Golden K Kiwanis - Bloomington, IL

08/22/2023

Today we commemorate the 19th Amendment, a milestone in women's rights and suffrage. We reaffirm our commitment to fight for equality, justice, and freedom for all women. Together, we can create a world where all women are empowered and uplifted.

11/03/2022

11/03/2022

DAVE HAUMAN
Named Herb Klynstra Award recipient for 2021-22

Every year our club asks the membership for nominations for the Herb Klynstra Member of the Year Award. Herb was a charter member of the Golden K Kiwanis Club and was a very active, involved participant in everything Kiwanis stands for. A committee made up of past winners of the award reviews the nominations and selects a person who best displays the character of Herb Klynstra. The Herb Klynstra Member of the Year Award for 2022 goes to Dave Hauman for his many roles within the club from coordinating the humorists each month to chairing the fundraising committee.

At our October 3 meeting, Dave was presented with a framed certificate, signed President Geoff Hughes and Secretary Larry Phillips, by last year’s recipient Don Kratz. Dave also received a $250 check from the club for him to give to a charity of his choice. Dave selected the Children’s Discovery Museum to receive this donation.

Dave was born and raised in Moline, graduating from Moline High School in 1962. He attended Blackhawk Community College before transferring to IWU where he earned his Bachelors Degree. He continued his education at Chicago Theological Seminary earning his Masters of Divinity Degree.

After a successful career as a professional fundraiser, Dave retired in 2008. He joined Golden K in June 2011 at the urging of Mike McNeil and Larry Phillips. Dave has served on the Board of Directors, on the Store Fronts Committee, and as chair of Nut Sales subcommittee and as Fundraising Chair. He organizes the humorists for our weekly meetings. Most notable, he was instrumental in establishing the Golden K Fund for Kids at the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation so that members and others can make tax-deductible donations to help further our mission of serving the children in our community. As Madonna Courtright, one of his nominators, noted, “Dave always answers any call to help and does it with a servant’s heart.”

Dave likes old British cars, especially his 1970 Jaguar e-type and 1961 MGA. He chaired the annual Champagne British Car Festival held on the grounds of the David Davis Mansion from 2010 to 2019. He also likes to tend his garden and read when he is not volunteering at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center or attending meetings of the Young Men’s Club.

Dave and Diana (another Golden K member) like to travel. In their travels they have noted that the more vibrant communities have much public art on display. In the past few years, Dave has become dedicated to bringing more public art to our community.

Dave’s son is a high school teacher in Reading, Pa.; his daughter and her family live in Sandy Springs, Ga. Grandson Sam is a junior at Georgia State University; granddaughter Ella is a junior in high school. Many of us have met Dave’s father, Ed, who is 101 and has attended Golden K meetings.

11/03/2022

Veterans Get Retail Benefits
Year Round
by Jeff Courtright

One of the many benefits our veterans receive is a military discount at participating retailers. However, how you and your family get discounts, which retailers offer them, and how you get money off at those stores and restaurants varies.

First, the federal government has firm guidelines as to who may use the military discount. You or your spouse must be a veteran of, retired from, or currently enlisted in the armed forces or reserves. Through the Department of Veterans Affairs, you can receive a Department of Defense (DoD) ID card, a Veteran Health ID card, or Veteran ID. The VA also offers an ID for military spouses. Additionally, all 50 states and Puerto Rico offer a Veteran designation that can be printed on your driver’s license or state ID card. If a retailer offers a discount, at minimum, you must show one of these that indicates your military status. Some companies require registration on their website or proof through a 3rd-party program such as ID.me or SheerID.

For member Trent Keller, getting the “Veteran” designation on his driver’s license was simply a matter of contacting the Illinois Veterans Service office to have his DD Form 214/Honorable Discharge papers certified and then the Secretary of State’s office to update his license.

Still, finding out which retailers offer a military discount may be as uncertain as whether they offer one for seniors. For example, Golden K member Gregg Watson didn’t know that he could get one at Bob Evans Restaurants until a person paying ahead of him asked the cashier for the military discount. (They didn’t even ask for an ID.)

