Club Roundup: The latest news from area service clubs

Kiwanis Club of Scotts Valley
On Halloween, Kiwanis provided tents for the Valley Vineyards Church Harvest Festival.
Kiwanis will operate refreshment booths for the Christmas Tree Lighting Festival in Scotts Valley on Dec. 5. The club will sell homemade cookies, hot spiced cider, cocoa and coffee (thanks to Peet’s) for $1. These will be available at the senior center and the rink. Proceeds will benefit Valley Churches United Missions.
Last year, the Kiwanis Christmas Tree received the most raffle tickets, probably due to the fact that it contained decorative envelopes containing $500 in cash. This year, the decorating committee has sworn to outdo itself.
The December dinner meeting will be a breakfast at Peachwoods ($20). It will feature a buffet, Christmas caroling and a silent auction of unique gift baskets. The breakfast begins at 7 a.m. Dec. 9. For reservations: 438-4506.
Kiwanis meets at 7 a.m. Wednesdays at Heavenly Café, 1270 Mount Hermon Road. Breakfast is $5. To participate in these and other activities, attend a meeting.
For information: www.svkiwanis.org.
Scotts Valley Host Lions
This month marks the Lions Club’s 40th year of service to the Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley communities.
A Scotts Valley Middle School student participated in the Lions Club International Peace Poster Contest. Students submitted original artwork to show what peace means to them. This was a first-time entry for the club, and club members were pleased to submit the poster in the district level contest.
The club will participate in Scotts Valley’s Christmas Tree Lighting Festival on Dec. 5. Members will have a decorated tree in the Christmas Tree raffle, and residents are invited to stop by the senior center and visit the Lions’ “Lottery Dream” tree.
The club meets at the Scotts Valley Senior Center at 7 a.m. Tuesdays, except for the second Tuesday of each month, when the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.
For information: www.svlions.org.
Exchange Club of Scotts Valley
The club will again host the Christmas Tree Raffle at the Scotts Valley Christmas Tree Lighting Festival from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Scotts Valley Senior Center.
Decorated Christmas trees will be raffled off, many with presents as part of the tree package. Raffle tickets are $5 each or five tickets for $20. Those who wish to enter can place their name and contact info on the back of each ticket and place any number of tickets in the voting box for a tree choice, or spread them around. Entrants do not need to be present to win.
Local residents can join the club for its pre-event party on at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, for drinks and hors d’oeuvres at the senior center and the opportunity to win a special “travel” Christmas tree. Event fee is $20 per person.
For information: John Wilson, 440-5652 or [email protected].
Rotary Club of San Lorenzo Valley
December speakers include the following:
• Wednesday, Dec. 2: Beth Kraft will present information about 4-H projects in the San Lorenzo Valley.
• Dec. 9: Sgt. Jim Ross will be introduced as the new SLV community sheriff deputy.
• Dec. 16: Holiday lunch buffet, 12:15 p.m., Ivy Dining Room, Mount Hermon Conference Center. Cost is $15.
The club meets at 7:15 a.m. Wednesdays in the Birch Dining Room at Mount Hermon Conference Center on Conference Drive in Mount Hermon. Cost is $10.
For information: www.slvrotaryclub.org.
Rotary Club of Scotts Valley
Scotts Valley’s Christmas Tree Lighting Festival on Dec. 5 will also be the last public skate at the Scotts Valley Sports Center. Club volunteers will manage the center’s skating rink sessions at 6:30 and 8 p.m., collecting $5 or five prepackaged, nonperishable food items for admission. A closing ceremony will begin at 9:15 p.m., at which time the keys to the center will be handed over to the city of Scotts Valley, which will convert the building to a public library.
As 2009 winds down, the club looks forward to another year of international and local service, from continuing Rotary International’s mission to eliminate polio in the world to promoting literacy locally by adopting a section of the new and forthcoming library.
The club meets from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Mondays at the Scotts Valley Hilton. Lunch begins at 12:15 p.m. and costs $16.
For information: www.scottsvalleyrotary.org.
• Meetings are open to guests, and clubs welcome new members. Contributors to this column are Joe Miller, Kiwanis; Lisa Bustichi, Lions; John Wilson, Exchange; Priscilla Weiss, SLV Rotary; and Amanda Matthews, Scotts Valley Rotary.