Conejo Kiwanis

GAMECHANGED! The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given to frontline staff at CHLA. It’s truly a moment worth celebrating in our efforts to defe...at the virus! TAKE THAT COVID-19! Throughout the years, Kiwanis International has made children happier and healthier by helping millions of kids be able to enjoy better lives. One of the ways Kiwanis helps is through contributions to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Since Children's Miracle Network Hospitals first broadcast in 1983, Kiwanis has donated more than US$36 million to help make miracles happen for local sick and injured kids. Kiwanis leaders encourage clubs to continue supporting communities and children by contributing to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Kiwanis - Serving the Children of the World. ************************** LIKE our Facebook page Kiwanis Club of Entertainment Industry Group - Los Angeles ************************** #children

Roger Klausler - our secretary and SLP chair has received the Lt Governor’s Award of Excellence. Roger is always organized and comes to all our meetings. He is thoughtful and always thinking of the kids we help. Recently, Our club ( Conejo Kiwanis) supported the Safe Passage Kids Xmas toy drive. Roger is the chair of this project and has made it a point to always ask what else we can do to helpout. Roger received a call from the organizer Sommer on the afternoon the toys wer...e to be delivered to the kids. The toys were unwrapped and could he possibly help wrap toys. Roger and his wife Linda went and wrapped toys for 4.5 hours. He did this without bothering anyone else in the club, during the holidays. And then he showed up for the delivery. We thank Roger for his dedication, caring attitude and always going the extra mile for both our club and the kids we serve! Thank you! See more

2020 has been a year none of us will easily forget. Covid 19 changed lives, the world over, forever. May we never forget the ones who lost their lives this year and may we help when and where we can. Many thanks to all that support Conejo Kiwanis and the work we try to do. May we remember the effort of all that make a difference in this world and the ones we help. Looking forward to positive change in 2021 for all of us. Wishing you all health, wealth, laughter and love for the new decade. Sheromie Vittachi, Conejo Kiwanis President 2020-2021

Our Kiwanis sent notecards to the troops this year. You can send a note via internet if you like to say Thanks or Happy Holidays https://www.uso.org/message/thank-you

As Americans, we always owe a big debt of gratitude to our members of the military services here at home and across the world. We are writing thank you’s to the troops to show our appreciation for their commitment to serve and sending those little things that can make a brighter day.

Great place for a beach cleanup!

Our Signature Project is the Safe Passage Program which provides recreational activities, academic support, field trips and summer programs to kids in Latino micro-communities. On December 17, staff of the Conejo Recreation and Parks District, officers of the Thousand Oaks Police Department--and Santa Claus--came to the homes of the kids participating in the program and distributed bags of individually selected gifts from the kids' wish lists that we and other civic organizations and corporation had provided.

We started doing at-home blanket-making for Children’s Services. Not as much fun as a real down-home quilting bee, but just as rewarding.

This is a very stressful time for everyone. There is a lot going on in the world, at school, on the news and at home. This video has a calming effect and some good suggestions to help kids (and adults) get thru the rough patches. https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=qfs0OTzGFFw

Another program that we support is the BumbleBee Foundation. We "adopt" every Christmas a family who has a child battling pediatric cancer that is receiving aid from Foundation. Matthew will get everything on his wish list and his parents will receive $100 gift cards for gasoline and for general expenses.

One of the non-profits that our club supports is the BumbleBee Foundation that aids pediatric cancer families. Please read about the work that they do in "About us" and consider registering for their 10-day online fundraiser that beings on November 2. Thank you! https://www.bumblebeefoundation.org/upcoming-events/

As part of our Signature Project, we bought Christmas gifts for five of the kids who are served by the Safe Passage Program and took them to the Conejo Community Center for the staff to distribute.

On October 9, Past President Tom Stapleford, Vice President Sue Bartley and Secretary Roger Klausler awarded $250 scholarships to three freshmen enrolled at Moorpark College and Oxnard College. They are from micro-communities that are the focus of the Safe Passage program. In their application essays, they wrote of their intimate knowledge of the academic, financial and personal challenges that they and their families have faced. They also wrote about a person who had had an impact on their livesa teacher who took the place of a parent when he needed one, an administrator who helped her enter a volunteer program at the hospital, a godfather who mentored him to academic success. They will apply the awards to the cost of buying books and renting online texts. Shown, left to right, are Lizbeth Alvarez, Sebastian Pacheco and Wilbert Ac.

