Left to right: Matt Morris of Kiwanis International Foundation, District First Lady Nancy Dietz, District Governor Fred Dietz, Francine Pease
By Francine Pease, Kiwanis Club of Greater East Troy
As a woman, I was deeply touched when I heard about The Eliminate Project, Kiwanis’ effort to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus, which profoundly affects the lives of women and newborns in developing countries. As a sister to five women, mother to one, and grandmother to seven, I know that I am blessed to live in a country where women give birth without experiencing this dreadful disease. As a result, at the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District Convention in August, 2011, I pledged to donate US$5,000 to The Eliminate Project.
However, I also wanted my donation to affect the lives of women in the USA; especially those who have served with me in the Kiwanis Club of Greater East Troy. I have been disappointed in my club that, in our 38 year history, only one deserving woman has received a Hixson Fellowship—and that Hixson was initiated by women club members. My donation enabled me to award five Hixson Fellowships, but since I wanted to honor six women, I enthusiastically donated another one thousand dollars to The Eliminate Project.
The ceremony, which was held in East Troy, Wisconsin on December 15, 2011, was a wonderful event. Not only will my donation save the lives of women and their future babies, but it also allowed six women to be honored with the Hixson Fellowship. The Hixson Fellowship is one of the Kiwanis International Foundation's highest honors and is given to individuals that demonstrate strong Kiwanis support. These six previously unrecognized women, including myself, who have contributed greatly to the success of the Kiwanis Club of Greater East Troy are: Mary Nicoson, Betty Parman, Pauline Stollenwerk, Geri Mayotte, Barbara Jeffries and Francine Pease. The December 15 ceremony also noted that Kiwanis is celebrating the 25th anniversary of women being welcome in Kiwanis clubs.
Approximately 60 people attended this historic event. East Troy Kiwanis members were joined by Key Club members and their advisors, as well as representatives from the entire Kiwanis organization: Matthew Morris, Kiwanis International Foundation; Fred Dietze, Wisconsin-Upper Michigan governor; Jan Williams, Kiwanis District Foundation; and Tom Chestnut, Division 2, lieutenant governor. In addition the Waterford, Elkhorn, Burlington and Whitewater Clubs were represented.