Berlin Intermediate School Builders Club Chartered
by David Landis
February 5th 2009 was a special day at Berlin Intermediate School (BIS) when the Builders Club, a middle school level club of Kiwanis International, was chartered and the club officers were installed. Pictured left are most of the 52 students who are charter members of the new club with advisors Vice Principal, Dawn Smith (bottom left) and Principal Dr. John Gaddis (bottom right) and 9 of the 13 attending members of the parent Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines - Ocean City (top back row) flanking the children.
The purpose of the Builders Club is to build leadership and teamwork while serving the community. The children have a goal of accomplishing one project a month among which will be raising founds for the "Relay for Life" in support of cancer survivors and making the school "Go Green" by doing projects like recycling in the school and improving the environment. BIS already has a "Green Team" comprised of teachers who will work with the children to help develop the Builders Club Green Program. Other service ideas such as assisting the Humane Society, helping at upcoming parent club events like the March 7th Pancake Breakfast and the March 29th Italian Dinner fundraisers, and doing a car wash fundraiser were discussed at the initial meeting.
Officers of the Builders Club of BIS will be conducting the meetings themselves, almost immediately, as soon as they learn the correct procedures from their advisors. Shown right, the officers elected by the membership are: President Jacob Gaddis (middle), Vice President Dalton Warren (right) pictured accepting the official Kiwanis bell and gavel used to start and close meetings from parent club liaison, Al Kastner. The other officers not pictured are Secretary Sara Nicholes, Treasurer Dylan Jolley, Editor Christian Beres, and advisor Aaron Call a Guidance Counselor at BIS.
The children are learning responsibilities that will develop them for community service now and in the future. The local area is also represented by other Kiwanis sponsored clubs for students with a K-Kids Club at Buckingham Elementary School and Key Clubs at Stephen Decatur High School and The Salisbury School.