Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Providing Help for Traumatized Children in the Classroom

Wednesday, October 31When trauma enters a child’s home life, it can affect their classroom behavior, their mental health and make the child unstable.  Donna Kitrick from Waterloo Community Schools shared their program for making a positive impact on children’s lives to help them travel the road back to normalcy.  Donna explained the many warning signals displayed by kids in trouble. She explained that they either fight, flee, or freeze.  Many kids have a deep feeling of powerlessness.  

Mrs. Kitrick explained that she studies the history of the child at risk to scrutinize if they ever displayed trauma before or if their siblings had a history of such experiences.  Donna explained the ACE Study that explained that these traits all must be addressed or when the child matures, they tend to abuse others later in life.  Mood regulation and collaborated care can help form positive relationships with adults.

Thank you for sharing with us, Donna Kitrick.  We are appreciative of how you are improving the lives of many children.   Written by Lynn Barnes and Leigh Zeitz


Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Focusing on the Future for the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.

Featured speakers Steve Carignan and Virginia Tunniclift from the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center showed us how to make a “Perfect Pitch”. We reviewed numerous audition videos of artists under consideration for next performance season and all the less desirable acts were tossed in a dumpster and they crashed into a bagpipe! 

We watched the videos less than a minute each; because you don’t have to eat the whole apple to know what's good and what's rotten.  We did give Steve and Virginia positive and productive feedback on the artists that we would pay to see perform at the Center.  They try to serve and please such a wide audience interest and tastes.  Steve and Virginia use the Kiwanis Club as a focus group because we offer segments of different preferences and viewpoints. Gallagher Bluedorn offers a large variety of genres to choose from and we look forward to their yearly visits.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your decision process for next year.

Written by Lynn Barnes

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Making Reading Come Alive for Kids

Karlene Izer, the Cedar Valley Readers Coalition Coordinator attached to Operation Threshold, held trial with the Cedar Falls Kiwanis Rough Risers and explained why all the words and punctuation in books are always in court; because they must be sentenced!  

The mission of the Readers Coalition is to make as many kids proficient in reading by the end of the third grade.  School attendance absenteeism reduction is paramount to fashion better students.  They also supply different manuscript types of print and non-print media to peak the children varied interests and ignite the spark that will create the thirst to enjoy reading all their life.  Not only do they have programs for reading, but free eye exams and glasses for kids that need them.  Such a great service they dispense to over 475 Cedar Valley families annually!

Thank you for sharing your great achievements in supporting the children of Cedar Valley.


Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Northeast Iowa Food Bank Makes a Difference!!

Jessica Herring, volunteer manager of Northeast Iowa Food Bank.
Vital food source services for those in need is found at our Northeast Iowa Food Bank.  Jessica Herring, the Volunteer Manager, did a great job representing the organization by explaining just a fraction of the myriad of the client services they provide to those in need.  

They provide nutritious food to 5,800 different people weekly through a far-reaching network of over 200 food pantries, soup kitchens, schools, churches and nonprofit groups.  They do this every day covering 16 counties and 200 member agency partners distribution system that all have to stay in sync with a common goal of providing food for 46,000 people including 14,000 kids in trouble! 

The Food Bank receives food from many entities including local farmers who donate a large surplus bounty of homegrown fruits and vegetables.  They supply vital food to Iowans in need of all age groups from the very young to the elderly.

Thank you for serving people in need. You are making a big difference in many peoples' lives.  

Written by Lynn Barnes and Leigh Zeitz

Monday, October 1, 2018

Yes, Kiwanis DOES have a Song - Hail Kiwanis

Click to enlarge

The Kiwanis Rough Risers are known for their melodic voices as we fill the air with our dulcet tones every
Wednesday morning singing "My Country Tis of Thee."

Believe it or not, Kiwanis has a club song as well.  It is called Hail Kiwanis!   It is sung to the tune of Hail California which is the University of California Alma Mater.

I couldn't find a video of a club singing this song, but below is a video of Elin Carlson singing it while accompanying herself on the piano.




You can't leave this posting until you listen to this theme song from Ferndale WA.  It is filled with fun, banjo, and hot dogs!!