Kiwaniscope for Thursday, November 2, 2023

Thursday, November 2, 2023

Good morning ! This week in Kiwaniscope - breakfast meeting on Saturday, with a program: A model for understanding the media and IT industries - past, present and future. Highlights from the Kiwanis trunk at the Weston Women's League's Trunk or Treat, Reservoir Run preliminary results, children's winter coat drive results and a chance to participate in the delivery, news on the Caught Being Kind program at Weston Intermediate School, news from Danbury and Norwalk clubs, an introduction to lieutenant governor Karl, future events, Kiwanis International convention announcement, and a video: What If?

Editor

MEMBERS’ MILESTONES THROUGH NEXT WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8

Jess DiPasquale is a year older on Sunday. Jess, have you heard? In banana years, you're ripe enough for bread!

Forget about global warming and light another candle on Past President Rick Amill's birthday cake on Tuesday. (Last year, his birthday cake looked like a prairie fire!)

THIS WEEK

This Saturday, November 4, 2023

Breakfast meeting. Program: A model for understanding the media and IT industries - past, present and future.

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

Club board meeting

Norfield Congregational Church parish hall 10 a.m.

Larry Shore is a professor in the Department of Film and Media Studies at Hunter College (CUNY) where he teaches a variety of media policy-related courses. Larry will address A Model for understanding the media and IT industries - past - present and future.

He grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa and graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand with a BA degree in 1971, majoring in political science.

He lived in Philadelphia where he completed an MA at the University of Pennsylvania in political science and international relations. From 1975 to 1979 he attended Stanford University where he received his PhD in communications, specializing in international communications.

He lives in Weston.

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Election Day

Weston Middle School, Rear Entrance, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

LAST WEEK

Past Presidents Frank Ferrara, Woody Bliss, and Immediate Past President Señor Dallas welcomed young ghosts, goblins, and assorted other characters to the Kersey's Kiwanis-decorated trunk at the Weston Women's League's Trunk-or-Treat event at Weston Intermediate School Saturday.

Witch Pam Kersey left her coven long enough to participate and arrived by broom, of course (not visible in this picture).

These and other event photographs by Past President Tm Failla.

Recognition items from Kiwanis's Terrific Kids program, along with fruit and candy, were on hand for young trick-or-treaters.

Terrific Kids, a student recognition program created Kiwanis, promotes character development, self-esteem, and perseverance. The program encourages kids to become the best version of themselves.

"Terrific" is an acronym for Thoughtful, Enthusiastic, Respectful, Responsible, Inclusive, Friendly, Inquisitive and Capable.

Pam Kersey and President Amy help young trick-or-treaters select a treat at the Kiwanis trunk.

No stranger to Kiwanis breakfast meetings, his Grandpa snapped this picture of Grant Failla taking a bite of a apple while Kiwanis apple while hotdogging (pun intended) around trunk-or-treat.

Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Tom Failla captured Bob Uzenoff behind the Halloween backdrop at the photo booth at trunk-or-treat.

Bob responded to a call for a volunteer to assist the photographer.

RESERVOIR RUN A SUCCESS - PRELIMINARY RESULTS

by Phyllis Gary and Paul Schultz

Members responded greatly to produce a successful 12th annual Weston Kiwanis Reservoir Run half marathon and 5K foot races and kids fun run even though there were far fewer of us in 2023.

While we can’t recognize all of the efforts that went into making this event happen in this article, we want to note these herculean efforts publicly:

Steve Thomas and Frank Ferrara for all their race logistics efforts.
Tom Watson for collaring all the volunteers for the many slots.
Jim McMorris for his electronic tech support and photo skills
Dallas Kersey and Amy Jenner on sponsor efforts and food arrangements
Karen Chrisley on putting the “fun” in the Kids Fun Run.
and others ...

Thanks to all the members who jumped in to handle individual “opportunities” throughout the year. We particularly enjoyed the “How can I help?” question throughout the year.

Event	2023	2022
Half Marathon Runners	220	235
5K Runners	256	253
Kids Fun Run Runners	44	36
Total Runners	520	564
Runner donors	78	78

Special thanks to District Governor-elect Kristin Holden and her husband Chris Holden from the Middlesex, Connecticut club who rolled up their sleeves and pitched in wherever needed at the race headquarters at Weston High School.

Editor

Runner ready at the half marathon start line. Photography contributed by Jim McMorris.

Men of the road (Past Presidents Steve Thomas and Frank Ferrara) are thoroughly wet but still getting it done.

Photograph contributed by Steve Thomas.

Tom Johnson is on road duty blowing his Alpine horn for runners. Sounded kinda like a bull moose looking for a mate, in my opinion.

Photograph contributed by Steve Thomas.

Past President Harry Spencer crossing the 5K finish line. Harry is one of the very few Kiwanians who run in the Reservoir Run, and the only one to do so for every year since the inauguration of the event, 12 years ago.

Photograph contributed by Jim McMorris.

NEWS

COAT DRIVE TO KEEP KIDS WARM COMPLETE

by Frank Ferrara, Community Service Committee

Thanks to all the members who opened their wallets and supplemented a $1,000 grant from the service account, I will be able to purchase our goal of 138 new winter children's coats this week.

We will be delivering them to Norwalk Project Head Start at the beginning of next week. If anyone is interested to join, please contact me.

CAUGHT BEING KIND UPDATE

by Shelly Rinas , Teacher- Librarian at Weston Intermediate School

I wanted to give Kiwanians some updates regarding our book vending machine 🤗 .

Below is a link to an Instagram reel we created to show the process of how students are nominated for our Caught Being Kind Program to receive a book machine coin.

I've also attached a link to view our WIS Daily News, which highlights the program.

We are also in the process of a school-wide naming contest for the vending machine. Each class put one name forward, and all students and teachers will vote for their favorite. We'll keep you posted on the results!

Enjoy!

Shelly

Visit Thursday, September 21, 2023 Kiwaniscope for more information and pictures on the unveiling of the book vending machine. - Editor

Shelly Rinas, Weston Intermediate School librarian-teacher with the book vending machine donated by Weston Kiwanis and the WIS PTO.

Kiwanis and PTO branding on the side of the vending machine acknowledges and recognizes our donations.

MONTHLY REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

as reported by the Assistant Secretary, Dan Gilbert, to Kiwanis International

Service projects this month:

Food distribution/hunger/backpack attack
Promote Weston's cultural diversity

Number of projects completed: 7

Service Project Description:

A Kiwanian distributed food at Open Doors (Norwalk). Open Doors is a resource for clients experiencing poverty and homelessness.

Key Club members supported the Saint Francis' International Fair.

Our club continued its ongoing support for the Lachat Town Farm with Kiwanians volunteering at the farm's celebration of the global diversity in Weston through an International Festival and market. The event provided an opportunity for residents to display their cultural roots, showcasing our town's diversity. Club members helped with set up and and clean up, staffed the sign-in desk and helped park visitor cars.

The Lachat Town Farm is dedicated to public & and educational use emphasizing Weston's agricultural roots. The farm offers farming, environmental education & cultural experiences for all ages, community-building opportunities and connection with and enjoyment of our land. Kiwanians staffed a Kiwanis table & distributed Reservoir Run flyers. The half marathon is our signature community-wide fund raiser.

Total number of service hours: 158

Recognition The club honored two Weston High School students with the Kiwanis Service and Leadership Award.

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND

Next Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Community Service Committee monthly meeting

Zoom

Next Saturday, November 11, 2023

Breakfast Meeting.