Kiwanis Christmas Dinner was held on December 17, 2013.

Kiwanis President John Eyre (left) thanked Jimmy, our host for many years at Charlie Brown's Fresh Grill in Chatham Township on Southern Blvd.

Nancy Boucher brought cupcakes, arranged to look like "60" years to honor member and past NJ Districk Kiwanis Governor Marc Litwack on the occasion of his 60th birthday.

 

Rich and Debby Behling braved the snow and ice to drive from South Jersey to Chatham to attend the annual Kiwanis Christmas Dinner. Rich organized the Christmas Program and both he and Debby contributed to the happy event. Others who contributed items to the program were Karen Swartz, Nancy Boucher, Ron Whalin and President John Eyre, who organized the dinner. Stu Shippey brought the last remaining 2013 Holiday Nuts for members to buy. Approximately 40 members attended the Dinner in spite of the bad weather.Our next Kiwanis meeting will be January 7, 2014. Happy holidays to all!

Alan Nekoukar, manager of the Chatham Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse recognized by Kiwanis Club

Joan May, President of the Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club recognized Alan Nekoukar, manager of the Chatham Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse for hosting our club meetings for many, many years. His friendly and helpful leadership makes the restaurant a wonderful site for our Kiwanis meetings and a happy choice for diners in our area. Joan thanked him for the work of his staff in providing excellent food and service.

Announcements: Kiwanis December 20 Meeting

Stu Shippey announced that the nut sale is coming to an end and all members are asked to purchase the remaining gift tins. Karen Swartz announced that the CHS Key Club will meet for the last time this year at 7:00 PM on December 21 in the cafeteria. Nancy Boucher still has supermarket cards so please buy them and use them as gifts. Greeting cards were sent to members who have been unable to attend meetings. The December Board meeting will be held right after the regular meeting. Poinsettia table decorations were given out to some of the members attending today’s meeting.

Alan Nekoukar, manager of Charlie Brown’s Restaurant in Chatham Township, was recognized and thanked by President Mary Anne Maloney for the excellent service and food he and his staff provided at Kiwanis meetings today and over the many years. Alan thanked the club members and acknowledged his Charlie Brown’s workers who did such a great job. Alan said that last year Kiwanis posted his photo on website. A long lost friend from 30 years ago, who had moved to California, found Alan because of that photo. The friend found the photo of Alan on the Kiwanis website and called him up. They have now renewed their friendship. 

Kiwanis January 4 Meeting Announcements

Rich Behling passed around a sign-up sheet for the Wines from Around the World Wine Tasting Event. Members are asked to volunteer for unfilled jobs on the sheet. He will continue to pass the sheet around at future meetings.

Stu Shippey gave members a final report on the Holiday Nut Sale project. The project was completed as scheduled December 25th last year, income was very good and everyone gave Stu a rousing round of applause for a job well done. He and President Dick Plambeck thanked everyone, many of whom stood in the cold, for selling all the nuts. Mary Lloyd told everyone how helpful Stu was in delivering a large order of nuts to her office. She thanked him for doing a fabulous job.

Dick will be going to the training session Thursday evening and he asked anyone interested in going along to contact him. He also passed around a sign-up sheet for the NJ District Mid-Winter Conference to be held on Saturday, January 29 at the Crown Plaza in Somerset. Tom Mullin mentioned a letter from the NJ District office asking for input regarding planning for the 2012 District Convention. He will forward the letter to Ron to email it out to everyone. Karen Swartz announced that next Wednesday at 10:40 am there will be a general meeting of the CHS Key Club in the auditorium.

The buffet lunch menu for the day was announced: cream of broccoli soup, chicken Frances, meat balls, teriyaki salmon, mashed potatoes, string beans, garden salad, mushroom salad, corn salad, barley salad, garlic beans and assorted deserts.

Announcements: Kiwanis December 21 Breakfast Meeting at Charlie Brown’s in Chatham



The annual Christmas meeting started with everyone singing Christmas carols: Jingle Bells, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Joy to the World. Next, Stu Shippey reported that there are only about 10 items left from the Holiday Nut Sale. This is the end of the sale, which was very successful. Income exceeded budget. He thanked members for their guidance and help.



