Greater Ocean Pines - Ocean City Club

by David Landis

Kiwanis Donates to Local Organizations for Children

(Above) Dan Peletier, President of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines - Ocean City making a $250 donation to Wayne Littleton of Believe In Tomorrow House By the Sea to assist families of children battling life threatening illnesses.  Believe In Tomorrow provides retreat housing for critically ill children and their families in Ocean City , Maryland.  For information on Believe in Tomorrow call the headquarters at 410-744-1032. 

(Above) Dan Peletier presenting a $1000 check to Mike Howell, Recreation Director of the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department, in support of their children's programs in the community where Kiwanis raises the funds. 

Kiwanis Club Receives Salvation Army Award

(Above) Pictured is Corky Widerman, Past-President of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines - Ocean City, being presented the Top Civic Group Bell Ringing Award from the local Salvation Army 2008 "Red Kettle Campaign" for collecting $7523.81 by ringing the bell during the 2008 Christmas Holidays for the Salvation Army. The award was presented at the 2009 kickoff meeting to Kiwanian Dick Feeser, the Kiwanis Club Of Greater OP-OC interface with the Salvation Army in Salisbury, MD who in turn presented the award to Corky Widerman, president at the time the award was achieved. Dick Feeser who and arranges for members to perform the bell ringing at the West Ocean City-Berlin Wal-Mart on Route 50 where bell ringing will begin on November 27th until December 23rd. Look for the Red Kettle and make a donation to help make this holiday season the best is can be for many people who might otherwise not experience the joy of the holidays.

SDHS Key Club Holds Blood Drive

(Above)The Key Club at Stephen Decatur High School held its first of two Blood Drives for the 2009-2010 school year on Wednesday November 4th in the high school gym. Members signed up 100 donors for the drive and have 53 on the waiting list. The blood is donated to the Blood Bank of Delmarva and the Key Club members were very motivated to have it be successful. They are competing with schools in four counties on the shore, namely, Worcester, Wicomico, Dorchester and Somerset, to have the best blood drive.

(Above) Pictured at the canteen table where donors get snacks after donating blood to be sure they are "recovered". Club members made the cookies and snacks for the canteen. Pictured at the canteen are (seated left) Marcie Wiggins, Key Club co-chair for the blood drive and Editor for the Key Club, Julie Rittershofer, Rebecca Rittershofer, and standing is Joe Bagdon, Chairman for the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines/ Ocean City Blood Donor Program. To the far left standing in the background is Suzanne Murray, Marketing Account Manager for the Blood Bank of Delmarva, who interfaced with the Key Club and coordinated the event. Seated on the right are Bonnie Eisenman, co-chair for the blood drive and Treasurer for the Key Club, Brett Oliver, David Cole, and Sean Fohner. Kudos to these young people who are certainly demonstrating a commitment to serve their community.

Kiwanis German Dinner is a Hit

If you make it, they will come! It took several days of many Kiwanians working hard to prepare all the foods starting on Tuesday with cutting up the beef for the saurebraten until the final ingredient, the fresh handmade potato dumplings, were prepared on Saturday morning as all the tables were set and decorated in preparation for the Sunday dinner. And alas, as always, THEY did come, enjoy the homemade foods, and have a wonderful time!

The Ocean Pines Country Club on Sunday November 1st was filled with activity all day long from the time Kiwanis members starting cooking the familiar Annual German Dinner delights at 10 AM until the final pots and pans and kitchen were cleaned up at 9 PM. The payoffs were all the compliments on the great food and the funds that were raised in support of the club's Scholarship Foundation. Lots of work for a good purpose.

(Above) Dan Peletier, President of The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines - Ocean City with his wife and fellow Kiwanian, Barbara, who chaired the event.

(Above) Six of the dozen Stephen Decatur High School Key Club members who volunteered to help the parent club serve the customers. From left to right are Lydia Logan, Will Chandler, Taylor Tobak, Rachel Thompson, Brett Oliver and Zach Knopp. The event is proof that there are a lot of people who support the efforts of community volunteer service organizations, especially in these difficult times. Kiwanis thanks everyone for the continuing support.