Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide

Kiwanis installs Willer; fabrics save lives

The Forde Files No 83

Kiwanis Division 33 Lt. Governor Greg Mudge installed President Marget Willer and officers of the Kiwanis Club of Tehachapi at a dinner Oct. 29 at the Original Apple Shed Restaurant.

Willer, director of the Salvation Army Center in Tehachapi, and her officers have planned a busy year for the club, whose signature service projects include Coats for Kids, the Flag Project, a golf tournament, fundraising to provide scholarships for graduating high school seniors, service at civic events, bell-ringing for the Salvation Army, support of Kiwanis International campaigns to help children around the world and sponsorship of the Tehachapi High School Key Club.

The other 2015 Kiwanis officers are president-elect Jonathan Hall, secretary Tina Cunningham, treasurer Eve Geisler and directors past president Donna Fischman, Alysia Bailey, Dr. Richard Swanson, Marian Stephens and Dick Cavanaugh.

Kiwanis welcomes visitors to the Wednesday noon meetings at Pacino's.

Enthusiastic, cheerful and unrelenting fund-raising efforts on the part of Kiwanis honorary member Anne Marie Novinger has collected almost $6,000 for the Kiwanis International campaign to eliminate maternal neo-natal tetanus (the ELIMINATE Project)everywhere on earth. Other members and Key Club members add to the fundraising, which includes intimate dinners ar members' homes.

In her most innovative and charming fundraising effort, Anne Marie has solicited pieces of fabrics that she in turn sells for a tax-deductible donation. Many households have random pieces stuck in the back of a closet; now Anne Marie has them displayed on her two guest beds, where visitors and friends browse and select fabrics for quilting, pillows, shower curtains, table cloths, runners, shawls, seasonal decorations and other projects. The rooms are arranged by fabric type. The project is named the Paul Combs ELIMINATE Project in honor of the late member who served as the club secretary for 14 years.

Maternal Neo-Natal Tetanus is a fatal disease that strikes babies at birth in countries where health care is substandard. A woman can be immunized once for $1.80, and she and all her children will be protected for 10 years.