Fun meetings have Kiwanians in hog heaven

When the Kiwanis Club of Hoosick Falls, New York, faced tough times, Gale Leva took the reins and steered the club back in the right direction.

Gale Leva bursts out in laughter during the Kiss the Pig contest. Local politician Lester Goodermote was the winner. His prize? To kiss the pig, of course!

“The club was losing its meeting place, key fundraisers did not have critical chairpersons—the list could go on,” says Hoosick Falls Kiwanian Jean Andrick. “Gale used her keen sense of humor to keep light of the situations, and we came out of it all a more fun club.”

Gale’s quick thinking and knack for bringing out the best in everyone in the club paid off in some unforgettable projects and fundraisers.

“She created unusual new fundraising events such as a Cabin Fever party in the dead of winter to get us all out of the house, and in the (United States) northeast, that’s no simple feat,” says Jean.

But it was one particular fundraiser that had the entire town talking.

“I think the most ‘fun’ project we had last year was our Kiss the Pig contest,” Gale says. “We had politicians, school board members, the mayor, the local oil company owner, school superintendent, and other candidates. The community voted for their favorite candidate, and the candidate with the most votes got to kiss the pig.”

While Jean is quick to praise Gale for the positive changes she’s brought to the club, Gale gives the credit to the members.

“Our club meetings are fun because Kiwanis is fun,” Gale says. “We’re a group of volunteers who create our own fundraisers. We come up with ideas that please us and help us to serve the children of our community. It can’t get any better than that! It’s easy to recruit new members when you are enjoying what you’re doing.”