Green Village resident Nickie Cheney was awarded a Walter Zeller Certificate of Appreciation In support of Kiwanis Project ELIMINATE.

Nickie Cheney (left in photo) of Green Village, NJ proudly wears her Walter Zeller medal. It was given to her at the June 18, 2013 Kiwanis meeting held at Charlie Brown’s Restaurant in Chatham Township. In the center is her mother Penny Nichols Wilson of Milton, Florida. Michael Mulhaul (right), District Coordinator of the Kiwanis NJ District Project ELIMINATE campaign was on hand to make the presentation.

Penny is a Kiwanian who served as President of Florida’s Kiwanis Club of Santa Rosa Sunrise from 2009 to 2011. She wanted to give her daughter a memorable Mother’s Day gift this year. She chose a contribution, in Nickie’s name, to project ELIMINATE.

Project ELIMINATE will stamp out Maternal Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) by raising funds for inoculating women in 30 third world countries, where MNT is a serious problem. In those countries, women give birth in unsanitary conditions where the newborn baby is infected with tetanus. The baby dies a horrible death within two weeks, which is easily preventable by inoculating all women against tetanus - at a cost of only $1.80 per person. Kiwanis International is raising 110 million dollars and directing the funds to UNICEF, which handles the distribution of funds to countries which have the greatest need. This project is for women of child-bearing age, many in remote areas. One baby dies every 9 minutes because of MNT. New Jersey Kiwanis is raising a little over one million dollars to support the project. Click here to learn more about ELIMINATE.

Kiwanis International acknowledges major contributions to ELIMINATE by presenting a Walter Zeller Award. A special broche is included for Mother’s Day. Michael Mulhaul, who is a past Governor of the Kiwanis NJ District, made all the arrangements to obtain and present the award to Nickie, who was an active member of Key Club in high school. The award was a surprise to Nickie and she graciously thanked her mother and Kiwanis for the gift.

Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Interclub at Parsippany Wine Tasting

This happy group from Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club had a great time and supported the Kiwanis ELIMINATE Project to help stamp out Neonatal Tetanus by attending the Parsippany Kiwanis wine tasting event on April 1, 2013.

Madison High School Key Club helps ELIMINATE Maternal Neonatal Tetanus.

On Thursday, December 13, 2012 the Madison High School Key Club donated $1,000 to help save new-born children and their mothers from Maternal Neonatal Tetanus. The Key Club raised the money by holding a dodge-ball tournament, a car wash, and other fund raisers. Standing in front of the Madison High School volunteer bulletin board are (left to right: Karen Swartz, Kiwanis Key Club advisor; Joan May, Kiwanis Club President; Alec Waksman, Key Club Treasurer; Leah Harris, Key Club Activity Coordinator; Bryan Rowe, Key Club Co-President and Mary Beth Gabel, MHS Key Club Advisor.

The ELIMINATE Project is a joint venture between Kiwanis International and UNICEF with the goal of eliminating Maternal Neonatal Tetanus worldwide. This tragic disease kills 160 babies a day in third-world countries, where Tetanus is still prevalent. By inoculating a mother (cost is only $1.80), the mother and baby are protected from Tetanus which exists in unsanitary birthing conditions.

Kiwanis marches in Chatham July 4th parade for ELIMINATE

On July 3rd, the Lady Liberty float was decorated at Chatham Main (photo by Stu Shippey).

Early on July 4th, the Chatham Community Band float was decorated at Coviello’s.

Members congregate before the parade started.

Chatham Community Band float.

Kiwanis members marching down Main Street.

Lady Liberty float.

Kiwanis President Mary Anne Maloney poses with Lady Liberty at the end of the parade. It was

a great parade!

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.

Program: January 31, 2012. Fundraiser for Eliminate Project

Jerry Cunningham led a fundraiser to collect contributions for the Kiwanis Eliminate Project. At the January 31 breakfast meeting, he took the microphone to each table where members put a few dollars in Jerry’s hat and said a few words. One hundred and forty dollars was collected for the Eliminate Project. See photos from the meeting below.

January 3 Program: Michael Mulhaul explained the Kiwanis ELIMINATE Project

Mike Mulhaul (right), who is the Kiwanis NJ District Coordinator for the ELIMINATE Project was introduced by Jerry Cunningham (left). Mike is a Past Governor of the NJ District and an active member of the Greater Parsippany Club.

