Dear New York District Kiwanians, it is spring time and every year it is a positive look at the Kiwanis year, we usually try to forget about the ugly days of winter and concentrate on the upcoming bright days of spring and the dog days of summer.
At the New York District Kiwanis Foundation, our thoughts at this time turn to Kamp Kiwanis, we start looking forward to Kamp opening weekend where we have dedicated Kiwanians and friends come to the Kamp to help get it ready for the children that attend during our Kamping season. We would like to thank Jim Mancuso, Long Island South Central Division past lieutenant governor, who last year came up to the Kamp with a group of Kiwanians from his division and helped with this task. We are told that the "Kamp Kiwanis Bug" bit him. His experience was so rewarding that he is doing it again this year, Thank you Jim.
Of course, let's not forget all those who attend our weekend every year, we thank you and hope to see you there this year on May 1st to the 3rd, 2014 and bring friends.
As you know in an effort to raise some very needed funds we have come up with two fundraisers that hopefully will be able to replenish some of the lost income from last year. One fundraiser is a "Kamp Kiwanis Day at Yankee Stadium". Kim Scharoff is chairing the event and she will be sending out flyers with the date and the costs of tickets. This was a great event last year and we hope to make it even greater this year, especially with the Jeter Farewell Tour. Last year, through the generosity of Governor Joe Aiello we were able to raffle off a large screen TV at the Yankee game, this year Governor Joe once again is donating a large screen LCD TV to raffle off at the game. Tickets for this raffle will be going out soon, all we can say is, Thank You Governor Joe for your commitment to our Kamp.
The other is a raffle for a brand new Nissan Altima. We will be selling 500 tickets at $100 each. If you are interested please contact our newly appointed board member, Roger Eltringham. He will gladly send you as many tickets as you wish. The date for the raffle drawing on the ticket is incorrect and we will be sending out the correct date to everyone soon.
Our wish list is on the Kamp Kiwanis website. This is a list of items needed for the Kamping season that are sometimes overlooked, things like toothbrushes, toothpaste, band aids and many other items that are needed on a daily basis. Please go on line and take a look at the wish list items and see what you can contribute, possibly you have a friend that deals with some of these items and wouldn't mind donating some.
We would like to thank the Metropolitan Division for once again donating all of the medical related wish list items, through the efforts of one of their really great members, Louis Cazzetta. The Metropolitan division has done this on a yearly basis for the past 8 years or so. In mentioning the Metropolitan Division, we would be remiss if we don't mention another of their great members, Herb Chan who once again has donated equipment, has gone up to the Kamp several times during this winter to do repairs and whatever is needed to be done.
Finally I would like to add a personal thank you to all those kind Kiwanis clubs and all their members throughout the district who lifted me up in a very down time in my life. On Jan. 22, my mother Giovanna Anelli passed on to what I believe to be a better life in heaven. The response I received from Kiwanis was overwhelming and let me know that we as Kiwanians care about others and each other. I will never forget what you did for me; thank you and God bless you.
Column Posted on Web Site April 20, 2014
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