Bill George Named Greater Valparaiso Volunteer of the Year

Bill George, Volunteer of the Year, receives congratulations from Roger Luekens, Valparaiso Kiwanis Club Foundation Chair

Bill George, Volunteer of the Year, receives congratulations from Roger Luekens, Valparaiso Kiwanis Club Foundation Chair

Bill George was surprised at being named Volunteer of Year in the Kiwanis 12th Annual Greater Valparaiso Volunteer of the Year Award Recognition Luncheon held at Strongbow Inn on May 29, 2013. “It was an honor just to be nominated for this award,” said George, “but this is . . . unbelievable.” Mr. George was nominated by the Family & Youth Services Bureau for his work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or ‘CASA’ volunteer. He has been an advocate for children who have been deemed to be abused and/or neglected by the children’s birth families, work that he has been doing since 2008. His main task is to look out for the best interests of each child. In the last four years, Mr. George has represented 26 children, volunteered over 900 hours, and driven over 1800 miles for children that need him the most.

The Greater Valparaiso Volunteer of the Year Recognition Program is sponsored annually by the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club Foundation in order to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism, recognize outstanding volunteers in the Greater Valparaiso area, and encourage increased volunteerism. Mr. George’s name was submitted by Family & Youth Services Bureau in March along with a record number (14) of names from non-profit agencies within the Greater Valparaiso area. All nominees received a recognition plaque at the luncheon with the winner receiving a $500 for the nominating non-profit agency. This year, the program included congratulatory remarks from United Way Volunteer Center Director Kathy Wojkovich and a letter of congratulations to each nominee from Jon Costas, Mayor of Valparaiso.

“We are so excited that Bill won this award,” said Jackie Gray of Family & Youth Services Bureau. “So often our volunteers do not get the recognition they deserve because most of their work is confidential and difficult to discuss. Bill is certainly a worthy recipient because of what he has done for so many children. The Kiwanis Volunteer of the Year Program has helped us say thank you to a truly deserving man.”

Volunteer of the Year Nominees:  Front L-R – Margy Boyce (Caring Place); Sue Brown-Nickerson (Calumet Region Striders); Sue Joys (Altrusa International); Delores Eagan (Immanuel Food Pantry); Darlene Perry (Housing Opportunities); Susan Brychell (Valpo YMCA); SanDee Adams (Union Twp. Middle School); Back – Debra Samahon (Opportunity Enterprises); Bill George (Family & Youth Services Bureau); Tom Brown (Immanuel Lutheran Church); Perry Riffel (NWI Lutheran Hispanic Mission); Bill Steinbrecher (Hilltop Neighborhood House); Stan Schorum (Valpo Adult Learning Center); Joe Baker (Porter Co. Career & Tech Center)

Volunteer of the Year Nominees: Front L-R – Margy Boyce (Caring Place); Sue Brown-Nickerson (Calumet Region Striders); Sue Joys (Altrusa International); Delores Eagan (Immanuel Food Pantry); Darlene Perry (Housing Opportunities); Susan Brychell (Valpo YMCA); SanDee Adams (Union Twp. Middle School); Back – Debra Samahon (Opportunity Enterprises); Bill George (Family & Youth Services Bureau); Tom Brown (Immanuel Lutheran Church); Perry Riffel (NWI Lutheran Hispanic Mission); Bill Steinbrecher (Hilltop Neighborhood House); Stan Schorum (Valpo Adult Learning Center); Joe Baker (Porter Co. Career & Tech Center)

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Volunteer of the Year Award

Since 2002, the Valparaiso Kiwanis Foundation has recognized outstanding volunteers through its Volunteer of the Year Award program. Through this program, Kiwanis seeks to recognize Valpo area volunteers, promote volunteerism, encourage increased volunteerism within our community, and celebrate Valpo’s strong spirit of volunteerism in the past.

Attached are documents which describe the Volunteer of the Year program:

We encourage you to nominate a special volunteer by March 23, 2013. All nominees receive special recognition at our annual Volunteer of the Year program, this year on June 1. One volunteer is selected to receive a $500 donation to his/her nominating agency. Nominees and representatives from nominating agencies should be available to attend the Volunteer of the Year program at Strongbow Inn as our guests (1 volunteer and 1 agency representative) on May 29, at 11:45 am.

 

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Annual Kiwanis Pancake Day – March 9, 2013

2013 ANNUAL KIWANIS PANCAKE DAY  –  Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club

All the Pancakes You Can Eat     

6 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Early Bird Door Prizes, 6-9 am)
Valparaiso High School Cafeteria
2727 Campbell Street

Tickets: ONLY $5.00 in advance
- $6.00 at the door (Pre-Schoolers eat Free)

Tickets are available from any Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club member.

