Letter to the Editor: Going shopping? Pick up a few gifts for Salvation Army’s ‘Angel Tree’ program

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Happy birthday to Kacey Hope Spencer!

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212;In the midst of World War I, service organizations were created to assist those in need.</p><p>At an annual service organization luncheon recently hosted by the Wilkes-Barre Kiwanis Club at Genetti&#8217;s Hotel and Conference Center, John Maday, president of the downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association, said those organizations remind people of humanity in the midst of turbulence.</p><p>&#8220;These organizations prevent chaos from overtaking us,&#8221; he said.</p><p>The event, a gathering of members of the Wilkes-Barre Rotary, Wilkes-Barre Lions and Kiwanis clubs, provided an opportunity for Maday to look back in history and underscore how far the nation has come, in spite of challenges.</p><p>&#8220;In 1915, the House of Representatives rejected a proposal to give women the right to vote,&#8221; he said, looking around the room at attendees of the event. &#8220;And now they are the backbone of service in our clubs and communities.&#8221;</p><p>Maday also outlined technological advancements that have made current communication possible.</p><p>&#8220;In 2015, the first transcontinental phone call was made,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Now, you can send a message across the globe with cell phones that you have in front of you.&#8221;</p><p>World War I, he said, was labeled as the &#8220;war to end all wars&#8221; because Americans thought technology had advanced as far as it would. Not only did World War I fail to put an end to war, technology has continued to unfold, a constant factor in world events.</p><p>Still, Maday said, one thing that has remained constant is service organizations committed to members of the community, to children, to the weak and frail.</p><p>The Reverend Ann Marie Acacio offered the benediction, calling attendees &#8220;a room full of servants.&#8221;</p><p>Acacio described their lives of service and gratitude as &#8220;thanks living&#8221; with members of service organizations remaining mindful of the needs of others.</p><p>Speaking to the spiritual aspect of service, she said, &#8220;In Him we live and move and have our being.&#8221;</p><p>Maday also reflected on the continuing growth of the city with over $28 million recently being invested in downtown.</p><p>&#8220;This would not have happened 15 years ago,&#8221; he said. &#8220;These knowledgeable investors are realizing the potential of the downtown.&#8221;</p><p>Kim Cardone, of Nanticoke, a member of Rotary, said the premise of the organization is &#8220;service above self,&#8221; something she sees both among members of service organizations and students of local colleges.</p><p>Cardone, Major Gifts Officer at King&#8217;s College, said she hopes the focus on service in the lives of students will translate into future membership in a service organization that will benefit the lives of others.</p><p>The Rotary, she said, often focuses on children and young adults, benefiting such organizations as Valley Santa and the Wyoming Valley Children&#8217;s Association.</p><p>Members of Kiwanis highlighted their AKtion Club which provides for the needs of mentally-challenged adults who are often under-served.</p><p>The event served as an opportunity for members of local service organizations to come together over a holiday meal and share both ideas and enthusiasm for helping.</p><p>Over 100 of those gathered took the opportunity to encourage one another, get to know members of other organizations or simply catch up on family happenings.</p><p>Many said they hope the torch will be passed to future generations.</p><p>&#8220;Our ability to serve is all based on our volunteers,&#8221; said Bev Johnston, a Kiwanis Club member. &#8220;We need more volunteers to be able to help meet the needs of those in the community.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">John Maday, president of Wilkes-Barre Downtown Business Association, was guest speaker at the Rotary/Kiwanis Thanksgiving Luncheon at Oyster restaurant inside Genetti&#8217;s Best Western in Wilkes-Barre Tuesday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_luncheon021.jpg</photo0><caption0>John Maday, president of Wilkes-Barre Downtown Business Association, was guest speaker at the Rotary/Kiwanis Thanksgiving Luncheon at Oyster restaurant inside Genetti&#8217;s Best Western in Wilkes-Barre Tuesday. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_luncheon011.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Malik Franklin, left, carves a slice of turkey for Tom Cometa of the Kingston Kiwanis during the Rotary/Kiwanis Thanksgiving Luncheon at Oyster restaurant inside Genetti&#8217;s Best Western in Wilkes-Barre Tuesday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_luncheon011.jpg</photo1><caption1>Malik Franklin, left, carves a slice of turkey for Tom Cometa of the Kingston Kiwanis during the Rotary/Kiwanis Thanksgiving Luncheon at Oyster restaurant inside Genetti&#8217;s Best Western in Wilkes-Barre Tuesday. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>&#8226; Kiwanis Club of Wilkes-Barre meets at noon every Thursday at Genetti&#8217;s.</p><p>Over the years, Kiwanis of Wilkes-Barre has served the community with many volunteers helping children locally and around the world. Some of their efforts include reading to children at Head Start and collecting used books, distributing them to local school children.</p><p>To become a member, call Susan McHugh at 570-822-4211.</p><p>&#8226; Lions Club of Wilkes-Barre meets every second and fourth Tuesday of each month at St. Conrad&#8217;s on Washington Street, Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>Lions are known as the &#8220;Knights of the Blind Association&#8221; and became involved with the Blind Association in 1925 when Helen Keller asked them to be sponsors for the blind. Lions Clubs are also involved with the Special Olympics and have volunteered with Eunice Schriver to help with eye screening, glasses and goggles for children and adults with eye problems.</p><p>To become a member, call Mimi Tosh at 570-817-4847</p><p>&#8226; The Rotary Club of Wilkes-Barre meets meets at noon Tuesdays at Best Western Genetti&#8217;s in Downtown Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>The Rotary Club of Wilkes-Barre undertakes a variety of community service projects, benefiting organizations including the Osterhout Free Library, the Wyoming Valley Children&#8217;s Association and other organizations.</p><p>To become a member, contact Bob Lawrence at 570-825-0001.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Service organizations share a ‘Thanks Living’ meal