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Power and growth of Brooklyn Kiwanians seen at division meeting

Presidents of Brooklyn clubs gather, cite service to children

January 20, 2025 Wayne Daren Schneiderman
From left: Thomas Aellis, secretary for Ben-Bay; Bart Allegretti, president of Ben-Bay; Lt. Governor Mark Pohl; Michael Rizzotto, past lt. governor and secretary to the Brooklyn division; and Kathleen Marcario, Kings Plaza/Canarsie past president and Brooklyn division treasurer. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
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BAY RIDGE — Brooklyn Kiwanians held their first division meeting of the new year, showcasing their most recent accomplishments and discussing a number of upcoming events designed to give back to children and their communities. 

Five of the nine Brooklyn clubs attended the reception on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at Cebu Bar & Bistro, hosted by Ben-Bay and including Kings Plaza/Canarsie, Dyker Heights/Borough Park, Liberty and Gravesend. 

Members of Ben-Bay Kiwanis. (Frank Naccarato, left, seated in dark jacket). Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Members of Ben-Bay Kiwanis. (Frank Naccarato, left, seated in dark jacket). Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Lt. Gov. Mark Pohl, the highest ranking Kiwanian in Brooklyn who oversees all of the borough’s clubs and is also a member of the Kings Plaza/Canarsie club, told the Brooklyn Eagle that he was more than satisfied with the meeting’s outcome. 

“We have an active division with a lot of clubs that get along and have fun together,” Pohl said. “Today’s purpose was to celebrate camaraderie and to share all the good things we are doing under the Kiwanis name.”

Bart Allegretti, president of Ben-Bay. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Bart Allegretti, president of Ben-Bay. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Division meetings are held four times a year. The next three will be in March, April and June. June’s meeting will feature Kiwanis Gov. Gordon Soderholm’s annual visit. 

Approximately 75 people from five Brooklyn Kiwanis clubs came together for January’s division meeting. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Approximately 75 people from five Brooklyn Kiwanis clubs came together for January’s division meeting. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Getting down to brass tacks 

“Club reports,” where each club takes turns speaking about their contributions to their respective communities, are a staple of division meetings, and this one was no different. 

Ben-Bay discussed their involvement in the “Community For Kids” benefit this past December — a fundraiser to benefit Maimonides Children’s Hospital.  

Members of the Dyker Heights/Borough Park club. (Joseph Ruggiero, New York district governor, left, wearing tie). Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Members of the Dyker Heights/Borough Park club. (Joseph Ruggiero, New York district governor, left, wearing tie). Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

On Saturday, March 15, there will be a fundraiser at the Greenhouse Café honoring club member Frank Naccarato, who is co-chair of Community for Kids and trustee of Maimonides Medical Center. 

Lt. Governor Mark Pohl. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Lt. Governor Mark Pohl. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Naccarato briefly addressed the crowd: “There are many other individuals out there that are more worthy and deserving than I am, but nobody is more proud than I am to receive such a recognition.” 

Lenny Gioia, president of Gravesend.  Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Lenny Gioia, president of Gravesend. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Kings Plaza/Canarsie spoke of their recent “Winter Wonderland” event, which provides toys to needy children and also included a visit from Santa (Kiwanian Richard Schweid). 

Mark Pohl in conversation with fellow Kiwanians. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Mark Pohl in conversation with fellow Kiwanians. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Schweid, who was also at the event, said that on Saturday, Jan. 25 there will be a Bingo night scheduled, “to raise money for all the charities we support.”

Members of the Gravesend club. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Members of the Gravesend club. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

The Dyker Heights/Borough Park club pointed out that December was an incredibly busy month. 

Joseph Ruggiero, New York district governor. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Joseph Ruggiero, New York district governor. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

According to Joseph Miraglia, who is a founding member of the group, one of the highlights was being part of a number of local toy drives.  

Members of the Liberty club.  Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Members of the Liberty club. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Liberty President Karen Emma noted that her club did a large number of turkey giveaways in 2024 — “including to families in the NYCHA Houses,” Emma said. “We also hosted a holiday party in Coney Island, where we supplied toys and food to 175 children,” she added.  

Joe Mure (left) and Frank Naccarato. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Joe Mure (left) and Frank Naccarato. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Gravesend Kiwanians said that one of their more noteworthy accomplishments in 2024 was spearheading a CPR awareness club for more than 100 children. 

Next came the “Treasurer’s Report,” whereby a detailed overview of the organization’s financial status — including income received, expenses incurred, and the current cash balance — was discussed. (Kiwanians donated a significant amount of money to assist Florida and North Carolina in their disaster relief efforts). 

Joe Stile (pictured) has been a Kiwanian since 1964. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Joe Stile (pictured) has been a Kiwanian since 1964. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

The next division meeting, which is slated to take place on Tuesday, March 11, is still looking for a club to volunteer to host. 

Liberty President Karen Emma.  Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Liberty President Karen Emma. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Some history 

The Kiwanis, whose motto is “serving the children of the world,” is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. 

Kiwanian Richard Schweid speaks. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Kiwanian Richard Schweid speaks. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Kiwanis International was founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. The organization was originally called the Supreme Lodge Benevolent Order of Brothers, and one year later, the name changed to Kiwanis, which was selected by the organization’s founders based on their understanding that the word was translatable to “we build” from the Algonquian Native American language family. That same year, Kiwanis became an international organization with the founding of the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 

Members of the Kings Plaza/Canarsie club. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Members of the Kings Plaza/Canarsie club. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Initially focused on business networking, the organization changed its focus to service in 1919 — specifically service to children. Over the years, more clubs were created in the U.S. and Canada, and worldwide expansion was ultimately approved in the 1960s. Today, there are Kiwanis clubs in nearly 80 nations and geographic locations.

Liberty Kiwanis members (from left): Rose Marie Borg, Joan Damico, and Carol Farinacci. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
Liberty Kiwanis members (from left): Rose Marie Borg, Joan Damico, and Carol Farinacci. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman




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