Latest update, a press release provided by Woodland Kiwanian, Marv

Something new and exciting has come to Woodland, an AKTION club with members comprised of adults with disabilities. The club is sponsored by the Woodland Kiwanis Club in cooperation with Y.E.S. (Yolo Employment Services). The club meets every other week at Y.E.S. with 16 members and growing. Kiwanis members attend the meetings to provide experienced leadership.

Kiwanis has been a booster of Y.E.S. for years. Every year during the Christmas season, Kiwanis hosts a Christmas party for Y.E.S. clients. There is ham, Christmas caroling, stockings with a Santa to give them out. After last year’s party Santa met with Y.E.S. activities director Beth which led to the AKTION Club of Yolo County.

AKTION club is the newest member of the Sponsored Organizations and Programs Department of Kiwanis International. At present there are 55 clubs worldwide with 6 of them in California. Other sponsored organizations include K Kids (Elementary School), Builders Club (Jr. High), Key Club (High School) and Circle K (College). Woodland Kiwanis sponsors a Builders Club at Lee Jr. High. Kiwanis International spans the globe with 300,000 members in 79 countries.

The AKTION club program provides adults with disabilities the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the community. They develop intellectual abilities, self-esteem, social interaction skills, initiative, and leadership skills. Most importantly they are provided the opportunity to demonstrate to the community the dignity and value of citizens living with disabilities.

The club’s organizational meeting was last September. They received their Club Charter on Dec. 16, 2002 with Woodland Kiwanis President Donna performing the ceremony aided by Kiwanians Bob and Lance. Y.E.S. Advisor Jeanne provided each member with an AKTION club pin.

. Their first service project was the Meals on Wheels Walk-a-Thon where they were the top money raising team and won a pizza party. They are helping the Woodland Kiwanis club deliver Meals on Wheels as well. In December they rang bells for the Salvation Army Kettle drive. They collect recycle cans to provide money for their service projects. They used can money to provide holiday dinners for 2 needy families at Thanksgiving. If you want to help them, take your recycle materials to Y.E.S. and designate the proceeds for the AKTION club.

Already the AKTION club members have demonstrated how they can help and that serving others is good for all.