First Posted: 3/13/2013
The Pittston Area Key Club is sponsoring its annual “Love A Soldier ” Drive this month.
The club was in contact with the father of two PA students who is serving in Afghanistan and they were made aware of the soldiers’ needs. The club has collected toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, bars of soap and hand sanitizers. The soldiers also requested coffee and coffee supplies.
The Key Club was assisted by the Middle School Builders Club and by high school students and teachers.
The Pittston Area Key Club also traveled to the Hershey Lodge for the annual Pennsylvania State Key Club Convention and Leadership Conference from March 8 to 10. Pittston Area sent 10 student members, including five returning officers from 2012-2013 and five new officers for 2013-2014 and their advisor, Mrs. Greenwald.
Members were able to meet hundreds of Key Clubbers from all over the state, compete in various award categories, attend break-out sessions, learn about service projects and activities from other clubs and bond with each other as a group and a Key Club.
“My favorite part of convention was the break-outs,” said Ashleigh Rose, Key Club secretary, 2013-2014. “I met a lot of fun, new friends doing crazy activities.”
Pittston Area sent two delegates to the election of the new governor of the Pennsylvania Key Club, a student from Wyoming Valley West.
The members excelled in many areas, garnering 10 achievements and awards or recognitions. Each of the officers from 2012-2013 were named Distinguished Officers and the club achieved YSY for work it did for the Ronald McDonald House. Members also received a patch for their banner from UNICEF and a Dome Award for signing up 51 new members.
The club continued its wins with the Kiwanis Family Award and received a Partnership with Builder Club Award. The most exciting award was the first place Traditional Poster Award for a poster done by senior Karlee Patton. The award allows Patton’s poster to be sent to the National Competition in Washington in July.
“We were so thrilled that Karlee won the award that we called her at home at 9:45 on Saturday night from the auditorium because she wasn’t able to attend and we wanted her to know what happened as soon as possible,” said Kristen Fereck, president of the Pittston Area Key Club 2012-2013. “She was as excited as we were.”
Members of the Key Club enjoyed activities at the convention and, on the way home, visited Chocolate World and the Hershey Factory.
“Only 364 days left until next year’s convention (in Harrisburg),” said Kaleigh Valeski, vice-president, 2013-2014.
– Matt Shamnoski