Other businesses actively promote their military discount. Yet they may have differing requirements. Take, for instance, big box hardware/building supply stores (not all products are discounted):
Lowe’s (10%): Veterans must log in or create a Lowe’s account, register online through ID.me, provide their phone number to be found in the system, and present a valid veteran ID to the cashier. Spouses must do the same and should be registered online with the same phone number or must live at the same address as the veteran to receive the discount. (Others who live at the address also may receive a discount.) Our secretary, Larry Phillips, has found the registration and purchase process easy to use there.

Home Depot (10%): Similar to Lowe’s, you must sign in or create a Home Depot account; however, verify your military status through Sheer ID. Dependents are not eligible. The discount is limited to $400 per year. (As little as 18 months ago, online registration wasn’t required.)

Menards: No longer offers a military discount.

In contrast, Ace Hardware’s military discount is instore only. Both Lowe’s and Home Depot apply it both online and instore.

What other places should you check out for military discount availability?
Many restaurants offer discounts on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, and military recognition days in May. Otherwise, these discounts often are at the discretion of the franchise owner. However, if offered, a valid Veterans ID is sufficient. Some accept only active military IDs. Noteworthy examples for both (10% unless otherwise noted) include A&W, Bob Evans, Carl Jr.’s/Hardees, Denny’s, Logan’s Roadhouse (15%), Longhorn Steakhouse, Pizza Hut, Red Lobster, Texas Roadhouse (not for family members).

Grocery and drug stores vary in ways to honor the military: CVS (20%, online only), Jewel Osco (Veteran’s Day), Target (online, 10%, Oct. 30-Nov. 12), Walgreen (promotions around service-related holidays). Aldi and Kroger offer other discount programs and Walmart emphasizes its donations instead.

Discount stores such as Costco and Sam’s Club only offer a military discount on a new or renewing member’s first purchase (20% for Costco, 10% for Sam’s).

Golden K veterans also can check out all the online discounts available for vehicle repair and rental, travel, hotels and resorts, clothing, and other specialty retailers. Better still, ask when you get any type of service, because you never know. Golden K member Ron Irion got $600 off a $6000 pair of hearing aids at Bloomington Audiology!

Remember, it’s easier than you might expect. If you need help with registration online, turn to your fellow members for help.

You’ll need an electronic copy of your discharge papers (DD214 or other separation documents) to get started with the federal government. You can bring your documents to any DMV without a fee when you renew your license.

Here are some helpful links to use to obtain a veteran’s ID:

Veterans Affairs department’s FAQs:
https://www.va.gov/records/get-veteran-id-cards/vic/

Types of VA ID cards:
https://www.va.gov/records/get-veteran-id-cards/

Driver’s license designation:
https://www2.illinois.gov/veterans/services%20benefits/Pages/Veteran-Driver’s-License.aspx

11/03/2022

WAYNE MONTNEY

One of Golden K’s newest members is our second attorney to join in the last six months. Mike Carroll sponsored Wayne Montney to join Golden K.

Wayne was born in Billings, Mont. He also living in Butte and Great Falls before moving to Portland, Ore., at age 11. His father took a new job there. Wayne’s parents had four daughters, then Wayne and his younger brother.

Wayne enjoyed his adolescent years, taking jobs as a dishwasher and busboy and then a cook in a Portland restaurant. He also spent a lot of time camping in Montana and Oregon, although Wayne says a lot of it was “getting rained on while camping at the coast.”

Formative activities important to Wayne’s career as a lawyer involved public speaking and broadcasting.
Wayne relates, “The Portland school district owned a public radio station and had broadcast rights to citywide high school sports. While in high school, I was a football and basketball play-by-play announcer for the public radio station. I also worked at the station during the summer.”

This in turn led Wayne to the speech team in high school and the speech and debate team at Lewis and Clark College.

