Janesville Blackhawk Golden Kiwanis

Blackhawk Golden ‘K’ General Meeting
Minutes
June 4^th, 2025

Roger Willeford presiding, called the meeting to order with a ring of the bell at 9:30AM.
A Programs Committee meeting occurred today.
34 members were in attendance today.

The meeting was led with the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of America, the National Anthem.

Invocation: Richard Johnson, mentioning birthdays and the children.

Raffle: Linda Bontly oversaw the ticket sales and drawing this week.
The weekly pot was $12 and the big (Joker) pot was $239.
Darlene Johnson drew a ticket from the bucket, ticket number 5280.  Congratulations to the winner, Maury Frey / Glenn Disrude.
The deck of cards has 34/53 cards remaining.  Maury Frey drew the Q♣.

Roger Willeford thanks greeters Dave Caverley and Bob Wilcox, invocator Richard Johnson, rafflemaster Linda Bontly, and server Maury Frey.

Happy Box: Maury Frey announced he is happy because he won the raffle, and is donating it to Mark Steinke (the now retired Rotary staff member).
Roger Willeford announced he is happy because he is celebrating his 57^th wedding anniversary next week.
Luci Cramer announced she is happy because the Cramers are leaving for two weeks of vacation including time with family in Seattle.

Jokes: Steve Skelly had a good joke.

Richard Johnson (whose birthday is today!), Don Kellogg, and Dave Kemp have birthdays this month, and a song was sung.

Other Announcements: Linda Bontly spoke upon Mid-year appeal envelopes went out today.

Committee Reports: John Janes announced the Janesville Grand Prix (bicycle race) is June 19^th.  Signups will be present next week.
John Janes announced a blood drive is occurring on June 23^rd/24^th.
John Janes announced Jan Reck, Will Reck’s widow, sent a check from a family friend named Dell, who donated $1,000 to the Kiwanis cause.

Tom Neumann announced the Janesville Farmer’s Market approaches.
Steve Skelly announced days to assist building the Buddy Benches are Thu/Fri/Mon/Tues, due to previous lumber quality.

Luci Cramer introduced the day’s speaker, Lindsay Stevens.  Lindsay is the director of the Janesville NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Health.  Originally started in the 1970s by two mothers whose sons had schizophrenia, the NAMI group has grown and now has a sizable office space.  Previously named ‘AMI’ (friend, in French), the group is the largest grassroots mental health movement in the country.

Some information about the group was shared:
All funds received by NAMI stay in Rock county.
The group was formally established here in 1982.

The Enrichment Center, on the West side, was dedicated office space opened in December of 2016.
The building has different areas, including a calming room with headphones and white noise options, a beloved popcorn machine, a room where movie nights are hosted, and a meeting room where speakers present, including a monthly nutritionist.

The group has 600 affiliates around the country.
NAMI members participate in youth outings.  Recent examples include a baseball game, and last year a trip to Lambeau Field.
NAMI participates in Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), a four day event for law enforcement.  The first in Rock County was held in 2012.

A CIP event , a shortened two day version for the national stage, has seen success.
The event exists partly because more officers die to suicide than in the field.
In Rock county, 19 trainings have occurred, and 475 people were trained by teams of five.

Kiwanian Steve Skelly asks, “How can we help?”  Lindsay replied, “Spread the word, and assist with supplies needs.”
Lindsay estimates NAMI helps 100-150 kids.

Luci Cramer thanked Lindsay Stevens for speaking and presented her with a Kiwanis Parker pen.

Roger Willeford adjourned the meeting with a ring of the bell at 10:40AM.

Minutes by Ryan Lewis.
Credit: Dave Figi, and Ryan Lewis, photographs.

Note: Kiwanis and its members are not responsible for errors or omissions.  We are open to discussion if you would like to request an alteration.