Chelsea Kiwanis Club President
Elaine Monge speaks at the installation.
Last Thursday, the Chelsea Kiwanis Club convened for their annual meeting to install Elaine Monge as President, effective October 1st. The installation ceremony and luncheon drew a capacity crowd to the Wyndham Hotel in Chelsea, with attendees representing the club’s membership as well as guests from Chelsea and neighboring communities. Marisa DePietro, Kiwanis Lieutenant Governor for District 14 and a member of the East Boston Kiwanis Club, administered the oath of office.
Opening the meeting, Salvation Army Pastor Captain Scott Peabody offered a blessing for the members and their community service efforts. Club Secretary Laura Assade then reviewed the Chelsea Kiwanis Club’s contributions to various organizations and causes during the 2012-2013 administrative year. In her acceptance remarks, President Elaine acknowledged outgoing President Paul Swart, recognizing his leadership as instrumental to the Club’s accomplishments. “Under Paul’s leadership, over $10,000 was donated to local organizations last year and another 100 hours of community service was volunteered by our members” stated President Elaine, “and this is a record of accomplishments I want to build on.”
The newly installed officers for the coming year are Patricia Williams as Vice President, Laura Assade as Club Secretary, and Gerry McCue as Club Treasurer. The Board of Directors also includes John Chirichiello, Renee Griffin, Sylvia Ramirez, Patricia Ridge, and Bob Shoemaker.
A major fundraising initiative for the Chelsea Kiwanis Club is support for the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Unit at Tufts New England Medical Center. Through the Kiwanis Foundation of New England, a red jacket is awarded for each $1,000 contributed to the Pediatric Trauma Unit. The Chelsea Kiwanis Club donated $7,000 last year and presented seven red jackets during the ceremony. Alan Hartnett of the Danvers Kiwanis Club served as Master of Ceremonies, presenting jackets to Laura Assade, Bill Carafa, Renee Griffin, Elaine Monge, Sylvia Ramirez, Bob Shoemaker and Tricia Williams.
Two individuals were inducted as new members: Jeffery Gigliello, representing Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, and Patricia Ridge, an attorney at the firm of John Mackey, Attorney-at-Law. President Elaine concluded the meeting by alerting the Chelsea Kiwanians to expect a busy yet rewarding year ahead.
The Chelsea Kiwanis Club belongs to Kiwanis International, a worldwide volunteer organization dedicated to serving children and communities, operating 8,000 clubs across 96 countries. The club typically meets Thursdays at 12:15pm at the Wyndham Hotel.