Christine Rehm, President of Circle K Club at College of New Jersey, is serving with Kiwanis this summer.

Christine Rehm, left in the photo, has joined the Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club as a summer intern. In late August, she will return to the College of New Jersey where she will be the President of the Circle K Club (which is sponsored by Kiwanis). Joan May (right), President of Kiwanis welcomed Christine, who lives in nearby Florham Park.

Kiwanis November 20 Program: Drew University Circle K President Victoria Dayton described the club’s fund-raising and service projects.

Bob Stannard introduced Drew University Circle K President Victoria Dayton at the November 20 Kiwanis breakfast meeting. Chatham-Madison Kiwanis proudly sponsors the Drew Circle K and Bob is the Kiwanis advisor. All officers attended training for their positions this year.

She reported that the club has grown their membership to 25 student members who come consistently to all the meetings. The $600 International dues is paid by Drew and students pay $8 individual District dues by the end of the month. Victoria reviewed some of the recent events by the club locally and with the District.

Some projects are carried out at the meetings. One is Cards for Kids. Kids with serious illnesses are located via the Internet and cards are made to cheer them up, even though some have terminal illnesses. The club also does Trick or Treat for UNICEF, going door to door in Drew dorms. Over $100 was raised and donated to the ELIMINATE project.

The club went to a NJ state rally (a day of fun) held at Rutgers in October. They brought canned goods to contribute to fighting hunger. Drew came in third in point score for the day.

The club had a T-shirt designed for their club and will now order them to proudly wear to events.

They raise funds and made contributions by reselling used books. They had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich social where they made and took over 100 sandwiches, to Hurricane Sandy victims in Toms River. Fifty went to the Salvation Army and the rest were handed out by the students as they went door-to-door to help people.

Victoria organized a Drew project to collect Sandy relief donations - then they drove a truckload of donations to Toms River. She also sent out a flyer to Drew students reminding them to return from Thanksgiving break with more donations for Sandy victims. Victoria is heading up a Drew disaster relief committee. This week they went to Staten Island to provide relief.

Victoria and other students found tragic damage to houses at the shore. She invited Kiwanians to donate relief goods. One thing that is needed is pet supplies. Food, blankets, and other items are needed to help displaced pets.

The club held a “Dance the Damage Away” to raise funds for Hurricane Relief. The event was a success, raising $253.

They also are doing a Six Cents Initiative to collect used water bottles, turn them in for cash, and then donate the funds to bring good water to people in need. She thanked the audience for bringing in water bottles for her. They also collect can-tops for the Ronald McDonald House.

Upcoming events include the Free Rice Competition. When you answer a trivia question on-line, 10 grains of rice are donated to the World Hunger Program (freerice.com). Students will come to the event, group into teams, generate points (rice), and compete for prizes based on which team has the most rice.

Next year, they plan to hold a bowling social in the Madison shopping center near Staples. The club will attend the state-wide NJ District Winter Social to be held at Centenary College in February. There is also a NJ District Convention being planned for next February.

There will be a NJ District large scale service project hosted by Drew in April. Also, the Walk to Eliminate will be held again this year. A Dance for Dimes is in the planning stage to raise money for the March of Dimes. Also a Clean-up on Drew campus is being planned for next year in the spring.

The audience loudly applauded the great work of Victoria and the Drew University Circle K. Their extensive programs and enthusiasm are an inspiration to everyone.

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.

Drew University Circle K Officers Presented an Update at April 17 Kiwanis Meeting

Drew University Circle K President Victoria Dayton (left) and Vice President Savanna Arabi-Katbi (right) with Bob Stannard, Kiwanis Circle K Advisor at the beginning of the April 17 meeting. Victoria and Savanna gave an update on status of the Circle K Club, listing the newly elected officers. The also described several honors given to their club at the Circle K New Jersey District Convention in March. Awards were given for most improved club, collection of canned food, for outstanding President Dayton, for outstanding Advisor Stannard and for outstanding support by the Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club. Circle K  also participated in the Free Rice competition at Drew. The Walk to Eliminate will be held on the Drew campus on Sunday, April 29.

