Charlevoix Kiwanis Service Projects

Its almost imposible to track the number of service projects in which Charlevoix Kiwanians participate. The members involved in projects may involve only a couple of members to the entire club.

Adopt-A-Highway

Twice a year the Charlevoix Kiwanians pick-up litter along three mile stretch of US-31 South of Charlevoix between Faculak Road and Norwood Road. Dave Burzyck Chairman. Pictured below is the 2011 Spring clean-up crew. From left to right; Vince Chew, Dave Garland, Roger Postmus, Ted Dumbauld, Bill Lovett, Larry Minch, Gary Jesiek, John Young, Bob D'Alcorn, Gary Burzyck and Jack Marshner.

Adopt-A-Highway is a Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) program designed to help keep the state's highway roadsides clean and attractive. Participants adopt both sides of a section of state highway roadside to clean up for at least a two-year period. A minimum two-mile stretch of roadway is recommended. All types of state highways may be adopted, including two-lane roads, limited access highways, boulevards and business routes.

Since 1990, Adopt-A-Highway local groups have collected over a million bags of trash. Currently 2,800 groups are participating in the program and have adopted over 6,400 miles of Michigan highways.

Camp Daggett

Camp Daggett is a summer camp for children. It's a beautiful facility on Walloon Lake. It is a non-profit organization with no governmental or religiour affiliations. The Charlevoix Kiwanis Club has supported the Camp in a number of ways. The Club built one of the camper cabins in the mid '70s and has maintained and updated the cabin over the years. The Club also provides several scolarships for chidren who might otherwise not be able to attend the camp. Club member Bob D'Alcorn sits on the camps board of trustees. You can learn more about Camp Daggett at campdaggett.com

Charlevoix Community Pool

The Kiwanis Club of Charlevoix has a long history of involvement with the Charlevoix Community Pool. In fact, nearly 50 years ago the late Ralph Hamilton, a long time member of the Club, envisioned and promoted an indoor pool for Charlevoix. It is one of the few pools in the country, built without public funding. Pool director AL Gooch is a member and past-president of the Charlevoix Kiwanis Club.

Head Start Reading Program

Since 1990 a program called Young Children Priority One is a major focus from Kiwanis International. In 2004 Bill Lovett was chairman of the committee. They approached the local Head Start program offering Kiwanis volunteers to read to the children for thirty minutes each week. They accepted the idea. Val Meyerson, the director of the Charlevoix library selected a quantity of appropriate books. The library bought them and the Club reimbursed them. Each Monday morning at 10 A.M. four to eight people assemble at the Head Start Building and read to the children.

In 2006, Bill Lovett was looking for another program that might help younger children as a continuing part of Young Children Priority One. lAfter much discussion, it was decided that a parenting workshop for young parents or those who were expecting children would fill an important need. Bill determined that J. J. Miller, past International Kiwanis chairperson for YCPO had moved to Gaylord, and she joined ud in planning the program. She arranged for Wil Bleckman, MD, a past International President of Kiwanis, who created the YCPO program to come to come to Charlevoix and be the keynote speaker. The workshop was held in March of 2008 at the Christian Reformed Church in Charlevoix. 65 parents and grandparents attended the workshop and 25 children were cared for in a nursery and preschool classroom during the workshop. It worked very well, and is another example of the Club's partiicaption in the Young Children Priority One program.

Exceptional Riders

The Exceptional Riders Program encourages individuals with special needs to improve balance and self-esteem through the use of therapeutic horseback riding. Volunteers assist students walking next to the children while riding. Club member Gayle Gennett is the volunteer coordinator for the organization.