Kourier ALABAMA DISTRICT Summer 2019 Published by Alabama Kiwanis Foundation 28 pages District Convention is Aug. 2-4 By Patrice Stewart president of the Kiwanis Club of Kiwanis Kourier editor Huntsville and chairman of the con- It’s almost time to celebrate in vention. “We asked to host this year Huntsville, where the 101st Alabama because of our club’s 100th anniver- District Convention will be held Aug. sary. Huntsville is growing, and we 2-4 at Embassy Suites. want to show off our city.” The Kiwanis Club of Huntsville will The Huntsville club must receive serve as the host club, and Kiwanians other Kiwanis clubs formed that year registrations by July 26 to give meal and guests from around the state are will also be recognized at this conven- numbers to the hotel. invited to join in celebrating the club’s tion. Huntsville Kiwanians and district 100th anniversary. This Huntsville club “We are looking forward to hosting leaders have planned several speakers was organized July 14, 1919; several the whole district,” said Marc Byers, (See HUNTSVILLE, Page 5) Scenes from Kiwanis International Convention, from President-elect Vigneron from the Belgium-Luxembourg left: Kiwanis Club of Montgomery officers Sam Johnson District; and KI Executive Director Stan Soderstrom, left, and John Hutcheson, Kiwanis International President- greets Alabama Past Governor Armand St. Raymond, who elect Daniel Vigneron and Alabama Kiwanis Governor has been appointed to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund board Ben Taylor with two gold plaques for top Signature Proj- beginning Oct. 1. Soderstrom will be the luncheon ect; Alabama Governor-elect Bob Brown, left, meets with speaker at the District Convention in Huntsville Aug. 2-4. Montgomery project atop the world By Patrice Stewart by the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery. signature projects during the 104th Kiwanis Kourier editor The fair has funneled more than $7.4 Kiwanis International Convention at The Alabama District of Kiwanis million to charities that help children Disney Resorts in Florida. won the top award in Kiwanis Interna- while also helping children enjoy ferris The project had already been named tional’s Signature Project competition. wheels, funnel cakes and fun. one of the top 10 finalists. Those 10 The district’s entry was the Alabama The honor was announced at a June National Fair, sponsored for 65 years 27 luncheon focusing attention on club (See FAIR, Page 3) K-Family Service Day at RIF’s book warehouse in Opelika is planned for Oct. 5, 2019 Alabama Kiwanis Kourier, Summer 2019 2 Another great convention ahead: Join us in Huntsville on Aug. 2-4 Greetings to everyone in Kiwanis Land. It’s summertime in Alabama, so you know what that means? It is con- vention season! The Kiwanis International Con- vention just wrapped up in Orlando. The Al- abama District Convention will be heldAug. 2-4 in Huntsville. ICON honors in Orlando The Alabama District was well- From the represented at the Kiwanis Interna- From left are governors of three districts at the joint district dinner June 28: Governor tional Convention, Gary Baker, Missouri-Arkansas; Alan Arbuckle, Illinois-Eastern Iowa; and By Ben with about 40 at- Ben Taylor, Alabama. At right, Taylor has a firm grip on the trophy presented Taylor tending the events to the Alabama District and the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery: The KIDS (Ki- at Walt Disney wanis International Distinguished Service) Award. World Resort, Florida. A great time was sored by the Kiwanis Club of Mont- Szymanski to the Kiwanis International reported by all. gomery, represented Alabama in the Board of Trustees. Trustee Peter Man- The biggest news for the Alabama competition. It was a great week to cuso was elected vice president. District was taking top prize in the showcase an Alabama original since Saturday’s closing session included 2019 Signature Project Contest orga- 1954. the Alabama District and Kiwanis Club nized by Kiwanis International’s public The business session on Friday con- of Montgomery receiving the KIDS (Ki- relations department. cluded with the election of Gary wanis International Distinguished Ser- The Alabama National Fair, spon- Cooper, David Hurrelbrink and Cathy vice) Award. So, lesson learned, save room in your luggage for awards. DCON in Huntsville Aug. 2-4 AlabamaKiwanis Kourier The 101st Alabama District Conven- tion is set for Aug. 2-4, with members Published by Alabama District Kiwanis Foundation of the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville serv- Address news, photos and other correspondence to: ing as hosts. Patrice W. Stewart, Editor They have worked their tails off to [email protected]• 256-303-1668 make this a banner year for DCON, Design and technical assistance by Steve Stewart and they request that clubs bring their banners and stand to showcase the Governor: Ben Taylor, Montgomery ([email