History made as Wolff succeeds Healy as Kiwanis Club president
For the first time in its 95-year history, a woman has succeeded a woman as the president of the Kiwanis Club of Carmi.
Katelyne Wolff was installed as the new leader of the civic club during its weekly luncheon meeting Thursday at the Farm Bureau Building in Carmi. She succeeds Holly Healy.
Wolff is just the fourth woman to lead the civic club, Carmi’s oldest. Healy’s one-year term as club leader ended Thursday. The two other women who led the club in recent years were Kim Gwaltney and Nancy J. Winter.
Healy told Kiwanians and guests that she enjoyed her term as president, calling it a “great year.” She expressed thanks to the club’s officers and board of directors, as well as to her predecessor, Jeremy Jordan, for his assistance. Healy also saluted several Kiwanians for their behind-the-scenes efforts at Corn
Days, including Dan Drone, Rod Matsel, Barry Cleveland and Doug Hays.
Wolff expressed appreciation to the club for choosing her as its leader and also to Healy, adding that she has some “tough shoes to fill.” The 97th president of the club said she plans a focus on bringing some “familiar faces” (former or absent members) back to active membership, and she hopes to “re-energize’ the group. She added that “my door is always open” to members with concerns or suggestions.
Dr. Frank Barbre, a past president, conducted the installation with the help of two former Kiwanis lieutenant governors, Jim Davis and Keith Hoskins.
Eric Rahlfs will be president-elect, Justin Dartt first vice president and Caitlin Keepes second vice president. Steve Winkleman and Kati Sturgal will return as treasurer and secretary, respectively. Lawrence Martin, Matt Lamont, Greg Stewart and Scott Johnson, who just completed two-year terms as directors, will continue on the board and serve new two-year terms. Directors with another year to go on the board include Greg Grant, Amy McCarty, Andrea Hays and Doug Hays.
Barbre summed up the duties of the various officers and praised Healy (who will serve as past president) as a “quiet, efficient individual who gets things done.”
In a continuation of club traditions, Healy will display the past presidents’ plaque for the coming year, while Wolff will display the club’s original charter.
The installation followed a meal prepared and served by Yesterday’s. In club business, Wolff asked for a Kiwanian to assist in the Carmi Chamber of Commerce’s upcoming Trunk or Treat. And Rahlfs said he and Dave Matheny canvassed the vendors who took part in last weekend’s Corn Days celebration (sponsored by Kiwanis), and most have signed contracts to return in 2019.
–Barry Cleveland
TRANSITION IN LEADERSHIP – Katelyne Wolff (right) has succeeded Holly Healy (left) as president of the Kiwanis Club of Carmi, the community’s oldest civic club. The transition took place during Thursday’s weekly luncheon meeting at the Farm Bureau Building. The two are holding the newest of two wall plaques on which the names of the 90-plus men and women who have served as Carmi Kiwanis president are inscribed.
