Looking Back, Looking Forward

Overview of 2019-2020

Present by Club President Joe McCann

2019-2020 was a year like none of us have ever experienced.  Through the pandemic and adversity, there was still a lot to celebrate and look forward to. 

Our Projects and Volunteer Opportunities included:

1. Spelling Bee
2. Diaper Collection for the Outreach House (New)
3. Samaritan’s Purse
4. Doll Project
5. Go Baby Go
6. Awarded three $1,000 scholarships
7. Community Food Drive Collection (club volunteers)
8. NEDSRA Valentine’s Dance

Service Leadership Programs we supported last year:

1. Aktion Club (Mary Beth)
2. Key Club (Brigitte)

Meeting Speakers:

1. Dave Gorman, Village of Lombard, Public Works update
2. Iris Sagrado, Shared her Kiwanis journey.  And oh how her journey sure changed this year with the birth of our newest Kiwanis family member! 
3. Karen Walsh, H.O.M.E DuPage (Home Ownership Money Education)
4. Kathy Moreover, SEASPAR, Aktion Club update
5. Kate Bousom, Child’s Voice
6. Alison Costanzo, Lombard Historical Society
7. Jerry Barton, NEDSRA update

Inter Club Meetings we attended:

1. Central DuPage
2. Addison
3. National Day of Prayer Breakfast with Villa Park (virtual)
4. Glendale Heights (virtual)

Fundraising Efforts:

1. Attempted Dining with the Dead, but canceled due to weather
2. Poinsettias (included Aktion Club)
3. Successful Bowl-a-thon (Thanks to Tim Clark for the Division and Ken on the club level)
4. Peanut Days (adapted to case sales)  STILL SELLING…HINT HINT!!!!

Achievements:

1. New Website (major endeavor, looks great, thank you Jay)
2. Invested Funds
3. Continued to meet (even virtually through the pandemic)
4. Elected same officers to provide continuity under these strange circumstances

Missed Opportunities and things to hopefully look forward to

1. Feed My Starving Children
2. Crazy Hat Dance
3. Take Time for Tots Day
4. Special Olympics
5. Scholarship Dinner
6. TLC Camp
7. Kiwanis Conventions
8. Coming together for Breakfast Meetings
9. Coming together to volunteer to change the world one child and one community at a time.

A sincere thank you to the club members and officers for a unique, challenging, and rewarding year.