March 28 Fish and Chips Dinner Supports ELIMINATE Project

On March 28 the Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club held a Fish and Chips Dinner to raise money for the  ELIMINATE Project: Kiwanis eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT). In addition to Kiwanis workers, volunteers from Chatham High School Key Club, Chatham Middle School Builders Club and Drew University Circle K Club served in the kitchen and in the dining room.

Bill and Nancy greet diners as they arrive.

The Chatham High School Cafeteria was a busy place with many "dining in". There were also many "take home" customers.

Barbara and Dick were served by Kate, who holds the office of Treasurer in the Drew University Circle K Club.

Nancy shows her card as professionald maician (and Kiwanis member) Simon Mandal entertains the table with his magic tricks.

Drew University Circle K Club President Victoria Dayton (holding microphone) presented plaques of awards to Kiwanis President Mary Anne Maloney and Circle K Advisor Bob Stannard. In the background, Lakota and Kate look on.

Drew University Circle K Club – February 21 Meeting

Drew University Circle K Club President Victoria Dayton (right) and VP Savanna Arabi-Katbi (left) gave the Kiwanis breakfast meeting an update on their status.

The reinstate Drew Circle K is making plans for the coming year.  Victoria is the only continuing member who has “stuck it out” during the process of reinstating the club. She and Bob Stannard (in photo), working with the Drew faculty advisor and university administrators, have restructured Circle K and are ready to move on. Membership is now at 19 people. Circle K is planning a “Dance to ELIMINATE” event in March, a “Pizza Dinner”, a “Walk to ELIMINATE”, and making “Hug-a-Bears” for children. Election of club officers will take place the end of March and they will send nine representatives to the NJ District Circle K Convention in March. Victoria thanked Drew University for paying the fees for the club to attend the convention. Victoria also thanked Chatham-Madison Kiwanis for helping Drew Circle-K back on their feet. Members of Kiwanis loudly applauded the speakers and the fine work of the Circle K.

Victoria Dayton, President of Drew University Circle K Welcomed by Kiwanis

Victoria Dayton (photo above) spoke to the club about latest developments in the Circle K club at Drew University. She is the new President of Circle K. All of the current officers are graduating so there will be new officers in all positions. Nadia Roof will be the VP, Savanna Arasbi-Katbi will be the Secretary, Abigail Dingle will be the Treasurer. Victoria is also the webmaster for the Drew Circle K Website (click here). She invited Kiwanis to give her items to post for advertising on the Circle K website. Victoria’s goal next year is to increase membership in the Circle K club.

Dr. Amy Koritz tells Kiwanis about Project Pericles at Drew University

Dr. Amy Koritz, Director of the Center for Civic Engagement, Drew University spoke at the June 22 meeting about Project Pericles. Drew University is a member of Project Pericles, a consortium of 28 colleges and universities committed to incorporating civic engagement into their core educational mission. Project Pericles is a not-for-profit organization that encourages and facilitates commitments by colleges and universities to include education for social responsibility and participatory citizenship as an essential part of their educational programs, in the classroom, on the campus, and in the community.

Dr. Koritz described the ways that Drew is participating in Project Pericles. She distributed a “Drew Today” handout describing the program. The mission of Civic Engagement at Drew is to connect education and action for the common good. Project Pericles supports this by providing training, assistance and networking between member colleges. With this help, Drew is starting a course on Economics of Non-Profits.

Drew now has a Civic Scholars Program. Scholarships are awarded based on incoming student’s High School record of excellence in community service. Civic Scholars enroll in a special seminar their first year and then participate in weekly workshops to develop their skills. All are expected to do 100 hours of community service each year and to organize a Drew activity involving the community during their first year. Of 133 applying for the scholarship, 26 were accepted into the program.

Visit the Drew and Project Pericles websites to learn more.

Drew University graduate Kristin Germinario speaks to Kiwanis about KSTF

Kristin Germinario has received a fellowship in biology from the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation, an advocate for new teachers and the teaching profession. Each Fellow receives a five-year fellowship valued at up to $150,000 that includes mentoring, classroom materials professional development and access to a network of like-minded colleagues and educators nationwide.