After introducing the ELIMINATE Project, Mike showed an excellent video explaining ELIMINATE. Click here to view the video on the web.

The last Kiwanis World-Wide Project was the Iodine Deficiency Disorders project, which raised over $80,000,000 to support UNICEF in eliminating this terrible illness.

Selection of the next International project was made by a consortium of Kiwanis members who participated in choosing the best project based on ideas from many members. The choice of the ELIMINATE Project was formally announced at last year’s Kiwanis International Annual Convention.

There are 38 countries around the world with serious Tetanus problems. UNICEF has been working on this since 1999. The MNT infection happens during the birthing process, which is often poorly controlled and very unsanitary. Both mother and child die horrible, painful deaths. The cost of prevention is minimal - only $1.80 for three tetanus shots, given at 8-week intervals. Treatment needs to be repeated every 10 years.

Mike asked the audience to seriously “take an interest” individually and as a club. The benefits of correcting the Maternal/Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) problem greatly exceed the cost and effort. Kiwanis is raising $110,000,000 over a period of four years. In 2015 when Kiwanis is 100 years old, the ELIMINATE project should be completed. In New Jersey, Kiwanis Family Clubs (including sponsored youth) need to raise $1,066,444.00 over the next four years. New Jersey has already contributed over $88,000.

Recognition is given, via the Zeller Award, for contributions of $1,250. This amount saves 695 lives. Walter Zeller is known for his contribution to the fledgling Kiwanis Foundation in the 1940’s. Individual Kiwanis Clubs can also qualify for recognition as “model clubs” ($75 per member during the 4-year period). Clubs can also qualify for the $100,000 Club Award. There are also other awards.

Mike passed around brochures describing what you and your club can do, how people can contribute money, and campaign recognition. To learn more about ELIMINATE, go to website www.TheEliminateProject.org. Click here to learn how to make a donation to ELIMINATE

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Nancy Boucher reports: 2011 NJ District Kiwanis Convention

Nancy Boucher, who led host club support for the New Jersey District Kiwanis Convention, reported on the event. She acknowledged the work of Heather Alonge who printed the program, including an ad in honor of Governor Marc Litwack and Nancy. Nancy said that was very nice and a big surprise. She thanked other members of our club who helped with the convention: Nancy Holt, Betty Anne Keat, AD Dudderar and Joan May. They were the “host committee” and worked very hard. Over 250 people attended. A resolution was passed in the House of Delegates thanking Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club for hosting the convention this year.

There were a lot of workshops on the ELIMINATE project. In the Coin Donation contest, where club members put money in a jar at each meeting, our club came in third. Kiwanis has Zeller awards for ELIMINATE donations of $1,250. Mike Mulhaul was selling Zellers and sold about a dozen, with contributors photographed the last day. There were also workshops on training officers and other topics.

AD Dudderar ran the Basket Bonanza all by herself and the project brought in $1,260. This amount was contributed to Children’s Specialized Hospital.

Nancy reported outcome of election of officers for next year. In a close vote, Joe Teti from Trenton won Governor-Elect. Rudy Fernandez from Livingston will be Treasurer. Nancy closed by passing around the program and list of memorials from the Sunday memorial service. At the service, Nancy placed a rose for Cory Fuller, who passed away last year.

Zeller Awardees - 2011 NJ District Kiwanis Convention
(Photo by Larry Meegan)

Rich and Debbie Behling presented a program on their recent trip to Africa

Rich and Debbie Behling went on a trip to Africa recently. Rich showed many of his photos and, with Debbie, described their interesting experiences.



Debbie and Rich Behling model T-shirts brought back from their recent trip to Africa. The back of Rich’s shirt shows the route map. Debbie’s shirt sleeve has flags of the four countries visited.

They traveled first to Johannesburg, SA and from there by small plane to Victoria Falls. From there they flew to four camps in four wildlife preserves. Tourists slept in eight huts with canvas walls. Open bathrooms were behind the tents. There was a common dining area with at least one wall and a bar where there was a happy-hour every evening. Temperature reached 104 Fahrenheit most days.

Travel was by small single engine planes but some travel was by boat. Debbie told of a native making flower necklaces – “he hoped the romance would last as long as the flowers.” They traveled on “game drives” in Jeeps (safari vehicles) which carried three rows of people.

