Feb 23, 2010 - Club Business

Agenda

Call to Order: 


at 1:00 p.m.,
by Sherry Hudson

Patriotic Song

"America the Beautiful"
,
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good
With brotherhood,
From sea to shining sea!
and/or

December 22, 2009 - Christmas Music

Jo Randall (from left), Tom Duggan, Lykah Mora, Shay Harris, and Leah Rogers joined the Washington Kiwanis Club for lunch and then sang “entertaining and enjoyable” Christmas songs for the club members. Louise Maynard (right) was the program host.

Kiwanis President Sherry Hudson and Vice-President Lillie Crowe expressed their thanks to all in the community who supported the club’s recent sale of pecans.

November 24, 2009 - Key Club

Key Club Lt. Governor Milton James Jr. (center) presented the program for the Washington Kiwanis Club on Tuesday, November 24, during which he discussed how to make a meaningful club and the enjoyment of being part of the Key Club. James is a member of the Key Club of Georgia and is also a student at Washington-Wilkes High School. He also stated that the Key Club has shown him the pleasures of giving services back to the community. Kiwanis members Sherry Hudson (left) and Bob Simmons welcomed Milton to the meeting.

November 17, 2009 - Defensive Driving

 

"I never saw him!" is the most common excuse heard after a collision. Was the other vehicle invisible? Virtually all collisions involve inattention on the part of one or both drivers. Inattention can involve many things, some of which are daydreaming, distractions, sleepiness, fatigue, "highway hypnosis," talking, etc.

A moving vehicle develops thousands of foot-pounds of energy. YOU as a driver have the responsibility not to use that energy to injure or kill others, or damage their property. Paying attention makes it possible for you to see, recognize and avoid the hazards lurking on the road; these are the three basic elements of defensive driving. The primary attribute necessary for a safe driver is alertness, and paying attention is the most important driving task because it helps create the time you need to recognize hazards and avoid a collision.

Lt. D.D. Smith of the Georgia State Patrol spoke to the club on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, on the subject of Defensive Driving. He was introduced by Vice President Lillie Crowe, program host for the day. These are some of the ideas included in Lt. Smith's talk.

One statistic often quoted is that most collisions happen within a short distance from home. Why is this true? Since we mostly drive in our own neighborhoods, the odds are we'll have most of our mishaps there. Close to home we get more comfortable and perhaps let our guard down (and the other guy does the same thing); you've heard that "familiarity breeds contempt?" Better yet, familiarity breeds inattention. We don't often consider that serious or fatal injuries can occur in low speed collisions.
I have a challenge for you. While it is important for you to be alert and aware, it isn't an easy task. The next time you drive, try concentrating solely on the driving task. Think of nothing else. Then see how far you get before your mind wanders. Many drivers won't even get out of the parking lot! Seasoned drivers don't HAVE to think about driving much. It's something we do automatically, and our minds are free to wander. And our minds WANT to wander. Have you ever driven somewhere and been so lost in thought that you couldn't remember anything about the trip itself? Is this a problem?

Is this a curable problem? Paying attention can become a habit, but you have to work at it. Make conscious, persistent choices NOT to eat while driving, or whatever you do that takes your attention off where your moving vehicle is pointed. Connect your mind to your eyes and work at consciously analyzing what you see while you drive. We call this "situational awareness." Driving is the most dangerous thing most of us ever do. It deserves your full attention. Mastery of this one habit can almost make you bullet-proof. Not quite, but almost.

Pam Eaton is shown above with her packages.

A fund-raising project was introduced by President Sherry Hudson, shown here with Denni Moss, Bill Boyd, and Bill Smith - the sale of one-pound packages of shelled pecans for $8.00 each, with each member entrusted with five packages to sell.

November 3, 2009 - Amethyst Wynn, After-School Program

LeAnne Mathews (left), owner of Johnson/Jones Insurance, joined the Washington Kiwanis Club and was inducted by President Sherry Hudson in a brief ceremony at the club's regular Tuesday lunch meeting last week.


New grant will assist Partnership, schools
Amethyst Wynn, Executive Director of the Wilkes County Community Partnership, spoke to the Washington Kiwanis Club and told members about the new 21st Century grant that the Partnership and Wilkes County Schools applied for and received. The purpose of the grant is to provide funds to expand community learning centers outside of school hours, before or after school. Wynn said learning begins at home but in some cases assistance is needed for both parents and students. The grant will help mesh the Partnership's activities with school programs, she said. Debbie Jackson (right) was program chairman for the day.


Reader Comments
WILKES COUNTY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
Our Mission: ... To serve as a catalyst for improving results for Georgia’s children, families and communities.
Our Vision:
All children, youth and families will be healthy, safe, successful in school, and prepared for productive adulthood.

The Wilkes County Community Partnership, a vibrant community-based collaborative, has been a 501 (c)-3 non-profit organization since 1996. WCCP serves as an umbrella organization for both Georgia Family Connection and Communities-in-Schools. Its purpose is to promote the well-being of our families and children, and to that end, over the last few years, our community has seen a reduction in teen pregnancies, fewer adjudicated youth, improved standardized test scores, improved parenting skills, and more children enrolled in Head Start and Pre-K. The Partnership has received national, state and regional recognition for its outstanding programs and accomplishments, particularly highlighting its neighborhood-based after-school program, which is in its 9th year of operation. The result? The Partnership has brought over $3 million into the county, and both adults and youth have more opportunities for success.

