Cypress Springs K-Kids Collect Items for Homeless Citizens

The Cypress Springs Elementary K-Kids of Orange County collected over 100 pounds of food and personal care items for homeless citizens. The items were donated to the Coalition for the Homeless, a non-profit organization which serves the homeless population of Central Florida. Mr. Jerry Hempstead, who volunteers with the Coalition for the Homeless, came to Cypress Springs Elementary School and spoke to the K-Kids about the Coalition’s homeless shelters and the diverse services it provides. The K-Kids asked many insightful questions and learned that homelessness affects all of us – men, women, and even children. The students left the meeting that day thankful for their homes and families, and are inspired to do more service for their community.

The Cypress Springs K-Kids plan to accomplish the following projects by the end of 2011: Collect tuna for Kiwanis Club of East Orange County’s “Three Tons o’ Tuna” drive, collect toys for “Toys for Tots”, create and distribute holiday cards to a local nursing home, and lead a “Say No To Drugs” campaign for Red Ribbon Week. Much more will be accomplished in 2012, as well!

By Brent Hambly, Cypress Springs K-Kids Kiwanis Advisor on behalf of Sherry Snarr, Michelle Soldano, and Kim Killinger, Cypress Springs K-Kids Faculty Advisors

Sunrise K-Kids Book Collection is a Success!

submitted by Jeannette Gabay, Kiwanis Advisor

The Sunrise Elementary K-kids, all eighteen of them with their Advisor Sally Castrianni and Anna Santos, are having success with their first service project for the new school year, which will be completed at the end of October. So far they have collected 504 used books for the kids at Ivey Lane Elementary School located in the Washington Shore area of Orlando. Those kids will be able to choose from the collection, take home, and read the book(s). Ms. Castrianni explained that the children at Ivey Lane rarely get the opportunity to have a book of their own and they would greatly appreciate having books they can take home and read. See pictures of the K-kids counting and organizing book collection. Check out the Kiwanis K-Kids shirts they are sporting also!

2011-2012 Officer Installation Banquet

The Kiwanis Club of East Orange County held our Officer Installation Banquet this past Saturday, October 8th. Everyone enjoyed the social, pot-luck dinner, and dessert prior to the ceremony – especially the Kiwanis cake made by Sean’s wife Stephanie! The ceremony began with the current year’s officers being thanked for their year of service and retired, followed by the installation of this year’s officers:


2010-2011 Officers (Outgoing) – Thank You!
President:  Prairy Riehl
President-Elect:  Christine Stewart
Vice President:  Brent Hambly
Secretary:  Stacy Peterson
Treasurer:  Jeannette Gabay
Past President:  Judy Stewart
Directors:  Timothy Clark, Daryl Flynn, Phyllis Murray, Jim Wright, Jeremy Riehl, Jan Henson

2011-2012 Officers (Incoming) – Godspeed!
President:  Gene Leonard
President-Elect:  Stacy Peterson
Vice President:  Sean Osmond
Secretary: Beth Paris
Treasurer:  Jeannette Gabay
Past President:  Prairy Riehl
Directors:  Timothy Clark, Daryl Flynn, Phyllis Murray, Jeremy Ayala, Brent Hambly, Christine Stewart

Numerous awards were presented to our club members and officers for their excellent service this year – including some beautiful plaques coordinated by George Langguth. This year was one of great accomplishment and growth for our club, and we couldn’t have done it without the exceptional leadership we had this year. The President’s torch was then passed from Prairy Riehl to Gene Leonard, who gave us a few words (and warnings) about the upcoming year. Best of luck to all of our incoming officers – may you flourish and take the club to the next level in 2011-2012!