Greetings, fellow Pennsylvania Kiwanians,
As this blog spot is posted, our Kutztown-Brandywine Heights New Club Opening Team is busy visiting charter member prospects for a new Kiwanis Club serving that area. There was a Kiwanis Club in Kutztown decades ago. That area is mostly rural with farmlands and pastures. The Borough of Kutztown has 4,164 residents, and is mostly known for being the home of Kutztown University and the Kutztown Fair. It is located in eastern Berks County. A notable native son is pop artist Keith Haring, a personal favorite of mine. Famous grads of Kutztown University include Andre Reed, Hall of Fame wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills. The Borough of Topton has a population of 2,041. Its major building, the Lutheran Home of Topton, built in 1899, looms over the town.
Our appointment team will be visiting businesses, non-profits and government officials in those communities and surrounding townships. The area is served by two school Districts, Kutztown Area and Brandywine Heights. There has been a very active Key Club at Brandywine Heights HS since 1996. That club was “orphaned” when the Kutztown Kiwanis Club surrendered their charter, but was “adopted” by the Kiwanis Club of Allentown several years ago. We are looking forward to the new Kiwanis Club in that area taking over sponsorship of their Key Club.
At the same time, we are slowly building membership in the new Kiwanis Club of Hazleton. We are up to 6 charter members with several more ready to sign up. We had a second organizational meeting there on August 19, and another one is scheduled for September 9.
Meanwhile, both of our newest Kiwanis Clubs have scheduled their Charter Ceremonies. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Latrobe has their event scheduled for Friday, October 10, from 6-8:30 PM at the Latrobe Arts Center. And, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Northampton Area has scheduled their charter ceremony for Friday, September 26, at the Tri-Boro Sportsmen Club in Northampton, time to be announced. I look forward to attending both of them.
I was happy to attend a dinner meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Stroudsburg on August 13, at which time I presented the club with my 3rd quarter “A Rise in Membership” contest award. Since October 1, 2024, that club has added 9 new members! I presented long term Stroudsburg club member and Past Governor Mike Frailey with a “Certificate of Achievement”, a $100 donation to the club’s service account, and a $100 WaWa gift card. This was the first WaWa card awarded. They still trail Sheetz 2-1! I am looking forward to presenting my final award in October.
It is that time of the year when throughout the Pennsylvania District students will be returning to the classroom. It is also about time for clubs that sponsor Service Leadership Programs to reach out to their faculty advisors to establish or re-establish relationships and support. Each club should consider a goal of chartering at least one new SLP in the coming year. They are the future of Kiwanis, and what makes our organization unique.
I ask that all clubs support the Pennsylvania Kiwanis Foundation Rose Sale. This is an easy fundraiser that will net your club $9.50 per dozen roses sold. The deadline for orders is October 2. Roses will be delivered on Thursday, October 23. These are beautiful, high-quality roses with tree fern and baby’s breath. A wonderful gift idea for family, friends and co-workers. Everything is coming up roses in October!
This past Saturday evening I had the pleasure of joining Kiwanians from Division 16 and beyond at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster. We enjoyed a tasty dinner and a fabulous show, “Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story.” The group sold out their 55 tickets. Our seating was near the stage, which was awesome. Dinner was an all-you-can eat hot buffet and salad bar. Even better was the dessert table with at least a dozen baked goods to choose from, and an ice cream bar to top things off. The show itself was incredible! The actor portraying Buddy Holly was spot on singing his hits, such as “Peggy Sue” and “That’ll be the Day.” The choreography was worthy of a Broadway production. And throughout the show there was interaction between the cast and the audience. It was a memorable event!
And even better yet was that the Division 16 basket raffle fundraiser was a huge success! Baskets and items donated by Division 16 clubs were displayed in the lobby. The sellout crowd was generous in supporting the designated cause, my Governor’s Project “Bucks for Babies.” Over $1,500 was raised, which I will match. Those funds will be used to purchase infant health and safety products for babies being served by Nurse Family Partnership programs in the area. Those would include NFP’s of Berks and Lancaster Counties, and Central Pennsylvania NFP.
There is now less than a month remaining for your club to donate to my “Bucks for Babies” Governor’s Project. We have raised over $8,000 so far, which I will match dollar for dollar. Each kit we provide to first-time moms contains $50 in infant health and safety products. So far, that means that 320 babies district-wide will benefit from this initiative. If your club has not already made a donation, please consider doing so. Donation checks can be made out to “Pennsylvania Kiwanis Foundation” and mailed to P.O. Box 48, Dillsburg, PA 17019.
Let’s all “Rise and Shine for the Kids (including babies)!”
Best wishes,
Governor Tom
Pennsylvania District Governor
Last Updated: August 25, 2025 by pennsylvaniakiwanis
Kutztown Bound!