From their tent Debbie and Rich could watch animals at a water hole. Animals arrived by kind - elephants, Cape buffalo, etc.

They saw many species of animals. They photographed animals: antelope, hyenas, baboons, wart hogs, monkeys, crocodiles, monitor lizards, a bat, painted red frogs, ostriches with babies, lions, termites and more. The trip was taken in the dry season and had more animals. In the wet season, there would be more birds. Travelers frequently got very close to lions by stayed quietly in the open jeep. They saw two lions attach and kill a Cape buffalo which had foolishly strayed from the herd.

Victoria Falls, twice as big as Niagara Falls, had low water because it was the dry season. They walked on a trail to view the falls and also took a helicopter ride to see the falls. One of their photos showed a beautiful rainbow made by the mist from the falls.

They went for an “up-close-and-personal” walk with 6-18 month old lions (a sort of “tourist trap”). Debbie grabbed a lion by the tail and let it drag her along. A photographer took the obligatory group picture of the 13 travelers (3 were single, the rest couples).

During the cultural day, they visited local people living in a village and learned their customs. Natives live in huts with walls made from termite mound “dung” which hardens like concrete. There was a girl playing” jacks” using natural objects like seeds for the jacks. Photos showed how natives carry babies and other items. There was a tour of the school, which is sponsored by Grand Circle Foundation. Multiple bathrooms by grade and sex are provided and each class grade maintains their own bathroom. Students are taught English. They used a beach ball globe to study geography.

Villagers eat lunch in a common hut with men sitting on seats and women sitting on the floor. Women prepare and serve meals ordered by men. Debbie was selected by the Chief to help the native women so she cooked and served Rich, kneeling as she presented him the food he asked for.

Because Kiwanis has the ELIMINATE project, Debbie asked a village nurse whether they vaccinate women for tetanus. She answered that they do vaccinate pregnant women if they can travel to the clinic.

The trip was managed by Overseas Adventure Tours, which is part of Grand Circle Tours. Click here to learn more.

Kiwanis February 1 Luncheon Meeting Announcements

Argyle Restaurant in Kearny is having the Robert Burns “interclub” February 2. Two members will attend.  Mary Anne Maloney reported that quite a few Wine-Tasting tickets have been sold.  Nancy Boucher announced that more tricky tray auction items are needed. Dick Plambeck reported on the NJ District Kiwanis Mid-Winter Conference held January 29, where the ELIMINATE project was discussed. Chatham-Madison Kiwanis won an award for growth in District 10. He also announced that the Valentine’s Luncheon will be held next week and asked members to alert Valerie via email regarding plans to attend.

Chatham-Madison Kiwanians attend New Jersey Kiwanis Convention August 21

Chatham-Madison Kiwanis attended the August 21, 2010 New Jersey District Convention held at the Hanover Marriott. Bob Stannard, AD Dudderar, Nancy Boucher and Joan May were photographed by Ron Whalin.  Four of us attended the ELIMINATE break-out session.

ELIMINATE – Kiwanis eliminating maternal/neonatal tetanus

Kiwanis, UNICEP join forces to save 129 million mothers and newborns. The Eliminate Project will protect mothers and babies from Tetanus.

At the July 6 Chatham Kiwanis meeting, club President Rich Behling donned his ELIMINATE-labeled hat and overviewed the new Kiwanis World Service Project. The ELIMINATE project was introduced at the July 2010 Las Vegas Kiwanis International Convention. The project is similar in scope to the IDD project carried out several years ago. The objective is to eliminate Maternal/Neonatal Tetanus (MNT), with affects 129 million people each year in third-world countries. Pregnant women get tetanus and when the baby is born it suffers agonizing pain and dies within 2 weeks. Only three 60-cent shots ($1.80 total) would save 60,000 babies from this terrible death every year. Kiwanis is partnering with UNICEF - Kiwanis will raise the money and UNICEF will distribute the shots. Total cost is $110,000,000.

Nancy Boucher reported that Lauren Kapsky (former CHS Key Club officer and Chatham Kiwanis Scholarship winner) was a member of the project selection committee. Several projects were analyzed leading up to selection of the ELIMINATE project.

Rich shared information brought back from the convention with President-Elect Dick Plambeck so he can implement the project in our club next year. A regular Kiwanis meeting program including video is planned for November.

Click on this Kiwanis link to learn more about ELIMINATE.