Upon graduation, Wayne started with a computer company but then left to work in claims at State Farm. He rose to supervising Workers Compensation, Bonds, and Subrogation. Meanwhile, Wayne studied at night at Lewis and Clark Law School. He passed the Oregon Bar in 1989 and in 1990 accepted a job as an attorney at State Farm’s corporate headquarters here.

Wayne met Sheila, his wife, when her career with State Farm also brought her to Bloomington. She was promoted from a position in Sacramento, Calif. Wayne explains, “At that time, it was the practice to introduce new hires in Claims to leadership in the department, and I happened to lead the Claims legal section.”

Wayne and Sheila are proudest of their one son, Jared, who is a sophomore at the University of Chicago, double majoring in Molecular Engineering and Physics. Says Wayne jokingly, “He gets his brains from his mother, not his father!”

Wayne held various positions at State Farm and rose to Associate General Counsel, with responsibility for property and casualty insurance counseling. He retired in 2019.

In his spare time, Wayne enjoys time with his family, reading, the “easy parts” of gardening, and, occasionally, photography, although he says, “There is little hope of any artistic qualities coming forth.” Wayne also believes that everyone is entitled to an irrational passion, although age has mellowed his support of Oregon Ducks football.

Most important, though, is travel. Sheila has visited all 50 states, beating Wayne’s 47. Together, they’ve seen 41 countries so far. In 2011, they flew around the world, stopping at six continents. Their favorite country is Italy. Wayne and Sheila hope to book a trip to Egypt for a Nile River cruise for 2023.

Prior to retirement, Wayne was on the board of his son’s hockey travel organization. He served two years as its president. Now he wants to support his family and community, enjoy his hobbies.

As a member of Golden K, Wayne’s motivation is to “give something back to the community.” He explains, “My wife and I have been blessed in many ways, and want to give back to keep our community strong. It’s also readily apparent that I will get to meet and know a number of good members of our community in Golden K.”

Just a few last things you should know about Wayne. First, here are his words to live by: ““If it really won’t matter a month from now, it’s not worth worrying about.”

Second, as some of you may know, his wife Sheila is Ward 3 alderman on the Bloomington City Council. Wayne cautions, “Don’t bring up politics with her or you will get her started!”

Welcome to Golden K, Wayne

11/03/2022

JUDY HUGHES

Golden K’s newest member lives by the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.” Judy Hughes’ lifelong devotion to teaching, family and helping others exemplify this familiar principle.

Judy was born in Olney, Ill., where she was the second of four children, two boys and two girls. Her father was a farmer and her mother an obstetrics nurse at the hospital in Olney. Judy says her parents were religious and hard working. She was caretaker to her younger brother and sister while her mother was at work.

Growing up, the family lived outside Claremont, Ill. Judy loved the outdoors and walking barefoot down the road to her aunt and uncle’s house to get candy. She was in 4-H and learned to be a good cook and seamstress. Judy’s first paying job was working in the high school guidance office while still a student herself.
Judy graduated with a teaching degree from Eastern Illinois University. Her first professional job was as a French teacher in 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio. After two years, she and outgoing Golden K President Geoff Hughes started a family, so she took a break from teaching until 1978. Judy then taught French at Bloomington High for 26 years, retiring in 2004.

Judy met Geoff in French class their junior year at EIU. They married upon graduation. They moved to Bloomington in 1968 and had two girls, Lisa and Stephanie. Both daughters telecommute. Lisa is a communications manager for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Stephanie is a life coach and does research and reporting for a company that contracts with the Alzheimer’s Association.

Judy is most proud of her daughters and four grandchildren. In general, she likes to see little kids and interact with them.

Another source of pride is accompanying Geoff on five student trips to France. Some students became close friends and have often come to her as a counselor or confidant.
In all, Judy and Geoff have been to France 12 times. Additionally, they’ve been to New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Israel, and all over the U.S. She and Geoff have been on four cruises and plan another one next year, this time to Iceland.

