Manhattan Kiwanis Dinner Bell August 08

During his period of service, his docent activities resulted in more than 225 educational tours with adults and students of various ages. Wilton showed and explained activities on the 8,600 acre Konza Prairie research area, including range management and controlled grassland burning. He also pointed out and answered questions about the various flower, grass and tree species as his audience toured the grounds and observed the vegetation.

Wilton graduated from the docent training class of 1995. For seven out of eight years, he held the record for the docent who led the most tour groups. In 2001-2002, he received the “Super Docent” award, and in 2004-2005, Wilton received recognition as a “Long-Term Leader.”

Wilton has been quick and adamant to explain that the proper identification of the huge black animals confined in the Konza pastures are Bison, not Buffalo. He points out the bison, with its heavy forequarters and large hump on its shoulders and short horns, is different from the Asian buffalo.

Public service has been a major characteristic of Wilton throughout his professional years. In addition to his docent service, he has been an Agricultural Extension agent in two counties, a Riley County commissioner for two terms (8 years), a member of the Manhattan Kiwanis Club for 25 years, with 11 years of perfect attendance at meetings, and has served on many committees. Hi is a deacon at First Presbyterian Church, has been active in singing groups and served on Meadowlark Hills committees and other Meadowlark activities.

The widespread appreciation for Wilton’s contributions where he represented different organizations is expressed in the following comment: “Wilton has given Konza Prairie the gift of his personality, experience, and time. We appreciate all that he has done as a volunteer here,” said Valerie Wright, Director of the Konza Environmental Education Program. --Frank Morrison

Riley County 4-H Fair and Parade

Manhattan Kiwanis members Kent and Kathy Foster, Ed Call and Frank Morrison along with future Kiwanians, Jayda, Trenton and Dalton Juenemann participated in the 2008 Riley County 4H Fair Parade which went down Poyntz Avenue on Thursday, July 24, and helped with the Tractor/Peddle Pull event later that evening.

RECRUITMENT – WHO DOES THIS?

Hoorah! We have acquired four new Kiwanians to our roster this year. I commend those who have made the effort to help our Club grow (Tim Bagby, Elaine Haun and Ron Sweat). However, we seem to have lost a few members along the way giving us a negative growth for the year.

Our gains have been through the efforts of our Lieutenant Governor, Club Secretary and the Administration Committee. Where is the yeoman effort from our membership? A signup roster has gone around during our regular meetings giving you the opportunity to put names of potential members before the club. I have seen numerous names on that list but have not seen those individuals in attendance at our meetings. Can’t get them to the meetings? The Administration Committee believes it would be a good idea to expose them to a Kiwanis project first. Give that a try! The list is a good way to generate thought among the membership about recruitment. Kind of kick-start us into action. Now let us carry that one step further and get these individuals exposed.

The Administration Committee’s responsibility is to make inquiries of business concerns to see about sponsorship of members to our Club. They have done this. Not with as much success as we would have liked, but at least we have one member due to the Committee’s efforts. It is the membership’s responsibility to do the one-on-one recruitment. This is where we have the most success. Individual recruitment is critical to our future success and ability to continue as a viable community service organization. Won’t you please make it your personal goal to contact at least one new potential member and get them to one of our meetings this year!

Our esteemed President, Carl, has taken it upon himself to try and change the Club meetings to attract and retain a younger membership, as well as satisfy the existing members. Let’s do our part by bringing in people to experience what being a Kiwanian is all about. We all know people who would be good assets to our Club. Let’s get moving! Remember the member who brings in the most new members for this year will receive a year’s membership free! Tim is leading. Give him a challenge.

–Phyllis Sills

ACS Relay for Life

Kiwanis members at last year’s Relay for Life included Jack Sills, Donna Alexander, Ken Johnson, Elaine Manges, Jan and Clyde Wassom, and Ed Call. All survivors welcome.

Since 1994, Manhattan Kiwanis has dedicated one Happy Bucket to the American Cancer Society (ACS) in memory of Kiwanian Leonard Fuller. Leonard was our president in 1976 and served several terms as secretary. He succumbed to bone cancer in 1994.

More recently the ASC has organized an all-night vigil, Relay for Life, which features luminaria placed around the stadium track. Local organizations form “teams” to sell luminaria and inscribe names of honorees both living and deceased. Last year there were 50 teams and they were able to encircle the stadium with lighted luminaria.