All-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, and beverages!

Kid’s Play Area – Entertainment – Face Painting – Cotton Candy – Magician – and…….THE BEST PANCAKES IN VALPO

The Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club has 200 members who are business owners, teachers, doctors, retirees, government employees, lawyers, policemen, firefighters, pastors, housewives, architects, educational administrators, and more. We support the local community by donating all profits back to those in need. In any given year, we return nearly $50,000.00 to the community. We are involved with kids, the elderly, the handicapped, families in need of help, or those in need of temporary assistance.  Please help us serve our community by eating our pancakes!

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Purdue Glee Club Concert – Sunday February 17, 2013

Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club presents the Purdue Glee Club featuring VHS alumni Bryce Shaffer.

The Purdue Glee Club will be performing at the VHS Auditorium at 2 pm on Sunday, February 17.  Adult tickets are $12 and student tickets are $8 in advance, all tickets at the door will be $15.  Children under five are free.  All funds raised will go to benefit the lives of children in our community.  Please contact any Kiwanis members for tickets.

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Special Veterans Day Invitation

The Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club would like to invite veterans, active duty personnel and Kiwanians from throughout Indiana to our Special Veterans Day celebration to be held this year on November 14 at the Strongbow Banquet Center in Valparaiso.  Our program speaker will be John Wolf, a retired Navy Chaplain who will speak about the WWII Pacific Theatre.  Meal service begins at 11:15.

Lunch is a full turkey buffet for only $10.  All attending veterans will receive special recognition at the event.

Spouses, family, and friends are also welcome.  This celebration is open to the public

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Fresh Florida Citrus Fruit

If you would like to order fruit, you may call Ron Hager at 531-2789.

Fall is here, and the cold weather is on the way, and nothing is better than fresh fruit in the middle of winter.

It is that time of year; if you would like some Fresh Florida Fruit.  Orders and checks (made out to Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club) must be in by Novemer 9.  The fruit will be delivered during the week of December 3.  All funds raised are returned directly to our community to improve the lives of children and their families.

FLORIDA CITRUS FRUIT

Navel Oranges: Small Box (20 lbs)         $20

Navel Oranges:  Large Box (40 lbs)        $30

Grapefruit:  Small Box (20 lbs)         $20

Grapefruit:  Large Box  (40 lbs)        $30

Mixed Oranges and Grapefruit: Small Box (20 lbs)         $20

Mixed Oranges and Grapefruit: Large Box (40 lbs)        $30

Orders may be placed with any member of the Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club.

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BalloonFest 2012

Due to changes with several major sponsors, as well as skyrocketing insurance rates, the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club is unfortunately no longer able to present BALLOONFEST. 

We apologize and want to thank all of our loyal supporters over the past 20 years.

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Support Energy Conservation and Valparaiso Kiwanis Club

Two programs were introduced at the June 20, 2012 Kiwanis meeting by Bob Nuss from Energizing Indiana that can benefit everyone as individuals, citizens, and benefit the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club Foundation.

Program #1:  The first of these program is the AC Cycling Program.  By signing up for this program, NIPSCO will install a control switch on your air conditioning compressor or heat pump.  This allows NIPSCO to cycle your AC unit by turning it off for a short periods of 15-45 minutes when demand is very high.  This allows NIPSCO to manage high demand peaks, which result in the need to have more electric generating capacity just for very high demands.  You can try this program and have the switch removed if you so desire.  When you sign up for this program, you benefit by having your NIPSCO bill reduced by $10/month for June, July, August, and September each year you participate in the AC Cycling Program.  NIPSCO and the environment benefit by reducing the need to build more power plants and use more resources.  Our Valparaiso Kiwanis Club Foundation benefits by receiving $25 for every home owner whom we encourage to sign up through the URL listed below.  Win-Win-Win!!!

Program #2:  The second program is the Home Energy Assessment program.  By signing up for this program, your home will receive an energy assessment by a qualified energy advisor.  The advisor will come to your home at a mutually agreeable time and spend about 1.5 hours looking at your home’s energy usage.  Advisors will  assess the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems in your home to determine if they are operating efficiently.  They may inspect your home’s air duct sealing, insulation, and heating/cooling efficiency.  The visit may include the replacement of traditional incandescent bulbs with efficient CFLs (limit 9), installing low-flow faucet aerators (limit 3), and/or installing low-flow shower heads (limit 2) at no cost to you.  Once your home’s energy assessment is complete, you will receive a comprehensive report detailing what can be done further to start saving energy and money to make your home more comfortable.  You benefit by making your home more comfortable and efficient.  We all benefit by reducing the demand for more electricity.  Our Valparaiso Kiwanis Club Foundation benefits by receiving $25 for every home owner who we encourage to sign up through the URL listed below.  Win-Win-Win!!!

