The Russell Sunrise Kiwanis would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our corporate member, Alpha 7 Outdoors, for hosting the Kiwanis Officer Installation event on the evening of October 3. It was a wonderful occasion where we welcomed new members and installed the 2024-2025 Board of Directors and Officers.

We also took the opportunity to honor Albert Lin of the Russell County News for his 30 years of dedicated service to the Russell County community, reporting on local events and keeping our community connected. Additionally, we recognized Tammy Mitchell for her Distinguished Service to Kiwanis, acknowledging her exceptional contributions to the club and the community.

Special thanks to Dawn Gabel, Past Governor for the Kansas district of Kiwanis, who graciously performed the installation of new members and officers.

2024-2025 Board of Directors and Officers:

• Board of Directors: Pam Nowak, Judy Corley, Ward Craig, Kai Muller
• Officers:
  • Joyce Ellis – Secretary
  • Tammy Mitchell – Treasurer
  • Duane Adams – Vice President
  • Dee Ann Matheson – President

We are also thrilled to welcome our newest member, Margie Ryan-Cheney, who was sponsored by Joyce Ellis.

The Kiwanis motto, “Serving the Children of the World,” continues to inspire all our efforts as we fundraise and organize community events focused on helping local children.

Upcoming Events:

2024 Jim Thoman Halloween Parade

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 26! The annual Jim Thoman Halloween Parade will kick off with line-up beginning at 9:45 a.m. at 9th and Main Street, and the parade starting at 10 a.m..

After the parade, children are invited to gather at the courthouse for goodies provided by Russell Sunrise Kiwanis and Post Rock Family Services. Local businesses along Main Street will also be handing out treats, so be sure to stop by and join in the fun!

Aktion Club Activities

Russell Sunrise Kiwanis is proud to sponsor an active Aktion Club, which recently began their new year of activities. This October, they’ll be painting pumpkins to celebrate Fall and Halloween. It’s a fun and festive way for our Aktion Club members to get into the spirit of the season!

Russell Easter Egg Hunt

Looking ahead, our annual Russell Easter Egg Hunt at Bickerdyke Park will return in 2025. With the help of the Sunflower 4-H Club, who assist with stuffing and hiding the eggs, we aim to make next year’s event even more special.

The Easter Egg Hunt Committee, comprised of both groups and additional community members, worked together to gather donations, allowing us to provide a great event in 2024, where 18 bicycles and various prize baskets were given away to lucky participants.

For the upcoming 2025 hunt, we are excited to announce that we will be adding gift cards to local businesses as part of the prize offerings! Stay tuned for more details as the event approaches.

To help fund the 2025 hunt, we just completed a bake sale on October 5 at the Bricks, Broncs, and BBQ event in downtown Russell. We appreciate the community’s support and look forward to bringing even more fun to next year’s hunt!

We are thrilled to welcome John Dumler to Sunrise Kiwanis! John was officially installed on July 18th at Meridy’s Restaurant during our regular meeting. As an active member of the community, John brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm. We look forward to working with him to make a positive impact in our community. Welcome, John!

Date: June 20, 2024
Location: Alpha 7 Outdoors

On June 20th, the Russell Sunrise Kiwanis gathered at the Alpha 7 Outdoors for a special evening of celebration and recognition. This memorable event marked our inaugural presentation of the Legion of Honor Awards, alongside our local recipients of Kansas Kiwanis Foundation Scholarship Award winners.

Legion of Honor Awards

The Legion of Honor Award is a prestigious accolade given to Kiwanians who have demonstrated remarkable dedication through 25 or more years of continuous membership in Kiwanis. This award is presented in five-year increments, acknowledging the steadfast commitment and service of our members.

This year, we proudly celebrated our very first class of honorees, recognizing their total years of service in Kiwanis. Moving forward, the Legion of Honor Award will be bestowed upon Kiwanians who have reached 25 years of membership, and every five years thereafter, in addition to those with 25 or more years of service.

Our heartfelt congratulations and deepest appreciation go to the following Kiwanians for their incredible dedication and service:

• Nancy Aspegren joined 1/12/1995               29 years
• Ward Craig joined 2/26/1994                      30 years
• Judy Corley joined 9/6/1990                        34 years
• DeeAnn Matheson joined 7/27/1989            35 years
• Duane Adams joined 02/08/1978                 46 years

Scholarship Awards

In addition to the Legion of Honor Awards, we were thrilled to recognize our local recipients of Kansas Kiwanis Foundation scholarships. This year’s scholarship recipients have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and community service.

We extend our warmest congratulations to all the scholarship winners and wish them continued success in their future endeavors:

• Diego Muller, 2023 graduate, received $1,000
• Edwin Muller, 2024 graduate, received $1,000

Evening Highlights

The evening was filled with inspiring heartfelt stories, and moments of reflection. Attendees enjoyed a delightful dinner and the opportunity to connect with fellow Kiwanians and guests. It was a night to remember, celebrating the spirit of service and the profound impact that Kiwanis has on our community.

Thank You

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to making this event a success, especially our event organizers and volunteers. Your support and dedication are what make the Russell Sunrise Kiwanis a vibrant and impactful organization.

As we look ahead, we remain committed to our mission of serving the children and making a positive difference in our community. We look forward to many more years of service, fellowship, and celebration.