Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Karnoth, Krogstad, Prosser, Slezak, Vanderhoof Egstad, Cook, Shoup, Karlen
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 2/24/2016
News: Aktion Club Received Official Charter (16 Feb 2016)
Clark County Aktion Club Receives Official Charter
Officials gather following the presentation of the charter and gavel at the Clark County Aktion Club meeting held Feb. 16 at Missionary Baptist Church in Greenwood. Shown l-r, Aktion Club vice president Becky Vanderhoof, Aktion Club secretary Becky Egstad, Aktion Club president Troy Prosser, Neillsville Kiwanis Club president Ken Slezak, Aktion Club administration (Wisconsin/Upper Michigan District0 Charles Karnoth and Aktion Club vice president of o0perations Roger Krogstad. (Todd Schmidt/Clark County Press Photo)
By Todd Schmidt
A group of adults with special needs celebrated a milestone with family members and friends Feb. 16 at Missionary Baptist Church in Greenwood.
The officially received their Aktion Club charter under the guidance of the Neillsville Kiwanis Club. Aktion Club is the only service club for adults with disabilities, with more than 12,000 members in 500 clubs throughout the world. The membership now includes 13 members from the newly chartered Clark County Aktion Club.
Charles Karnoth, administrator of the Wisconsin/Upper Michigan district which includes 16 Aktion Clubs from Marquette to Janesville, congratulated the group on their achievement.
Karnoth reviewed the Aktion Club motto: Where development has no disability,” and the vision: “To develop competent, capable caring leaders through the vehicle of service.” He said the organization strives to provide adults living with disabilities the opportunity to develop initiative and leadership skills while serving their communities.
Roger Krogstad, vice president of operations for Aktion Clubs, described the relationship between Kiwanis and Aktion clubs.
“This is a unique situation, as they are seeking to make this a county-wide initiative,” Krogstad said. “The Neillsville Kiwanis Club saw there was a need for this group. There are now that many more eyes, ears and hands to do things for the community.”
Karnoth mentioned other offshoots of the Kiwanis Club; including Circle K (college), Key Club (high school), Builders Club (middle school) and K Kids (grade school). He said the Aktion Club initiative is the fastest growing.
Karnoth predicted the Aktion Club worldwide membership would top 13,000 by the end of 2016. He said 40 new clubs were chartered in the last fiscal year ending in October 2015.
“The attitude is always positive,” Karnoth said. “Aktion Club members do a combination of service work and fundraising. Usually about a third of the members want to run for office in their local club. They start to feel good about getting in front of a group and talking. They realize they can have fun while helping others who have needs.”
Clark County Aktion Club president Troy Prosser of Neillsville accepted the gavel from Neillsville Kiwanis Club president Ken Slezak. Other Aktion Club officers include vice president Becky Vanderhoof of Colby, and secretary, Becky Egstad of Greenwood.
Slezak said Kiwanis Club members Mark Cook and Brent Shoup were instrumental in getting the Aktion Club started, along with Jeff and Mary Karlen of Greenwood, who have a son with special needs.
“There is not a lot for people with special needs to do,” Jeff Karlen said. “We hope this gives them a chance to give back to the community. They can get out into the public and help with events, teaming up with other organizations. They want to show everyone that people with special needs are valued. We are really encouraged with the way things are going now.”
The Neillsville Kiwanis Club paid the local Aktion Club’s $435 charter fee. Membership dues are a modest $8 per year. The Kiwanis group works with families and friends to provide a potluck meal for the monthly Aktion Club meetings held the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at Missionary Baptist Church, at Greenwood.
“The idea is they can get self-sustaining at some point,” Cook said. For more details about the Clark County Aktion Club, contact: Cook at 715-937-5033, Shoup at 715-829-3635 or Jeff and Mary Karlen at 715-267-6643. General information is available at www.aktionclub.org.
Members of the newly formed Clark County Aktion Club pose for a group photo following the meeting held Feb. 16 at Missionary Baptist Church in Greenwood. The Aktion Club holds a meeting with a potluck meal the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the church. (Todd Schmidt/Clark County Press Photo)
