Kiwanis One Day
St. Johns Kiwanis members serve the community all year around, but the month of April has a special significance and the word “service” takes on greater import. Excitement abounds in April when Kiwanis members come together for Kiwanis One Day – a day of community service that is felt around the world.
Helping clear a new trail at Sleepy Hollow State Park as part of Kiwanis One Day are, from left, volunteer Roxanne Kudwa, Kiwanians Sid Lounds, Greg Teichman, Sue Lounds and Theresa Fedewa-Wells.
It’s a day when the entire international Kiwanis family and affiliated youth groups – locally Builders Club, Good Wins Key Club and AKtion Club – join forces to complete a needed project beneficial to their individual service area. One year ago, St. Johns Kiwanis and sponsored clubs converged on St. Johns City Park and left it pristinely prepared for the summer months.
Ranger Dave Zmikley, third from left, directs workers during Kiwanis One Day work at Sleepy Hollow State Park. Others are, from left, Milah Montle, Noah Gonyea, Zmikly, Josh Theis, Nick Weber, Duncan Wright, Grant Moeggenborg and Brendon Keil. All workers except Gonyea are members of Good Wins Key Club, sponsored by St. Johns.Kiwanis.
This year, the four-pronged attack centered on Sleepy Hollow State Park, where Ranger in Charge, Dave Zmikly had one big project and too little help. Enter Kiwanis along with members of youth clubs, Builders, Good Wins Key and AKtion, and in the span of a few hours, one horse trail was closed off, a new one established and a water diversion conduit was installed.
Sharon Bassette, chairman of the Kiwanis One Day project for 2013, was pleased with all who turned out to join the effort. “This is an example of Kiwanis enthusiasm,” she said, “and that can be identified in every club member – Kiwanis, Builders, Good Wins Key and AKtion.”
Jeanette Huard, Steve Bassette, Rhoda Hacker, Mike Gonyea, Emilie Krish, April Mullikin, Ken Perrin, Hannah Robbe and Theresa Fedewa-Wells. Emilie, April and Hannah are members of Kiwanis sponsored Builders Club. Others are Kiwanians except volunteers Bassette and Gonyea.
But who can go to a park without having a little fun? When the work activity ebbed and the project completed, everyone enjoyed an outdoor lunch featuring hot dogs, hamburgers and complimenting extras prepared in a picnic site over a charcoal fire. A few balls were tossed around to sap some remaining energy and the day ended with satisfaction that St. Johns Kiwanis had answered a community need while fulfilling the international spirit of Kiwanis One Day.
Members of the various Kiwanis affiliated clubs on site to help included: Kiwanians; Project Chair Sharon Bassette and husband Steve, Theresa Fedewa Wells, Jan Havlik, Laura Mullaney and daughter Carrie, Sue Lounds, Sid Lounds, Marilyn Thelen, Jeanette Huard, Rhoda Hacker, Greg Teichman, Ken Perrin, Dave Kudwa and wife Roxanne. Good Wins Key Club: (Senior High School Members) Milah Montle, Josh Theis, Nick Weber, Duncan Wright, Grant Moeggenborg and Brendon Keil. Builders Club: (Middle School members) Brianna Ward, Alex Lane, Hannah Robbe, April Mullikin, Emilie and Kaytlyn Krish, Andy Briggs and Paralee Newman. AKtion Club: (Adults w/disabilities) Kris K., Mike L., Chip T., Robert B., Heather M. and Carrie Anderson their driver.