Harrisonburg Kiwanis Charters New Builders Club at Skyline Middle School
by Patty May

The Harrisonburg Kiwanis Club chartered a new "Builders Club" at its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20. President Jim Barnes presented the charter to Skyline Middle School principal Joe Glick.

Kiwanis Lt. Gov. Jim Gilchrist presented officers' pins to the following SMS Builders Club officers:

• President Kendall Bailey
• Vice President Michelle Waligora
• Secretary Makayla Foley
• Treasurer Lex Hickman
• 6th grade representative Nicole Downey
• 7th grade representative Sarah Scribano
• 8th grade representative Alexis Keopagna

Builders Club is the largest service organization for middle school students (ages 12 to 14), with more than 40,000 members worldwide. The first Builders Club was chartered in 1975. Today, there are more than 2,000 clubs in Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Philippines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United States. Builders Club is a "student-led" community service organization, which operates under school regulations and draws its members from the student body. Community-based Builders Clubs also may be established at community facilities such as: churches, libraries, YMCA's, or lodges. Builders Club is unique because a Kiwanis club, composed of leading business and professional people of the community, serves as the club's sponsor. Builders Club is structured only on the local club level but is supported by the Kiwanis International Office in Indianapolis, Indiana, which provides programs, literature, and opportunities to relate to teenagers from countries all around the world! This meeting also served as a membership meeting, and several guests and prospective members attended. (Pictured Kiwanis President Jim Barnes presents builders club charter to SMS Principal Joe Glick, Assistant Principal Luke Hartman and Co-Advisors Diane Secord and Kathy Holter.)