New Kiwanis club chartered

HAMBURG — Charter members of Kiwanis Club of Greater Hamburg on Dec. 3 attended a ceremony honoring their newly chartered club.
Uniquely, Collins said, their club is the very first all female leadership Kiwanis Club in N.J., and possibly in the U.S.
“There is a need in Sussex County for more clubs — there are children who would be in need, and you could provide a great service,” a Kiwanis spokesman informed Founder and President Anita Collins, of recently formed Kiwanis Club of Greater Hamburg.
Collins responded, “When you position it like that, how can you say no?”
The N.J. Kiwanis Governor and Lieutenant Governors also attended the ceremony.
Collins explained, the club's 16 charter members are women with “a passion about improving the lives of children and family's health.” She added, they also want to improve opportunities for the arts in Sussex County and more opportunities for female leadership training.
After months of gathering the right people, through word of mouth, friends, Meetup and Linkedin, Collins said, club members are currently brainstorming all ideas and possibilities, in order to match with needs in the community, “So we can really make a difference.”
She continued, they are attracting women who tend to be the care givers of their families and children, are in the schools, communities, and can observe where needs exist; “We're first alert on how to make something happen to help.”
Plans for 2018, Collins said, include free information and screening to help detect early developmental delays in children from birth to three years-old; a spring youth film festival — where teens see professionally inspired and produced films by other youth; youth leadership training workshops; and expanding TREP$ access of leadership training and entrepreneurship, instead of being limited by school district approval.
Ultimately, she continued, they want to have a juried youth film festival theme, with submissions.
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Hamburg meets the first and third Mondays, 7 p.m., at Panera Bread in Sparta. Those interested in membership may contact Jenny Kopec at jkopec1572@gmail.com or visit kiwanis.org.