Greetings, fellow Pennsylvania Kiwanians!
The past two weeks I enjoyed a travel break. I spent time at home attending eight Zoom meetings. One was the Division 13S Council meeting on February 1. Trustee Jim Janocik welcomed several attendees from the Division, as well as KI Vice-Presidential candidate Cathy Szymanski, Governor-Elect Barb Carter and myself. Division 13S has not had a Lt. Governor for some time, and Jim encouraged everyone to help recruit a candidate for that position. Barb reported on the District Board’s decision to hold the 2026 District Convention in Gettysburg. The Kiwanis Club of Gettysburg Adams President Katie Neiderer, was pleased with that news. Her club will be part of the host committee planning the event. Each club representative reported on their major fundraisers and service projects. Jim encouraged clubs in the Division to attend both the District Midyear Conference and the KI Convention in Pittsburgh where, as delegates for their clubs, they can support Cathy’s candidacy.
The next day, on February 2, I arose early to watch the PCN live broadcast of Groundhog Day festivities in Punxsutawney, Pa. It was a wild event, with thousands of people spread out over “Gobbler’s Knob” in frigid temperatures. Regrettably, Phil saw his shadow, predicting 6 more weeks of winter!
Our Midyear Conference Planning Committee met for the second to last time on January 28. We are putting the final touches on the program agenda. Over 60 people have registered thus far. Our goal is to have 80 in attendance. The deadline for the “early reservation” cost of $60 is this Friday, February 14 at 11 PM. The deadline for room reservations at the Holiday Inn Grantville under the conference rate has passed. But if anyone is still interested in staying overnight, we can request that rate with hotel management. There will be an informal “Happy Hour” on Friday, hosted by Governor-Elect Barb Carter. And there will be coffee and pastries available Saturday morning from 9-10 AM courtesy of Barb, Immediate Past Governor Conrad Schlesinger, and myself. Following the conference, there will be a meeting of the Past Lieutenant Governor’s Association. Our Planning Committee’s final meeting will be held tomorrow, February 11, at 7 PM on Zoom.
Our Latrobe New Club Opening Team held a “kickoff” Zoom meeting on January 29. We will be building that club the week of March 10. District Membership Chair Mike Coolbaugh chaired the meeting. We have arranged for a new club Facebook boost with KI. I thanked Division 8 Lt. Governor Janine Surmick, Brian Root, and all members of the Kiwanis Club of Greensburg for sponsoring the new Kiwanis club in Latrobe. We are honored that KI Trustee Mario Bruni will be personally assisting us in with this effort, traveling from his home in Thunder Bay, Ontario. We have a solid team and big hopes to charter this club. The next meeting of the team is coming up this Thursday, February 13 at 7 PM.
The Penns Valley New Club Opening Team continues to meet, and to follow up on leads for charter members. Our team meets again tomorrow at 8 PM. An organizational meeting for Penns Valley is scheduled for Thursday, February 27 at 6 PM at the Gregg Township Building in Spring Mills.
On February 6 I attended a Division 17/18 Council Meeting on Zoom, hosted by Lt. Governor Janet Owen. There was a discussion about the upcoming election for 2025-06 Lt. Governor, the Division website and Chamber of Commerce membership, service projects, future division council meetings, and interclubs. We also discussed preparations for opening a new club in Division 17/18, Northampton Area, the week of April 14-17. Another noteworthy event is the Kiwanis Club of Palmer’s 50th Anniversary breakfast on March 26.
I am looking forward to attending the Kiwanis Club of Berwick’s 100th Anniversary Dinner on Wednesday, February 19, 6 PM at the Berwick Country Club. If anyone else is interested in attending, contact Russ Grebe at [email protected]. Congratulations, Berwick Kiwanis!
And, don’t forget that this Friday, February 14 is VALENTINE’S DAY! A day in which we celebrate our love for our spouses or “significant others.” For our love of families and close friends. For our love of chocolate, flowers, and dinners out! And for our love of Kiwanis, and its mission to “serve the children of the world.” Our members have big hearts. We love our country, and want to help create a better future for it. We love our communities, and want to make them a better place to live, learn, and prosper. We are members of the most significant service organization in the world. And we LOVE it. Happy Valentine’s Day!
And, let’s “Rise and Shine for the Kids!”
Best wishes,
Governor Tom
Pennsylvania District Governor
Leave a Comment
Last Updated: February 8, 2025 by pennsylvaniakiwanis
We LOVE Kiwanis
Greetings, fellow Pennsylvania Kiwanians!
