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By Ina Beavers

For the Clemmons Courier

CLEMMONS — The last three months have been busy and fulfilling for Kiwanis Club of Clemmons members.  

In September, the club had Mark Steele with Solutions of Independence to speak. He works with area counties to assist people with disabilities to access programs and organizations that can help them live more independently.  

Some members attended a grant-writing seminar offered by the Shallowford Foundation. Dawn Clouse, volunteer coordinator, and Donna Bridges, PTA president at Morgan Elementary School, were also speakers. The club bid a sad bon-voyage to long time member Chris Billups and wife Linda. They are moving out of state and will be sorely missed. 

In October, a new slate of officers was announced. They were officially inducted on Oct. 29 at a special get together at the home of members Joel and Barbara Schanker. Carolina District Lt. Governor Virgil Lassane conducted the officer installation. New slate of officers is: President Thao Sommerville, Vice President Jim Brosovic, Secretary Michael Watson and Treasurer Barbara Schanker.  

Featured speaker in October was Rodd Smith with United Way of Winston-Salem. He spoke about their goal to make at-risk communities safer and more livable. Three of the members attended the annual Lewisville-Clemmons Chamber of Commerce’s non-profit showcase.

The club was excited to be involved again this year with the Blind Driving Experience. This is spearheaded by member Chris Flynt founder of Blind Power. The club offered free beverages to those attending. Some members as a sighted passenger assisted sight-impaired participants to drive a golf cart. If they handled that successfully, some graduated to driving a car. This is a unique event and brought many smiles, and some laughs to both the club and participants. Sighted people were encouraged to wear an eye mask and try the experience themselves. This makes you more aware of the obstacles the sight impaired face daily.

At the first November meeting, new President Thao Sommerville played a trivia game based on facts about club members. It was fun and informative. At the next meeting, the speaker was Peggy Wells, founder of The Wells Center in Winston-Salem. The club learned about the life-changing program she offers to women who are detained and awaiting trial or being released from incarceration. Among the services she provides are some housing, counseling and rehab services. One of the ladies who had been through the program spoke about how The Wells Center had helped to bring her out of a very low point in her life. She is now a healthy, stable and responsible citizen in the community. She is also continuing her education. 

The club also had the privilege of providing full Thanksgiving meals to 10 in need families of Morgan Elementary school students.

The annual Holiday Pecan Sale fundraiser is in full swing. The club is again offering a full pound bag of premier, Teri Lynn whole, fresh pecans for the price of $15 each. These are available for sale at Clemmons Kitchen, Piedmont Federal and Truist Bank in Clemmons. You can contact Mike Watson at 336-971-7444 to purchase. Purchases can also be made online at Clemmons-Kiwainis.terrilynn.com where you can find the pecans as well as many other fine snack and nut products. Proceeds go to the club’s College Scholarship Fund. These are awarded to Seniors at West Forsyth High School each year.  

The Kiwanis Club of Clemmons meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 8 a.m. Meeting place is Trinity Elms Apartments Community Building on Fair Oaks Drive, just as you come off Harper Road, second drive to the right. A light breakfast and coffee are served. For more information, contact Membership Chair Ina Beavers at thebeav08@gmail.com.