Kiwanis Club of Raleigh

06/03/2026

What did you miss on Friday, May 29th?

The opportunity to hear from our own, Elaine Marshall!!!

In 1996, Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall became the first woman ever elected to a statewide, executive branch office in North Carolina and has served as President of the National Association of Secretaries of State.

Voters re-elected her to an eighth term in 2024, and Governor Cooper presented her with the NC Order of the Long Leaf Pine award in 2022, the Governor’s highest award for service to the State. A former teacher, small business owner, and private practice attorney, Secretary Marshall was elected to the NC Senate before rising to statewide office.

Under Secretary Marshall’s administration, more than 2.2 million businesses have been formed, she has pioneered e-commerce in government, protected investors and intellectual property owners, and promoted financial capital formation in North Carolina.

Secretary Marshall has been very active in many civic groups in the areas of child welfare, women's issues, and agriculture and small-town economic development. She credits 4-H as an important part of her youth and received Lifetime Achievement Awards from North Carolina 4-H and in 2014 was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame.

She holds a B.S. in Home Economics from the University of Maryland and a law degree from Campbell University. She has received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Campbell University, Lees-McRae College, Meredith College and the Republic of Moldova State University of Medicine. In 2024, she was also bestowed with the Order of the Republic, the government of Moldova’s highest honor, by Moldova President Maia Sandu.

Since becoming Secretary of State, she has received numerous state and national awards for leadership in technology, government innovation, and women's leadership.

And to think, you could have been there!

Join us this Friday, June 5th at Highland United Methodist Church’s Bradley Hall.

Doors open at noon!

05/16/2026

What a great K-Family Day!

NCSU Circle K Club, The Raleigh Aktion Club and members of the Kiwanis Club of Raleigh gathered on this beautiful Saturday morning to play corn hole, disc golf and to fish!

Acorn Hill Disc Golf hosted and gave lessons to those who have always wondered if their frisbee skills from another age are useful! The answer is YES!

And children of many ages quickly figured out that disc golf is fun!

04/23/2026

CHARTER NIGHT comes but once a year!!!

Let's congratulate our new Kiwanian of the Year - Robert Ruiz!

Robert is very active in our Aktion Club as advisor and has done so for MANY years. He has been on the board of directors and is a consistent volunteer at many of our service and fundraising events.

The evening was a wonderful night! Held at the University Club (thank you Phil Kirk).

We were blessed to see Tarver Sammons and his wife Sheila. Tarver was recently selected to be a participant in an upcoming Lone Eagle Honor Flight to Washington, DC. What an honor for a well deserving veteran!

We were so honored to have Sig Hutchinson speak on the

“3 Principles that Will Change Your LIfe”.

It was so applicable to our success in everday life and especially to our time as members of our club. THANK YOU Sig!

And we celebrate our new TREASURER, Alma Zamora!

What a night of Friends, Family and Fun!!!

04/14/2026

We had an extraordinary turn out for our weekly Kiwanis meeting on Friday, April 10th.

Our speaker? James P. Cain shared about his experiences as a former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark.

Widely recognized for a career that bridges law, business, sports leadership, and international diplomacy, Ambassador Cain was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2005. He served in Copenhagen until 2009, overseeing thirteen U.S. government agencies and focusing on national security, counter‑terrorism, energy cooperation, commercial ties, and public diplomacy.

Raised in North Carolina and educated at Wake Forest University, Cain built his early career as a partner at the international law firm Kilpatrick Stockton, where he
co‑founded the firm’s Research Triangle office. He later became President and COO of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, guiding the team to the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals before entering diplomatic service!

As Ambassador, Cain became known for his energetic, hands‑on approach—most
famously his 2,500‑kilometer “Rediscovery Tour” of Denmark by bicycle, a
public‑diplomacy initiative that brought him into direct contact with communities across the country and generated extensive media attention. His tenure emphasized entrepreneurship, cultural exchange, and the power of sports as a diplomatic tool.

Following his diplomatic service, Cain continued working at the intersection of global business and public affairs, advising companies on international expansion and authoring works on diplomacy and global challenges. His contributions to U.S.–Danish relations were recognized with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog, one of Denmark’s highest honors for a foreign citizen.

