Club gets reprieve

The Platte Valley Kiwanis was at an end.

Feeling there was no interest in continuing the organization, local Kiwanis leaders voted in February to disband the chapter.

Then they got help.

Dave Gloss, Platte Valley Kiwanis past president, said, “We got some assistance from a few people and enough desire on the club that people wanted to kind of give it a shot and see if we could keep things going and keep it as a community service organization.”

Saratoga Mayor Ed Glode said he was approached by Kiwanis Rocky Mountain Regional Director Tim Sheppard about keeping the organization running. Glode said, “We got together (with) … the regional governor of Kiwanis … (who) called me after that meeting (in February) and said ‘Is there anything we can do to save this deal?’”

After that call, Glode got together at the Wolf Hotel with Barb Youngberg, director Sheppard and past president Dave Gloss and talked about some new people that were interested in joining along with setting up a membership drive dinner.

That talk resulted in a special Platte Valley Kiwanis meeting held March 21 at the Platte Valley Community Center. During that meeting the group decided to keep the organization going and hold a membership drive dinner in the near future.

The Platte Valley Kiwanis has been a part of Valley life for 27 years and has helped with many projects over the years.

Currently the group has projects that include:

• Providing baby packets for newborns.

• Running a milk and muffins program.

• Providing infant car seats for new families.

• A “Read Around the World” reading program

• Running and promoting the “Stars of Tomorrow” talent show.

• Providing juice and snacks for school testing days.

• Providing swim passes to the Saratoga pool.

• Sponsoring the Christmas “ Giving Tree.”

• Giving Saratoga Care Center residents Christmas, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gifts.

• Sponsoring the August birthday party at the Saratoga Care Center.

In addition, the Platte Valley Kiwanis provides scholarships to Saratoga and Encampment students. This year’s scholarships are due in by Friday, May 4 and information is available from each school’s counselor.

Currently the group meets at 5:15 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Saratoga Senior Center at 214 Constitution Ave. in Saratoga.

Those interested in joining can contact Dave Gloss by calling 307-329-8412 or by emailing him at [email protected].