Judy joined Golden K to share time away from home with Geoff. Says Judy, “It gives me an opportunity to help other people, especially kids.”
Judy is no stranger to nonprofit volunteerism. She has been a member of Bloomington’s Margaret Fuller Book Club for 12 years, serving one year as its president. Judy’s also been a member of Calvary United Methodist Church for 52 years and chaired several committees in the past. And she is a member of the local chapter of PEO International, a women’s nonprofit that, according to its website, celebrates the advancement of women; educates them through scholarships, grants, awards, loans, and stewardship; and motivates women to achieve their highest aspirations.

Despite Judy’s ongoing memory issues, do take time to get to know our newest member. As she says, “It’s hard for me to reach out to people but I am friendly and approachable and appreciate those who reach out to me.” She hopes others see her as “a compassionate person who cares deeply about others, a good listener, a devoted wife and mother, and a trusted friend.”

Welcome to Golden K, Judy!

11/03/2022

BILL DAVISSON

A farm-and-town background and a healthy work-life balance have been the keys to a happy life for new member Bill Davisson.

Bill was born and raised on a 160-acre farm in southeast Iowa, just outside of Libertyville. He was the youngest of five children and began his education in a one-room country schoolhouse. The school consolidated with others at the beginning of 3rd grade. Says Bill, “I tell everyone that I was the smartest kid in my 3rd grade class. Carla Black moved away. So, in fact I was!”

Bill’s first paid job was helping bale hay for a neighboring farmer. He later worked for the Fairfield Community School District painting and mowing, and then worked in a clothing store
during summer vacations.

When Bill was a sophomore in high school, his family was sharecropping a farm but landlord decided to retire. None of the children were going into farming, so his father chose to retire and move to the city of Fairfield, Iowa.

Growing up, Bill loved all the activities that surrounded the farm. He was an active 4-H member and enjoyed showing sheep at the county fair. When his family moved to town, Bill was active in sports and other high school activities. Elected to the Student Council, he became student body Vice-President his senior year. His name is now on the Fairfield High School Wall of Fame.

Bill went on to earn an accounting degree from the University of Iowa in 1970. (He drew a high number in the draft lottery for Vietnam.) That same year, Bill married high school sweetheart and best friend, Sue Hartman. The same weekend, he became employed by FS Services (now GROWMARK) as an accounting trainee.

Bill is most proud of his family. He and Sue have 3 grown children, 8 grandchildren and 1 great-
grandchild. Their children are daughters Amy Dabler, who teaches 6th grade in Unit 5 and Jeni
Bicknell, who is a supervisor and buyer at Growing Grounds. Their son Mike works for Allied Benefit Services.

Bill spent his entire career at GROWMARK. He went back to school at Illinois State and earned a
CPA certificate in 1985. He was named comptroller of GROWMARK later that year. Bill later held positions as Vice-President of Finance and then Vice-President of Member Services. The
GROWMARK Board of Directors elected him CEO in 1998. Bill retired in 2011.

Bill was inducted into the National Cooperative Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C. He also has
served on several boards of directors and industry-related professional organizations.

Bill has had two passions, family first and work second. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking, tennis, golf and travel. Family vacations have always been a part of their activities every year, mostly in the U.S. and Cancun, Mexico.

Sue and Bill traveled a lot with GROWMARK throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as
some European countries. In retirement, they have visited Ireland and Scotland most recently.
These have become favorites.

Kevin Carroll sponsored Bill to join Golden K. Several other friends and former close friends who were GROWMARK employees belong to Golden K. Bill says, “I hope to learn more about what being a Kiwanian is all about. I am still very much learning at this stage.”

Bill’s word to live by: “Treat others as you would like to be treated.” Those who know Bill best see him as personable, honest and friendly. They also say that he’s somewhat quiet until they get to know him, as well as humble. Bill plans to enjoy his retirement years in Florida and Illinois “in good health with family and friends close by.”

So, get to know Bill Davisson as we give him a hearty Golden K welcome!

11/03/2022