You can learn much from his book, “Reign of Secrets”!

03/20/2026

BIG things were happening today at Kiwanis!

Dereck Whittenburg, former player for NCSU, and current NCSU Assoc. Athletic Director told tales!

Dereck Whittenburg serves as the Associate Athletic Director for Community Relations and Student Support at North State University, but many will always remember him for his role in one of college basketball’s most iconic moments. As a member of NC State’s legendary “Cardiac Pack,” he launched the unforgettable shot that set up Lorenzo Charles’ game‑winning dunk to secure the 1983 NCAA championship under Coach Jim Valvano.

Over the next four decades, Dereck built a distinguished career as a coach, educator, and mentor. He served on coaching staffs across the country, led Wagner College to its first NCAA Tournament appearance, and guided Fordham University to its strongest season in years. His passion for teaching and developing young people has shaped countless athletes and leaders.

Dereck is also a gifted storyteller. He co‑produced the Emmy‑winning ESPN 30 for 30 documentary - Survive and Advance, preserving the legacy of the 1983 Wolfpack and the spirit of his coach and friend, Jim Valvano. He has also authored a book, “The Shot Heard Around The World: My Journey from the Playground to the White House”, that shares the story of his journey through life.

Thank you Dereck!

03/19/2026

Dereck Whittenburg is in the house this Friday for our Friday Kiwanis meeting!

https://conta.cc/4uDF2JV

Email from Kiwanis Club of Raleigh Speaker: Dereck Whittenburg - Former Player NCSU and current NCSU Assoc Athletic Dir     Stuff You Should Know.... If you haven't attended a Friday meeting in a whil

03/09/2026

Our speaker on Friday, March 6th, shared the history of the Park we know as the Eno River State Park.

Lawson Osteen grew up in Durham, NC, surrounded by the natural beauty of the state but rarely explored the Eno River that flowed so close to home. Instead, his family’s adventures often took them to the mountains, the coast, or out west to visit national parks. After earning a degree in Environmental Biology from Appalachian State University, Lawson returned to the Triangle and has spent more than seven years as a park ranger at Eno River State Park.

Today, he’s deeply connected to the landscape he once overlooked. Lawson has a particular passion for the park’s amphibians and reptiles, and he’s dedicated himself to uncovering the living history of the Eno River and its surrounding communities. Through his work, he brings those stories—and the vibrant ecology behind them—to life for visitors.

Thank you, Lawson, for sharing about this special place that receives more than 800,000 visitors each year, and is an important link in North Carolina’s Mountains to the Sea Trail!

03/02/2026

Such an important part of our work!

This video documents the Carolinas District history with Boys and Girls Homes of Noth Carolina, the 2025 campaign for the Kiwanis Cottage, and the resulting ...

03/02/2026

What did you miss?

On Friday, February 27th, Jonathan Tyndall & Ashton Herbert of Ripe for Revival shared their stories!

Jonathan Tyndall serves as the Director of Ministry & Partnerships at Ripe for Revival, an organization dedicated to bringing affordable, nutritious food to underserved communities and eliminating food deserts so children and families can thrive.

A Rocky Mount, NC native, Jonathan graduated from East Carolina University in 2010 and spent the next several years serving as a college pastor there. He later earned his degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2019 and continued his ministry as a youth pastor before joining Ripe for Revival in January 2023.

Since stepping into his role, Jonathan has played a key part in expanding the
organization’s weekly mobile food markets from just 1 to more than 30, significantly
increasing access to healthy food across the region.

Ashton joined Ripe for Revival in February 2025 and recently celebrated her first year with the organization. Over the past year, she has focused on expanding the
organization’s presence in Wake County through community engagement, fundraising, special events, and the development of a comprehensive volunteer program.



Ripe For Revival

02/07/2026

What an informative, fascinating opportunity we had on Friday, February 5th at our weekly meeting!

Sergeant Michelle Lyman of the
Raleigh Police Department shared some of her experiences and best practices in working with canines.

We were able to meet
K9 Jakko, and K9 Peppers!

Thank you Sargeant Lyman!!!

Raleigh Police Department