Kiwanis Club of Dougherty County

In today's (April 26) club meeting, we didn't have a speaker program. Instead, the meeting was devoted to two significant votes: the election of officers for next year and the merger of our club with the Albany Kiwanis Club, to become official when the new year starts on October 1. The vote to merge was unanimous among those present, including two on Zoom. Also, the slate of officers was approved without dissent: President, Mike Bertram; Vice-President/President-elect, Doug L...orber; Treasurer, Bill McDaniel; and Immediate Past President, Mel Almond. (Tommy Gay will apparently return as secretary, but that post is appointed by the board of directors.) Directors for the 2021-22 year will be provided by the Albany club. As stated previously, the merged club will not affect the status of our club's educational foundation; it will continue as it always has. Both clubs are looking forward to the combined effort to keep Kiwanis active and thriving on behalf of kids in the Albany/Dougherty community. Thanks to those in each club who are working diligently to complete the merger process! See more

Four of our members came out this morning (Tuesday, April 20) to volunteer with Helping Hands End Hunger's food distribution at the Sherwood Hope Center (the former Coke bottling plant) in Albany. The event ran from 7:30 to 10 a.m. and teams of volunteers gave out produce, canned and dried goods, meat, bread, etc. to people who drove through in their cars to accept delivery. Helping Hands coordinator Cathy Revell and her fellow organizers have this event designed so that traffic flow is smooth and distribution efficient. Thanks to our members Doug Lorber, Joan Seay, David Shivers, and Diane Stanley for rising with, or perhaps ahead, of the sun to help!

We were especially pleased to have as our program today (Monday, April 19) the advisor and members of our Terrell Academy Key Club. Advisor Amanda Cooper, Nathan Guerra, Molly Bell, and Heer Patel came down from Dawson to tell us what they have done since being chartered last fall, and it is quite a list, with some 20 school and community service projects and fundraisers completed. They currently have about 97 members. The students are enjoying the sense of fulfilment from s...ervice to others. Amanda said her primary goal in starting the club was to teach the TA students about serving others with the hope they will take this out into the world as they graduate and head into college and beyond. We are proud of them and what they have accomplished, and our our members are invited to join them next Sunday, April 25, 4 p.m., at Dawson Country Club for their officer induction and recognition ceremony. Our international trustee from the Albany Club, Kristina Baranko, was also present and expressed her appreciation for the new club and their efforts. Thanks, Amanda, Molly, Heer, and Nathan for the program, and thanks to David Shivers, our club liaison, for arranging it! See more

This afternoon Mel Almond, Kristin Caso, Dot and Glenn Dowling, and David Shivers, along with Katrina Baranko and Dewey Smith of the Albany Kiwanis Club and our Div. 5 Lt. Gov. Charlene Pennymon of the Americus Kiwanis Club attended the Terrell Academy Key Club’s Officer Induction & Recognition Ceremony at Dawson Country Club. It was a momentous event for this new club we are sponsoring and a fitting recognition of the service its student members are providing their school and community. More later, but for now, TA Key Club, just know that we are proud to be your sponsor!

Fellow Kiwanians, don’t forget: Tomorrow, April 26, is a red letter day for our club, as we officially vote on a merger with the Albany Kiwanis Club. We will also be voting on officers for next year. Please come for an overview and to get answers to any questions you have before the club makes the final decision. We hope to see you at Austin’s Firegrill tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.

We did not have a speaker program last Monday, April 12, in order to discuss a momentous proposal for our club's future. Our board of directors, along with the board of the Albany Kiwanis Club, is proposing that the two clubs merge to form one club, to continue a viable and thriving Kiwanis presence in the Albany-Dougherty community. The new club would be known as the Albany-Dougherty Kiwanis Club. The plan now is for us to surrender our charter, a nod to the Albany club's c...entury-long history. In fact they sponsored our club when we were chartered in 1952. The merger would not affect our education foundation. Also, details about meeting day, time, and place are still up for discussion. If both clubs approve, the merger will not become effective until the new club year, which starts Oct. 1, 2021. While both boards are recommending the action, it must still be approved by a majority vote of members of both clubs present at the meeting where a vote is taken. Our club will vote on this at our Monday, April 26, meeting. There will likely also be more discussion and questions about the merger, so you are encouraged to be present. The consensus of both boards is that joining together will combine our resources and manpower, enabling Kiwanis in Albany to undertake more projects and activities to benefit the children of the community. In another Monday presentation, we heard about the upcoming presentation by Sherwood Christian Academy of an original play, "Berlin: He Will Take Down That Wall", with tickets brought for sale. See more

