July is always a busy time for Kiwanis members, and this year was no different. Pat-Bennett Forman, president-elect, was named Kiwanian of the Year and got to ride in Kingston’s 4th of July Parade. Unfortunately, Pat was out of town, so Boys and Girls Club members and Judy Osborn and her daughter-in-law Karen rode in her stead, and drove the car (good thing). I will let you know a little bit more about Pat later.
You will see the Mustang all over town. Don’t forget to visit our website, www.kingstonkiwanis.org, and guess where it is around the world and win a prize. We select entries at each meeting to see who wins the exceptional prize that Wendy Armstrong-Jewett puts together.
Our first berries were delivered on July 1. Raspberries were delivered July 15, and blueberries July 22, (yum yum). The berries and the Mustang support our scholarships, Boys and Girls Club and other worthwhile projects around Kingston.
We had a number of new members join over the last few months and they are all ready to help with Kiwanis projects throughout our town. I will introduce these members in future articles, and maybe you can be in the articles too.
We are working with the Rotary Club to make sure our school children have food to eat after summer school is out. Contributions can be sent to:
Food for Kids
Kingston Rotary Foundation
P.O. Box 832
Kingston, WA 98346
I highlighted our outgoing president, Dick Osborn in my last article, and now our incoming president, Pat-Bennett Forman will be introduced. I first met Pat when AmeriCorps supported the reading program at David Wolfle Elementary School in Kingston. She administered the program. There was a short test to determine if the kids had any learning disabilities. They convinced me to take it too and I found out that I was dyslectic. I was 52 years old! I guess the Sisters of Mercy never got that message.
Her position at Wolfle is learning specialist (Pat is a special person, that’s for sure) and is responsible for the administration of Title I/LAP and ELL programs, along with the Washington Reading Corps, at Wolfle. Pat received credentials certifying her as a program manager and school principal, but we know her as the person that makes sure we are on time when we volunteer at Wolfle in the reading and math programs.
Pat has lots of outdoor hobbies, and now that David, the youngest of her two children, graduated college, Pat has finally found the time to pay back the community. She’s a grandmother of a 16-month-old named Miles, by her daughter Stephanie and husband Ryan, so Pat is still busy with family. She has been very active in Kiwanis since becoming a member and has always appreciated Kiwanis support of children and volunteer work at Wolfle in addition to other school districts projects.
There are other community groups Pat could have joined, but she was impressed with the many things we do to support the Greater Kingston community, and also because we are just a bunch of all-around good people. Pat will take office in October and will do a great job as president.
Pat is an example of some of the folks that we have as members. That also goes for Ross McCurdy, not a member, but the owner of the Oak Table Café where we meet on Thursday’s at 7 a.m. He and his staff are very generous with their time and service and professional attitude.
You may have read about two Guinness world records Ross recently accomplished. One was for breaking eggs with one hand, and the other was for tossing a grape in the air and catching it. These are fundraisers for research and treatment of uveitis, an eye condieye condition that Mira — Ross and Nicole McCurdy’s little girl — has.
The McCurdys are great folks and their restaurant serves great food. Read the story on page 26 of this edition of the Kingston Community News for more information.
Come see us at the Oak Table at our meetings on Thursdays at 7 a.m. Our club does a lot of good and fun things and is always looking for new members who want to get involved. We need retired folks and young people to sustain our commitment to support our unique communities of Greater Kingston.
Contact Dick Osborn, president, at 297-4693; or Bob Lee at 297-4462.
