Weekly News – Oct 15, 2025

Captain Kevin Burns with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Department is our speaker tomorrow. He will discuss Drivers of Adult and Juvenile Crime, Addiction, Opportunity and the Future of New Mexico.

Jareen White will provide information about the upcoming Presbyterian Festival of Trees. This annual fundraiser is a very popular event that everyone looks forward to each year. Kiwanis will once again sponsor the much loved Teddy Bear Story Time and Jareen will share information about volunteer opportunities for Story Time.

I personally want to thank Alyssa Begay for taking time to help with this newsletter. I accidently deleted about 3/4 of it and Alyssa very generously gave her time to help restore it plus check out our Corporate Members logos at the end of newsletter that Alyssa showed me how to do. Again, Thanks Alyssa! You’re a Jewel!

Partial shipment of coats we’ve received so far for Coats for Kids, expecting more soon!

We are pleased to recognize Kiwanian Brian Turner with Morgan Stanley for his volunteer efforts with Kiwanis Coats for Kids. Brian has been chair of this program for over 10 years and, because of his dedication, each year 400 to 500 area boys and girls receive warm winter coats for the cold winter months. The Morgan Stanley Foundation has awarded a contribution to the Rio del Sol Kiwanis Club in the amount of $2,000 for Kiwanis Coats for Kids. Thank you Brian for all your work to help hundreds of children stay warm this winter!

Coats for Kids is just around the corner! The dates are Nov 5 and 6 at Animas Valley Mall, immediately following Clothes for KIds. Brian is expecting over 400 students. Also, many thanks to Lori Monteverdi for being Brian’s right hand woman

Thank you to Sherrie Chenault for visiting Kiwanis last week. We hope to see you again soon.

Kiwanis Ruby Awards were presented to above Kiwanians in recognization for bringing new members into Kiwanis by President Kathy Hogan (far right) Recipients are: Jill McQueary-50 members, Paul McQueary-15, Bob Lehmer-10 and Bernadette Alarid-5

IMPORTANT: At Kiwanis recent Board meeting a discussion was held about the need of a fundraiser to provide money for Kiwanis Coats for Kids and Shoes for Kids. Another Kiwanis Club who does a Fun Bunco Party, raises over $12,000. If our club does this, it would be a huge bonus for our children’s programs. A meeting is planned for Friday, Oct 17 at 4pm at Presbytion Medical Services – 1001 W. Broadway. Please try to attend as we need members involved for the Bunco party to be a success. We need raffle items, silent auction items, sponsorship tables. A location and food are currently being checked out. Hopefully more info by Friday.

You can only participate if you like to have Fun!

Best of Luck to Kiwanis member, Alyssa Begay, on her campaign for School Board District 3! Don’t forget to Vote November 4, 2025.