We have received thank you letters and cards from organizations that received donations on Community Service Day.

      VHS Avid Program:  WOW!  Its because of people like you that make this world a whole lot better for people like me THANK YOU for all those donations, I will now have a chance to visit some colleges.  I am very happy.  (from Luis Bribiesca Class of 2014).

Thank you for your donation.  It has helped not only me but everybody in the AVID Program.  With that money we were able to get tutors and they helped me a lot in chemistry.  Thanks to them and to you, I’m able to pass chemistry.  (from Saul Rubalcava Class of 2012)

E.P. Foster School:  Dear Kiwanis Club, Thank you for supporting our tutoring program.  We appreciate all the supplies that you have given us.  I am getting help with my reading.  I am getting extra help with subtraction and adding.  We work on different study skills to learn better.  You are all great people.  (Sincerely, E.P. Foster Students)

Family to Family:  The volunteers from Family to Family sincerely thank you for supporting this ministry in serving a hot nourishing meal to the need.  Your donation is greatly appreciated.

Rubicon Theatre Company:  On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of Rubicon, I want to personally that you for your generous gift for Education Outreach.  (from Amber Landis-Stover, Development Coordinator)

ARC:  On behalf of the Board of Directors, participants and staff, please accept out sincere appreciation of your generous donation to The Arc Of Ventura County.  This gift is greatly appreciated and will benefit each of our programs.  (from Fred W. Robinson, CEO)

YMCA:  On behalf of the Board of Managers, staff and participants, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation of your generosity.  Your donation will help us reach our community through our 2012 Campaign for Youth.  (from Margo Byrne, Executive Director)

AVID Adviser:  Your donation makes it possible for our juniors and seniors to take an AP exam exam and earn college credit.  Thank you for your support!! (from Linda Southwick, VHS Mathematics Teacher

Please Note:  only portions of the letters are in this article.  Contact Judy Mullins if you wish to read the letters.

Birthday Cake Friday!

March 30th is Birthday Friday when we recognize members that have a birthday during the month.  Fortunately members of Kiwanis Ventura do not become a year older, we just have cake.  Join us to wish happy birthday to:  Gloria Casas, Lou Cunningham, Karen Fetter, Bob Ingrum, Sean McCulloch, Bob Perry and Maria Sudarmadji.

VHS Key Club Volunteers

Ventura High’s auditorium rocked to music, song, dance, Monty Python and acrobatics on February 25, 2012.  The annual Festival of Talent was a smashing success due to the young talent and volunteers from Kiwanis of Ventura, Key, Aktion, Kiwins and Builders Clubs.  Thanks to all the volunteers.  Here are some photo’s of a few volunteers:

Members: Working hard? or Hardly working?

Kiwanian Ken and Kiwinis Desiree work pushing grand piano

DATA Builders Club

Aktion Club Volunteers at FOT Feb 2012

Dee from Kiwins works the main curtain

Mike & Bart taking a break

Kiwins sisters, Elaine & Emily, working back stage

Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks Visits Feb 17, 2012

Our lunch meeting on Feb 17th hosted six members of the Thousand Oaks Kiwanis Club.  They joined in the raffle and paid dollars into the fine box with numerous comments about our room with a view of the islands.  Sometime we take for granted our lunch site but with the help of the TO Club we all enjoyed the beautiful day with a spectacular view.

The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Program at VHS is a college preparation program for low income, capable students who will be the first in their family to attend college.

Linda Southwick spoke at the Kiwanis lunch meeting on Friday February 10 with a power point presentation to describe the program’s function, goals and services provided to VHS students.  Linda is a math teacher and AVID adviser and is passionate about the success of the program.  Two AVID students participated in the presentation with their personal experiences in the program.  Jasmine Rodriguez and Tony Moreno are college bound due to the success of AVID.  Both are the first in their families to attend college.

Congratulations to Jasmine, Tony and the other AVID students who will be attending college this fall.  AVID makes a difference in the lives of students, families, staff – community service at its best.

Valentine’s Day is February 14th for any Kiwanis members needing a reminder for their sweet hearts.  The Builders Club at DATA Middle School have known for weeks about February 14 as they race to complete Rose Bud Valentine’s.  Their ambitious goal was completed on Thursday February 9 with help from Kiwanis members in time to give a rose bud to the staff at DATA and children at Casa Pacifica.  They worked after school and at the Thursday’s meetings taping 2 chocolate kisses back to back then wrapping the kisses in red cellophane.  The next step was to  make stems out of wire with green florist tape, add pre-cut green “leaves” and a sticker to the leaves.  Sounds complicated?  Great deal of work?  Yep, your right!

It was very rewarding to see this Builders Club work together as a team to complete the project.  Their  “can do” attitude made it possible to make 150 rose buds.   Adviser Michelle Bleuel was smiling with joy to see the students work together.  Many thanks to Larry Lundeen, Kris Etzler, Lou Cunningham and Judy Mullins for saving the day by attending the meeting.

Now on to St Patrick’s Day…