Fellow members, Attention Fellow Dougherty County Kiwanians: We will have a special meeting next Monday, April 12, to discuss a very important opportunity for our club. The scheduled program, Price Corr on "Vain about Veins", has been rescheduled for May 10. We urge all active and inactive members to please attend. Our meeting will start at our usual time of 12:30 p.m. Please come early to eat prior to the start of the meeting. We hope to see you there!

Our program speaker on Monday was Rhiannon Dobson of Rahab’s Haven, a ministry to those at risk or victimized by sexual exploitation. They bring awareness of this serious issue through their community presence, identifying and educating the at-risk population, and partnering with others to seek prevention. They reach out through street ministry, blessing bags, events, Bible studies and life skill classes, and work at restoring victims through mentoring relationships, resource... connections and safe housing. Their phone number is 229-886-8348 and their website is rahabshavenalbany.com and they have an office in the Hope Center, the former Coke bottling plant on Pine Avenue in Albany. According to Rhiannon, every one of Georgia's 159 counties has reported arrests related to sexual exploitation or trafficking. She also explained why victims are sometimes reluctant to escape such a situation and how exploiters, also known as pimps, control their victims. Thanks, Rhiannon, for an eye-opening program, and thanks to David Shivers for arranging it! See more

This being the week leading up to Easter Sunday, we were privileged to have two men of the cloth with us today (March 29) to bring words of faith and inspiration. Rev. Gary Brady of Christ United Methodist Church and Rev. Robert Greene, lead pastor at Porterfield UMC and a U.S. Air Force Reserve chaplain who is also a chaplaincy trainer at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, spoke to us about how their faith has served them in the past year and how they demonstrate it in their respective positions. Thank you to both of these gentlemen for their remarks, and thanks to Larry Price and Kent McClure, respectively, for arranging their appearances!

It was a pleasant but windy day yesterday (March 25) as 23 two-man teams of golfers competed in our annual Kiwanis of Dougherty Foundation Golf Tournament at Riverpointe Golf Club. Jamie Knight (pictured) and partner John Glover (who was unavailable for the photo) finished as winners with a 59 score (66 out), barely edging out Chuck Owens and Terry Ho at 59 (67 out). Third place went to David Howell and Josh Fulghum, 59.25; fourth, Chris Smith and Sissy Smith, 60.25, and fif...th, Mike Bertram and Ryan Emory, 60.50. Closest to the Pin winners on Holes 5, 7, 12, and 15 respectively were Derick Beaty, Tommy Gay, Chris Glover, and Sissy Smith. Door prizes for the tournament were provided by Riverpointe club, Stonebridge Country Club, Doublegate Country Club, and Flint River Golf Course. Riverpointe also provided a barbecue sandwich meal for the golfers prior to the tournament. Our congratulations to the winners and many thanks to Mike Bertram and his team who worked hard to make the event a success! Hope to see you on the links again next year! See more

Our program speaker yesterday (Monday, March 22) was Dougherty County Commissioner Ed Newsome. Ed is a new member of the board and represents District 1. He told us the commissioners are a "cohesive board," working well together even though each district has its own needs and goals. A long-time local businessman, Ed praised the selection of Jana Dyke as economic development director for the county, noting that there are "7 or 8" prospects looking at Dougherty County with good news expected soon. He also updated us on the progress in Radium Springs park and plans for a tennis park in Albany that could attract tournaments. Many thanks, Ed, for such a positive program, and thanks to Kent McClure for arranging it!

In our Monday meeting Feb. 8 we received an informative but sobering overview of gangs and gang life in Albany and our state. Mike Tabarrok, Deputy Chief District Attorney for Dougherty County, shared information that included, among other things, gangs identified in Albany; their "turfs", or territories, throughout the city; how commission of a crime is required for initiation into a gang; that gang member ages range from as young as 10 into adults in their 30s or even 40s; ...and what entices youths into gang memberships. He said gang members going into the state correctional system should tell authorities what gang they are in so that they are assigned to incarceration with fellow gang members and not placed in with enemy gangs. Also, guns stolen in car break-ins often end up in the hands of gang members who use them to commit crimes. Thank you, Mike, for the extremely informative program, and thanks to Tim Thomas for arranging it! See more

Our next "5th Monday" social will be this Saturday, March 20, 2021 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at Harvest Moon on Dawson Road. It will have a St. Patrick’s Day theme, so wear something green!

