Highlights Honors and Guard Change
With photos courtesy of Laura Mullaney
The St. Johns Kiwanis Club has been recognized for its active membership and numerous contributions to the community and those acknowledgements were justified recently when the group opened a new year by announcing special honors and naming incoming officers.
The annual meeting, which not only installs leaders for the club, but also pays tribute to outstanding Kiwanians and persons who have contributed to the well being of the general community.
This year’s honors included Denise Uribe, named as Kiwanian of the Year, and Patsy Coffman selected as Lay Person of the Year. Both were recognized during the club’s annual assembly Sunday Sept.25 at Clinton Commons.
Ms Coffman received the special Human and Spiritual Values award as lay person of the year following a nomination by the Rev. Lori Sykes, pastor of First United Methodist Church of St. Johns. In her nomination, Rev. Sykes credited Ms Coffman as being “dedicated to living out her faith in ways that bless and serve her church, community and world. Patsy’s life is a virtual fountain of joy and thanksgiving, and her motivation in pouring herself out for others is simple: she loves because God first loved her.”
Rev. Sykes pointed out numerous other personal qualities and contributions to her church and community that warranted special acknowledgement in keeping with the spirit of those attendant to being named Kiwanis lay person of the year.
The yearly award is named in memory of Terry Cornwell, Kiwanian and high school counselor, whose life represented the essence of spiritual living, but was taken by diabetes at an early age.
Meanwhile, another significant honor was bestowed on Denise Uribe as immediate past president. This traditional tribute emphasizes the importance of leadership and the effect that an influential person has on the direction and purpose of an organized group. Ms Uribe received her award from club secretary Marianne Harris.
In other business, officers and directors for the upcoming Kiwanis year were installed. Leading the club are Marcia Peterson, president; Greg Teichman, president elect, Denise Uribe, past president; Laurie Bishop, secretary and Jim Gunther, treasurer . Board members include Tony Hufnagel, Mike Zigler, Theresa Fedewa Wells, Nan Simons, Rhoda Hacker and Sue Lounds.
Lined up to lead St. Johns Kiwanis club during 2011-2012 are, from left, Tony Hufnagel, board member; Denise Uribe, past president; Laurie Bishop, secretary; Greg Teichman, president elect; Marcia Peterson, president; Mike Zigler, board member; Jim Gunther, treasurer and Theresa Fedewa Wells, board member.