Relay for Life brochures will be available at the August 5^th meeting. If you wish to honor a cancer victim please complete the form in the brochure and bring it to the August 12^th meeting with an appropriate check.

Another event at the Relay is the Survivor’s Lap. At 7 p.m. August 15, survivors circle the track to the accolades of the teams that have encampments in the infield. Survivors are urged to sign in by 6:30 p.m.

More information? Ed Call epcall@ksu.edu (539-4966)

-Ed Call, Club Correspondent

We are an…ACTIVE CLUB!

It is noteworthy that our club continues to encourage attendance at meetings and strives for Perfect Attendance. It is unrealistic to suggest that members’ goal should be 100% attendance (after all, life is too hectic!). But with make ups, perfect attendance is realistic and attainable.

For instance, in June, only 8 members attended all meetings. Yet 14 more members had perfect attendance (mo.), thanks to volunteering for make ups. Twenty-seven members (70%) participated in the make up program. In fact one member had 5!

Make ups do a lot more for the club than just provide good statistics—they ensure that our many projects are fulfilled. Participating in any project satisfies the requirement, as do attendance at board/committee meetings and inter-clubs. Attending any division-district-international meeting also qualifies.

Over the years, more than half of our members qualified for perfect attendance (yr). Recent recipients are:

Payl Hayen (10)

Bill Cool (10)

Bob Smail (9)

Ken Johnson (9)

Harold Bailey (6)

Rod Kalivoda (3)

Victor Steiner (1 ½)*

*Victor qualified in January and was overlooked.

Need more information about PA? Contact Ed Call at 539-4966 or email at epcall@ksu.edu.

Kiwanis Club News

On July 22nd, 26 members met at the Clarion Hotel for the regular Tuesday meeting of the Manhattan Kiwanis Club. President Carl Urbanek presided over the meeting.

Harold Bailey introduced Troop 75 Scout Master, Kent Manuel, who presented a program on "Fun In Boy Scouting". He shared slides and videos of the summer camping trips attended by the scouts. The summer camping activities consist of either Summer camps, National Jamboree or High Adventure camps. The scouts have the opportunity to learn skills ranging from hiking, cooking, climbing, canoeing, and an appreciation of the outdoors to name a few. The scouts not only select the camps they wish to attend but also work on the many different fundraising projects throughout the year to help fund camping trips. Upcoming Kiwanis activities and projects being planned are the Purple Power Play on Poyntz in August, the Pet Parade and Peanut Day in September. Construction is planned to begin on the new storage building in early August in order to be ready for fall activities. The Kiwanis fundraising committee was presented a check for $72 from the Country Stampede for helping with the trash pick up in June.

–Kent Foster

Pet Parade Plans

Plans for the annual Kiwanis Pet Parade are well underway. The Manhattan High School Band will march at the front and we will be led by a color guard from Boy Scout Troop 75. This year’s parade will be Sept. 13.

Ken Johnson is coordinating the parade, but will be on vacation in September and is looking for some good Kiwanians to help make the event a success. He will be sending around a signup sheet for specific tasks such as helping with publicity, getting the word out to the schools, arranging for beverages, and setting up on the day of the parade. Don’t wait for a sign up sheet to come around, though. If you can help, contact Ken at johnsonnina@yahoo.com or 537-8647.

More Manhattan Kiwanis Club News On July 2nd, Doug Tippin introduced Tim and Laurie Bagby who recently attended the Kiwanis International Convention in Orlando as Manhattan Kiwanis delegates. The convention business and many seminars they attended were presented and discussed with club members. They noted that other clubs across the nation are experiencing the same type of growth and fundraising issues as our local club. The Manhattan Kiwanis Club is implementing similar measures to try to make the meetings more appealing to prospective members without compromising the classic Kiwanis meeting. A new meeting format has been started this month with good response from the membership. Ken Johnson, Harold Bailey, Linda Schwulst, Elaine Haun and Bill Cool helped pick up trash at the Country Stampede for the fundraising committee. Guest Doug Denning of Solar Kiwanis promoting the Pancake Breakfast at Pottorf Hall on July 4th.

-Kent Foster