Noon luncheon meetings are held on the first two Tuesdays of each month, at Charlie Brown's Steakhouse in Chatham Township. Breakfast meetings are held at 8:00 AM on the last two or three Tuesdays of each month. Breakfast meetings are held at Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse in Chatham Township. Guests are always welcomed to attend our Tuesday meetings. COME JOIN US

Thursday

May 19 Program: Meg Wastie, Curator of Education, Museum of Early Trades & Crafts in Madison presents “What’s In a Name?”

Meg Wastie, Curator of Education, Museum of Early Trades & Crafts was introduced by Monty Montague at the May 29 breakfast meeting. She spoke about “What’s in a Name?” Meg has been at the museum for nine years after teaching for 32 years at the Columbia High School in Maplewood.

Meg gave a brief history of the museum and said that the building, built in 1899-1900, is the greatest artifact of the museum. It looks like a church, but was the James Library until it became a museum in 1969. Items in the museum cover the period from Colonial times to pre-industrial revolution. Meg gave a description of the Victorian building.

Her talk was about names of tools and how they relate to people’s names, which can be classified as geographic, patronymic or occupational. She gave a very interesting PowerPoint presentation showing tools and the occupation-related names associated with the tools. For example, barbers are associated with razor blades and bleeding cups. The original barber pole was red and white striped because the original barber wrapped bloody gauze bandages around the pole so that they would dry.

Another occupation is that of a brewer. We remember the name Teresa Brewer. Talking about printing presses and type setting, she noted that in the case holding the lead type, capital letters are found in the “upper case” and small letters in the “lower case.” Meg told many entertaining stories about the origins of names of tools and people.

Earlier, Monty provided a list of names to Meg for all the Kiwanis Club members and she researched the origin of the names. Meg shared the origins of those members who were in attendance. The audience was delighted with the stories and reacted loudly as the origins were read. Several members responded by providing their own understandings about their names.

At the end of the presentation, members enthusiastically applauded this interesting and entertaining event. To learn more about the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, visit their website.

Wednesday

2012 Annual Chatham High School Kiwanis Scholarship Winners Announced

Year-2012 Chatham Kiwanis Scholarship winners Liz Hyde (left) and Gianna Strand (center) were introduced by Kiwanis Club President Mary Anne Maloney at the May 29 Kiwanis breakfast meeting. They will also be recognized at the June 21 CHS graduation ceremony as this year’s winners of $8,000 Kiwanis Chatham High School scholarships. Scholarship winners receive $2,000 per year for four years.

Announcements: Kiwanis May 29 Meeting

Mary Anne gave a report on the Chatham ECLC walk held May 25, “Those kids are so inspiring.” She also reported that she presented Kiwanis certificates to two Eagle Scouts, Matthew Claudio and Colton Taylor, at their recent Court of Honor. Tom Mullin gave an update on the Chatham Fishawack Festival on June 9. The slate of 2012-13 Kiwanis officers were elected unanimously.

Monday

Kiwanis Annual Church Brunch on May 20

After attending the 10:00 AM church service at Stanley Congregational Church in Chatham, members of Kiwanis enjoyed Sunday Brunch at Winberies in Summit.

Kiwanis Honors Veterans by Placing Flags in Fair Mount Cemetery

Kneeling beside the gravestone of Col. Benjamin Proctor Holmes are members of the American Legion Bob Huntington (L) and Herb Ramo (R). Standing (L to R) are Scott Cress, Amy Huntington, Marjorie Ahrens, Mal Kitson, Jerry Cunningham, Dave Mutchler, and John Eyre. Col. Holmes served in the Civil War and the Spanish American War.

On May 17, Chatham-Madison Kiwanis members placed American flags at the Fair Mount Cemetery in Chatham. Every year about this time, the club observes Memorial Day by placing flags at gravesites of USA Veterans. Members walked among the gravesites looking for a metal plaque identifying the Veteran and branch of service – then placed a flag beside the gravestone. Bob Huntington, past president of the club and Navy Veteran, helped organize the work and obtained flags from Morris County.
Kiwanians Nancy Holt, Pat Davidson, Mary Anne Maloney and Bob Huntington pause for a photo beside the gravestone of Veteran Earle Furman.

Saturday

May 15 Program: Mary Vahl, Director of Development, ProLiteracy


Mary Vahl spoke about ProLiteracy after an introduction by Betty Anne Keat (right).

The organization’s headquarters is in Syracuse, NY (with an office in Washington, DC) but activities extend throughout the United States and the world. It is the largest adult literacy organization in the world. They are changing lives through literacy.

ProLiteracy is addressing the literacy crisis today. There are 30 million adults in the USA who read at a third grade level or below. World-wide there are 800 million at this reading level. Lack of literacy has a profound impact on these people.