At the June 22 Kiwanis club meeting, she briefly described the KSTF and her teaching experiences. Germinario taught biology to incoming eighth graders and was inspired by this experience to become a teacher.

While she was an undergraduate at Drew, Germinario was a member of the Circle K club, a student service club sponsored by Kiwanis Club of the Chathams. She was Editor of “The Duckling”, the club’s newsletter. She thanked Kiwanis for the learning experience she received while in Key Club and Circle K.

Click here to read the Drew Today article on Germinario’s award. Click here to learn more about Knowles Science Teaching Foundation.

Announcements for April 27 Breakfast Meeting

President Rich announced at the April 27 meeting that Joan came through her knee surgery, is in rehab at RIM and is doing well. Drew Circle K Club is having a textbook drive and a flyer is available on the club website. Drew will take encyclopedias and other large books, which can be dropped off at many locations on campus. Numbered stakes were made by Dick Ligertwood for the May 15 Yard Sale. Rich and John will place the 24 stakes on table sites the night before the sale. About a dozen table spaces have been sold so far. The sign-up sheet for the Sale was circulated again. Rich reported that the Church Service and Brunch was great and recommend that more people come next year. Brunch was held in a very nice semi-private room at Winberie’s. Rich also showed a plaque from Madison Little League of members of the Kiwanis team. Charlie Brown’s will be asked to mount the plaque in the Kiwanis meeting room.

Jerry reminded all that the Madison May Day Cole Park clean-up will be next Saturday from 8:00am to 12:00pm. Members should bring their own tools but some may be provided by Madison. After the meeting, AD said she will pick up T-shirts and available tools on the Thursday before the event.

Nancy Boucher announced the names of the nominees for 2010-2011 officers of the club. Look at the list in the page in the right margin of this Blog. Joan May will be the new Vice President and the three 2013 Class Elected Directors are Douglas Bryant, Karen Schwartz and Melanie Sze. Per our club by-laws, we announce the slate at the last meeting of April. Nominations from the floor are accepted at the next meeting on May 4. Members vote on the slate at the second meeting in May, which is May 11. The Secretary position is filled by the Board at a later time.

Drew University Circle K Club - Guests at April 13 Meeting

Photo (left to right): Circle K Club Faculty Advisor Professor Amy Koritz, Special Activities Coordinator Gabrielle Kostiuk, President Danielle Gregor, Member Victoria Dayton, and Club Secretary Sarah Cronholm. Professor Koritz described the work of the Drew Center for Civic Engagement. Started in 2008, the mission is to connect education to effective action in the world. Click here to learn about the Center for Civic Engagement.

President Gregor described recent club activities: helping Kiwanis with Pasta Dinner, Nut Sales and Fish & Chips Dinner; raising almost $500 through the “Relay for Life” and working to support “Alex’s Lemonade Stand” at Drew. The club attended the NJ District Circle K Convention where they received the Robert J. Mascenik award, which is given to the club that has done an outstanding amount of service throughout the past year. Click here to view the website for NJ District of Circle K.

Kiwanis Youth Service Clubs attend April Chatham Kiwanis Meetings

Three Kiwanis sponsored youth service clubs in the Chatham-Madison area will come to regular weekly “Kiwanis Club of the Chathams” meetings during the month of April 2010. Faculty advisors and students from ECLC of New Jersey, Drew University Circle K and Chatham High School Key Club will join us. The plan is to have a sponsored youth club member, (these clubs are sponsored by Chatham Kiwanis) make a brief presentation at the start of the meeting. Advisors will also speak before the club and introduce students. Our usual pre-meal song-singing periods will be replaced by the presentations. As of today, the schedule for these visits is listed below:

April 6, 2010 - ECLC of New Jersey adviser Samantha Zelevansky and Key Club members.

April 13, 2010 - Drew University Circle K advisor Professor Amy Koritz and Circle K Club President Danielle Gregor.

April 20, 2010 – Chatham High School Key Club advisors Rich Yar and Kiera Acri and Key Club officers.

The CHS Key Club plans to attend the April 16-18 NJ District Key Club Convention in King of Prussia, PA so we will also get a timely update on Key Club activities for New Jersey.