We were excitÂed to get to know three of our memÂbers a litÂtle bit betÂter. Our Eye of the Tiger eâclub has many accomÂplished leaders.
As I write this, Greg Beard is just a few days away from comÂpletÂing his term as KiwaÂnis InterÂnaÂtionÂal Trustee from the great Louisiana MisÂsisÂsipÂpi TenÂnessee DisÂtrict. Since his elecÂtion at the KI conÂvenÂtion in Paris, as Greg put it, âThese past three years on the InterÂnaÂtionÂal Board have flown by.â Greg conÂtinÂues as a memÂber of the KiwaÂnis Club of AlexanÂdria, Louisiana, a club he joined in 1995.
IT Gregâs proÂfesÂsionÂal life began after gradÂuÂatÂing from law school in Baton Rouge to now being acclaimed to six more years as a Louisiana DisÂtrict Court Judge. He and his wife Lisa, a retired speÂcial eduÂcaÂtion pre-school teacher and son Tyler look forÂward to conÂtinÂuÂing to serve those in need.
The GovÂerÂnor for FloriÂda, 2019/2020, Allen YerÂgovich was jugÂgling two events durÂing our club meetÂing but he was able to join us.
GovÂerÂnor Allen has been a KiwanÂian for over 30 years. His dedÂiÂcaÂtion to volÂunÂteerÂing and helpÂing othÂers is well known. What we didÂnât know, howÂevÂer, was that Allen owned and operÂatÂed a charÂter boat rental and fishÂing excurÂsion business.
When asked what was Allenâs motiÂvaÂtion to run for GovÂerÂnor of the sunÂny FloriÂda DisÂtrict, Allen relatÂed to us that PIT Chuck GugliÂuzÂza was responÂsiÂble. They went sailÂing off the TamÂpa coast, that was not to include any KiwaÂnis shop talk but once docked, Allen was runÂning. A fish tale indeed!
Along with his first mate Roger, Allen looks forÂward to conÂtinÂuÂing to make a difference.
It is hard to imagÂine what is going through Past InterÂnaÂtionÂal PresÂiÂdent Jim Rochfordâs mind as he finÂishÂes his eighth year on the InterÂnaÂtionÂal Board. Jim did not waste those years as he made an enorÂmous impact on the way we build new clubs. ThankÂfulÂly, he has trained so many othÂers along the way as well. Five hunÂdred new KiwaÂnis clubs have the Rochford touch.
From Key Club AdviÂsor to coachÂing basÂketÂball to being the GovÂerÂnor of the IlliÂnois-EastÂern Iowa DisÂtrict, there isnât much Jim hasÂnât done to help young peoÂple. Jim was excitÂed that his own son has joined him in his crimÂiÂnal law pracÂtice under the watchÂful eye of office manÂagÂer and wife, Debra.
We all know that Jimâs career of makÂing a difÂferÂence for othÂers is far from over as is his penÂchant for laughÂing at his own âpuny jokesâ⊠The jury is still out on that.
Thank you to all three speakÂers at todayâs meetÂing for givÂing us a glimpse into your lives.