Gravette Kiwanis Club installs new officers
GRAVETTE — Members of the Gravette Kiwanis Club installed new officers for the 2018-2019 club year at a special dinner meeting Monday, Sept. 24, at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity and Wellness Center. David Bailey of Gravette, lieutenant governor MOARK Kiwanis District 19, served as installing officer.
Kiwanis members and guests enjoyed dinner prior to the installation. Macy, Tessa and Janie Maddox, daughters of Mayor Kurt and Dawn Maddox, provided entertainment following the meal, performing a dance number from the Disney musical, “Aladdin Jr.”
Outgoing president Lavon Stark, who took over in midyear from Jay Chalk, welcomed those present and introduced guests and current officers.
Stark outlined several highlights of the past club year. Accomplishments included sponsoring Key Club at Gravette High School and sending three members to leadership camp, sponsoring Builders Club at Gravette Middle School, sponsoring K Kids at Gravette Upper Elementary and sponsoring Terrific Kids at Glenn Duffy Elementary School, making financial contributions to Shiloh Ministries and Essential Extension, giving two $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors, providing school supplies for students at Decatur elementary school, buying an animal at the Benton County Fair and a chicken at the 4-H pullet sale, buying candy for the Chamber of Commerce Easter egg hunt, painting tables in Kindley Park, sponsoring the annual pancake breakfast on Gravette Day and including a quilt raffle, silent auction and performance by dancers from Dynamic Rhythm dance studio, helping with parking at the Gravette fall festival, starting a new club in Rogers and donating items to Butler Creek Auctions with proceeds going to the Kiwanis project to eliminate neonatal tetanus.
Proceeds from the auction donation allowed the club to reach its goal of contributing $22,000 to the neonatal tetanus campaign and resulted in its being designated a model club. Bella Vista was the only other club in the district designated a model club.
Stark introduced Kim Hendren, the club’s only charter member, and presented him with a charter member shirt. Dan Yates, a past president of the club and past district lieutenant governor, presented Hendren with a pin to wear on the shirt. Hendren said he first joined Kiwanis in 1964 in Siloam Springs.
Stark presented Susan Holland with a Kiwanis MOARK District cookbook in appreciation for her newspaper coverage of Kiwanis events. She announced the club had a gift of a potted mum for Betty Howard in appreciation for her donation of quilts to be raffled on Gravette Day.
Stark presented Dan Yates with a Kiwanis platinum-level certificate of appreciation and pin for bringing in new members and other activities in the club. Brenda Yates, club secretary, presented Stark with a Kiwanis pin in appreciation for her finishing the year as president. Stark introduced members of the board of directors who were present, including Richard Page, Zane Vanderpool and Dan Yates. Directors not present were Patrick Hall, Bob Kelley and Mike vonRee.
David Bailey then installed new officers Dr. Nancy Jones, president; Kurt Maddox, presidentelect; and Brenda Yates, secretary. Malcolm Winters, incoming treasurer, was unable to attend.