Stevens Point club holds virtual meeting

By Gazette staff

Kiwanis Club of Stevens Point installed new officers during the club’s virtual meeting on Oct. 6.

Peter Valitchka, of Amherst Junction, was installed as president of the Kiwanis Club of Stevens Point for a second term, while Michael Schmidt was installed as secretary and Kelly Caughlan as treasurer.
Scott West, John Krull, Laura Gehrman Rottier, Todd Huspeni, and Marv Van Kekerix will serve on the club’s board of directors.

“The Kiwanis Club of Stevens Point in lieu of COVID-19 was able to put forth our funds to support community projects in the tune of $2,525. Our major projects are Kiwanis Kare, Making a Difference award, Community Foundation- COVID Relief fund, Reading First for literacy, Inclusivity Starts with Kids, and a brand new project we developed a native flower garden/pollinator bed for the YMCA camp Glacier Hollow,” the club said in a release.

“Our latest venture is to collect money for the ‘iPad for Autism’ program. Teachers are using iPads as a tool to reach out to children with ASD and the results are remarkable. Children with Autism are showing tremendous improvement when interacting with programs that support academic concepts, comprehension, and direction following. Visually supported iPad apps help motivate these students’ ability to follow a schedule, complete multi-step directions, and transition between activities and places.

“The club raises money for the projects by selling Mission House Coffee. Our fundraiser will begin mid-November thru December. “Kids need Kiwanis, in our community and in communities around the world,” Valitchka added. “Our club believes in children and wants to provide all kids with an opportunity to thrive prosper and grow.”

For more information, visit www.stevenspointkiwanis.org or email [email protected]