Kiwanis Comes Back To The Heights

Kiwanis International has returned to Cleveland Heights-University Heights community with a new club known as Kiwanis of the Heights! This new club will pick up where the old Cleveland Heights and Cedar Center clubs started years ago, providing service to the community’s children and adults with disabilities. Spearheaded by club President, Mark Harris, the new club achieved charter status last November. Dr. Yvonne Conner serves as club Treasurer, and Cassandra Swift serves as club Secretary. Dee Ann Long Marsky, Cindy Seaman and Eva Bekes serve as the club’s Board.

Our commitment to service will begin by focusing on establishing Key and Builders Clubs in our local school system, and an Aktion Club for disabled adults. These clubs should be fully active by Fall Semester 2018. These clubs teach our high school and middle school students a combination of leadership, community and service in a structured program of self-government, fundraising, and volunteering for community projects. Future near-term plans include K-clubs in the various public elementary schools, appropriate clubs in the community’s private primary and secondary schools, as well as Circle-K Clubs at John Carroll and Notre Dame College.

Kiwanis of the Heights seeks to break out from the antiquated traditional social outreach with new and innovative ways to engage with the community. As an example, the second club meeting of every month, usually the third Friday, takes place at a local dining establishment rather than a bland meeting hall. The upcoming February 23rd meeting will take place at Christopher’s Pub (1318 Warrensville Center Rd), and we will rotate from neighborhood to neighborhood monthly. There are many other plans to work with community businesses to bring members and the public together in a social atmosphere; for instance, we are collaborating with Quintana’s Speakeasy (2200 S Taylor Rd) on February 17th @ 3p for a fundraising/social event.

We are always looking for new members and corporate sponsors in the community to aid in the goal of serving Cleveland Heights and University Heights, and we would welcome your involvement. You are invited to attend any of the upcoming social events, attend our next official meeting on March 7 at the Cleveland Heights Community Center (located at the corner of Monticello and Mayfield), check out our web site www.kiwanisoftheheights.org, our Facebook page is @KiwanisoftheHeights, or simply email us at contact@kiwanisoftheheights.org.