Welcome to a new Kiwanis Year and another year of sharing the wonderful activities and projects from clubs across the district!!!

Submissions for News from Around the District should be submitted by the first of each month to nikiwanisdistrict@gmail.com.

We are happy to put your news items into this publication. We do ask that you provide some basic information with each submission. Be sure to provide the date of your event, activity or meeting. It may seem obvious, but also make sure to include the name of your club, or the sponsoring Kiwanis club, if you are submitting an article for your club's SLP activity.

Pictures are always nice to have with an article. If you are submitting a photo, it needs to be a high-resolution jpeg (or PDF). Downsized photos from copy and pastes, Facebook or reduced size emails, may not be usable in the newsletter because of resolution quality issues.

If you submit a photo for the newsletter, please provide some information to go along with it. A photo alone does not tell us what the activity is, who is involved, which club (or SLP), when it took place or why it is important to your club.

While it is easy to share a link to an article or photo that appeared in a newspaper or other newsletter, those items are often copyrighted and cannot be re-published without authorization or consent. It is the responsibility of the club who shares those types of links to get that prior consent before submitting to News from Around the District.

For more information about this publication or with questions, contact District Administrator Lisa Brichacek. We look forward to sharing lots of great projects going on across the district in 2026-2027!!!

Atlantic takes part in Volunteer Iowa

In September, the Atlantic Kiwanis Club took part in Volunteer Iowa. Members did nine hours of training and received $2,000 for this. 

During the month, each group was to do a day of service. The Atlantic Kiwanians did two and volunteered at two more events. It also was a great way to get to see what other organizations are doing for the community. For the day of service, the club received $1,000.

The club also had their installation dinner. The Gathering served a delicious meal of chicken breast with white sauce over noodles and carrots, with a salad and a variety of bars.

Submitted by Dianna Essington, Atlantic Kiwanis Club 

Wahoo club notes 25th anniversary

Wahoo Area Kiwanis Club got the new Kiwanis year started with a celebration of the past 25 years. The club was chartered Dec. 13, 2001. On Sept. 27, a 25th anniversary party was added to the annual officer installation.

About 30 members, past members and guests attended the evening gathering that featured a roast beef dinner, a look back at 25 years of activities and the installation of 2026-2027 officers and directors by Division 12 Lt. Governor Larry Ziska.

2025-2026 Governor Brian Wells was a special guest and offered a message of encouragement for more good service to come. Other Nebraska-Iowa District guests were Region 2 Trustee Linda Placzek and Past Governor Lynda Henningsen.

Two members of the club, Todd Hornung and Zean Carney, were recognized as charter members still on the club's active roster. Although not charter members, Denise Lawver and Scott Tingelhoff were also recognized as joining the club later that first year. Pictured is 2025-2026 Governor Brian Wells presented a gold bar (of chocolate) to Todd Hornung for his service to the club. Todd served on the club's board for 23 of the past 24 years.

Fremont Kiwanis was the sponsoring club for Wahoo Area Kiwanis in 2001. As they always do, Fremont Kiwanis members were in attendance Sept. 27 as a show of continued support. Although unable to attend, Fremont Kiwanis Member Rick Williams was recognized as a charter member of the Wahoo club. Fremont Kiwanis Member and Past Lt. Governor Lon Olson was presented a gold bar (of chocolate) in appreciation of his efforts to help build the club 25 years ago.

Wahoo Area Kiwanis met their membership goal for 2025-2026, bringing in three new members, and ended the year with a net membership growth of plus one. 

A new member has already turned in his application for the new Kiwanis year and was installed at the first meeting on Oct 14. That was a great way to start the club’s 25th year!!!

Submitted by Lisa Brichacek, Wahoo Area Kiwanis club secretary 

North Platte project total continues to grow

The North Platte Kiwanis Club is nearing the $200,000 mark for a food pantry fundraiser that has been going for 34 years.

Club members recently handed out the checks for this year’s Pasta For Pantries project, which totaled $9,000. Pictured are pantry representatives receiving their checks at a club meeting from Chairman Ron Rankin and Treasurer Betty Sones. They are North Platte High School, Grace Ministries, Salvation Army and Holy Spirit, each receiving $2,000 checks, and Hershey/Sutherland Pantry, receiving a $1,000 check. The pantry representatives also presented information about each of the pantries.

This project began as a “Swing for Pantries” in 1994 and changed to “Pasta for Pantries” 13 years later. Most of the money comes from businesses, community members and other sponsors who contribute ahead of the group’s pasta dinner. The dinner serves as a thank you for donors. In the more than three decades since its inception, the club estimates it has raised close to $200,000 for food pantries in Lincoln County.

Submitted by Rex Cross, North Platte Kiwanis Club secretary 

Grundy Center K-Kids grow garden, raise funds

This summer the Kiwanis K-Kids of Grundy Center grew a garden and sold the produce at mini farmers markets. The money raised was donated to the Spartan Pantry and the Grundy County Memorial Hospital Foundation. School Superintendent Ann Lebo accepted the check for the Spartan Pantry and Erin Wentzien, Hospital Foundation coordinator, accepted the check for the Foundation.

K-Kids is a service organization that meets monthly during the school year. It's open to all third, fourth and fifth graders that attend Grundy Center Community Schools. Sponsored by the Grundy Center Kiwanis Club, there is no cost to the parents of the students. In November, the K-Kids will be making ornaments for their entry in the Festival of Trees. At the December meeting, they will be making Christmas cards for the residents of Arlington Place, an assistant living community.

Submitted by Tim Melloy, Grundy Center Kiwanis Club secretary



Miracle League gets support from Key Clubbers

The morning of Oct. 3 was a special one for the Lincoln High School Key Club members as nearly a dozen Railsplitters volunteered their time at the Kiwanis Miracle League at Principal Park.

Key Clubbers partnered one-on-one with Miracle League players as their “buddies,” helping them hit, catch, field, throw, and—most importantly—enjoy a day at the ballpark. The Kiwanis Miracle League creates an inclusive baseball experience where every player gets a chance to play, every player gets on base, and every player gets to celebrate a win.

For the students, it was more than a morning of baseball. It was an opportunity to build connections, practice leadership through service and experience firsthand the joy that comes from making someone else’s day a little brighter.

The Lincoln High School Key Club in Des Moines is sponsored by the Des Moines Golden K Kiwanis Club. 

Share what your club is doing!!!!

Clubs are invited to share their projects and happenings. Article and photo submissions are due by the 1st of every month to NIKiwanisDistrict@gmail.com.

Photo submissions are welcome. Photos should be attached as jpg or PDF files. Photos embedded in word documents or of low resolution/quality may not be able to be used in newsletter.

An online link to this newsletter will also be made available on the District Website, Click Here

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NEBRASKA-IOWA KIWANIS DISTRICT

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