February Meeting Recap

New Members, Theater Night Success, and Olympic Trivia

The Kiwanis Club of Bixby Knolls/North Long Beach gathered at Taboon Mediterranean on February 17th for an evening filled with celebrations, achievements, and friendly competition.

Welcoming New Members

The evening’s highlight was officially pinning two new members: Janice Guevara and Carey von Gremp. President Myra Kremen, along with sponsors David Lalonde and Roger Leue, presented the new members with their Kiwanis pins and comprehensive member packets containing club information, fundraiser details, rosters, and upcoming event calendars. As President Kremen noted, “Kiwanis members care about their community. They join clubs to connect with other service leaders, to multiply their impact, to make the community better.”

Theater Night 2026: Record-Breaking Success

The club celebrated exceptional results from their January 29th Theater Night fundraiser featuring “Go Back for Murder” at Long Beach Playhouse. Alba Swalheim reported that the silent auction alone raised $2,200 from 32 donated items, with the standout being a Palm Springs weekend getaway. The event’s total net profit reached $12,144.10—the highest amount ever raised by the club. With approximately 150 people attending from 260 tickets sold, every current club member participated in making the event successful.

Community Service Updates

Dan Ryan shared his experience with his first Lydia House meal service, delivering chicken dinners to approximately 40 appreciative residents. Despite initial confusion about the scheduling, the mission was accomplished successfully, and Dan committed to signing up again.

Upcoming Events and Fundraisers

Alba Swalheim announced the club’s first jewelry fundraiser, scheduled for March 14th at 11 a.m. at her home. The brunch-style event will feature Park Lane Jewelry with 50% of proceeds benefiting the club’s Foundation programs. Both in-person attendance (with mimosas, games, and additional raffles) and online ordering options are available.

Jackie Acosta from the Kiwanis Club of Carson presented their annual St. Patrick’s Day raffle, featuring $17,500 in ticket sales with $8,750 distributed as cash prizes. The drawing offers 24 winning chances from only 175 tickets sold, providing approximately one-in-eight odds of winning something.

Recognition and Awards

In a surprise announcement, the club selected Roger Leue as their Distinguished Service Award recipient. The ceremony will take place Sunday, May 3rd at a park in Downey.

Looking Ahead

Key upcoming dates include:

• Middle School Awards Luncheon: June 2nd at 11 a.m. (recognizing 42 students from seven schools)
• District Council Meeting: First Wednesday in March (hosted by Long Beach Club)
• Club-hosted District Council Meeting: June 3rd at Taboon Mediterranean

Meeting Entertainment

David Lalonde provided an entertaining Olympic-themed trivia contest featuring questions about Winter Olympics history, complete with Italian wine prizes for the top three scorers. The competition ended in multiple ties, creating additional excitement as members tested their Olympic knowledge.

The evening concluded with the traditional 50-50 raffle and the club’s signature “Hail Kiwanis International” song, reinforcing the fellowship and community spirit that defines the organization.