'Kiwanis Korner'

Weirton Kiwanis Club President Kitty Kochman welcomed members to the luncheon meeting. Bill Fullerton led the Pledge of Allegiance and Duke Horstemeyer lead the singing of "My Country ‘Tis of Thee" and offered prayer.


Following lunch the business meeting was called to order by Kochman. Kochman announced that several members attended the recent convention. Two Weirton Kiwanis Club members were inducted into higher offices – Aggie Monezis as Lieutenant Governor and Tina Larch as Governor-Elect.


Treasurer Mary Kay Olashuk led a seminar on changes to the IRS?Form 99 for tax-exempt organizations.


During the convention, the club received the “Young Children Priority One”?Patch and Pin.


Next year’s convention will be held in Morgantown, W.Va.


Betty Jo Welch was thanked for contributing to this column while club publicity chairperson Lynnellen Winkles was on vacation.


The annual summer picnic for the Hancock County Sheltered Workshop and the Opportunity Center will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the Weirton Milksop Community Center.  


Captain Ed Long from the Hancock-Brooked Salvation Army introduced himself to the group and will be a new member. The Longs are looking forward to being part of the Weirton club and community.


The guest speaker was Jana Tetrault, the new chairwoman of the upcoming Make-A-Wish Gala.


Tetrault’s 5-year-old son Shane was a Make-A-Wish child who lost his battle with leukemia.  


Making wishes come true for area children with life-threatening illnesses between the ages of 2 and a half and 18 is the purpose of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northern West Virginia. The organization provides grantees and their families a moment of happiness and a lifetime of memories.


"Making Wishes Come True in Hancock and Brooked Counties" is the theme of the organization's upcoming gala slated for Saturday, Nov. 22, at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort in Chester. Tickets will be on sale soon. The gala is one of Make-A-Wish's biggest fundraisers of the year, and the funds raised make it possible for the organization to grant wishes, such as Shane’s. Event sponsorships at a variety of levels of participation are available, as well as donations of goods or services for the auction that is a huge part of the gala.


Also the Make-A-Wish committee is selling "Stars" for $1 each as part of its fundraising campaign. Businesses can obtain stars from committee members, sell them, then post them displaying the Make-A-Wish purpose.