The Taylorville Kiwanis Club honored the Kiwanis long-time secretary, heard from the Taylorville High School Kiwanis Key Club president, and also heard committee reports on Kiwanis activities for children and youth, at their weekly meeting on Tuesday at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.

Long-time Kiwanis Club secretary Martin Vota (right) was presented with a plaque for his many years of service to the Club.   Vota has also served as president of the club and Kiwanis District offices as well.  Kiwanis president Chuck Martin (left) presented Vota with the plaque.

Sophie Robinson (right), the Taylorville High School Kiwanis Key Club president, gave a report on the start of that club’s year.   She was introduced by Kiwanis Student Leadership Committee chair Will Perkins (left).   Robinson reported some 52 members have joined this year, the club has mandated some service hours for each member each semester to give back to the community, and several activities are also planned for October.

Committee chairs reported on current Kiwanis activities for children and youth.  Reporting for Priority One chair Bruce Blanshan, Randal J. Miller shared with the club that over 24-hundred dollars was raised during this year’s 2-day Kiwanis Kids Day fund raiser at the Harrison Corner.   Blanshan also headed up the club’s donation of anti-bacterial wipes, Klennexes and other paper goods to Memorial School.   The club co-sponsored the effort with HSHS Medical Group Taylorville and the Taylorville Food Pantry.

Kiwanis Student Leadership chair Will Perkins reported that a new record of 53 students have joined the Taylorville Junior High School Kiwanis Builder’s Club.

Kiwanis Interclub chair Blain Cornwell is planning visits this fall by local Kiwanis members, to the Builder’s and Key Clubs, plus possible trips to other Kiwanis clubs in the area.

Kiwanis Park Committee co-chair Larry Kemner reported that the broken merry-go-round has been removed from the playground there, with work also taking place on floats from the old dock.   Kemner added that the City of Taylorville is working with Club on replacing the Kiwanis Park sign at the entrance to Lake Taylorville.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.  For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.