PROVIDED

The theme for the evening was Back to the Future as the Kiwanis Club of Lehigh Acres held its installation banquet. Time to review what happened during the past year and look to the future of what the club will accomplish the next year, especially with the Service Leadership Programs in many of the Lehigh Acres schools.

Over 40 people got together at Westminster Golf Club on Saturday, Sept. 23 to celebrate the 2022-2023 Kiwanis year. Former Lieutenant Governor Sandy Lepley retired the outgoing officers and board members. Outgoing club president, Jerry Liddle presented an honorary membership to Sharlene Bryce as she has helped on the Beth Stacey Boulevard road clean-ups which are every other month. Jerry also gave Certificates of Appreciation to the members of the Special Events Committee.

Sandy then installed the new board and officers. Damon Shelor is the club president for the 2023-2024 club year. The other officers are President Elect Dustin Gollopp, Vice President Dave Butler, Secretary Charlene Golden, Treasurer Tom Vonderhaar and Past President Jerry Liddle.

The Board of Directors are elected for three years. The 2021-2024 directors are John Boardman, Joanne Miner and Phyllis Vonderhaar. The 2022-2025 directors are Paula Bobb-Semple, Phil Koenig, Jean Leopold, and John Miner. The 2023-2026 directors are Rick Anglickis, Michael Slenzka,and Greg Stancel.

Damon gave outgoing President Jerry Liddle a Walter Zeller medallion and pin. The Walter Zeller Award is in recognition of the club’s participation in the Kiwanis and UNICEF Eliminate Project to eliminate neonatal tetanus in countries where infants contract the disease due to the living conditions. The club pledged $45,000 towards the project and met that goal.

PROVIDED

Two club members were honored at the banquet. Larry Gutridge and Doug Patterson passed this year. Larry was active on the Scholarship Committee. He was active in the community especially for the Sheriff’s Department. Doug Patterson filled the duties of sheriff at meetings and always had a joke ready. He was active with the LaBelle Firehouse Theater.

Special guests were members of the Gutridge family, the Shelor family and members of the East Lee County Chamber of Commerce.

Those present enjoyed a buffet of salad, meatloaf, broiled cod, green beans and mashed potatoes. There was a variety of desserts as well as a cake to celebrate the club’s 55th anniversary.

Information about the club’s meeting dates and location as well as special events are available at LehighKiwanis.com or facebook.com/LehighAcresFLKiwanis. The club is open to anyone interested in helping the children of Lehigh Acres.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.

PROVIDED

Source: Kiwanis Club of Lehigh Acres