Hastings Aktion Club

The Hastings Aktion Club was formed in 2005 and had their charter banquet on August 21^st of that year. The club meets on the 2^nd and 4^th Monday of each month at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Hastings.

NEW CLUB FORMS

            There’s an excitement in the air!  Hastings Kiwanis Club, with the leadership of Advisor Mary Peterson, has Chartered the 192^nd Kiwanis Aktion Club in the entire world and the 13^th in the Nebraska-Iowa District!

             Through tireless efforts and a tremendous investment of time and energy, Mary worked with area agencies and earned the support and sponsorship of Hastings Goodwill Industries lead by Judy Weston and The ARC of Adams-Clay Counties led by Stephanie Donovan.  Mary also worked with Floyd Hutzell, the NE-IA District Aktion Club Advisor who provided many hours of advice and council as to the Kiwanis objectives and the groundwork necessary to form a club and obtain a charter. Additionally, Mary leaned on the help and encouragement of local Hastings Club President, Chuck Hastings, Club Secretary, Don Siffring, Children Priority One Chair and Adams Co. Social Services Director, Margaret Shaw and others from our local club. Folks from our club, from the agencies, and from the families provided encouragement and also provided assistance at organizational meetings.

             The culmination of all this effort was a joyful and exciting Installation Dinner on Sunday, August 21, 2005, at Zion Lutheran Church.  The joy exhibited by the new charter members was electric.  The importance and value of service and what it does for people was never more apparent.  Each charter member accepted their pins with pride as Chuck Hastings, and Darrell Nelson pinned them on and NE-IA Aktion Advisor, Fred Hutzell, explained that they were unique as no one else would ever be able to say that they were Hastings Aktion Club Charter Members. As each officer was installed they were reminded that no one else would ever be able to say that they were the first one to hold that position!

             Those members who had to miss participating in the evening’s festivities missed a wonderful time.  The food, catered by Margaret and Lloyd Shaw, was a magnificent spread!  The songs, led by Don Goodrich, were more rousing than ever!  And the guest speaker, Sue Brown, had us all jumping in our seats with excitement!  Her advice to all of us was to do six things: 1). Get up cheerful and look in the mirror; 2). Smile at others; 3). Count your blessings; 4). Try something new; 5). Be a happy person; and 6). When someone asks you how you are, tell them “I’m Great!”

              So, what IS an Aktion Club?  It is a community-service group for adult citizens who live with a disability.  The mission of Aktion Club is to provide these adults an opportunity to develop initiative and leadership skills, to serve their community, to be integrated into society, and to demonstrate the dignity and value of citizens living with disabilities.  Aktion Club members strive to return to their communities the benefits, help, and caring they have received, as well as develop important skills in the process.  An Aktion Club can benefit its members in many ways through service and recreational events.  These activities enable the members to participate in the active life of the community.  They provide an opportunity for members to contribute to the community, to develop mechanical, creative, and intellectual abilities, to develop social interaction awareness, to improve self-esteem, to develop leadership skills, and to achieve personal and service goals.