by Bea Peterson
The Hoosick Falls Kiwanis Club celebrated its 83rd birthday Tuesday evening, May 17, by hosting the Van Rensselaer Division Council dinner meeting at the Hoosick Falls Country Club.
Kiwanis members from Castleton, East Greenbush, North Greenbush, Rensselaer, Sand Lake and Troy joined Hoosick Falls for the event. NY Kiwanis Lt. Governor Wendy Prout conducted the business portion of the meeting. Hoosick Falls President Ruth Ormsbee welcomed everyone to the meeting. She told the Council that the Hoosick Falls Club has 35 members and 53 teen Key Club members. She said the Club’s recent Prayer Breakfast was extremely successful and their next event is the chicken barbecue to be held on June 14. Wendy Larson was installed as a Hoosick Falls Kiwanis member during the meeting.
A member of each Club in the Van Rensselaer Division gave a report on their various activities. The NY Kiwanis is currently raising money to send military children to Kamp Kiwanis for a week. The Governor’s Project for this year has increased membership.
The Eliminate Project
The Eliminate Project was mentioned enthusiastically at the meeting. The Kiwanis website states that Kiwanis International and UNICEF have joined forces to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT). This deadly disease steals the lives of nearly 60,000 innocent babies and a significant number of women each year. The effects of the disease are excruciating – tiny newborns suffer repeated, painful convulsions and extreme sensitivity to light and touch.
To eliminate MNT from the earth by 2015, 129 million mothers and their future babies must be immunized. This requires vaccines, syringes, safe storage, transportation, thousands of skilled staff and more. It will take $110 million and the dedicated work of UNICEF and every member of the Kiwanis family.
Kiwanis and UNICEF joined forces to tackle iodine deficiency disorders, achieving one of the most significant public health successes of the 20th century. Now, they are eliminating MNT from the face of the earth. And in doing so, the project will reach the poorest, most neglected mothers and babies with additional lifesaving health care. The end of this one disease means the beginning of better health for countless families.
