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Community: Kiwanis’ new leader has building goals in mind

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It’s been a swift climb up the leadership ladder for Diane Cripe, who was recently installed as president of the Burbank Noon Kiwanis Club.

She’s only been a member since 2010, having come to a meeting seeking a donation for Family Promise. She saw a list of the Kiwanis’ projects and was so impressed, she joined right away and soon became co-secretary.

“I thought ‘Wow! This is a club that really makes a difference,’” she said.

Her theme — “Celebrate 100 Years of Service” — is tied in with Kiwanis International’s 100th anniversary this year, she said, and she has made the goal to recruit 100 new members. She wants to support a district literacy project to get books into the hands of students in first through fourth grades. She would also like to adopt an elementary school to provide things they need.

Cripe hopes to replace advisers who have left the two Kiwanis’ Builders clubs that provide community service opportunities for middle school students at Jordan and Muir. She plans to start a Builders Club at Luther. The club also sponsors Key Clubs at Monterey, Burbank, Bellarmine-Jefferson and Providence high schools.

During Cripe’s installation, new member Luis Centeno received the Rookie of the Year Award for revamping the Kiwanis website. He will be coordinating a calendar of events that the public can use to keep up with local events. Also receiving special recognition was Charles Chavoor, who received the Kiwanian of the Year Award. He was instrumental in working with Monterey (Continuation) High School to start its Key Club.

“A lot of the students march to a different drummer than regular high school kids and they take pride in that they have a Key Club,” Cripe said. “They just had their charter party. We are excited to see where that’s going to go. It’s a lot different when Burbank High School has more than 300 Key Club members. They are the largest Key Club I think west of the Mississippi. And when you have Monterey — a much smaller school — and they can have a Key Club and do service also and learn all about leadership, it’s really exciting!”

The Noon Kiwanis Club raises funds through its annual gala. Money raised goes to the foundation and a percentage is distributed to the Boy Scouts, Key Clubs and the Burbank High School Vocal Music Assn.

Check out a meeting at noon every Wednesday at the Burbank Community YMCA.
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JOYCE RUDOLPH can be contacted at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.

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