For more infromation about our initiatives and our work, see FACT SHEET on the lefthand menu.

October 27, 2009 - "Banking Today" and Interclub to Warrenton

Interclub Meeting Today

Club Visited

Warrenton Kiwanis Club at Miss Jane's Restaurant

Visitors from Washington:

(L to R) Bill Boyd, Al Zima, William Johnson shown with high school principal

Club Program in Washington:

Dave Tatum (right), a vice president of F&M Bank, presented an interesting program on "Banking Today," to the Washington Kiwanis Club at its regular Tuesday lunch meeting on October 27. Club President Sherry Hudson was program chairman.

Speaker:

Dave Tatum

Host:

Sherry Hudson

Subject:

Banking Today

With the ease of online banking today, many people choose to do their banking from home. One bonus is that you can continue banking with the same financial institution, though you can do so from your home computer. With 24-hour access to account information and anytime transactions, banking has become much more convenient.

There are many benefits to online banking. You can avoid fees sometimes charged for teller transactions or check writing. Also, online banking options often include better deals on checking accounts, often with lower service fees and no monthly charges. It is easy to pay bills electronically, with funds taken directly from your account-check-free. And banking software, such as Quicken, enables you to download banking information from your account into a budget spreadsheet.

Most banks in America now offer online banking options. Some banks offer online banking in conjunction with online trading, allowing you to use one institution for a variety of financial needs. There are some institutions that specialize only in online banking and do not have any physical branches. These require online or phone transactions and the use of other banks' ATMs.

This is one downfall of virtual banking. You may have to pay a fee for using a machine at another banking institution, and sometimes a fee from your own bank as well. Some banking institutions will waive ATM fees, as they know this can be a deterrent to potential customers. If you are an ATM user, make sure you research this before selecting a bank.

Another likely problem is making deposits. Direct-deposit options for paychecks are convenient; however, if you receive other checks you will need to deposit them yourself. With online banking, you may have to mail your deposit or make an electronic transfer from another bank account. This creates a longer lapse before you can access these funds.

Despite these issues, online banking appeals to many customers. Virtual banking allows you to take care of bills even while traveling. You can access your account whenever it is convenient to you, not just during banking hours. With this convenience, there is little excuse anymore for bounced checks.

Program in Warrenton:

Installation of Officers by Lieutenant Governor Bob Simmons (shown below)

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Newly installed president of Warrenton club, Walker Davis, presides (shown below)

Visitors from Washington to Warrenton club (L to R, above)): Bob Simmons, William Johnson, Bill Boyd, Al Zima

Kiwanians attend workshop

Attending a Kiwanis Workshop in Macon were (l-r) Debra Guin, District 6 Lt. Governor Bob Simmons, Sherry Hudson, and Lillie Crowe. The group reported that they "all had such fun and really brought many new ideas back to our Washington Kiwanis Club."

Sep 15, 2009 - Trip to North Slope, Alaska

September 15, 2009: Guests were Key Club 6th Division Lt. Governor, Milton James, Jr. and Washington-Wilkes Key Club President Yareli Lopez.

Two W-WCHS students, Key Club Sixth Division Lt. Governor Milton James, Jr. (center) and Washington-Wilkes Key Club President Yareli Lopez were club visitors at the regular meeting of the Washington Kiwanis Club Tuesday, September 15. They were welcomed to the club by Kiwanis President Sherry Hudson (right). Key Clubs, internationally, are a youth organization sponsored by Kiwanis International and its local clubs.

New Members: Rev. Klay Aspinwall and Chris Mccormick.

Lee Benner gave us an exciting slide presentation on his tri to North Slope of Alaska.

Two new members were inducted at the Washington Kiwanis Club meeting on Tuesday, September 15. Rev. Klay Aspinwall, pastor of First Baptist Church (second from left) and Chris McCormick, a new lawyer for Kopecky and Roberts (second from right) received their Kiwanis pins from their sponsoring members Bob Simmons and Sherry Hudson.

Scholarship Awarded June 9, 2009

Sheena Kopecky (center) and Graham Wolfe (right) were awarded the annual Kiwanis Club of Washington scholarships by club president Sherry Hudson at a recent meeting of the club

June 2, 2009

Aaron Rothman, chef at the Holly Court Inn (center), was the guest speaker for the Kiwanis Club of Washington's regular Tuesday lunch meeting. He told members about various aspects of the culinary arts including safe food handling, storage, and preperation. Rothman attends Augusta Techincal College and was the guest of his father, Phil Rothman, owner of Holly Court Inn (left). They are pictured above with club president Sherry Hudson.

