Sertoma
The Sertoma Club of Emporia will have the annual Award Dinner on Feb. 25 to honor Paula Sauder, who will receive the Service to Mankind award and Walter Spencer, who will be recognized at Sertoman of the Year. Julie Wilson, a recipient of a Sertoma scholarship earlier in the year who attends Emporia State University, was a guest at the Dec. 18 meeting of the club. She thanked the club and said she is studying social work, with plans to be a counselor. The 2008-09 officers of Sertoma are Bob Hush, president; Shawn Parks, president-elect; Ron Dinkel, first vice president; Mary Wade, second vice president; Gene Graber, third vice president; Ulli Wallace, secretary; Rod Symmonds, treasurer; Shawn Parks and Warren Brown, sergeant-at-arms; John Newland, chairman of the board; and Ron Dinkel, editor.
Optimists
At a recent meeting of the Flint Hills Optimist Club, former FHOC president Steve Mollach received lifetime membership in the Optimist International and members were thanked for their contributions to the “Read to Your Bunny” program. It also was announced that secretary-treasurer George Durler was the 2007-2008 Flint Hills Optimist of the Year. Speakers have included Melissa Windsor, who told members about the QUEST program in U.S.D. 253 schools; Mickey Edwards, representing SOS and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA); Allen Walker, webmaster at ESU and a computer consultant. The club president for 2008-09 is Bob Burenheide; Steve Graham and Ken Hanson, vice presidents; and Rick Buck, editor.
Gardeners
The Emporia Gardeners of America club officers elected for 2009 are Ken Johnson, president; Beth Dayton, first vice president; Sharon Morrisey, second vice president; Florence Haskett, treasurer; and Tom Haskett, secretary. Johnson received a Certificate of Honor for “excellent performance as president and newsletter editor.” Gene and Velma Walker received a joint award for their “excellent organization” of the EGOA plant sale, bus trip, banquet and other events. Awards were presented by Awards chairman Ted Laven at the annual banquet held Nov. 6 at the Flint Hills Technical College. Roy Stanton spoke about growing tomatoes and fighting tomato blight.