Community Service Opportunities Presented to Kiwanis
by David Landis
President Obama made it well known in his Inaugural Speech
that the US has work to be done and that it will only happen
if we all pitch in. That message was echoed at the weekly
meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines - Ocean
City by guest speaker, T. Jan Wiseman, Executive Director
of the Greater Salisbury Committee (GSC), pictured with
Kiwanis Club president, Corky Widerman, thanking him for
speaking
to the club. The GSC is a non-profit civic improvement
organization formed in Salisbury, Maryland forty-two years
ago. Presently
the GSC covers three counties: Wicomico, Worcester and
Somerset, but it has plans to expand to to more counties
of the the
Lower Eastern Shore. It's purpose is to help citizens become
involved in their communities for the benefit of those
communities. It's about volunteers who make make things
happen. They become
the "Community
Heroes".
Mr. Wiseman shared stories of the efforts of some of those "Community
Heroes" who helped to form Wor-Wic Community College, kept Salisbury University intact
years ago when the doors almost closed, founded the Holly
Center in Salisbury and the "Kids of Honor" program as well as the "Civic and Government Leadership Academy". Histories of people working on civic needs for the good of the community.
Volunteering for service groups is less prevalent today.
Service organizations, like Kiwanis, are always in need of
new membership to make the organizations effective. Fewer
young people are joining and serving. The Kiwanis Club of
Greater Ocean Pines - Ocean City is ALWAYS seeking new members,
male and female. For more information contact Membership
Chairman, Don Schmid, at 410-208-0219 or by e-mail at donrschmid@yahoo.com.
GSC helps to facilitate great citizen leadership and has
two programs at work. They have a "Virtual
Center for Citizens Working Together" at www.greatersalisbury.org where anyone can get information about helping to
make Mid-Delmarva a better place to live and work. They also
have a "Community Leaders Workshop" coming in May 22, 2009 which will be held at the Fountains in Salisbury where
leaders can hear presentations about three community issues
and discuss the issues with fellow leaders at their tables.
The cost will be $25 and includes lunch, morning breaks,
materials, and the program costs for the support provided
by sponsors. Go to www.greatersalisbury.org for more information
and to register. Just maybe it's a way of getting involved
and committed to making the US better for each and every
person and community.