We held our annual installation dinner at the home of Betty Stapleford and 2019-20 President Tom Stapleford. Secretary Roger Klausler and Tom presented Kiwanian of the Year awards to Sonia Agresti and Betty and 2020-21 President Sheromie Vittachi spoke about her vision for the future.

My kids got me this mug I am proud to be this years’ Conejo Kiwanis President. It has been a strange year but we have persevered. So far this year we are making blankets for foster kids, sending THANKYOU notes to the troops, sponsoring meals for the homeless, buying Holiday gifts for kids from Safe Passage (keep kids out of gangs) and for kids from Bumble Bee (kids with cancer), giving coats and blankets to the homeless and donating food to local food banks. Sadly, we can’t do our wine event this year but will have an online auction in the New Year. Thank you to all our members, friends and family that support our Kiwanis club, kids and community. Have a Happy Holiday with your loved ones either in person or by Zoom

The Holidays are coming... and our Kiwanis is busy getting gifts for local kids. If you want to help pls leave a message and we can point you in the right direction

At the Governor's Visit to Division 42 on August 22, Gov. Tim Cunning and our club presented this Community Service Award to Safe Passage, the Thousand Oaks Police Department, and the Conejo Valley Recreation and Parks District in recognition of the critical aid that they provide to families in the Latino community. Accepting is Rochelle Callis from the Admin Group at Rec and Parks.

Our thanks to CNH for a matching grant that enabled us to support the Safe Passage summer activities program for about 40 kids. (Photos re-touched for confidentiality.) The Safe Passage gang diversion program, our Signature Project, divided the kids into six groups and rotated them through recreational activities that taught 6-foot distancing and the importance of hand-washing in protecting themselves and their families from COVID-19. Just for fun, they had archery, pool noodles and a giant sling shot; everything was constantly sanitized. The kids made and signed a thank-you banner for us!

The kids will love all the lights! Happy Happy Holidays

Huge Thanks to current President Tom Stapleford for his Birthday fundraiser to benefit Conejo Kiwanis. Tom and his friends donated $265 which Tom is matching. This $530 will help kids and community in the Conejo Valley. Thanks for your commitment to our club, kids and community

This holiday season my Kiwanis group is saying THANKS to those who serve and protect. If you would like to do the same pls check out this site or something similar. https://supportourtroops.org/cards-letters

This app helps students find scholarship money. Developed by Christopher Gray and 2 others when he was at Drexel University. It has helped 3.0M students get $110M in scholarships. Pls share

I am sad to say our signature Kiwanis fundraiser is Cancelled this year due to CoVID 19. We will be having an online auction fundraiser later in the year. Thank you all for your support - Pls stay tuned.

One of the programs our Kiwanis club supports is The Bumblebee Foundation. They help kids that have cancer. This is their wish list on Amazon. It is so easy to make a kids wish come true. Just a few clicks . (If you have a few addresses on your acct make sure it’s going to BumbleBee Foundation’s address). They really like the Amazon, Target and Starbucks gift cards. Pls consider giving if you can. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2RMN7LCLP6UA6

Members of Conejo Kiwanis (all masked because of CoVID ) are here with one of the winners of our Essay competition from Safe Passage. There were 15 possible winners from grades 1 to 5. We congratulate all the kids that participated and won. Safe Passage’s mission is to keep kids out of gangs by supporting them with homework help, extra curricular activities and support in any way they can. This is Conejo Kiwanis’ signature project and we just got a grant approved to double our support for a summer program. Thanks Somer and the crew at CRPD for your leadership and inspiration.

We are pleased to announce that our signature project, Safe Passage, has received a $600 grant from the California-Nevada-Hawai'i District of Kiwanis International to match a $600 grant from our club's foundation. Safe Passage will use the $1200 to purchase materials for 25 children that will create educational games to alert kids to the importance of safe distancing, wearing face masks and hand washing. www.toaks.org/departments/police/programs/safe-passage

For 2019-20, we presented a Distinguised Service Award to Randy Gould for his 6 years of service on the Board and Kiwanians of the Year Awards to Sonia Agresti and Betty Stapleford, advisors to our Agoura Hills and Newbury Park Key Clubs.