Los Alamos High School Key Club members Shena Hand and Andrew Watson meet with Kiwanis Key Club Advisor, Morrie Pongratz, at the Southwest District Kiwanis convention in Chandler, Ariz. Courtesy photo
KIWANIS NEWS
This past weekend Los Alamos members of the Kiwanis family braved “Excessive Heat Warnings” to attend the Southwest District Kiwanis convention in Chandler, Ariz. Attendees included Kiwanis President-elect, Cheryl Pongratz, her husband and Key Club Advisor, Morrie Pongratz, and Builders Club Advisor, Don Casperson.
The Southwest District Key Club Board of Directors, including Los Alamos High School students Andrew Watson and Shena Han, joined them at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Chandler. Shena is the Lieutenant Governor for Key Club’s the Sangre de Christo division. Andrew is the K-Family Relations Chairperson on the Key Club board.
Kiwanis attendees were updated on Kiwanis projects, attended educational sessions, and elected their leaders for the upcoming year. During the Saturday sessions Kiwanis recognized their many “Unsung Heroes” working to achieve the Kiwanis mission of “Serving the Children of the World”. Lynnette Kennard from the Santa Fe Kiwanis Club updated the members on progress in combatting Neo-Natal Maternal Tetanus and Iodine Deficiency Disorder. Kiwanis International teams with UNICEF to address these challenges worldwide.
The keynote speaker, Raveen Arora, who has worked with Mother Teresa on several projects, told the Kiwanians, “We’re all pilgrims working to develop the citizens of tomorrow.” Telling them, “Its all about the kids.” The Kiwanis delegates elected Harry Shapiro from Glendale to be their next Governor. Don Townsend of Sierra Vista was elected Governor-elect and Alma Carson from Silver City was chosen to be Vice-Governor.
Los Alamos High School graduate, Karin Church, the district’s Key Club Administrator, helped the Key Club members with their summer board meeting. The Key Clubbers were planning their district convention scheduled for next April in Phoenix.
LAHS Key Club members Shena Hand and Andrew Watson meet with Kiwanis Key Club Advisor, Morrie Pongratz, at the Southwest District Kiwanis convention in Chandler, AZ.