The newly-formed Warsaw Aktion Club met on April 12. Photo provided.

Press Release

WARSAW — Warsaw Kiwanis Club held the first meeting of the new Warsaw Aktion Club on Tuesday, April 12, at the Parkview YMCA.

Aktion Club is one of the family of Kiwanis service clubs that, in addition to Kiwanis Club, includes Key Club for high school students and Circle K Club for college students. Aktion Club is designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Members of the club and its officers are all individuals with disabilities. Together they provide club leadership, make proposals and decisions on activities such as social gatherings, fundraisers and service projects, and they perform these in conjunction with club advisors and other members of the Kiwanis family.

Speaker Don Collins of the Shelbyville club said that the mission of Aktion Club is to provide adults with disabilities an opportunity to develop initiative, leadership skills, and to serve their community. Warsaw Kiwanis President Jim Molebash added that too often people with disabilities are thought of only as needing to be served, and that others forget that they are able to serve as well. The core values of Aktion Club are character-building, leadership, inclusiveness, and caring for oneself, others, the community and the nation.

Going forward, meetings will be held monthly at the Parkview YMCA. Those wishing to join or to participate as an advisor or support staff are invited to attend the next meeting at 6 p.m. May 10. Dues are $8 a year and scholarships are available to those unable to cover the fee.

For questions, contact Anne Petre of the YMCA at (574) 269-9622, or Michelle Boxell of Warsaw Kiwanis at (574) 371-1387.