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Kennedy Elementary chooses students of the month for October

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Churches join together to help Kirby Family House

<p>Civic organizations once had high membership and lots of community involvement, but some have experienced a drop in numbers. Younger generations are busy. There are family activities, hour-long commutes and other life distractions. As a result, some clubs are struggling to keep legacies alive.</p><p>The Plymouth Kiwanis Club had 78 members in 1977. Now they have eight. The Italian-American Veterans Post 1 of Luzerne County struggle to fill a room for a meeting. Nationally, the Lions organization has 1.4 million members but the Kingston Lions Club has less than 20.</p><p>Plymouth Kiwanis Club President Richard Schall said he hopes these civic clubs will experience a renaissance.</p><p>&#8220;History repeats itself, if we live long enough we might see all service clubs come back,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They could be a new or novel idea to younger generations. We just have to weather the storm.&#8221;</p><p>Mark Mizenko and Bill McLaughlin are members of the Kingston Lions. They said they struggle to attract young members. Part of the struggle, McLaughlin said, is that previous generations gave back to the communities where they lived. Today, there&#8217;s less community pride among residents.</p><p>&#8220;Now young people want to give but they also want something from it,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They love to help but want it to be hands on. We are struggling with coming up with activities that will excite them and draw them in to help.&#8221;</p><p>Schall echoed McLaughlin&#8217;s sentiments.</p><p>&#8220;The whole atmosphere of the the town has changed,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The residential area is now mostly rented property and renters are not joining the club. People just pick up and move after a couple years.&#8221;</p><p>At the helm of the Italian-American Veterans Post is LuAnn Corrado. She is the club&#8217;s first female commander and has taken the challenge to attract new members head on.</p><p>&#8220;This (club) and others are getting older,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We all need to get new people or members to participate more. It&#8217;s not a men&#8217;s club. It&#8217;s not a women&#8217;s club. It&#8217;s a veteran&#8217;s club.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">LuAnn Corrado the first female commander of the Italian-American Veterans Club salutes the flag with the other veterans who attended the meeting. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_female_commander1_faa1.jpg</photo0><caption0>LuAnn Corrado the first female commander of the Italian-American Veterans Club salutes the flag with the other veterans who attended the meeting. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_female-Commander31.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">LuAnn Corrado the first female commander of the Italian-American Veterans Club salutes the flag with the other veterans who attended the meeting. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_female-Commander31.jpg</photo1><caption1>LuAnn Corrado the first female commander of the Italian-American Veterans Club salutes the flag with the other veterans who attended the meeting. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_kingston-lions-club-21.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Supporters of The Kingston Lions Club and Kingston Advisory Commissions enjoy food and entertainment at The Gallery at Pierce Street Deli during a cheese fundraiser. The funds raised will go to the purchase and installation of a wheelchair swing at Keiper park. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_kingston-lions-club-21.jpg</photo2><caption2>Supporters of The Kingston Lions Club and Kingston Advisory Commissions enjoy food and entertainment at The Gallery at Pierce Street Deli during a cheese fundraiser. The funds raised will go to the purchase and installation of a wheelchair swing at Keiper park. </caption2><photoCredit2>Amanda Hrycyna|Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_kingston-lions-club-41.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Optometrist Carl Urbanski of Mountain Top fills out raffle tickets during the Kingston Lion&#8217;s club cheese funraiser at The Gallery at Pierce Street Deli in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_kingston-lions-club-41.jpg</photo3><caption3>Optometrist Carl Urbanski of Mountain Top fills out raffle tickets during the Kingston Lion&#8217;s club cheese funraiser at The Gallery at Pierce Street Deli in Kingston. </caption3><photoCredit3>Amanda Hrycyna|Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_kingston-lions-club-61.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Michelle Hojsack of Kingston looks over the donated raffle baskets at the Kingston Lions Club and Kingston Advisory Commission&#8217;s cheese fundraiser. The fundraiser was held at The Gallery at Pierce Street Deli in Kingston and was to raise funds to purchase and install a wheelchair swing at Keiper park. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_kingston-lions-club-61.jpg</photo4><caption4>Michelle Hojsack of Kingston looks over the donated raffle baskets at the Kingston Lions Club and Kingston Advisory Commission&#8217;s cheese fundraiser. The fundraiser was held at The Gallery at Pierce Street Deli in Kingston and was to raise funds to purchase and install a wheelchair swing at Keiper park. </caption4><photoCredit4>Amanda Hrycyna|Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_kiwanis011.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Plymouth Memory Walk by the Plymouth Kiwanis Club. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_kiwanis011.jpg</photo5><caption5>Plymouth Memory Walk by the Plymouth Kiwanis Club. </caption5><photoCredit5>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_kiwanis021.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Plymouth Memory Walk by the Plymouth Kiwanis Club. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_kiwanis021.jpg</photo6><caption6>Plymouth Memory Walk by the Plymouth Kiwanis Club. </caption6><photoCredit6>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_kiwanis041.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Plymouth Kiwanis Club member Richard Schall. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_kiwanis041.jpg</photo7><caption7>Plymouth Kiwanis Club member Richard Schall. </caption7><photoCredit7>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit7></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_kiwanis031.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Plymouth Kiwanis Club members Ray Motyka, left, John Gavenonis, and James Mahon talk about projects that Kiwanis is involved within the Plymouth community. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo8>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_kiwanis031.jpg</photo8><caption8>Plymouth Kiwanis Club members Ray Motyka, left, John Gavenonis, and James Mahon talk about projects that Kiwanis is involved within the Plymouth community. </caption8><photoCredit8>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit8></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Samantha Stanich</p><p>ae@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>ONLINE INFORMATION:</strong></p><p>Kingston Lions Club</p><p><strong>Facebook: </strong>Kingston Lions Club</p><p>Kiwanis of Plymouth</p><p><strong>Website: </strong>www.pakiwanis.org</p><p><strong>Email: </strong>hardshell@verison.net</p><p>Italian American Veterans Post 1 of Luzerne County</p><p><strong>Email: </strong>wmjju@yahoo.com</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta></shirttailMeta></div>

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Amid cultural changes, Northeastern Pennsylvania civic groups struggle to find members