An open house to celebrate and congratulate Kiwanis Club of Kewanee member Angie Burford will be held Sunday, June 23 at the Windmont Shelter House.

Burford received the “Distinguished Governor Award” from Kiwanis International for her work during 2021-22 as governor of the Illinois & Eastern Iowa district.

Kiwanis International is in 85 countries around the world. Those areas are divided into 55 districts, and each governor has 33 lieutenant governors who assist them. There are 200 Kiwanis Clubs under those lieutenant governors in the Illinois/Eastern Iowa District.

Burford was one of just 15 governors to receive the distinguished status, and one of six governors in North America awarded the title.

There are multiple criteria to be met in order to receive the award, Burford said. Education of membership, increasing membership and participation in training are just a few.

Burford said her training as a governor was conducted in 2020 during the pandemic. “It was a little different that year,” she said. That class was the first to do their training virtually.

As governor, Burford said she spent much of her time relaying information from Kiwanis International. “It’s a lot of reporting and keeping track of service hours,” she said.

But Burford also spent a great deal of time traveling around to visit other districts. She logged 20,000 miles on her car.

Burford said she was also able to increase Kiwanis Club membership during her time as governor, and opened up 12 new clubs throughout the district. But perhaps the biggest accomplishment during her tenure was a collaboration with one of her lieutenant governors in creating a new form of Kiwanis Club that focuses on English as a second language. There have already been about a half dozen ESL Kiwanis Clubs formed around the world, she said.

Burford also lauded the accomplishments of other Kewanee club members over the past year. Mike Komnick, the lieutenant governor of the district, President Pam Johnson, and Secretary Willie Burford all received distinguished awards for their service.

Shown, from left, Kiwanis members Mike Komnick, Pam Johnson and Willie Buford were also the recipients of distinguished awards for service.

James Golby was recognized as a 70-year member of the club, which celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2021-22.

Burford said she was surprised and humbled when she learned that she had been given the award, but said it was both an honor and a pleasure to serve as the district’s governor.

“This is not achievable without remarkable Kiwanis members in all 200 clubs; outstanding club presidents and secretaries, magnificent lieutenant governors and skillful district chairs,” she said. “I am particularly proud of the support and efforts of the Kewanee club in its one-hundredth year of service to the community.”

Burford also acknowledged her fellow members who received distinguished status for the 2021-22 year, including Komnick, Johnson, Willie Burford and Golby.

The Kewanee club serves their community by sponsoring nine service leadership programs in Kewanee and Wethersfield School District. Burford said the work is both a mission and a privilege.

In addition, the Kiwanis Club of Kewanee sponsors an Aktion club (adults with disabilities) at Abilities Plus; a Circle K International Club (collegiate club) at Black Hawk East; two Key Clubs (High School) at Kewanee High School and Wethersfield High School; three Builders Club (Junior High) at Central, Wethersfield, and Visitation, and two K-Kids (elementary) at Central and Wethersfield.

“We have over 300 members in our K family in Kewanee and are proud of our century of outstanding leadership and service to others,” said Burford.

The open house to celebrate Burford’s recognition will be held at Windmont shelter house on Sunday from 2 to 4 pm. The event is open to the public.