Kiwanis Reconvenes With Tim Clune at the Helm

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On Thursday mornings if you drive by Stonewalls at 7:30 AM you will find a packed parking lot. If you venture inside you will find a room full of some of the nicest people you can find, and a breakfast worth waking up early for.

After a brief summer respite, Kiwanis has resumed their weekly breakfast meetings. On September 24 the gavel was passed from Dianna Dohm to Tim Clune, this year’s Kiwanis president. Tim told us that the goals for this year are to “continue helping the children of our community.” Kiwanis fundraising events include the Seafood Festival, Car Show, and Family 5K Run/Walk. Last year Kiwanis used the nearly $65,000 it raised to

benefit local children, through scholarships and projects, such as Reading is Fun, Toys for Kids and more.

The morning’s speaker was Dick Shanahan, President of the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce. Dick told Kiwanis that the Chamber is “bursting with activity,” noting that in the past year there were 9,000 walk-ins to their visitor center on Collier Boulevard. Sandi Riedemann, Executive Director of the Chamber, tells us that they expect even more visitors this year.

The Chamber’s philanthropic endeavors struck a chord with the Kiwanians, whose mission is to improve the lives of the people of our community, particularly the children. Dick told the Kiwanis club that last year’s 4th Annual Souper Bowl, a Chamber of

Commerce-Leadership Marco event, raised $20,000 towards scholarships for local high school students.

Much of the morning meeting was used to discuss the upcoming Kiwanis Family 5K Run/Walk, billed as a “Stride Away Through Hideaway.” On Saturday, October 24, at 8 AM, walkers and runners will meet at Tigertail Beach, and enjoy a scenic route through the serene and beautiful Hideaway Beach. Funds raised at this event will benefit Project Eliminate, a joint effort of Kiwanis International and UNICEF, whose goal is to end maternal/neonatal tetanus (MNT). Worldwide, MNT kills one baby every eleven seconds. The disease, which also claims the lives of many mothers, is excruciatingly painful. Prevention is through vaccination; treatment is with antibiotics.

To

register for the Kiwanis Family 5K go to

www.runsignup.com/Race/FL/MarcoIsland/MarcoIslandKiwanisFamily5k.

Pre-registration is $20 for adults and $15 for children. Register early, because entry fees will go up to $25 for adults and $20 for children on the day of the race. Children up to age four are free. Sponsorship is a great way to promote your business while contributing to a good cause. For information on available sponsorship opportunities, contact Tim Clune at

tclune@gmail.com

.

The Kiwanis Club of Marco Island meets every Thursday morning at 7:30 AM at Stonewalls, 551 S. Collier Boulevard, Marco Island. The cost is $12 and includes a delicious breakfast buffet. For more information about the Kiwanis Club of Marco Island, go to their website at www.kiwanisclubofmarcoisland.org.