Sign up for one program or both programs at:

https://energizingindiana.com/nipsco-valpokiwanis/

At the Kiwanis meeting members signed up for the programs to raise $625 for the Foundation.

This project can be a significant benefit to the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club Foundation if we get a substantial number of people participating.

This is not just for Kiwanis members anyone who signs up can help reduce energy consumption and support the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club Foundation.

The Foundation involvement in this program is scheduled to terminate on December 11, 2012.

Download the attached file for more information.

Kiwanis Foundation/Energizing Indiana Flyer

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Mundell Named Valpo Kiwanis Foundation Volunteer of the Year

The Valparaiso Kiwanis Club Foundation named Robert Mundell of Valparaiso as its 2012 Volunteer of the Year during a luncheon at Strongbow Inn on Wednesday, May 30.  Mundell was the successful candidate chosen from a pool of candidates nominated by 13 not-for-profit agencies in the Greater Valparaiso area.  He was nominated by American Legion Post #94 Commander Donald Davis.

Bob Mundell volunteers to coordinate the color guards for the funerals of U.S. veterans in Valparaiso.  He has commanded the funeral color guard for the past 7 years.  His duties consume approximately 500 hours per year.  “There is no question that Bob will complete his duties.  He never denies a veteran this honor,” said Commander Davis.  “Bob truly believes that every deceased veteran should be properly recognized for his or her military service.”  Ironically, the few days following Memorial Day was one of the few occasions when Mundell is able to get away from his color guard duties.  Therefore, he was represented at the May 30 recognition luncheon by fellow American Legion member Jim Atkinson.  Speaking in place of Mundell at the recognition luncheon, Atkinson said, “You have truly selected a man (Bob Mundell) committed to his volunteer work.  He is an outstanding example for me and for all of us.”

The purposes of the Kiwanis Foundation Volunteer of the Year Award program are to recognize outstanding volunteers in the Greater Valparaiso area, to encourage increased volunteerism within the community, and to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism in Valparaiso.  Any Valparaiso area community based not-for-profit organization may nominate one person each year for this award.  Agencies in Greater Valparaiso interested in making nominations in the future may contact Foundation President Roger Luekens, 464-4184.

 

Robert Mundell, 2012 Valparaiso Kiwanis Foundation Volunteer of the Year, nominated by American Legion Post # 94

2012 Volunteer of the Year Award nominees (and nominating agencies) – Seated L to R: Mary Liggett (Opportunity Enterprises), Joyce Schleicher (Immanuel Food Pantry), Kristin Morrisson (Valpo Community Festival & Events), Maria Escot (NWI Lutheran Hispanic Mission Society), Nancy Thiel (Alzheimer’s Association), Beth Perry (Supporters of Military); Standing L to R: Jeff Liggett (Opportunity Enterprises), Roger Weitgenant (Hilltop Neighborhood House), Tom Newton (Valpo Family YMCA), Jim Atkinson representing Robert Mundell (American Legion Post #94), Craig Meinbresse (Taltree Arboretum & Gardens), Jeffry Van Syoc (City of Valparaiso), Jan Dick (Porter County Career & Tech Center); Missing from the photo: Robert Mundell (American Legion Post #94) and Jim & Oleta Chester (Housing Opportunities)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For additional information, contact the following:
Roger Luekens, President of the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club Foundation 219-464-4184
Robert Mundell, 2012 Volunteer of the Year in Greater Valparaiso 219-477-5483
Mark Conners, Kiwanis Club of Valparaiso President 219-462-2665

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2012 Annual Kiwanis Pancake Day

Saturday, March 10, 2012

All the Pancakes You Can Eat

6 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Early Bird Door Prizes, 6-9 am)

Valparaiso High School Cafeteria
2727 Campbell Street

Tickets: ONLY $5.00 in advance - $6.00 at the door (Pre-Schoolers eat Free)

Tickets are available from any Noon Kiwanis Club member or at Boy-Conn printing or the Porter County Career and Tech Center.

All-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, and beverages!

Kid’s Play Area – Entertainment – Face Painting – Cotton Candy – Magician – and…….THE BEST PANCAKES IN VALPO!

The Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club has 200 members who are business owners, educators, dentists, retirees, government employees, lawyers, pastors, housewives, architects, and more. We support the local community by donating all profits back to those in need. In any given year, we return nearly $50,000.00 to the community. We are involved with kids, the elderly, the handicapped, families in need of help, or those in need of temporary assistance.  Please help us serve our community by eating our pancakes!

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