FLATWOODS — The Kiwanis Club of East Greenup County installed new officers for the 2012-13 club year and honored 21 of its past presidents during a special 40th anniversary dinner last week.

Set to lead the club during its 41st year are Jennifer Lynd, president; Jason Bailey, vice president; Russ Brannon, secretary; Lisa Belt, treasurer; Ron Fraley, immediate past president; and John Smith, Tim Gearhart, Ted Toponak, Vicki Tuell and Amanda Ferrell, board of directors.

They were installed by Jim Gazay of West Liberty, who is lieutenant governor of Kiwanis Division 16 of the Kentucky-Tennessee District.

During the evening, outgoing president Fraley reviewed the year’s activities, recognized members for special service, gave perfect attendance pins to five members and most importantly welcomed 21 of the club’s past presidents to the 40th birthday of the club’s founding.

The club was chartered in 1972 and had its inaugural meeting on Dec. 1, 1972 at the Henry Clay House in Ashland.

Only two of the original 22 members are still in the club. They are Jack Patterson and Bob Greene. Harold McKinney joined the club on Dec. 26, 1972 and has been a member since, but missed being a charter member by 25 days.

Highlights of the past year, as noted by Fraley, included the 35th annual Run By The River, which attracted 282 runners and earned the club more than  $5,000.

The club gave $750 scholarships to Key Club students at Russell and Raceland-Worthington High Schools, $500 to the Young Professionals Club’s annual backpack program, $750 each to the family resource centers at the three school systems, donated to the Russell Fraternal Order of Police’s shop with a cop program, the summer reading program at the Flatwoods library and delivered food baskets and turkeys to 50 families at Thanksgiving.

Besides Key Clubs at all three high schools, Kiwanis sponsors a Terrific Kids program at Wurtland Elementary School and a Builders Club at Russell Middle School. Wurtland Middle School has expressed an interest in forming a Builders Club.

Special recognition was accorded past president Debbie Brom. When Kiwanis started admitting women as members, Brom was the first lady to join the local club. She served as president in 1991-92, the first lady to do so, and has since served several terms as treasurer.

A special pin marking the 25th anniversary of Women in Kiwanis was presented by Fraley and incoming president Jennifer Lynd, who will be the fifth woman to serve in the top office.

Others given special recognition were Cody Wales, who was chair of the scholarship committee and led the highway cleanup effort; Linda Harbison, outgoing secretary; Lynd, who headed the Thanksgiving basket project and organized the dinner meeting; and Tim Gearhart, director of Run By The River and publicity chair.

Perfect attendance pins were given to Jennifer Lynd, 3 years; Linda Harbison, 6 years; Clint Shields, 16 years; Ron Fraley, 24 years; and Tim Gearhart, 26 years.

Nine past presidents who are no longer members of the club were in attendance. They were charter president Don Byer, 1972-73; Don Young, 1978-79; Dick Baker, 1979-80; Jim Elliott, 1987-88; Dan Kearns, 1988-89; Carl Roe, 1989-90; John Ross, 1994-95; Fred Greenwood, 1995-96; and Jim Meister, 2000-01.

Twelve past presidents who are current members were in attendance. They were Jack Patterson, 1980-81; Tom Saylor, 1982-83; Russ Brannon, 1985-86; Debbie Brom, 1991-92; Don Golightly, 1996-97; Tim Gearhart, 2002-03; Linda Harbison, 2008-09; Mark McKinney, 2010-11; and the following four who served as president twice: Cody Wales, 2001-02 and 2005-06; Clint Shields, 1991-93 and 2006-07; Ted Toponak, 2004-05 and 2007-08; and Ron Fraley, 1986-87 and 2011-12.

Four past presidents have served as lieutenant governors, three in K-T Division 16, Bob Meuller, 1977-78; Russ Brannon, 1986-87; and Craig Wallace, 1994-95; and Tim Gearhart, who served in the Ohio District’s Division 9, 1992-93.

Wallace has now attained the highest office of any past member of the East Greenup Club. This week, he begins his year as governor of the Ohio District.