Literacy has the power to overcome poverty, injustice, discrimination and violence. Eighty percent of those who are incarcerated in the USA are at a low literacy level.

ProLiteracy is a merge of two organizations: Laubach Literacy International and Literacy Volunteers of America. The local organization, Literacy Volunteers of Morris County, is a part of ProLiteracy. Click here to go to the LVMC website.

Dr. Frank Laubach, who founded Laubach Literacy International in 1955, had the method “Each one, teach one”. He believed that you need to reach people in their native language and be relevant to their lives, to give them the tools to teach each other. His work was more phonetically based.

Ruth Colvin founded Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA) in 1962. She used a learner-centered approach, a sort of one-on-one traditional approach. Her work has been focused on national action, for which she has received many awards. Ruth is still active at age 96.

ProLiteracy has over one thousand members and partners who interact through the year and participate in an annual conference (Barbara Bush spoke at a recent conference). They advocate for public policies and legislation that benefit adult learners and programs that support them. They publish educational materials and carry out International Programs. There are 52 grassroots programs in 30 countries.

Literacy for Social Change promotes economic self-reliance, health, education, peace, environment and human rights/status of women. They focus on women because they raise the children and can teach them. The total number of enrolled learners is 51,607 (11 percent men and 89 percent women). Total number of teachers/facilitators is 1,184. Over the past 20 years, they have reached 4,029,794 people in 120 countries.

The organization is moving into a new “Green” headquarters building in Syracuse, NY.  An old warehouse district is being revitalized with community partners in an environmentally conscious way. There will be a learning center where members will try new approaches and best practices can be shared with others.

Everyone can help by donating to ProLiteracy, advocating for their programs, and volunteering locally (contact Literacy Volunteers of Morris County). Mary handed out literature and showed a very interesting video. Click here to view the video on YouTube. Learn more - click here to visit the ProLiteracy website.

The audience loudly applauded this informative and inspiring presentation.

Wednesday

Announcements: Kiwanis May 15 Meeting

Mary Anne announced that twelve members and two spouses worked at the Chatham Post Office annex to transport “Stamp-Out-Hunger” donations to the Interfaith Food Pantry. Chatham postal workers collected 2,882 pounds of food, which Kiwanis delivered to IFP in Morris Plains. Jerry reminded everyone that flags will be placed at the graves of Veterans in the Fair Mount Cemetery. Meet at the Hillside Ave. entrance at 9:00 AM on May 17. Marge announced the Sunday, May 20, 10:00 AM Stanley Congregational Church Service with brunch following at Winberies in Summit. Heather Alonge asked Mary Anne to announce the ECLC Walk on May 25 at the school on Lum Ave; Lower School 9:30 to 11:00 am and Senior School 12:30 to 2:00 pm. Contact Heather – this benefits an Eagle Scout project. The nominees for 2011-12 Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Officers were announced. The election will be held at the May 29 meeting.  On Sunday, awards will be given to Eagle Scouts at Ogden Memorial Church – Dick Ligertwood and Mary Anne Maloney will attend. Karen announced the Wednesday, May 16 CHS Key Club meeting in the cafeteria. Betty Anne Keat announced that the CHS Key Club will hold their blood drive at the school on May 22. Next Tuesday, May 22, we will have the annual picnic at Stanley Park, Noon – Monty is in charge. Summer dress code at the picnic and until the Installation Dinner in the Fall. The May Board Meeting is Wednesday, 8:00 PM at the Chatham United Methodist Church.

Sunday

Kiwanis helps "Stamp out Hunger' on May 12

Members of Kiwanis transported food from the Chatham Post Office to the Interfaith Food Pantry. Twelve members (plus two spouses) removed 2,882 pounds of donated food from the mail trucks as they returned to the loading dock of the Post Office Annex.  The loaded the food into 3 SUVs with the back seats folded down and 2 minivans with the back seats removed. It was a very satisfying work activity. The Food Pantry gave members a tour when they delivered the food. The total for all of Morris County was about 32,000 pounds of donated food. Great job, everyone!

Friday

Remembering Kiwanis Member Sam Averett

Kiwanis Member Sam Averett passed away on May 7, 2012. Please see obituary on the Bradley & Son Funeral Homes website.
The above photo was taken at the March 23, 2010 Kiwanis Fish and Chips Dinner. Sam is on the far right working alongside other Kiwanians setting up before the fundraiser. Longtime member Sam Averett helped our club in many other ways, too.

Thursday

Chatham High School Student Gianna Rose Strand Wins Key Club Scholarship

At the 2012 New Jersey Key Club District Convention (DCON), the winners of the annual New Jersey Key Club Scholarships were announced. Gianna Rose Strand, the 2011-12 President of the Chatham High School Key Club, was awarded one of the 18 scholarships.

