(From left) Past Kiwanis Lt. Governor Ray Horton, incoming President John Haffner, and outgoing President Tim Freeman (receiving the William Dunlap award) Photo provided

The Kiwanis Club of Moraga Valley held their annual Installation Dinner at the Orinda Country Club on September 23. The Club was formed in 1974, and the first President, Lafayette resident Charlie Toll, attended the event.

The Master of Ceremonies for the event was Moraga Chief of Police, Bob Priebe. Past President and Moraga Council-Member Howard Harpham, and past Kiwanis Lt. Governor Ray Horton, conducted the installation of the officers and board members.

John Haffner, Moraga Citizen of the Year in 2008 and head of the Moraga Pear Festival for years, was installed as President. Other officers include 1st Vice President Karen Reed, 2nd Vice President Graig Crossley, Secretary Mike Metcalf (member of Moraga Town Council), and Treasurer Barbara Van Sickle.

Dick Ayres was awarded the 2009-10 Kiwaniian of the Year award from 2008-09 winner Stan Holcenberg. The award is presented to an individual that is very active in the Club's fundraising and service projects, and fosters the efforts of Kiwanis in the community. Dick is also a Board member of the Moraga Park Foundation.

Outgoing 2009-10 President Tim Freeman received two awards, the Distinguished Kiwanian Award as well as the very prestigious William Dunlap Award presented by the Kiwanis California-Nevada-Hawaii District Foundation.

Members of the Kiwanis Club of Moraga Valley recently worked on the re-furbishing of the Hacienda de Las Flores. Many are very involved in Town activities, and the local Kiwanis Club contributes a significant amount of money each year for scholarships and with local agencies that focus on improving the lives of children.

A good example of this support of the children of Lamorinda - and the dedicated teachers that serve them - Kiwanis has given library books to the students of all of our elementary schools. To make sure the libraries get the books they want and need, teachers and librarians make their selections from The Storyteller in Lafayette, a great children's book store. This school library support program is especially important at this time of economic stress and tight budgets. The children and the teachers loved a similar gift a year ago.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. To learn more about Kiwanis, visit the local website - www.moragavalleykiwanis.org.