On Monday, February 8, our club showed our continuing support for the Terrell Academy Key Club with a donation of $200 to help with costs of projects and member recruitment and retention. The gift was derived through a grant funded to our Dougherty club. David Shivers presented the check during the TA club's February meeting. They continue to do great things, with more projects in the works through Spring.

Our sympathy and prayers go out to Ken Rodd and family today. Ken's wife Jan passed away this morning. No service is planned at this time.

For our program today (Monday, March 15) we heard from Tommy Gregors, CEO of the Artesian Alliance, which is the name of the partnership umbrella that includes Thronateeska Heritage Center, the Flint Riverquarium, and Chehaw Park. The partnership enables the three entities to share staff, resources, and membership opportunities. Tommy reviewed some of the history of the alliance and the challenges presented by the Covid pandemic, which saw significant decreases in visits to the attractions. Things are turning around now, he noted. He also said a master plan is in process and expected to be completed by September. Thanks, Tommy, for the program, and thank you, Kent McClure, for arranging it!

Our program on Monday was by our own Kristin Caso, who spoke about her work with the Dougherty School Gardens project. The initiative, previously a recipient of the Golden Radish Award, now has gardens at 14 elementary schools in the system and has made strides in opening new taste horizons with students by introducing them to healthy diet choices with vegetables such as kale. broccoli, and others. Produce from the gardens is also donated to the Feeding the Valley food distribution program. This is especially important for healthy lifestyles since Dougherty County has high rates of heart disease and stroke often due to poor diets. Thanks, Kristin, for the program and your efforts, and thanks to Mel Almond for arranging it!

Our program last Monday, March 8, was our own Larry Price. Larry is a noted local evangelist and spoke to us about the need for unity in our country and how it is a call to action for each of us as individuals. Larry is also slated to be the lieutenant governor for Division 5 of the Georgia Kiwanis District for the 2021-22 year that begins October 1. Thank you, Larry, for an inspirational program, and thanks to Kent McClure for arranging it!

In this morning's (March 3) Albany Herald is the obituary for our fellow member Chloe Hinton's father, Stephen Ferrell Hinton. He passed away Sunday, Feb. 28, after a long illness. No public service is planned at this time, there will be a memorial at a later date, but donations in his honor may be made to the Albany Museum of Art, 311 Meadowlark Drive, Albany GA, 31707. He was a life trustee of AMA. Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chloe and her family for their loss!

Our program today, Monday, March 1, was brought by Dougherty County Adminstrator Michael McCoy, who spoke to us about the challenges the county has faced since he succeeded Richard Crowdis in 2018, including Covid 19 and extensive damage from tornadoes and hurricanes. On the positive side, funding was secured in 2020 for the Spring Run Bridge at Radium Springs, development began of a trail there, and the minimum wage for county employees was raised. For 2021, the Covid focus ...has shifted to vaccinations, exploration is underway for tennis center in the county, work is underway to establish a trail connector from downtown to Albany State University, and the county is seeking to secure funding for the ASU to Radium Springs trail. Michael also revealed an effort to secure a Community Development Grant for a disaster recovery program to help residents with home repairs after natural disasters. Many thanks to Michael for a great program, and thanks to Kent McClure for arranging it! See more

Our program on Monday, January 25, was brought by Lisa Davis, President of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce and the Lee County Economic Development Authority. She succeeded Winston Oxford, who has retired. Lisa provided an update on the Lee chamber's annual projects and fundraisers. She noted their involvement with the Lee County Kiwanis Club's Backpack Blessing project which delivered 140 backpacks to needy students in December. She also said the proposed Lee County Medical Center is still in the works and a new solar project was added. Thank you, Lisa, for the informative program, and thanks to Tim Thomas for arranging it!

Come one, come all the next Fifth Monday event, Thursday, January 28th, 6 p.m., at the Manor House Pub at Merry Acres on Dawson Road. Food and drinks can be had along with good company and conversation. Be there - and bring your spouse or a guest, if you'd like - or be square!