The Dr. George McCrossan Memorial Scholarship was created to honor Dr. George McCrossan, who was a past Kiwanis Governor and Key Club Financial Counselor.  This scholarship was the first New Jersey Key Club Scholarship ever established.  This $2000 scholarship will be granted to a member of the Chatham Key Club, Gianna Rose Strand.

The Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club sponsors the Chatham High School Key Club.

New Jersey Key Club members can apply for scholarships next year by visiting the website: http://njkeyclub.org/index.html  Then click on District Convention and click on the Scholarships Packet to download an application.

May 8 Luncheon Program: Mike Karnish and Rumor describe The Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ.

Mike Karnish, a volunteer for three years at The Seeing Eye in Morristown, brought along a guide dog named Rumor he raised from a puppy. Mary Lou from the Seeing Eye is in the background in the picture. Mike, a retired science teacher, gave a history of the Seeing Eye, talked about the assets (dogs) of the Seeing Eye, and shared some amazing stories from blind people and their dog partners.

When a blind woman was asked what it was like to have a guide dog she replied, “I feel like I am flying – I have never walked faster, never been more confident, and go anywhere I want to go.” Having a guide dog is life-changing for blind people.

The Seeing Eye was founded in 1929. In the mid-1920s, Dorothy Harrison Eustis, a philanthropist from Philadelphia learned about a guide dog program in Europe and she spent time there learning about it. After a few years, she wrote a magazine article titled “The Seeing Eye.” She took the name from the Bible, Proverbs 20:12. A father in Tennessee read the article to his blind son, who then travelled to Europe to get a dog.  Morris Frank was given a dog named Buddy. They walked around New York City in 1928 to prove the concept. He returned to Tennessee where he founded the Seeing Eye with Miss Eustis. After that they moved the Seeing Eye to Whippany, NJ and a few years later to the present location in Morristown, NJ. And now, the Seeing Eye will soon give its 16,000th dog to a blind partner.

Twenty-four blind clients are paired with a dog during each of 12 classes held every year at the Morristown campus.  There are four breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers and crosses between Goldens and Labs. The Seeing Eye breeds, raises and trains all the dogs. Four hundred puppies were born last year. Volunteer families raise and socialize the puppies until they are about 16 months old. The dogs then return to the Seeing Eye to be trained for about 4 months. Dogs “live in the moment” so they don’t miss the person who raised them. The blind partner owns the dog at graduation. The Seeing Eye pays for everything in the process, although they do charge the blind person a $150 one-time fee for the first dog, $50 for replacements.

When the dog has its harness on, it is a working guide dog. When the harness is removed, the dog turns into a regular pet dog. It is like turning a switch on and off. The dogs have a great life, they love their work and they love their partner.

The dogs are bred and trained to use “intelligent disobedience”.  They will not do something they are ordered to do if they believe it is the wrong thing to do.  For example, a dog will not lead its partner into dangerous street traffic.

There are more dogs trained than partners so that the Seeing Eye can choose the right dog for each partner. Two important considerations are pull and pace. Sometimes, a dog is not placed and the leaves the program to live as a regular pet dog. Rumor was not placed with a partner and she was given to Mike. She is now a certified ambassador from the Seeing Eye and accompanies Mike when he gives talks.

The cost per dog is about $68,000. Dogs live for eight to ten years. Many blind people need replacement dogs over their lifetime. Dogs don’t make mistakes. They save the lives of their partners on a regular basis.

Members of the audience applauded and thanked Mike for his very informative talk, which was illustrated with descriptive, captivating stories. Please visit the Seeing Eye Website to learn more.

Wednesday

Announcements: Kiwanis May 8 Meeting

President Mary Anne Maloney thanked the 11 members who helped with May Day in Madison Cole Park Cleanup. Joan May also thanked everyone and added that the left over spade fork will be returned. Ron Whalin announced a new Kiwanis service project. On Saturday, May 12 at 3:00 pm volunteers will meet at the Chatham post office annex loading dock to transfer donated food from mail trucks into SUVs and Vans for transfer to the Interfaith Food Pantry. We are helping the Postal Workers annual “Stamp out Hunger” project. Marge Ahrens announced the May 20, Church Brunch event starting with the Stanley Congregational 10:00 AM service. The brunch will be held at Winberies in Summit. Jerry Cunningham reported that Sam Averett, long time faithful member of Kiwanis, passed away yesterday morning. Jerry announced that on May 17 at 9:00 AM members will meet at the Fair Mount Cemetery to place flags beside gravestones of Veterans. To Mullin gave the status of the Fishawack pulled pork fundraiser. Volunteers will be needed to “pull pork” at the Methodist Church on the Friday afternoon before the 6/8 Fishawack event. Also, volunteers are needed to set up, sell sandwiches, transport pork from the church to Firehouse Plaza, and clean up at the end.
Visiting Randolph Kiwanis Club was represented by (L to R) President Elect Bonnie Hodge, Uma Rathore, and Anne Gebhardt. Bonnie announced that their club is hosting a “meet the candidates” night for all the NJ District Officers who are running for office. It will be held Wednesday, May 30 starting 7:00 PM at the Randolph Dinner.

