Message from the President

Many life development seminars or coach-ing sessions include the question, what

would you do if money were no object? We have a natural desire to live out life in a way that goes

beyond the “bottom line” money considerations. Kiwanis gives us a great option to do that. Because

everything is covered by our dues, 100% of what we net from our events ends up making impact. If you are

participating with Kiwanis, you are making a difference. Considering that, one of the things I love about the busi-

ness people that are part of N.G. Kiwanis is what you see week to week is just the tip of the iceberg of the impact our members

are making. We have community coaches, non-profit volunteers, PTA leaders, elected officials, food pantry volunteers, hospital vol-

unteers, church volunteers, police support volunteers… – and many of these are presidents or key board members of the organizations that they lead in.

The community impact represented by those who attend is enormous. And the size of our team is growing. This year alone we have nine new

members of the Kiwanis team.Thank you for being a part of an ever expanding team of community changers. If you are reading this and are not part of

this exciting change agent organization, take the step and join the team.

Page 2 NORTH GWINNETT KIWANIANSeptember, 2014

Phil Olsen

This past May, the Kiwanis Club of North Gwinnett enjoyed celebrating it’s 75th anniversary.

This upcoming Kiwanis year, 2014-15, we get to participate in the 100th anniversary of Kiwanis International.

“An organization does not reach the 100-year mark by chance. It does so by staying relevant in an ever-changing society. I believe with all my heart that Kiwanis is just as relevant today as it was when it was created in January 1915. This fragmented, fast-paced world needs us. Kiwanis

started as an organization in Detroit, Michigan, committed to self-interest but soon, through

arguments and debates, evolved into an organization dedicated to helping others, which we are still doing today. Our clubs perform 150,000 service projects a year. We build better lives and communities. Whatever the cause, Kiwanians of all ages

and abilities devote 6 million hours a year to service. “

There’s a lot going on. Georgia is one of the few places in the South East that John Button will be stopping by for a

visit and we will have Kiwanis dignitaries from nearby states coming to join the fun. Georgia Kiwanis has looked and decided on building a playground on the Boy’s and Girl’s club of Atlanta, on a property near Six Flags. The nearby

area is void of any playgrounds. Victoria Turney is leading the charge and Georgia Kiwanis is trying to raise 100K for the overall project. John Button’s visit will be the weekend

of Feb 20-22, with most public activities focused on Saturday Feb 21, with a big Kiwanis dinner. There is a

tentative 10 a.m. / community build in April 2015 (One Day). Georgia is also asking that clubs do their best to tie in

“100” themes to activities and service projects.

John Button, 2014–15 Kiwanis International president, http://www.kiwanis.org/kiwanis100/centennial-news-2/100th-

anniversary-news-1/2013/09/25/100-years-of-kiwanis-service-with-great-celebrations-around-the-world

Page 3CREATING BETTERCOMMUNITIES

Bear’s Best Atlanta is a high-end daily fee course focused on cor-porate entertaining, golf out-ings and providing the experi-ence of a luxurious private club at a public facility. Jack Nicklaus selected the best 18 holes from more than 200 course designs worldwide and put them into one extraordinary round of golf at Bear’s Best Atlanta. Among the courses featured are Castle Pines, Muirfield Village, PGA National Championship Course, Sherwood Country Club, Shoal Creek and Gleneagles.

Our philosophy is to provide each guest with a unique, fresh and memorable golf experi-ence. The Bear’s Best courses strive to bring a diverse yet consistent golf facility to meet-ing planners, incentive buyers, association planners and leisure travelers. Each Bear’s Best course offers a different 18-hole selection by Jack Nicklaus from his more than 200 course de-signs open for play worldwide. But the differences end there, as the clubhouse and all related golf services meet the same high standards at each Bear’s Best Golf Course.

Page 4 NORTH GWINNETT KIWANIANSeptember, 2014

Ranked in the “Top 10 courses you can play in America” by Golf Magazine

5342 Aldeburgh DriveSuwanee, GA 30024

678.714.2582

Host of the

2014Annual

North Gwinnett

KiwanisGolf Tournament

EVENT SPONSORSGOLD SPONSOR

Forms PlusJim Grant

LUNCH SPONSORFlanigan’s Funeral Home

BREAKFAST SPONSORPhelan-DempseyOrthodontics

MERCHANDISE SPONSORSS Ace HardwareComTran Group

HOLE-IN-ONE SPONSORUnited Community Bank

GREEN SPONSORSPeoples Bank and Trust - ReMax

All American Specialties - First Prize WritingSugar Hill Diner - United Community Bank

State Farm Insurance

HOLE SPONSORSChattahooche Bank of GA - Sugar Hill Diner

Edward Jones InvestmentsFriendship Complete Automotive Care

Wallis Properties, Inc.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTSBreakfast: 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.

Driving Range open to hit balls: 8:00 a.m.Shotgun Start: 9:30 a.m.

Lunch: Approximately 2:00 p.m. (at completion of tournament)

Prizes: 1st place Gross Division, 1st place Net Division and 2nd place Net Division.

Prizes and Raffle Drawings after lunch: approximately 2:30 – 3:00 p.m.

For the People ofBuford and Sugar Hill

Please help support the Kiwanian by

advertising your business in the winter edition

The Kiwanian is a tool used for increasing membership and

educating the community about the North Gwinnett Kiwanas

mission and specific upcoming events. It is also an excellent

way to let your fellow members and potential members know about you and your business.

