Students in grades six-eight at Robert Moore will continue to help out their community this school year as the second executive of the Kiwanis Builders’ Club was sworn in there last Wednesday night.
Dr. Bob Lidkea of the Fort Frances Kiwanis Club led the meeting and introduced the new executive, including president Ashley LaFreniere, vice-president Jordan Marsh, secretary Brittany Hayes, and treasurer Kailey Bonner-Vickers.
They recently were elected by their classmates.
LaFreniere gave a short speech about her year ahead as president, pledging to do even more fundraising events for the club and charitable events for other causes.
“I think the Builders’ Club is very good for the community,” she noted. “And it’s good for kids like us to get involved in volunteering.”
Robert Moore teacher Lorina Fryer has been instrumental in organizing the club along with fellow teacher David Boles.
She applauded the students’ efforts, noting last year they not only made bi-weekly visits to Rainycrest to play games with residents there, but they had a float in the Canada Day parade, planted trees at Sunny Cove, held a fundraiser car wash for “Friends of Animals,” and collected money for a student whose family home was damaged by fire.
The new executive will do Christmas “shoeboxes,” collect for UNICEF, hold another fundraiser car wash in the spring, and organize a dance, running the canteen there, noted Fryer.
“I think last year went over pretty well,” Boles, who could not attend the swearing-in ceremony, said Monday.
“We’re pretty excited about the year ahead,” he added. “There’s nothing grand planned, but there will be plenty of leadership opportunities for the executive.”
“I’m very proud of the students for participating in the Builders’ Club,” said Robert More principal Linda Hill. “It’s a great opportunity for them to gain some valuable skills.”
The outgoing executive included president Sandi Elliott, vice-president Jenna Nowak, treasurer Brittany Shine, and secretary Sarah Mueller.
“Being a first year, it was a learning process for us and for them,” noted Dr. Lidkea, who joins Ken Koprowski as the Builders’ Club liaisons for 2002-03.
“The kids have been very active, though. They got a lot of experience meeting people,” he added.
Dr. Lidkea welcomed the new executive, and members of the old executive who also were on hand for the meeting, with cake and pop for everyone.
While the seeds for the Builders’ Club actually were planted in the spring of 2000 by teacher Bill Daley, the first executive wasn’t elected until last fall.