Greetings, fellow Pennsylvania Kiwanians,
As this blog spot is posted, our Kutztown-Brandywine Heights New Club Opening Team is busy visiting charter member prospects for a new Kiwanis Club serving that area. There was a Kiwanis Club in Kutztown decades ago. That area is mostly rural with farmlands and pastures. The Borough of Kutztown has 4,164 residents, and is mostly known for being the home of Kutztown University and the Kutztown Fair. It is located in eastern Berks County. A notable native son is pop artist Keith Haring, a personal favorite of mine. Famous grads of Kutztown University include Andre Reed, Hall of Fame wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills. The Borough of Topton has a population of 2,041. Its major building, the Lutheran Home of Topton, built in 1899, looms over the town.
Our appointment team will be visiting businesses, non-profits and government officials in those communities and surrounding townships. The area is served by two school Districts, Kutztown Area and Brandywine Heights. There has been a very active Key Club at Brandywine Heights HS since 1996. That club was “orphaned” when the Kutztown Kiwanis Club surrendered their charter, but was “adopted” by the Kiwanis Club of Allentown several years ago. We are looking forward to the new Kiwanis Club in that area taking over sponsorship of their Key Club.
At the same time, we are slowly building membership in the new Kiwanis Club of Hazleton. We are up to 6 charter members with several more ready to sign up. We had a second organizational meeting there on August 19, and another one is scheduled for September 9.
Meanwhile, both of our newest Kiwanis Clubs have scheduled their Charter Ceremonies. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Latrobe has their event scheduled for Friday, October 10, from 6-8:30 PM at the Latrobe Arts Center. And, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Northampton Area has scheduled their charter ceremony for Friday, September 26, at the Tri-Boro Sportsmen Club in Northampton, time to be announced. I look forward to attending both of them.
I was happy to attend a dinner meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Stroudsburg on August 13, at which time I presented the club with my 3rd quarter “A Rise in Membership” contest award. Since October 1, 2024, that club has added 9 new members! I presented long term Stroudsburg club member and Past Governor Mike Frailey with a “Certificate of Achievement”, a $100 donation to the club’s service account, and a $100 WaWa gift card. This was the first WaWa card awarded. They still trail Sheetz 2-1! I am looking forward to presenting my final award in October.
It is that time of the year when throughout the Pennsylvania District students will be returning to the classroom. It is also about time for clubs that sponsor Service Leadership Programs to reach out to their faculty advisors to establish or re-establish relationships and support. Each club should consider a goal of chartering at least one new SLP in the coming year. They are the future of Kiwanis, and what makes our organization unique.
I ask that all clubs support the Pennsylvania Kiwanis Foundation Rose Sale. This is an easy fundraiser that will net your club $9.50 per dozen roses sold. The deadline for orders is October 2. Roses will be delivered on Thursday, October 23. These are beautiful, high-quality roses with tree fern and baby’s breath. A wonderful gift idea for family, friends and co-workers. Everything is coming up roses in October!
This past Saturday evening I had the pleasure of joining Kiwanians from Division 16 and beyond at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster. We enjoyed a tasty dinner and a fabulous show, “Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story.” The group sold out their 55 tickets. Our seating was near the stage, which was awesome. Dinner was an all-you-can eat hot buffet and salad bar. Even better was the dessert table with at least a dozen baked goods to choose from, and an ice cream bar to top things off. The show itself was incredible! The actor portraying Buddy Holly was spot on singing his hits, such as “Peggy Sue” and “That’ll be the Day.” The choreography was worthy of a Broadway production. And throughout the show there was interaction between the cast and the audience. It was a memorable event!
And even better yet was that the Division 16 basket raffle fundraiser was a huge success! Baskets and items donated by Division 16 clubs were displayed in the lobby. The sellout crowd was generous in supporting the designated cause, my Governor’s Project “Bucks for Babies.” Over $1,500 was raised, which I will match. Those funds will be used to purchase infant health and safety products for babies being served by Nurse Family Partnership programs in the area. Those would include NFP’s of Berks and Lancaster Counties, and Central Pennsylvania NFP.
There is now less than a month remaining for your club to donate to my “Bucks for Babies” Governor’s Project. We have raised over $8,000 so far, which I will match dollar for dollar. Each kit we provide to first-time moms contains $50 in infant health and safety products. So far, that means that 320 babies district-wide will benefit from this initiative. If your club has not already made a donation, please consider doing so. Donation checks can be made out to “Pennsylvania Kiwanis Foundation” and mailed to P.O. Box 48, Dillsburg, PA 17019.
Let’s all “Rise and Shine for the Kids (including babies)!”
Best wishes,
Governor Tom
Pennsylvania District Governor
Category: Governor Blog
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