Kristina Kornoely, Cedar Springs Women’s Club 2017 Outstanding Woman of the Year, with her family. Courtesy photo.

By Sue Harrison

The May Cedar Springs Women’s Club meeting was full of lots of activities. The most exciting was the presentation of the 2017 Outstanding Woman of the Year award. Each year one woman is recognized for her exemplary spirit and contributions during the Club year. She must be enthusiastic in the promotion and support of Women’s Club and be active in community activities.

The 2017 recipient of the Women’s Club Outstanding Woman of the Year was Kristina Kornoely. Kristina is one of the Directors of Women’s Club and serves on the Archival Committee, the Holiday Tea Committee, and the Social Activities Committee.  She is usually the first person at the meeting to open up and often the last to leave.

Kristina’s husband, Michael, and friend Soonja Koole, were instrumental in getting biographical information secretly to prior award recipients, Carolyn Davis and Penny Dietrich, to organize for the surprise presentation. Kristina’s biography was read by Carolyn Davis, last year’s recipient of the award. A copy of the biography was presented to Kristina along with a plaque and a certificate commemorating the event. Kristina was presented with a dozen red roses by Women’s Club President, Sue Harrison, also a former award recipient.  Kristina’s husband, Michael, daughter Rachel, and mother Ellen Moore attended the ceremony and lunch.

Women’s Club meets the first Thursday of the month from September to the following June.  Any woman wishing to join Women’s Club needs to attend two meetings, then fill out an application and have two sponsors who have been members for at least one year. She then can be inducted into membership during the month following the receipt of her application. No members are inducted in the month of June.

Pictured in the photo (from left to right): Grandson Alec Falicki, daughter Soonja Koole, Woman of the Year Carolyn Davis, husband Dan Davis, daughter Kelli Koole Clark.

By Sue Harrison

The May meeting of the Cedar Springs Women’s Club was full of celebrations.

Every year one woman of the Cedar Springs Women’s Club is recognized for her exemplary spirit in the promotion and support of Cedar Springs Women’s Club and her involvement in community activities. This year’s recipient of the 2015-2016 Outstanding Women’s Club Member is Carolyn Davis. Carolyn has been active on the Women’s Club CAN committee, has volunteered at North Kent Service Center, has held the offices of 1st and 2nd Vice President, and served as Club President  from 2012-2014. Her husband Dan, daughters Kelli Clark and Soonja Koole, and grandson Alec Falicki, surprised Carolyn at the ceremony and luncheon. Past Woman of the Year recipients, Penny Darling, Caroline Bartlette and Sue Harrison presented Carolyn  with a dozen roses (the Club flower), as well as a certificate and wall plaque designating her as the 2015-2016 award winner.

Thelma Morris celebrated her 95th birthday on May 2 and was presented with a bouquet of flowers.

The Cedar Springs Women’s Club celebrated the election of a new Board of Officers for 2016-2017.  They are: President Sue Harrison; 1st Vice President Penny Darling; 2nd Vice President Donna Clark; Secretary Caroline Bartlette; Corresponding Secretary Sally Grayvold; Treasurer Char Heim; Directors: Kristina Kornoely, Louise King, and Kathy Anderson. The officer installation ceremony takes place at the June meeting.

The Cedar Springs Rotary recently handed out the awards for their annual Rotary 4-way test contest. They invited students from Cedar View, Creative Technology Academy, and Algoma Christian to enter, and had nine fifth grade classes participate. All essays were written at school in 200 words or less. Teachers chose the 2 best essays from their class and submitted them to the committee, which included Julie Wheeler, Carolyn Davis and Donna Clark.

“We had 18 diverse and interesting essays to read, evaluate and choose from,” explained Clark. “We looked at grammar, writing mechanics, spelling, presentation and the story line. We looked for a clear outcome, such as the lesson learned or character revealed.”

The 4 Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into more than 100 languages and published in thousands of ways. The message should be known and followed by all Rotarians.  “Of the things we think, say or do: 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2.  Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3.  Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4.  Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”

Coming in first this year was Martin Yakes, of Mrs. Kahler’s class. “We feel he withstood a great test of integrity and learned a great lesson. His essay is entitled “Truth or Dare,” explained Clark. Katelyn was given her award and $50.

Second place went to Ashlyn Roberts, of Mrs. Latimer’s class. “She is a girl of great integrity as her essay demonstrates,” said Clark. She was given an award and $30.

Jesse Nagle, of Mrs. Boverhof’s class, came in third place. “We appreciated how Jesse found his way out of a very sticky situation with honesty and integrity,”  remarked Clark. He was given an award and $20.

“We as Rotarians are aware of the example we set as individuals and as a Club in our community,” said Rotary President Ron McDermed. “As community leaders and partners, we are mindful of what we think, say and do.”