Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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10 UCW FEBRUARY 3-9, 2021 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Kiwanian Worth Smith reads to a class of pre-schoolers as part of the Kiwanis Reading is Fun program. People in my generation — the Boom- ers — love to join groups. In our youth, we joined scouts, churches, school clubs, dance and sports groups, fraternities and sororities, and all sorts of gatherings with other people. So, it's natural that as adults we continue to find ways to meet other people, socialize and do good works. is has been a custom in America for a long time. Over 100 years ago, in 1915, the Kiwanis organization was founded. e Fayetteville Kiwanis Club was founded in 1920, only 5 years later. Kiwanis International recognizes that it can do the most good by "Serving the Children of the World." What better way to ensure our future than by helping the children in our communities and others to grow in ways they might not be able to otherwise. e Fayetteville Kiwanis Club says it all with our mission statement, "Kiwanis is a global orga- nization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time." I joined our club in 2010 and have become more engaged with the group over the years. We are a group of men and women (yes, women were finally brought into Kiwanis at the end of the 20th century) of all ages and backgrounds. It is a place where we can meet people we might not encounter otherwise, as well as be with friends we have known for years. But we meet together for the greater purpose of serving the children of our com- munity, promoting their personal growth and well-being. We do this through our many committees and community projects. I started out as a member of Reading Is Fun where I go into classrooms with 4 and 5 year-old pre-school- ers and read to them! What could be more fun for a retired pediatric nurse and grandmother? I love that age group, I love reading to them and seeing the delight in their faces when they get a book of their own to take home. And as a bookstore owner, I know that reading is one of the most important skills we can give to our children. Not computers, not TV, but a love for reading and an opportunity to have their very own books! e Terrific Kids Program in the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club is the largest of its kind in the world. "Terrific" is an acronym for oughtful Enthusiastic Respectful Re- sponsible Inclusive Friendly Inquisitive Capable. is pro- gram promotes self-esteem by encouraging and then reward- ing children in kindergarten through 5th grade to identify goals that they can work on to build character and suc- ceed. ey are recognized at intervals throughout the year with items such as bookmarks, pencils, bumper stickers, and certificates identifying them as a Terrific Kid. At the end of the year, a bicycle is presented to the one child in each school who best exemplifies all of the characteristics of a Terrific Kid. ere is something for everyone in our club and we seek members from all walks of life, ages and genders. I have heard some people say that the X'generation and the Mil- lenials are just not interested in joining groups. is may be true to some extent and there are many valid reasons for that, but I remain optimistic. Human beings are social ani- mals and it is only natural that as we grow into adulthood, we look for ways to meet other people and socialize and do good works at the same time. We encourage millennials and boomers and all other generations to join us. As we move through 2021, we want to see the mission of our club continue to grow with the help and support of all generations. Our children are our future and we need to do what we can to guarantee their success. Fayetteville Kiwanis Club has something for all generations by DIANE PARFITT At the end of the school year, a child at each participating school is awarded a bicycle (and safety helmet) as part of the Terrific Kids Program. KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL DIANE PARFITT, Contributing Writer. Comments? Editor@upand- comingweekly.com. 910- 484-6200. Congratulates The Fayetteville Kiwanis Club on their 100 th Anniversary Congratulations on 100 years! Jack A. Watson MEMBER FOR 49 YEARS