With the playing of the 113th Thanksgiving Day Easton vs. Phillipsburg Football Game, our Club held the second annual inter-club meeting this morning with members of the Easton and Phillipsburg Clubs and the advisors and officers of the Easton and Phillipsburg High School Key Clubs. Helene Meissner, past president of the Phillipsburg Kiwanis Club introduced Kayla Krouse, PHS Faculty Advisor, Kristen Southwick, PHS Key Club President, and Gillian Baryer, PHS Key Club member. Rachel Peters, EAHS Key Club Faculty Advisor introduced Key Club members: Alania Mariano, President, Campbell Heitz, Kalee Quinn, and Allison Berlet. Barbara Walters introduced her fellow members of the Easton Kiwanis Club: Bill Walters, Dean Young, Nick Ciambrone and Walt Howell.
At the request of Bob Moran, each Key Club talked about what projects they are involved in. Kristen Southwick indicated that the main project PHS Key Club (120 members) is working on now is the members are working as Santa’s helpers on the Polar Express train rides in Phillipsburg. This is a very popular Christmas activity in the Phillipsburg and Easton area. On Veteran’s Day, they were involved in programs thanking Veterans for their service. Throughout the year they are constantly doing something to help someone or group to make their life much better.
Rachel Peters spoke for the EAHS Key Club (90 members) and the main project they are working on at this time is the food drive which will provide many meals for families in need at Christmas. These meals will be distributed through the Salvation Army. Many of the members are involved with our Club in making the Palmer Kiwanis Breakfast every April very successful. They also have many projects they work on throughout the year to make the lives of the needy much better. The Palmer Kiwanis is very proud of what the Key Club does to carry out the mission of Kiwanis.
Both of these Key Clubs are extremely impressive in what they do and how they do it and we congratulate them.
Walt Howell of the Easton Club talked about four K-Kids and one Builders Clubs that they sponsor. Through their effort, Walt is working with the clubs on Kiwanis service leadership programs. He also talked about considering forming a partnership between the Easton and Palmer Clubs to sponsor an Action Club for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities in this area.
From the words of Bill Walters, “From what we all heard this morning from Phillipsburg, Palmer and Easton Kiwanis clubs it’s all about our “youth clubs” and supporting them. They are the future of Kiwanis and service to our community.” Bill is so correct. Hearing what we heard this morning every adult in the room should have walked out of that room with a great feeling that as Kiwanians we are doing the right thing.