The past two weeks I enjoyed a travel break. I spent time at home attending eight Zoom meetings. One was the Division 13S Council meeting on February 1. Trustee Jim Janocik welcomed several attendees from the Division, as well as KI Vice-Presidential candidate Cathy Szymanski, Governor-Elect Barb Carter and myself. Division 13S has not had a Lt. Governor for some time, and Jim encouraged everyone to help recruit a candidate for that position. Barb reported on the District Board’s decision to hold the 2026 District Convention in Gettysburg. The Kiwanis Club of Gettysburg Adams President Katie Neiderer, was pleased with that news. Her club will be part of the host committee planning the event. Each club representative reported on their major fundraisers and service projects. Jim encouraged clubs in the Division to attend both the District Midyear Conference and the KI Convention in Pittsburgh where, as delegates for their clubs, they can support Cathy’s candidacy.
The next day, on February 2, I arose early to watch the PCN live broadcast of Groundhog Day festivities in Punxsutawney, Pa. It was a wild event, with thousands of people spread out over “Gobbler’s Knob” in frigid temperatures. Regrettably, Phil saw his shadow, predicting 6 more weeks of winter!
Our Midyear Conference Planning Committee met for the second to last time on January 28. We are putting the final touches on the program agenda. Over 60 people have registered thus far. Our goal is to have 80 in attendance. The deadline for the “early reservation” cost of $60 is this Friday, February 14 at 11 PM. The deadline for room reservations at the Holiday Inn Grantville under the conference rate has passed. But if anyone is still interested in staying overnight, we can request that rate with hotel management. There will be an informal “Happy Hour” on Friday, hosted by Governor-Elect Barb Carter. And there will be coffee and pastries available Saturday morning from 9-10 AM courtesy of Barb, Immediate Past Governor Conrad Schlesinger, and myself. Following the conference, there will be a meeting of the Past Lieutenant Governor’s Association. Our Planning Committee’s final meeting will be held tomorrow, February 11, at 7 PM on Zoom.
Our Latrobe New Club Opening Team held a “kickoff” Zoom meeting on January 29. We will be building that club the week of March 10. District Membership Chair Mike Coolbaugh chaired the meeting. We have arranged for a new club Facebook boost with KI. I thanked Division 8 Lt. Governor Janine Surmick, Brian Root, and all members of the Kiwanis Club of Greensburg for sponsoring the new Kiwanis club in Latrobe. We are honored that KI Trustee Mario Bruni will be personally assisting us in with this effort, traveling from his home in Thunder Bay, Ontario. We have a solid team and big hopes to charter this club. The next meeting of the team is coming up this Thursday, February 13 at 7 PM.
The Penns Valley New Club Opening Team continues to meet, and to follow up on leads for charter members. Our team meets again tomorrow at 8 PM. An organizational meeting for Penns Valley is scheduled for Thursday, February 27 at 6 PM at the Gregg Township Building in Spring Mills.
On February 6 I attended a Division 17/18 Council Meeting on Zoom, hosted by Lt. Governor Janet Owen. There was a discussion about the upcoming election for 2025-06 Lt. Governor, the Division website and Chamber of Commerce membership, service projects, future division council meetings, and interclubs. We also discussed preparations for opening a new club in Division 17/18, Northampton Area, the week of April 14-17. Another noteworthy event is the Kiwanis Club of Palmer’s 50th Anniversary breakfast on March 26.
I am looking forward to attending the Kiwanis Club of Berwick’s 100th Anniversary Dinner on Wednesday, February 19, 6 PM at the Berwick Country Club. If anyone else is interested in attending, contact Russ Grebe at [email protected]. Congratulations, Berwick Kiwanis!
And, don’t forget that this Friday, February 14 is VALENTINE’S DAY! A day in which we celebrate our love for our spouses or “significant others.” For our love of families and close friends. For our love of chocolate, flowers, and dinners out! And for our love of Kiwanis, and its mission to “serve the children of the world.” Our members have big hearts. We love our country, and want to help create a better future for it. We love our communities, and want to make them a better place to live, learn, and prosper. We are members of the most significant service organization in the world. And we LOVE it. Happy Valentine’s Day!
And, let’s “Rise and Shine for the Kids!”
Best wishes,
Governor Tom
Pennsylvania District Governor
Category: Governor Blog
Facebook Posts