By Alan Wilgus
As a young man I was energized by John F. Kennedy’s challenge to “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”, to give ones time and effort in improving our communities, our nation, and our world. Today forty-eight years later a new generation of Americans hear this same call to service.
Much has been written recently about giving ones time in service. It was a theme we heard from both presidential candidates during the general election and continues with our new President. January is National Mentoring Month and January 19 is a day of national service. The challenges today are the same; poverty, ignorance, disease, hunger, and war. As overwhelming as these enemies of mankind may be and as persistent as they have been throughout history, you may ask, “what can one person do?” I would answer “A lot!”
There are many ways to offer service and many organizations dedicated to this calling. I discovered the good works of a group of men and women in Kiwanis. Their motto is “Changing the world, one child at a time”. The club tutors in elementary schools, awards college scholarships to deserving seniors in need, collects food and clothing for the poor, donates books to young children, supports youth leadership activities, and donates to Boys and Girls Clubs, the Salvation Army and many other community organizations. Where does the money come from to do all this? We sell Pecans in the fall and Vidalia onions in the spring. And every penny raised goes directly to those in need.
Why join Kiwanis? For me, I was at a point in my life where it was time to give something back. Rather than contribute as an individual, Kiwanis gave me a vehicle by which to contribute my time and effort to a wide variety of good causes. My club, Smyrna Golden K, one of many in the Atlanta area, consists of forty-nine men and women dedicated to making the world a better place. They are some of the warmest, most generous people I have ever met. But there is another reason for volunteering. It is a two-way street. The very act of giving makes you feel good about yourself, a feeling of satisfaction unlike any other.
Many people today sit in front of their TVs night after night and complain about how unhappy they are. You want to be happy? Get up, turn off the TV and volunteer to help a child in need. I guarantee it will change your life.
For further information about Kiwanis, call Alan at 770-433-9940.
Alan Wilgus
January 15, 2009
About the author: Alan Wilgus is a native of Chicago and spent many years in the United States Army before consulting all over the United States. He is the current President of the Smyrna Golden K Kiwanis Club and is the first chairman of SuperSmyrna. He is married to his lovely wife Helen and has three daughters.