April 28, 2009

Fliers tell about 'seeing the elephant'

Marion Barnett (right) and Cicero Lucas (left) provided a program on "The Greatest Pilot that No One Knew: Jim Ryan" for the Washington Kiwanis Club at its regular meeting last Tuesday. Barnett gave a history of the Flying Tiger Airline that became Air America, the secret airline of the CIA in the 1960s. He decribed some of the missions he flew over Vietnam and Laos dropping rice to some of the United States' friends during that time. He mentioned that he took his first flight in Washington from the old football field and went on leave Washington to "see the elephant." This phrase, used by military men since at least the third century B.C., became synonymous with journeys and experiences in strange and far-off places. Club President Sherry Hudson (center) welcomed them to the meeting.

April 21, 2009

Washington Spring Tour of Homes Chairman Louise Maynard (right) presents Kiwanis Club President Sherry Hudson with a $5,000 check from the Spring Tour profits. Other checks that were distributed included $5,000 to the Woman's Club, $500 to the W-W Chamber of Commerce, and $100 to each participating museum. The remaining $4,000 will be used to fund the 2010 tour and to maintain the website at wwtourofhomes.com. The Kiwanis Club, the Woman's Club, and the Chamber of Commerce are the sponsoring organizations of the spring tour. Funds raised are used to support local programs.

April 7, 2009

Kiwanis Talent Showcase, Art Contest winners named

The Kiwanis Talent Showcase was held on March 20 at the Washington Wilkes Comprehensive High School Cafeteria with students from kindergarten through the twelfth grade participating.

Chip Hardin was master of ceremonies for the talent portion of the showcase. Judges were Michelle Bradley, Melissa Goldman Burgess, and Gregory D. Rhodes.

ART CONTEST

Awards were presented to winners in the art portion of the showcase which had previously been held. Winners were:

Grades kindergarten through the second grade - Emma Moore, first place; Clayton Foster, second; Brittney Byrd, third; and Evan Moore, honorable mention.

Grades 3-5 - Andrea Hill, first place; Erin McAvoy, second; Lykah Mora, third; and Elexus Campbell, honorable mention.

Grades 6-8 - Dulce Alvarez, first; Paige McAvoy, second; Moises Ro- driguez, third; and Amy McAvoy, honorable mention.

Grades 9-12 - Jordan Echols, first place.

TALENT SHOW

Winners in the talent show contest were:

Grades kindergarten through the second grade - Brittney Byrd, first; Kaylee Whisnant, second.

Grades 3-5 - Sylvia Lee Walker, first place; Lykah Mora, second; and Andrea Hill, third. Dehstiny Smith also participated.

Grades 6-8 - Leslie Souther, first place; Jesse Echols, second; and Cecilia Walker, third. Courtney Pate and Tiffany Roberson also particiated.

Grades 9-12 - Breckyn Hudson, first; Brittany Klaus, second; and John Pope, third. Others participating included Jazmin Colunga and Kelsey Brooke, Jordan Echols, Michael Edwards, Gabby Lavender and Jessie Bunch, Emily McNure, and Amanda Joy Wood.

April 1, 2009

Kiwanis Club names winners in annual Talent Showcase

Breckyn Hudson, shown with her mother, Kiwanis Club President Sherry Hudson, was the winner in the senior division of the annual Talent Showcase.
The annual Kiwanis Talent Showcase was held Friday, March 20, at the Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School Cafeteria and featured three divisions for judging.

In the grades 9 through 12 competition, Breckyn Hudson took first place with her dance routine, "Putting on the Ritz." Brittany Klaus came in second with a vocal solo, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." John Pope was third place winner with "Autobahn" on the bassoon.

Others participating in this division were Jazmin Colunga and Kelsey Brooke, Jordan Echols, Michael Edwards, Gabby Lavender and Jessie Bunch, Emily McNure, and Amanda Joy Wood.

Winners in the grades 6 through 8 division were Leslie Souther with a vocal solo, "Walking in Sunshine." Jesse Echols won second place with a vocal solo, "Jesus Take the Wheel." Third place winner was Cecilia Walker playing a piano solo, "Sonata K95," by Scarlatti.

Courtney Pate and Tiffany Roberson also participated.

Sylvia Lee Walker took first place in Grades 3 through 5 with a vocal solo, "You're Looking at Country."

Dehstiny Smith also competed in this division.

Brittney Byrd won first place in the kindergarten through second grade competition, singing "Nothing But the Blood." Kaylee Whisnant took second place with "When There Was Me and You."

October 14, 2008

Informs about eye health

Dr. Dennis Marcus of Wilkes Eye Center was the guest speaker at the regular meeting of the Washington Kiwanis Club on Tuesday, October 14. Speaking on diseases of the eye, Dr. Marcus focused on the number one cause of blindness for people 55 years of age and older - macular degeneration. He explained to members that macular degeneration is a disease which deteriorates the macula of the eye and impairs central vision. Dr. Marcus pointed out that over 200,000 new patients are identified with the disease each year in the United States. He said that over 90 percent are of the "dry" variety and only about 10 percent are "wet" - wet being growth of blood vessels in the eye that bleed. He noted that recent research indicated that antioxidants help reduce the growth of blood vessels by about one-third and that these include vitamin C, beta carotene, and zinc. Sherry Hudson (right) was the program host for the day.