protected]) clubs in Alabama. Governor-elect: Bob Brown, Hoover-Metro ([email protected]) Vice Governor: Mark Kellerman, Fairhope ([email protected]) Kiwanis Executive Director Stan Soderstrom will be in attendance dur- Past Governor: Armand St. Raymond, Birmingham ing the weekend. New trustee and Al- ([email protected]) abama District Counselor Cathy Szy- District Secretary: Tammy Driskill, Gadsden ([email protected]) manski will also attend the Huntsville District Office: P.O. Box 8505, Gadsden, AL 35902, 205-945-1334 convention. alabama.kiwanis.org (See GOVERNOR, Page 3) Have Kiwanis questions? Call Alabama District Secretary Tammy Driskill at 205-945-1334 Alabama Kiwanis Kourier, Summer 2019 3 Fair project (From Page 1) clubs were recognized in Orlando, and then the top three were announced. Alabama Kiwanians at the luncheon clapped politely as a Louisiana club won third place and an Australia project placed second … and then went wild with applause as the Alabama Katie Main, execu- District was called for first place. tive director of the Three Kiwanis Club of Montgomery Kiwanis Club of members — District Governor Ben Tay- Montgomery; Ala- lor and Montgomery Kiwanis officers bama Governor Ben Sam Johnson and John Hutcheson — Taylor (right) onstage took the stage to receive plaques from with Australia Kiwanis International President-elect and Louisiana Daniel Vigneron of the Belgium-Lux- representatives. embourg District. For 45 years, children have been The Australia District was the sec- performing and showing their art after ond-place winner for the Kiwanis Club the club found that community chil- of Bendigo’s Children’s Book Box Li- dren benefit from an opportunity to braries project. publicly display their talents to a wide After a community assessment audience. showed poor literacy rates among chil- dren in the Bendigo community, Kiwa- It’s become one of the largest and nians decided to help children learn to oldest juried talent shows in Louisiana, read by placing book boxes in places and the club raises nearly $25,000 each where children visit. The kids can read, year from the festival for service borrow, swap or keep the books. The projects. project has been so successful that sev- Other finalists were from Japan, eral other charitable groups have Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zea- joined the effort. land-South Pacific, the Philippines, Tai- In third place was the Louisiana- Kiwanis International President- wan and Canada. Mississippi-West Tennessee District for elect Daniel Vigneron (left) hands top Kiwanis Executive Director Stan the 69th annual Pancake Festival by the Signature Project awards to President- Soderstrom talked about club signature Kiwanis Club of Baton Rouge, Louisi- elect Sam Johnson of the Kiwanis projects in the opening session. “They ana. That club doesn’t have a pancake Club of Montgomery at a luncheon. are known in their communities be- breakfast; they make it an entire festi- The KIDS trophy was awarded later cause of the impact they have,” he val. at a general session. said. governor for Brian Rodgers! Governor Some of you are like me, with your term as a club officer (From Page 2) ending as well. Kiwanis members like to say the most cov- eted pin in Kiwanis is the Past President Pin. Be sure to bring children’s books to Huntsville and par- Kiwanians will take that pin and desire something more. ticipate in our district-wide service project on Saturday af- Kiwanians continue to recruit new members, brainstorm ternoon. We will be putting Kiwanis stickers in donated new service projects and serve the kids of their communi- children's books, which will then be delivered to the St. ties. Jude affiliate hospital in Huntsville. Our goal is 1,000 books, Kiwanis members come to their club meetings with the so don’t forget to bring children’s books with you to “been there, done that” attitude. Do you understand what I Huntsville. am trying to say? One of my goals as your 2018-19 governor was to let the host town know that Kiwanis was in town. Thanks to Gov- In the last few months of this year, I challenge you. Are ernor-elect Bob Brown and others, this project will serve you a Kiwanian or a member? that purpose. I hope to see you there! If you already know you are a Kiwanian, great! Inspire the members of your club to become Kiwanians as well. Kiwanian or member? You will notice the difference in your club’s impact to the It’s hard to believe my year as Kiwanis governor is com- community. ing to an end. It seems like yesterday that I was a lieutenant The children of Alabama need us now more than ever! Email news and photos of club projects to the Kiwanis Kourier, [email protected] Alabama Kiwanis Kourier, Summer 2019 4 Scott Sims plans to run for district’s vice governor; election in Huntsville By Patrice Stewart Club. finished his freshman year at Belmont https://tinyurl.com/scott- Kiwanis Kourier editor University.