Before starting the reports and announcements, a correction needs to be made from the previous newsletter. In listing who helped at the last camp work day I thought I heard Kristin and her husband were there. Instead, it was Kristi and her husband Chase. My apologies for the confusion and incorrect recognition.

 

Lon opened the meeting.

Although I normally do not note who won the Big Bucks as rarely does that actually get won, this time it was Moe! He said, in jest, (I think) that it had been 15 years since he had won. 

 

Rhonda: Rhonda announced the May birthdays we were celebrating which are for Kelli, Chester, Steve and Andrew Gary. Many thanks to Rhonda for the homemade brownies!

 

Lon announced that there is a Board meeting tonight at 5:00 p.m.

 

He distributed via email "Event (Committee) Budget Reports" documentation with explanations and a sample form of the Pancake Day event for each committee to use to develop their own Event Budget Report. The main purpose of the report is to give guidance for committees and the Board in planning events for the next year. The reports must be submitted by June 6 so please check your email for the documents.

 

Austin Ault, one of the scholarship recipients who was at the May 16th meeting, sent a "Thank you" note to the club which was sent around for members to read.

 

Moe announced that there is a Coffee & Commerce at the Habitat for Humanity & Restore on Friday, May 31st from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Moe suggested several of our members attend. You will need to RSVP by registering on the "Event"section on the Chamber of Commerce website. It is free.

 

Moe introduced the two additional scholarship winners, Adigheji Ifowodo and Maya Uzwyshyn. According to Moe the Scholarship Committee received many outstanding applicants this year and these two along with Austin Ault proved to be exceptional students.

 

Adigheji spoke to the members first noting some highlights of his accomplishments and interests. 

He is a member of the National Honor Society and played cello with the San Marcos High School Chamber (Varsity) Orchestra to name just a couple of the many organizations he has been involved with. He has participated in U.T. Austin's GeoFORCE program for a number of years and was a winner at the GeoFORCE Texas Symposium in 2023. Although he anticipated going to the University of Texas as an undergraduate, he ultimately decided to go to the University of Michigan. His primary interest is to become an Aerospace Engineer and he feels that U. of Michigan will provide him the best opportunities for studies and research in his field with plans, too, to go into the Air Force ROTC there. Adigheji has a focus, set of life goals, and a list of diverse accomplishments already that are amazing for someone his age.

 

Maya Uzwyshyn spoke next starting with how important community service has always been to her. Her love of the San Marcos river and the natural environment led her to organize school wide river clean ups. She also has diverse interests and accomplishments including being in and volunteering at choir theater productions in which she played Wendy and Super Woman. She really enjoyed the kids' reactions. Although she has been greatly involved with public service her main interest for academics is biology. She completed a course for a Emergency Medical Technician. Experiences with the patients during the ambulance rides made her realize she wanted to work in advance medicine to create medicines for curing and preventing diseases. Having a degree in biology will help her towards that goal. She will be attending the University of Texas at Austin. Her compassion for others, her desire and goals in the medical field and ever readiness to perform public service makes her a most special lady.

 

Rick congratulated the Scholarship Committee for their outstanding job in the selection of all of the recipients. They did, indeed, do an excellent job this year.

 

May 30th: CASA

June 6th: Stacie, Jennifer, Beverly and the newly designed website

June 13th: Lisa Adams, Hays Office for Veterans

June 20th: Judge Tanner Neidhardt

June 27th: Sponsored Youth

 

May 31: San Marcos Library "Big Rigs Kickoff Party" 9:00 a.m. to noon. If you volunteered for this, the library requests you arrive by 8:30 a.m.

June 1: Camp clean up

June 3rd: Good Citizens Camp week begins.

 

RECOGNITIONS: (Something new.)

Periodically in the newsletter there will be a highlighting of different Kiwanis Club contributors who have supported specific programs and events the club either conducts once a year or year long. The purpose is to show our appreciation by recognizing them and to encourage members to use the services of these businesses where applicable.

Since Jeanne was the first to make the request, we will start with a few Flag Program contributors. Let Jennifer know if you have an event or program contributor you want highlighted.

 

The Coffee Bar - 142 N. LBJ

Cafe on the Square - 126 N. LBJ

Valentino's Pizza - 110 N. LBJ

Root Cellar Cafe - 215 N LBJ

BOARD MEETING REPORT:

Highlights:

Willie and Jesse from the Membership Committee shared their documents "San Marcos Kiwanis Campaign for Recruiting New Members," "Prospective Member Checklist for Board Approval," and "Kiwanis Onboarding Checklist for Induction." The committee has been hard at work getting an organized strategy for finding new members for our club and being sure the new members are as informed as possible about our club. Kristi has put together a packet of information that will be used to acquaint new members with what we have to offer and how they can become involved. Board members made additional suggestions.

 

The 2024-2025 officers and new board members were given final Board approval after the Kiwanis Club membership voted their approval at the last regular meeting.

 

Moe recommended we have a booth at the Expo to raise our visibility. We will need to raise funds to cover the cost.