Dick Plambeck (left) thanked Alan Nekoukar.

Alan Nekoukar, manager of Charlie Brown’s Restaurant in Chatham Twp., was recognized and thanked by President Dick Plambeck for the excellent service and food he and his staff provided at Kiwanis meetings today and over the many years. Alan thanked the club members and acknowledged his Charlie Brown’s workers who did such a great job. 



December 14 Program: Tim Butler, Co-Director of Green Vision, Spoke on the Recycling Program Staffed by Autistic Workers.

Tim Butler described Green Vision, which is the electronics recycling program affiliated with The Allegro School in Morris Knolls. The workers are Autistic developmentally disabled students and adults.

Valerie Olpp introduced Tim Butler who spoke about Green Vision, an electronics recycling organization

Green Vision is now incorporated, has 501(c)3 status and has its own board of directors.  Work continues to be done at the Allegro School but will move to a new building in Morris Plains. Workers take electronic equipment apart and ship it to companies for processing. The new facility will provide higher end training and employment for students and adults.

Arrangements have been made with several major corporations (e.g. Cantor Fitzgerald, ADP, etc. ) to supply discarded computers and other electronics to Green Vision. Green Vision can accept anything with a cord except for Televisions and Computer Monitors.

PC Problems, LLC in Madison serves as a location for collecting electronics discarded by Madison residents. Click here to learn more. The items are then delivered to Green Vision for recycling. Green Vision also handles New Vernon Township. Discussions are also underway with Chatham Township.

Over a period of one year, Green Vision recycled 101,000 pounds of materials. Just this morning, Tim collected 14,000 pounds of electronics. Autistic workers love the program and the staff.

Tim asked Kiwanis to encourage contacts who might have electronics to dispose of to get in touch with him at Green Vision. Click here to go to the Green Vision website.

Announcements: Kiwanis December 14 Meeting at Charlie Brown’s in Chatham

President Dick Plambeck reminded members to let Kiwanis know if their email address, phone number, etc. changes. Stu gave an update on the nuts project. He said sales are going well and his sales goal will be met by the end of the month. Members were urged to buy/sell as many as possible.

Betty Anne Keat said that a CHS Key Club officers’ meeting will be held in Rich Yar’s office at 10:45am on Friday 12/17 (editorial note: this was moved to Thursday). Dick told members that the CHS Key Club asked Kiwanis to submit an ad for the “Gen Rocks” concert program. Members approved purchasing a full page ad.

Joan May announced that sign-up sheets were placed on tables to get a count of the number of members and guests who will attend next week’s annual Christmas meeting, which will be a breakfast at Charlie Brown’s. Dick announced that a board meeting will follow next week’s the breakfast meeting. He also announced that the District Mid-Winter conference will be held Saturday, January 29 at the Somerset Crown Plaza.

Karen Swartz announced that members should start work on finding Tricky Tray items for the “Wines from Around the World” Wine-Tasting event. Detailed Tricky Tray info will be sent to members via email.

Heather Alonge announced that ECLC students will be presenting their Christmas program, “Rhythms of the Season” on Thursday at 12:30 pm.

Kiwanis NJ District Governor Marc Litwack with Nancy Boucher at the December 14, 2010 breakfast meeting held at Charlie Brown’s restaurant.

NJ District Governor Marc Litwack attended the club meeting. This is his first club visit since he suffered a bad fall six months ago in which he was seriously injured. Marc is a member of the Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club. We admire his determination as he recovers after 9 months at Kessler Rehab and resumes his responsibilities as District Governor. He wished the club continued success enriching the family of man and serving the children of the world.

Colonel Amos Chalif and his wife Margaret attended the meeting. He holds dual club membership and we were happy to see them.

Amos and Margaret Chalif at Charlie Brown's Restaurant in Chatham Twp.

Past President Jerry Fedeler attended August 31, 2010 Kiwanis Meeting

Past Kiwanis President Jerry Fedeler traveled from his home in Delaware to attend the August 31 Kiwanis breakfast meeting at Charlie Brown's. Photo shows Kiwanis President Rich Behling enjoying a cup of coffee with Jerry.