Clarion
Publication Date: October 5, 2005
Volume 57, Issue 1
In A Historical First, Club Installs Helen Devlin as President
For the first time in its 84-year history, the Kiwanis Club of Hickory elected a woman–Helen Devlin–to serve as its President for the 2005-06 Administrative Year.
Helen has been a very active member of this club for the past eight years, having served in a number of leadership positions of increasing responsibility. She is a Counselor at HHS in the WIA-sponsored STAY Program (Sustained Training All Year). In addition, she is a member of the Hickory Appearance Commission and Kiwanis Liaison for the HHS Key Club.
Helen’s extended family includes her husband of 33 years, Past Pres. Tom, Jr.; children Tom III, Patrick and Aileen; and granddaughter Paige with her mother Monica.
Club’s 85th Installation Banquet
As the last official act of his term as President, Tom Shields promptly called the meeting to order and presided over the Club’s gala event at LHCC on October 5, 2005.
Rev. Stanley Stiver pronounced the invocation, in which he thanked the Lord for providing numerous blessings over events which permitted the club to fulfill its mission to the young children of the world. He also expressed thanks for the life of the late George Hemphill and his exemplary example of Kiwanis leadership.
Following an eloquent dinner, Helen Devlin introduced the head table members and their spouses, the Circle K attendees from CVCC and LRC and the HHS Key Club attendees. Special guests included Virginia Hemphill, Lib Friday with Paul Speagle and new member Scott Gorman with his spouse.
Outgoing Pres. Tom cited as highlights of his tenure the club’s business-like operations, successful fund-raising projects, good communications, highly active sponsored youth organizations and willing volunteers.
He paid special tribute in absentia to retiring Sec. Albert Lee for his six-years service as Secretary, his substantial financial contributions to Kiwanis foundations and his active role in local, district and international affairs.
Pres. Tom also presented Appreciation Awards to Treasurer Rick Hammer, Ken Kleva for continuing Peanut Sales projects, and to Virginia Hemphill, Bill Barkley and George Hemphill (in absentia) for successful golf tournaments. Further, he presented Distinguished Service Awards to Bill Parks for the Clarion; to Linda Baker and Danny Seaver for 4 and 8 years, respectively, as faculty advisors for CVCC Circle K and HHS Key Club; to Helen Devlin for her dedicated service as V. Pres. and full-year program arranger. He also named Wendell Cramer as Kiwanian of the Year.
Our own Lt. Gov. Dr. Grimes Byerly officially inducted Helen Devlin as President, David Kozak as Vice President, Margaret Sorrell as Secretary, Rick Hammer as Treasurer and new two-year directors and returning directors as they appear on the newly formatted listing of officers and directors for 2005-2006 on Page 3.
As her first official act President Helen, on behalf of the club, presented outgoing President Tom with a plaque as a tribute to and appreciation for his services as President for the 2004-2005 Administrative Year.
In her opening remarks, President Helen voiced her objectives and goals for the upcoming year as follows:
Improved communications and cooperation among the various Kiwanis organizations in the community to further the goals of Kiwanis
Achieve solid commitments from all active members of the club to participate pro-actively in at least one Kiwanis project this year.
Recent Programs
September 20–Our own Rev. Stanley Stiver presented a delightful program drawing on changes he has observed in church life during his 50-year career. He high-lighted packaged ministerial calls, dress codes, music styles, liturgical standards and interaction among religious bodies as areas of change he has observed. He is concerned about some things including the lack of trained ministers to meet today’s needs, but he is optimistic about the overall future of the church, citing, as examples, more women and retirees serving congregations as pastors and greater cooperation and understanding among religious bodies.
We were especially pleased to have Pastor Richard Schwandt of Christ Lutheran Church as a guest minister attending our Clergy Appreciation Night.
September 27–Executive Director Jennifer Griffin and Board Member Les Whicker of the Patrick Beaver Learning Resource Center familiarized us with their organization’s commendable mission–to serve the needs of area young people with learning differences. Their goal is to address the reasons why 619 Catawba County students started but failed to finish high school last year.
To address this problem, the Center’s major initiative is the promotion and funding of specialized teacher training developed by renowned physician and author Mel Levine. This course guides educators to explore the diverse ways in which people process, store and retrieve information. The result through the last three years was 135 Catawba Co. teachers have been empowered to work with students with learning differences to leverage their strengths and help them to achieve self esteem and success in school.
Joint Annual Picnic September 13
Kiwanis Park was again the scene for this year’s joint annual family picnic, purposely delayed from the traditional early August date. There was ample, deliciously prepared food including the last of Jim Tillman’s specially preserved garden tomatoes, great fellowship among the 80 attendees and perhaps slightly cooler breezes than usual.
Our hearty thanks go out to those who made arrangements, cooked and/or served the food. They included, from our club, Bill Barkley, Helen Devlin, Harrison and Tommie Jahn, Danny and Elaine Seaver, Tom Shields and Jim Tillman; from the WCC Club, Steve Aaron and Cecil Clark; and from CVCC’s Circle K, extremely hard-working Josh Bledsoe.
Banquet Entertainment
The Stradavarian Quartet, a local string instrument group of talented young teenagers, will provide a variety of professional-type music prior to and during the course of the banquet as well as for the evening’s entertainment. Members of the quartet are: Michael Patrone, Andrew McCallum, Lyndsay Watson and Philip Kukla.
Be sure to make your and your guest’s reservations for this outstanding event.
Announcements
Congratulations to Mary and Frank Ryan on their 13th wedding anniversary and to Bill Barkley on his 77th birthday, shooting his age at golf on his exact birthday date!
Our hearts go out to Teresa Foster and her companions who are serving as Red Cross Disaster Relief nurses in the severely devastated Gulf coast areas. Tersesa returned in time for the banquet, reporting a greater need than ever for volunteers.
We are sorry to report the resignations of Judge Burford Cherry and John Everley.
Thanks to volunteers from our sponsored youth organizations and loyal Kiwanians, we had a highly successful Highway Cleanup project on September 24. Eighteen bags of trash were collected by Helen Devlin, Bill Parks, Danny Seaver, Tom Shields, 3 LRC Circle K’ers, 4 CVCC Circle K’ers and 6 HHS Key Clubbers.
The Club’s thanks go out to Dan Wallace of Wallace Printing Co.-Fairgrove Industrial Park-for his firm’s furnishing our last club directory. This excellent document was edited by former member David Taylor. Let’s remember to thank Dan for his services and reciprocate when possible.
Upcoming Programs and Other Events
October 11–Tim Dieke, Director, Hickory Regional Airport
October 18–Bob Connelly speaking on the Victory Junction Project
October 25– Virginia Parrish, a family caregiver specialist
November 1– Debra Johnson, Children’s Advocacy Center
November 8–Donna Mull, 4-H Campers Report
November 15–Dr. Herbert Stoulenburg, friend of Marvin Zerden