Meetings

Club Meetings/Activities

We invite you to join us at one of our meetings.
We meet every Thursday evening at 6:30 PM at
Blossoms Restaurant, 2888 S. Heather Gardens Way, in Aurora.
[NOTE - - - While Blossoms Restaurant is undergoing renovation, we will be meeting at Noonan’s Restaurant, 13521 E Iliff Ave,Aurora, CO]

We are currently the only Kiwanis Club in the local area to have evening meetings.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time.

PROGRAMS and ACTIVITIES
[Come visit our club and enjoy programs like these]

Kiwanis Club of Aurora Installs Officers for 2011 – 2012
On September 29, forty-two Kiwanians and guests gathered at Blossoms Restaurant to honor the Aurora Kiwanis Board and Officers of 2010 – 2011 and to install the new officers for 2011 – 2012. All those gathered enjoyed a dinner of prime rib, chicken cordon bleu, or, for a few, hamburgers or a vegetarian plate. The remainder of the meal consisted of candied carrots and a baked potato, with strawberry crepes for dessert.
Dan Schamberger acted as Master of Ceremonies, introducing visitors of note, including RMDK Governor Bob Garretson, RMDK Governor-elect Jack Schwartz, Mary Forhan, newly-installed President of the DTC Kiwanis Club, Dr. Judy Griswold, former Principal at Park Lane Elementary School, and her husband, two soon-to-be members moving from Virginia, Dave and Marie Loomis, three children, and five spouses.
Our own Rick Williams, RMDK Lt Governor for Division 15, installed Foundation Trustees Dave Hefiln and Rich Richardson, Board Directors Michael Case, John Elmblad, Rick Simmons, and Kent Wise. Aurora Kiwanis Officers for 2011-2012 are: Dr. Janet Williams, Immediate Past President; Gay Cirigliano, President; Carla Lopez, President-elect; Jerry Sussman, Vice-President; Dick Jensen, Secretary; and Bob Hoffmaster, Treasurer.
Several Kiwanians received special recognition and awards. Dr Judy Griswold presented a special Thank You plaque to John Elmblad for his continued service at Park Lane. For several years before his retirement, he organized the bike essay contests for free bikes, then Aurora Kiwanis and he would present the winning students with a bicycle and helmet. He will continue his work as a full-fledged member of Aurora Kiwanis.
Isabella Blanco, daughter of Kiwanian Kim Blanco, and granddaughter of President Janet, was presented with her very own Courage to Create medallion for her continued service with Aurora Kiwanis. Isabella worked the Elephant Rock event for two years, the Parker Fall Frenzy Triathlon this year, organized and led 4- and 5-year olds craft activities at the Salvation Army Christmas party, and assisted in many ways at the inaugural Courage to Create event. She also sold origami in her neighborhood to raise enough money to donate a medallion to KPTI. Kimberly Blanco received a plaque in recognition of her tireless work as Project Manager in organizing and hosting the Courage to Create event. She also announced that the winter community service project for our club satellite would be Tu Nidito, she and Edgar riding 109 miles for children beneficiaries of El Tour de Tuscon.
Graham Witherspoon received the President’s Spirit of Kiwanis award. Graham has a persistent, positive spirit even though he has had many life struggles. His patriotism for our nation and service to our community are stellar. His giftedness and talents are used by him to help his family, club, and for the greater good. His outreach to inform others of special causes is sincere, and his advocacy for those causes is unwavering. He has also been part of a Colorado Honor Flight Program for surviving WWII veterans to Washington, D.C., selection based on his military service, a Navy Lieutenant stationed at Iwo Jima just after that great battle.
Dan Schamberger was honored by being named Kiwanian of the Year 2010-2011. Carla Lopez, a former Kiwanian of the Year, reminded the club that to a great extent it was through Dan’s efforts that the club weathered a very rough year, that of losing three central members of Aurora Kiwanis a couple of years ago. He has consistently been a strong member of the club through the years, showing his expertise as Chair of the Social Committee. Our parties have always been excellent and something our members look forward to. His attendance at and support of our club functions have been exemplary. He also chairs the Education Committee and takes delight in teaching something new about Kiwanis each month.
In her departing speech, now Immediate Past President Janet revisited her Powerpoint presentation of last year, reviewing her proposed goals and explaining how the club has met and exceeded every one. She cited examples including the monthly recognition of service and attendance (recognizing the Aurora Kiwanis members who were awarded monthly opportunities to donate $100 each to a particular charity), the net growth of the club bt +4, the inclusion of our service project on Kiwanis International’s web site, and our giving at the local, District, and International levels, including our recent $2000 donation for the Eliminate MNT Worldwide Service Project, giving Aurora Kiwanis the Year of Leadership distinction from Kiwanis International. She then gave the newly-installed President Gay Cirigliano the Year of Fire pin that then International President Sylvester Neal gave to the club at last year’s RMDK Midwinter Conference. After that exchange, as out-going President, Janet passed the Aurora Kiwanis President’s gavel to Gay as a symbol of the passing of leadership from one administration to the next. Upon accepting the gavel from Immediate Past President Janet, Gay began a discussion of her plans and goals for this next year. With Janet’s permission she intends to continue Renewing the Spirit, Rekindling the Flame, but with the added emphasis on the personal aspects of the club members. Through the year, she wants club members to get to know each other better to enhance growth and service opportunities. To demonstrate her commitment to that end, she asked members sing “Getting to Know you” as they circulated through the room shaking hands and getting to know one another.
Jennifer O’Bayley, Aurora Public Library
Our speaker for November 10th was a representative of the Aurora Public Library, Jennifer O’Bayley. The Library is offering many innovative new programs including free use of ebooks, audiobooks, music downloads, and nine different language classes. Another interesting program is “Science in the Stacks,” where patrons have the opportunity to meet with local scientists or technologists to discuss the latest trends. The program “Power of One 2012 – Living in Aurora, Serving Around the World” is a collaboration between the Library and Aurora History Museum.
All of the information anyone could ever want about the Aurora Public Library, including the Calendar of Events, can be found on their website: https://www.auroragov.org/auroragov/departments/libraryandculturalservices/libraryservices/index.htm

Don Chase Memorial Breakfast
A wonderful, but early, breakfast was enjoyed by many club members, guests, inter-club visitors, and the Rocky Mountain District Governor, Bob Garretson, as we met on Wednesday, November 23, instead of our regular Thursday meeting. Division 15 Kiwanis Clubs Denver Tech Center and Castle Rock were our Kiwanis visitors racking up interclub credits.
The breakfast was presided over by our club president, Gay “Come on let’s sing” Cirigliano.
Bob Garretson graciously filled in for a missing speaker, telling us about his planning for the future of the Rocky Mountain District. His vision includes asking young members what they want in the future and moving forward towards those goals.