IMG_5395.JPG=In a long view, two roles of Kiwanians numbering thirty five plus attendees, are addressed by President Anna Lee Crockett.  Club Leaders from Bethesda, Potomac, Olney, Wheaton-Silver Spring, Montgomery Village, Mid-Montgomery, Rockville, and Leisure World provide 100% club attendance at the DCM.
IMG_5385.JPG=Every Club needs an effective Club Secretary to be sure.  The Kiwanis Club of Olney, President Charles Falck (R) and Past President of the CDK Foundation presented the Capital District Foundation Life Member Award to Rudy.  You should have seen his big smile.  Oh, wait !   You can … you are !
IMG_5394.JPG=Nell Reid, Past President of the Leisure World Kiwanis Club is honored as their “Unsung Hero” by President Anna Lee Crockett at the DCM.  The Leisure World club hosts many events for Division 17 including the monthly Division Council Meetings, the Official Visit of the CDK Governor, Key Club monthly President Council Meetings for 19 Key Club Division 17A and 17B as well and the annual Service Leadership Award Dinner and often the Potomac Region’s Mid Winter Conferences.  Nell is there at most all of those events, as is Anna Lee.  This is a very active Kiwanis Clubs.  Thanks form all the Division 17 members for your leadership.
IMG_5406.JPG=Division 17 Key Club and Service Leadership Program Chair Jeanne Smith summarizes the year’s Key Club activities and accomplishments.  There are 19, yes 19, Key Clubs in two Key Club Divisions (17A & 17 B) in Montgomery County.  Many Kiwanis Clubs sponsor two or three SLP clubs.  They actively support their schools and communities, have very strong attendance at the CDK Key Club District Convention in Arlington, Key Leader, and their own PCM’s.  Thank you, Jeanne, for your guidance and advise to both SLP clubs and Kiwanis Club’ sponsoring SLP clubs.
IMG_5401.JPG=President of the Potomac Kiwanis Club Nancy Cressy presents roses to Lt. Governor Joyce Sharon as a token to Division 17’s appreciation of her leadership during the 2011-2012 Kiwanis Administrative Year.  Great Job, Joyce.  Thanks you !  President Nancy also named President Elect Mike Cronin as the Potomac Club’s “Unsung Hero” for his leadership on the Club’s annual Armed Forces Day Dinner for our Wounded Warriors and his successful launch of the club’s new “Potomac Kiwanis Foundation of Maryland, Inc.”  Mike starts his reign October 1st and the Installation Dinner will be Tuesday, October 11th, 6 PM, at the Marriott Suites, 6711 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda.  Join them with an interclub Division 17!
IMG_5386.JPG=While the Miracle League project leader was ‘Leder”, Jim Leder that is, he needed many hands and minds to move the project forward.  Jim and the Bethesda Kiwanis Club’s “Unsung Hero Award” was given to Bethesda Past President Robby Brewer, for his pro bono legal work on behalf of the Miracle League. Robby knew how to gain the trust and involvement of the Montgomery County Park and Planning Department and the Washington Nationals and to have them become team members. I can hear him singing now.  Very well done, Robbie, and the project will always need your guidance.
IMG_5387.JPG=Walt Petzold, President Elect 2011-2012 and Current President Helen Williams the leader of the Wheaton-Silver Spring Kiwanis Club presents the “Unsung Hero” award to Walt.  This award is given to a member of each Kiwanis Club who continually ‘steps forward’ and accepts responsibility to over see or participate in all service projects, serve on various committees and is a positive force within the Club.  We all know of Walt’s Kiwanis dedication over the years.  Thanks, Walt !
IMG_5381.JPG=Recognizing outstanding performance of Kiwanis Clubs in Division 17, Montgomery County, Maryland, Potomac Region, became the prime focus of Lieutenant Governor Joyce Sharon in her last Division Council Meeting of her year.  Joyce knows how to throw a party !  As the thirty five plus club leaders entered the meeting room in the Leisure World Club House, they first saw this delicious looking cake … and a large supply of ‘heavy snacks and soft drinks”.  Everyone dove in.  The theme of the DCM, planned by Joyce and her presidents, was to pick an “Unsung Club Hero” from each club.  Now THAT”S a way to say “Thanks”.
IMG_5403.JPG=Kiwanis Club of Mid-Montgomery President Maureen Miller presents their “Unsung Hero” Dorothy Brown.  Well done, Dorothy !  Thanks, Maureen !
IMG_5384.JPG=Montgomery Village Kiwanis President Earleen Wood Reynolds (L) presented the first “Unsung Hero Award” to Kiwanian Mattie Gladstone for her strong member involvement in club projects and for Leading-By-Example her fellow Kiwanians.  Congratulations !
IMG_5391.JPG=Past Governor of the Capital District John Tyner presenting Tom McIsaac (center) the “Unsung Hero” award with the Rockville Kiwanis Club President Elect Georgia Eaves looks on with a big smile of congratulations.
IMG_5388.JPG=All the club members support these club awards.  The Wheaton-Silver Spring Club’s members stand with Walt.  From the left, President Walt Petzold the “Unsung Hero” with President Helen Williams, Vice President Murmi Morrill, Lt. Governor Division 17 Joyce Sharon and Club Secretary Rita Schief.   Team players all.
IMG_5404.JPG=Division 17 Lieutenant Governor Joyce Sharon wraps up the evening of leadership recognition and honors for club members and thanks all Kiwanians for their continual support and outstanding dedication to service within their communities.  “Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time”.  Ask a friend who would be good for Kiwanis and who Kiwanis would be good for to join you in service and fellowship.
IMG_5383.JPG=PG John Tyner of the Rockville Club (L) and Past President of the Capital District Kiwanis Foundation and Olney Club member Stan Miller congratulate PLG and Bethesda Club President Jim Leder for his Division Leadership of the Kiwanis Miracle League Baseball League project in Maryland.  Jim drew in all clubs in the division plus many Key Clubs to support the new Miracle League field Grand Opening last August.  John and Stan presented Jim with his second Capital District Kiwanis Foundation Life Member ‘Unsung Hero’ Award for his tremendous creativity, tenacity and success in getting this opened after five years of leadership.  Jim has earned his “life Member with Oak Leaf Cluster”.  Thank you, Jim, from everyone !\
\
Jim is the president of the Miracle League of Montgomery County Maryland, Inc. and is its founder and leading promoter.  He and his team have taken the idea from the 2006 KI Convention in Montreal to reality with five years hard work and creativity by working in partnership with Montgomery County Park & Planning Department and the Lerner Foundation/Washington National professional baseball team.  All these three organizations … Kiwanis – Washington Nationals Baseball Team Organization – The Park & Planning Department … in partnership brought the Miracle League into existence.  This is a very special ball field designed for physically/mentally challenged children and adults to play safely on a rubberized field.  The Kiwanis Foundation of Bethesda, Maryland, provided very significant seed money to start the project.  The one of a kind field in Maryland is located at the Montgomery County Soccer Plex in Germantown.  It is really spectacular !