Guest Welcomed at May 8 Kiwanis Club Meeting


Reverend Dr. H Leigh Holder-Bobo, Pastor of Ogden MemorialChurch, was welcomed to the May 8, 2012 luncheon meeting by Dick Ligertwood. She is a newcomer to Chatham.

Sunday

Kiwanis spruces up Cole Park - May Day in Madison 2012

Kiwanis Club and St. Vincent Martyr Girl Scouts weeded and multched Cole Park as part of the annual May Day in Madison 2012 event. Eleven members of Chatham-Madison Kiwanis showed up on a cloudy, cool morning - May 5. It was pretty wet and muddy, but we all had a great time.
AD Dudderar and Stu Shippey were the first to arrive.
Mary Anne Maloney, Dave Mutchler, John Eyre, and Jerry Cunningham worked on the beds around the fountain.
Girls Souts went right to work.
We got one load of mulch thanks to the Department of Public Works. The mulch came from last year's October snow damaged trees.
After spreading the much, everyone worked together to move the last of it into the wheelbarrow.
A staff member brought water for the thirsty workers.
Many workers brought and shared tools and then it was time to find them and take them home.
At the end, everyone enjoyedtreats supplied by the Girl Scouts and gathered the bags of weeds and sticks for pick-up by the Public Works.
This is what the beds looked like before all the good work.
This is what the beds looked like after the work.
This monument was placed in 1995.

Friday

Program: May 1 Luncheon - Marc Litwack spoke about the history of Kiwanis International

Past Kiwanis NJ District Governor Marc Litwack was introduced by past Division Lt. Governor Nancy Boucher. Marc gave a history of Kiwanis International. The Key Club, which is sponsored by Kiwanis, is an excellent and successful organization.

Announcements: Kiwanis May 1 Meeting

Guests Gordon Meth, Division Lt. Gov., and Bryan Dodge from Socrates, NY, Marilyn Wittlinger and Ken Johnson were introduced by President Mary Anne Maloney. She thanked Karen Swartz and Nancy Holt for the wonderful Recognition Reception held last week and described the very nice “Walk to Eliminate” fundraiser held by the Drew Circle K Club. Joan May announced the Cole Park Cleanup on Saturday, May 5. Marge Ahrens has arranged the annual Church Brunch to be held on May 20 at Stanley Congregational (10:00 service) and Winberies (brunch afterward). Nancy Boucher and John Bauer are going to the Montville Kiwanis meeting on May 2 and invited others to come along. Ron Whalin mentioned that George Baird said hello to his old friends in Kiwanis. Karen Swartz mentioned that the Republican Primary Candidates night meeting will be held at Township Hall on Tuesday, May 1 at 7:00 PM. Gary Arnesen thanked the members who participated in the Clean Community work on Bowers Lane in Chatham.

Kiwanis participates in Earth Day 2012 by sprucing up Bowers Lane in Chatham

Members of Chatham-Madison Kiwanis pose in front of the piles of debris picked up on April 18 at the end of Bowers Lane in Chatham. Items were separated into recyclables (left) and trash (right). Left to right: Mary Anne Maloney, Gary Arnesen, Doug Bryant, Simon Mandal, Dick Plambeck, Monty Montague, and Dick Ligertwood.  The work was part of our NJ Clean Community effort.
Sharon Johnson didn’t get into the group photo but she picked up lots of stuff.
Unsightly litter next to the railroad siding at the end of Bowers Lane in Chatham before the cleanup by members of the Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club.
Spotless railroad siding without all that unsightly litter

Wednesday

Drew Circle K Club holds Walk to ELIMINATE Fund Raiser

Drew Circle K Club held a “Walk to ELIMINATE” fund raiser to save lives. It was held on April 29, 2012 on the Drew University campus in Madison, NJ.  Sign at entrance to Simon Forum. Click here to learn more about the Kiwanis ELIMINATE Project.
Registration for the event was held in the lobby of the William E. and Carol G. Simon Forum & Athletic Center. Participants paid admission and bought tricky-tray tickets.
There were plenty of donated refreshments.
The tour of the Drew campus was escorted by a trained guide who gave an informative description the buildings.
There was even a tour of the Zuck Arboretum.
Photo of one of two ponds in the arboretum.
After the walk through the campus, everyone was entertained by the Drew U. MadAve a capella. There were also two solo singers.
The Drew Circle K Club posed for a group photo at the end of the event. Chatham-Madison Kiwanis is proud to sponsore this enthusiastic and dynamic Drew University Service Club.