy’s Digest.

          It’s the lessons you learn after you know it all, that’s important.

          John Wooden

                                                                                                Newsletter editor and writer: Andy Choate

Andrew Harris, director of L/A Arts accepted helpful funds from Jan Dwinal, vice president of  the Auburn-Lewiston Kiwanis and real estate agent at Millett Realty Coldwell Banker. The club is fulfilling a pledge to financially help and otherwise support art programs to children in our community. Harris said although it may be easy to cut programs like these from school budgets during rough economic times, kids still need to be exposed to the arts. While many kids learn in traditional classrooms, many need to be stimulated to learn by other means. Adding art to the mix helps insure all kids get the same chance. As proof of  this theory, he shared, an activity calendar started with a printing of 500 copies and is now at 18,000. We have rich arts in our community and many do not know it. Our own Franco center has at times beaten out larger venues for internation artists. Over 5000 youths are served each and every year.

For more information about our local Kiwanis, go to www.auburnlewistonmainekiwanis.org. We are always looking for new members that want to help the children of the world, one at a time.

Auburn-Lewiston Kiwanis Club of Maine The Auburn-Lewiston Kiwanis Club recenetly donated hundreds of safety packages to be distributed to the parents of new born babies at St. Mary’s Hospital Birthing Center. The packages contain electric outlet shock prevention plugs, bath water thermometers, information and prevention of trauma regarding Shaken Baby Syndr…ome and child safety car seats. This service project is linked to the Kiwanis program “Young Children: Priority One.” This initiative places focus on the needs of children in pediatric safety and parenting skills. Pictured are: Melissa Wing, RN at St Mary’s Maternity Dept., Laura Reny holding newborn son, Landen Reny, born Feb. 18, father Marcus Reny, and Ron Bellmore, Director of Material Management at St. Mary’s Health System and member of the Kiwanis Club of Auburn-Lewiston.

The local Auburn-Lewiston Kiwanis Club has recently donated Kiwanis Clubby Bears children who face trauma or a family loss through the emergency room. The Kiwanis Club supports the District Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. Our mission… is to serve the children of the world. There are more than 13,000 Kiwanis clubs worldwide in 80 countries, with more than 600,000 members.Pictured from St. Mary’s are Barbara Pierce, RN.MN, director of the Emergency Department, and Ron Bellmore, director of Material Management and Kiwanis Club member. Thanks to both of you for your dedicated service!