Pricing starts st ONLY

$35.00For more information call

770-932-2480 or email is at

ads@bufordweekly.com

Page 6

North Gwinnett High School Career FairNeed some volunteer hours?. North Gwinnett High School is conducting a Career Fair for its students October 15th, from 8:00 until 9:35 a.m. This will be in a “Trade-show” style and a table will be provided. Seniors will come thru from 8:15 - 8:40 and the juniors will come thru 9:05 - 9:35 am. They will be coming by your table/booth to ask questions about your career and what it’s really like to be a professional in your industry. Please contact Julie Blackwell for more information.Julie_Blackwell@Gwinnett.k12.ga.us

Fall TrainingEvery year, Georgia Kiwanis has two training sessions, to both help the clubs in Georgia stay connected and stay fresh with knowledge. David Williams was one of the first members to attend for this generation of the North Gwinnett Club, and since then several presidents and officers have attended. President elect Mike Sullivan wants to encourage more members to attend these functions. The next training session is the Fall Conference being held on Oct. 11th at Wesleyan College, Macon. He ask all officers to attend if pos-sible, and strongly encourages any member who is taking a leadership or active role in the club to try to find time to attend. New members should consider going to find out more about Georgia Kiwanis as well as to take the Kiwanis 101 course that is offered. With a early 5:30-6:00AM leave time and estimate 3:00PM return time, it will take most of the day, but we expect members will find it time well spent.

Run/Walk & Fitness ProgramThe 2014 Corporate Challenge Race is this Thursday 9/11/14 with 19,000 runners from Turner Field. Our own Julia Hall will be singing God Bless America at the start of the race. The race is the largest 5k at night in the nation. The Atlanta Community Food Bank will be accepting food donations. Event Schedule for the day: Tents in place/music begins 3-5pm, Company teams will gather during this time. Free team photos will be taken from 4-6:15pm, Best Self Atlanta healthy living expo at 4pm, T-shirt design contest awards 5pm, Warm ups begin at 5:40, Walker line up at 6pm, Runner line up on Hank Aaron 6:05, Elite & seeded runners in place 6:10. Julia will sing before the start at 6:30pm , free commemorative t-shirts and awards upon completion of the race will begin around at 6:45pm, Rupert’s Orchestra plays at 7pm, Kaiser Permanete Corporate Cup Awards Ceremony at 7:30. For more information visit kpcorporaterunwalk.com

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Kiwanis International has introduced the formula, a national campaigned at strengthening clubs:

Love it: We need to make sure that we are connecting with the club and it’s members.Share it: Letting outsiders hear about what’s going on in our club and what makes it so special.Live it: Challenges each of us, be involved!

Johnny Barnard is a Senior Vice President at Brand Bank. He oversees the North Gwinnett Community Banking divi-sion for Brand. Prior to his banking career, he owned and operated Barnard Appraisal Services, Inc. Johnny attended the University of Georgia and graduated in 1989 with a BA in Economics. He moved to Lawrenceville, with his parents in 1976 and graduated from Central Gwinnett. He married his high school sweetheart and has two daugh-ters. He enjoys hanging out on Lake Hartwell with family, snow skiing, and all outdoor activities.

Lara Sadowski, a native of Gwinnett County, received her A.A. in Foreign Languages from DeKalb College and her B.A. in English from Georgia State University. Initially wanting to be an attorney, Lara had her sights set on law school, so she spent 15 years as a paralegal, specializing in Intellectual Property law. However, her love for writing led her in a new direction, and she started First Prize Writing, LLC, a copywriting and business communica-tions company, in 2013. She takes her love for the written word and assists busi-nesses of all sizes in revamping and creating website copy, marketing collateral, ghostwriting blogs and e-books, social media management and much more. Lara married her sweetheart, David Sadowski, in 2011, and she is a proud step-mother to Derik, 17, a senior at Lanier High School. Besides her family, one of her other loves is volunteering in her community. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the Eating Disorder Information Network (EDIN), an organization preventing eating disorders through education, outreach and action. Lara also loves domestic and international travel, painting, exercising and decorating.

JOHNNY BERNARD

LARA SADOWSKI

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Page 7

Page 8 NORTH GWINNETT KIWANIANSeptember, 2014

North Gwinnett Kiwanis Club Hosts Father/Daughter Valentine Dance

The tradition will continue again in the February 2015 timeframe as the Kiwanis Club of North Gwinnett

prepares to host their 7th annual Father Daugh-

ter Dance. As in years past,

it is truly an excit-ing time

for those fathers, stepfa-

thers, significant father-like figures, grandfathers, uncles, or role models to bring their special young ladies out for an evening of dance and fun! Past attendees have

ranged in age from infant to mid twenties, all enjoying a wonderful evening with their fathers! The dance will be open to daughters of all ages, young to old. In the past, they have had daughters in their mid twenties attend so all are invited!!

With just a vision and a minuscule budget, the Kiwanis Club began in a small banquet room in 2009 at the Legacy Lodge Hotel at Lake Lanier Islands. Since that time, they have received tremen-dous response from the community and have grown the dance to two dances in the same evening to better accommodate their guests. In fact, they have been so successful that the first dance has sold out for the past four years. Once again, the first dance will be from 6:00 – 8:00 pm and the second dance from 9:00 – 11:00 pm. All proceeds from the dance and other Kiwanis Club fundrais-ers are reinvested back to the

community in the form of scholarships for our area high school seniors or for other community charitable needs. To date, the dances have re-turned approximately $30,000 back to our community.

Family friendly music will be provided to satisfy the mu-sical taste for all. Attendees from our previous six father daughter dances have trav-elled from Gwinnett and five neighboring counties. Light refreshments will be served, affordable professional pho-tography will be offered, and memories of a lifetime will be created!

Negotiations are under-way to secure the date and location so please be sure to check the Kiwanis Club of North Gwinnett website for the event date and location. That website is: www.northg-winnettkiwanis.com.

For more information, please call David Williams at

404 386-4782.