Welcome to the Last Newsletter of this Kiwanis Year (it is particularly long because a lot happened and, well, it is the end of the year for Kiwanis).

 

President No Tie (who wore a tie today for the first time this year???) rang us for the final time. Congrats Jim Schaffer on a great year as President (more about that below). Kirby “Sing It To Me One More Time, Baby!” White led us in song and pledge. Cheryl Gleeson gave the invocation. Please remember in your prayers, Robbie Talton’s wife, Deanna, Kalli Zieglar’s brother, Paul, Debbie Best’s sister, Kara Brittain, Barbara Porters daughter-in-law, Nichole, Tom Keith, Lee Warren’s daughter Tammy, Bobby Bleeker, Phil Harris, Sr. and Fred Cutter’s Father-in-law and Don Price’s family.

 

Our guests were newly-outgoing Division Governor (and Secretary), Lynn Grates, Jessica Dittmer (Fayetteville Symphony Director and soon-to-be Kiwanis membership applicant), Bert Exum, son of Bob, Deanna Wheeler (Stephen’s better half).

 

There were some members who were not “guests,” but whom we will report were sighted today for the first time in a long while: Brad Hurley, Jason Poole and Felicia Smith. Good to see guests, rare attendees, and the usuals! It was a full house, maybe to make sure that the leadership transition happened??

 

Committee Announcements- Membership- next social is October 30, 530PM at the newly- constructed Mi Casitas on Raeford Road. Costumes are strongly encouraged! If you want a cool Kiwanis shirt, or the new Kiwanis “invite cards” for prospective members., see Cheryl Gleeson. Cheryl also announced the Board gave President No Tie a brand-new Kiwanis tie (and apparently threated him to get him to wear it today, MYSTERY SOLVED!).

 

Golf Tournament is next Friday. Come out at 8 am Friday, October 3, 2025, to Cypress Lakes to help with the tourney. Next Friday’s Kiwanis meeting will also be held at Cypress Lakes at 1 PM.

 

Terrific Kids- for those who still have not picked up materials/supplies for your school, they are at George Turner’s business on Pamalee Drive.

 

The Fayetteville New Car Dealers Association made a $5000 donation to Kiwanis Endowment in honor of our recently deceased Kiwanian Don Price.

 

Also, on the last 3 Fridays of October, the 17^th, 24^th, and 31^st , our meeting will be held at Hay Street United Methodist Church because of early voting in the Kiwanis Rec Center. Details to follow as we get closer to that time.

 

Kiwanis birthdays-September 27,  No Tie jumped the gun and announced three birthdays which by all accounts should have been announced NEXT Friday. In any event, Happy Birthday to Bruce “Back the Pack” Brown, Melanie Garner and Ryan Aul!

 

Did You Know: Past Past President Al Aycock gave our Did You Know segment today. It was about allegedly giving advice to our incoming President Holmes Electric (“Dollar!”) about what not to do. But it was in fact a thumbnail about what mistakes the last few Presidents made. Starting with No Tie, Al claimed he liked Did You Know, but then he (accurately) trashed it for the next few minutes. Al also gigged yours truly about the Obscure Trivia weekly questions that I posed as President which had to be answered standing up (What was your point, there, Al? LOL!).  He got on Worth Smith for his dad-jokes, but when Al told a few of them, there were more laughs than groans.  Thanks for a great DYK, Al. You will now always be known as the guy that buried DID YOU KNOW!!

 

Kiwanis fiscal year starts on October 1 each year and the installation of officers and directors occurs the first Friday after Oct. 1. But since we will all be at Cypress Lakes next Friday (If you think I have mentioned this too many times, I guarantee you several people will go by the rec center next Friday!), the installation of Officers and Directors occurred today instead. The incoming Board of Directors, including Debbie Best, Alan Buffaloe, Fred Cutter, Cheryl Gleeson, and George Hendricks, were given their charge by Carmine J. Malzone. In a heart-warming bit of dialogue, John advised the incoming Board members that Bored Meetings are fun “because, alcohol” What a great spokesman for our mission!

 

Thanks to the outgoing members George Turner, Hal Broadfoot, Jim Ammons, Russ Jones, Will Gillis and Jay Gothard (see below). Also, thanks to the current Board members who are staying on for another year, Bob McAmis, Roger Blackwood, Shirish Devastahli, John Holmes, Felicia Smith and Kim Thomas, Best of luck to the 2025-2026 Kiwanis Board.

 

Bob Ervin was sworn in as Secretary and Richard Everett was sworn in as Treasurer. These two gentlemen do so much for Kiwanis behind the scenes. Thank you both for all your hard work keeping the club up and running!

 

Jay Gothard was installed as President Elect in absentia; for you State grads, that means, Jay was not there but he was installed anyway!

 

Past President No Tie, as his last official act, gave incoming President Stephen Wheeler the Kiwanis charge installing SW as President. Then Jim gave a brief recount of his Presidential year which started with Hurricane Helene. He thanked Stephen, Al and Mike Pleasant for helping Kiwanis plan and execute getting a trailer full of supplies to Western NC last year and all the members that participated in filling the truck in less than 24 hours! President Jim thanked the members for the work this past year, and received a rousing and well-deserved standing ovation.

 

Newly installed President Stephen Wheeler came to the podium for his highly anticipated remarks, got one sentence into his first remarks to the club … and lost his place! Then he noted PP Jim’s excellent attendance as President and said that he cannot do that because he has three golf trips planned and PE Jay Gothard better get ready to step in!  Uh oh, it’s gonna be a loooong year, y’all. Then he got around to what we had all been waiting for: his goals and promises. He promised to (checks notes) raise dues… he promised double gravy on the mac and cheese, double desserts (if they are available) and that he would cut meetings short! He said he would be a “No Tie, but Jacket and Boots President.” Does that mean he will be a Jack(et)-Booted Prez??

 

He did manage to right the train by encouraging everyone to be a recruiter of new members, and to practice Servant Leadership. He told us to “Dream Big, Serve Boldly and Lead with Compassion.” Thanks, Stephen and, all kidding aside, we very much look forward to your and the Board’s leadership this year!

 

Cheryl Gleeson ‘fessed up to a Cell Phone Violation and paid her dollar.

 

Deanna Wheeler took home $50.00 from the raffle. Clearly the new administration wasted no time in implementing the Corruption portion of its agenda. Let’s make sure that Fayetteville Kiwanis does not become "Chicago South" Kiwanis!

 

Our next meeting, again, is at Cypress Lakes Golf club, on Friday October 3, 2025 at 1PM, but come early for lunch.

 

A couple of parting thoughts as President No Tie now has the greatest job in Kiwanis …Immediate Past President:

 

Will Jim now wear a suit while he is sitting with us plebes in the crowd?

 

Will incoming President Holmes Electric (“DOLLAR!”) give Kirby White new nicknames every week?

 

Will meetings now start on time?

 

Will we call the Mission Statement on the wall behind the podium “the Mission Statement” again, as we did for over 100 years, until Al started calling it the “defining” statement, whatever the heck THAT is! (Think about it: isn’t it Our Mission? It is not Our Defining!).  

 

Will President Sherlock Holmes Electric) start every raffle drawing with: “It’s not the million-dollar lottery, but …”

 

No one knows! Like they used to say on the weekly TV dramas, when they get to the cliffhanger the announcer always said, “you’ll have to tune in next week to find out what happens!”

 

Thank you, Past President Jim, and best of luck President Stephen! And please come next week “to see what happens!”