HUDSON KIWANIS CLUB PRESENTS CHECK TO SALVATION ARMY

(Tuesday, January 13, 2009)At a recent meeting, the Hudson Kiwanis Club presented Salvation Army Captain Gordon Knight a check for $3249.20. This money represents the Red Kettle collection at the Market House for the 2008 holiday season. The club wishes to thank the all-volunteer group of Kiwanis members and friends for their bell-ringing efforts: Sherrie Byers, Ashley Cox, Mike and Joann Crater, Delight Creech, Jason Decker, Jeremy Eulberg, Marsha Evenson, Christine Fender, Jan Fisher, Beth Gibson, Sally Goodrich, Ron Haber, Pat Hackett, Marie Hartley, Christine Herman, Suzanne Hines, Rachel Jackson, Beth Johnston, Charlie Mansfield, Hilary Monahan, Ryan Reynolds, Judy Tanner, Mary Tanner, Alice Taylor, Beverly Weber, Charlie Weir, Janice Wilson, Dixie Wright, Colleen Zimmerman, the Hudson High School Key Club. Special recognition to super bell ringer John Gimenez. Thank you also to Tim Sallows, the Market House, and especially to members of the Hudson area community who gave so generously!

KIWANIS HEARS PRESENTATION ABOUT LOCAL JOB DEVELOPMENT

(Thursday, January 17, 2008) as seen in Hudson Post Gazette "You are sitting in one of the hottest areas in the country for workforce development, Jim Lautensleger of Michigan Works told the Hudson Kiwanis Club at its Tuesday noon meeting.

Lautenslager told the Kiwanians that the agency has been working hard the last four years to reshape itself from a social service agency to one that is demand driven, focusing on employer needs. The agency has been working hard in developing a way to deliver their services to business as a primary customer, rather than just responding to trying to put people to work. "When you focus on business, helping to make them succeed, you make your community stronger," he said.

"Michigan is in a huge transition as the auto industry evolves and reshapes itself into something smaller," Lautenslager told the group as he explained that when a community responds quickly to a need from business that things usually pay off for the business. "We're much more powerful working together than we are as a stand-alone agency."

The agency has about $13 million annually to use for workforce development in south central Michigan. These funds are used to develop job training programs that fill needs identified by employers in the area. Some people have used the programs for a period as long as two years to make major career shift, such as from manufacturing to health care services.

Lautenslager spent some time explaining their computerized "Job Fit" program, where people seeking work go through an extensive computerized process to define their interest, skills, and what they can offer a company. He says that the agency has about 13,000 such profiles currently in its files, and once they have worked with a company to define hiring needs, they can quickly identify employees that will be a good fit for the employer. The use of the program has changed one company from having a 30% non-retention rate over 30 days to a 1 to 2% rate.

He noted that the hiring planned at Hudson's Hi-Lex Controls will all be done through the program, in an effort to develop a work force for the company that is best suited for its needs.

KIWANIS COLLECTS $4100 FOR SALVATION ARMY

(Thursday, January 17, 2008) as seen in Hudson Post Gazette The 2007 Hudson Kiwanis Club's Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign recently concluded with a check presentation of $4100 to Captain Gordon Knight. Special thanks to Tim Sallows and the Market House and all the bell ringers who volunteered their time and energy. The Kiwanis Club would like to thank Lori Lancaster, Kathy Malnar, Kathy Hepker, Chris Decker, Ed Potter, Sukhi Singh, Charlie Mansfield, Judy Tanner, Frank Goodroe, Tony Lisznyai, Greg Choinski, Dixie Wright, Mary Tanner, Jan & Mert Wilson, JoAnn & Mike Crater, Christine Herman, Bruce VanWieren, Mike Shadbolt, Colleen Zimmerman, Payton Darr, Paige Darr, Sam Darr, Bob Darr, Alice Taylor, Jean Karr, Marie Hartley, Phil Eberhard, Marsha Evenson, Jason Decker, Tyler Haber, Taylor Haber, Ron Haber, Clarence Johnston and our Super bell ringers John Gimenez and Ron McCreary! Thank you Hudson Community for your generous giving!

KIWANIS CLUB INSTALLS NEW OFFICERS

(Tuesday October 2, 2007) Greg Choinski was installed as president of the Kiwanis Club of Hudson during the club's meeting on Tuesday, October 2, at Karen’s Uptown Kafé. Also installed were president-elect Jason Decker, treasurer Ron Haber, and secretary Charlie Mansfield.

The Immediate Past President is Tony Lisznyai. He will continue to serve on the club board of directors for the next year. Club members Marie Hartley and Charlie Weir will also serve on the board.

Recent club activities have included projects such as the Hudson High School Achievement Awards Banquet, Student of the Month scholarships, children’s carnival games for the Hudson city festival, support for Boys and Girls Club of Hudson, annual Christmas baskets, and weekly delivery for the Meals on Wheels program.

The Hudson Kiwanis club is part of the Michigan District of Kiwanis International, under the leadership of District Governor Clare Burns, of Traverse City, Michigan. Kiwanis International's major service focus, a program called "Young Children: Priority One," will continue during 2007-08.

Kiwanis International includes more than 8,000 clubs with over 260,000 members in 96 nations. Each year, Kiwanis clubs donate more than $100 million and 6.2 million volunteer hours for community-service projects.

ONE BIG THANK YOU!

(Tuesday April 24, 2007) The Hudson Kiwanis would like to thank the following people and organizations for helping make our First Money Auction a wonderful success! A big thank you to everyone who purchased tickets for and attended the event, the Hudson American Legion Post 180, the Bi-County Herald, Chuck and Linda Pelham, Kurt and Susan Culbert, and Deb Bloomer.

We are blessed to live and work in such a giving community!

Thanks Again, The Hudson Kiwanis Club