VILONIA Vilonia has a new grown-up club with its major focus on children.
The Vilonia Kiwanis Club received their charter, and officers were installed at a banquet Tuesday night at the First Methodist Church. Several Kiwanis dignitaries for Division 21 were on hand, including present and past officers.
"Welcome to the family," said Division 21 Lt. Governor James Little, addressing members of the new Vilonia club.
He then installed board members, the officers and reminded members of their mission "to change the world, one child and one community at a time."
Others who spoke also reiterated the message including Kiwanis Governor Jerry Martin of Springdale. He also talked about the importance of a diverse membership. He also spoke about historical aspects of being charter members.
"It's very special to be a charter member of a club," he said. "People are going to look back on this through the years and your names will be there."
In conclusion, Martin turned his focus to serving children saying they are the "winner," when it comes to a club serving a community. He shared a couple of personal stories focusing on projects he has been involved with as a result of his membership.
"The important things we do are not in our meetings but in our projects," he said. Anytime you react on a child, he told the membership, it "will have an effect on a child."
Club members were advised to turn their attention to organizing a key club, a builders club and a K-Kids Club allowing students of all ages to be a part of Kiwanis. Key Club is for high school students; Builders' Club for middle school students and K-Kids for elementary students.
"Don't ever forget that our mission is to serve the children," Martin said.
Recruiting of the membership for the Vilonia club began in October 2007. Charter members include Kathlyn Arnett, Camille Ball, Jill Bonnema, Jason Broach, April Burroughs (vice president), Susan Cole, Jerry Davidson (secretary), Bill Dickson, Jackie Fowlkes, Melanie Gentry, Stanley Gordon Jr., Kenny Harvey, Keith Hillman, Tracy Howard, Belinda Price, Shelia Pruett, Johnny Reed (president), David Riley, Chad Roller, Pete Ross, Matthew Sewell, Krista Slicer, Seth Staggs, Cynthia Tarpley, Scott White (treasurer), Spencer White and Tina White.
A new gavel handed over to him by dignitaries, Reed stood before the membership and guests. As a new Kiwanis president, he said, he is "green."
"But, some of us are on fire and we are ready to go," he concluded.
He offered an open invitation to new members saying the group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month for lunch at the Pizza Pro in Vilonia.
In attendance at the banquet were also members of other surrounding clubs including from Conway, Cabot, England, North Little Rock, Downtown Little Rock, Southwest Little Rock, Jacksonville, Pulaski Heights, Morrilton and Springdale. It was said the Conway and Cabot clubs are sponsoring the Vilonia club.
