Good morning ! This week in Kiwaniscope - no meeting this Saturday, New Year's message from President Amy, news of coming events, and Kiwanis global impact in 2023.

– Editor

MEMBERS’ MILESTONES

David Weber (Denise/Deni) were married on December 31, which is Sunday this year. Happy anniversary David and Deni!

This Saturday, December 30, 2023

NO MEETING

Our annual club meeting is next Saturday, January 6, 2024.

PRESIDENT'S NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE

By Amy S. Jenner

It’s only a few days before we usher in 2024 and I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a healthy and prosperous new year — not only to each of you as friends and fellow Kiwanians, but to us collectively as a club.

Our first meeting together in the new year is on January 6, and serendipitously, it is an opportunity to practice the time-honored New Year’s tradition of reflecting on the past year and making commitments for the new.

After months of collecting input, planning, refining, and organizing, I believe that we have a solid strategic plan for 2024 that will both drive membership and visibility in our community — objectives that you all have been very vocal about. 

But a “strategic plan” is nothing without a solid plan for execution. And that is really what the bulk of our January 6 meeting is all about. It is a chance for membership to home in on a few excellent projects to make the plan come to life … and for willing members to step up and lead them.

So please bring your enthusiasm and creativity to the meeting, and as is the new year tradition, resolve to do even better in 2024.

In Brazil, they celebrate New Year by jumping seven waves. 

In Spain, they eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight.

I remember in Texas, we ate a plate of black-eyed peas (I never knew why, but I am not one to buck tradition).

In Japan, you clean your house. 

And it is said that if you wear red underwear, you will find romance - yellow gets you money and wealth, and blue is about wellness. No matter the tradition, it’s all about ‘even better’ in the new year.

See you on the sixth! Have a joyful and safe celebration. (And let me know where you can buy yellow underwear.)

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND

Next Saturday, January 6, 2024

Breakfast and Annual Club Meeting (NO SPEAKER)

Norfield Congregational Church parish hall 8:30 a.m.

Foundation Annual Meeting

Norfield Congregational Church parish hall 9:30 a.m. (or immediately following the annual club meeting for elections.)

Club Board Meeting

Norfield Congregational Church parish hall 10 a.m.

Community bonfire to benefit the Weston Warm-Up Fund. Sign up by Sunday, December 31, 2023 to donate your tree or have it picked on or after Wednesday, January 3, 2024.

Emmanuel Church wood lot

285 Lyons Plain Road

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Breakfast meeting. Speaker: Vascular surgeon Taras Kutcher MD

Norfield Congregational Church parish hall 8:30 a.m.

Foundation trustees and officers' monthly meeting

Norfield Congregational Church parish hall 10 a.m.

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Breakfast meeting. NO SPEAKER - food drive today.

Norfield Congregational Church parish hall 8:30 a.m.

Food Drive

Weston Shopping Center 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Breakfast meeting. Speaker: Horizons Mentors at CT State Norwalk Director Karen Marin

Norfield Congregational Church parish hall 8:30 a.m.

NEW ENGLAND AND BERMUDA DISTRICT

NEW ENGLAND AND BERMUDA DISTRICT EVENTS

Midwinter Conference, March 8-10, 2024, Sturbridge, Massachusetts

Kiwanis Cruise Boston, Bermuda, Bar Harbor, Boston sailing May 17-24, 2024, on the Norwegian Gem

District Convention, August 15-18, 2024, Springfield, Massachusetts

KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL

2024 CONVENTION

Denver, Colorado

July 3-6, 2024

Kiwaniscope is published weekly for the members and friends of the Kiwanis Club of Weston on Thursday mornings September through June by the Kiwanis Club of Weston, Connecticut, Inc.