Kiwanis
While Kiwanis International is a strong advocate for youth programs, the St. Johns 707 Club is among only a handful of local units to sponsor three youth oriented programs based on age and ability to conduct community betterment services.
Those three groups are Key Club (high school), Builders Club (middle schools) and Aktion Club (adult citizens living with disabilities. The primary object of all three groups is community service
One of those groups, the Aktion Club, recently attended a regional Aktion Club meeting in March. A total of 16 members joined 120 Aktion Club bowlers from lower Michigan for the annual bowl-a-thon held at the BelMark Lanes in Ann Arbor.
The St. Johns group received a trophy for having traveled the farthest to bowl. One member also claimed honors for top scores of the day, bowling 148 and 132. Club members raised $605 from sales of Little Caesar’s Pizza kits to donate at the regional bowl-a-thon. A proceeds from the regional meet supported purchase of bed kits for the Kiwanis International Sleeping Children Around the World project.
Aktion Club members also joined the Kiwanis sponsored Builders Club during this year’s Socks for Soldiers collection campaign conducted at Johns Wal-Mart location. On April 27, St. Johns Kiwanis 707 plans to bring the Builders Club and Aktion Club together once more in honor of International Kiwanis One Day; a day set aside specifically to identify and complete projects of general community benefit. Both groups will assist with spring clean-up at Sleepy Hollow State Park in preparation for summer activities.
Aktion Club members take a break from organized activities of the summer months. However, the lower Michigan regional group gathers again in September for a two-day, one-night Fall Campout at Vestaburg. St. Johns Kiwanis Club 707 members are supporting the event by preparing meals for an estimated 140 attendees.
Next year, St. Johns Aktion Club members look forward to hosting the regional bowl-a-thon and reconnecting with their friends from around the state.