The Kiwanis Club of Emmaus held its 63rd annual installation dinner recently at the Masters at Shepherd Hills in Wescosville, instituting Kiwanis officers for the coming year.

Incoming officers for the 2016 term are as follows: president, Renee Wetherhold, of Emmaus; immediate past president, Richard Durant, of Emmaus; president-elect, Anne Zimmerman, of Emmaus; vice president, Ron Glassic, of Northampton; secretary, Elaine Ruch, of Wescosville; treasurer, Shelley Wright, of Emmaus.

Kiwanis Lieutenant Governor of Division 18 Phil Weber spoke at the event, praising the Emmaus chapter’s efforts and community outreach.

“When I look at what this club has accomplished this year…I see it as vindication of the prestige this club has within the Pennsylvania district.”

The Kiwanis of Emmaus received recognition as a “Distinguished Club” on behalf of Kiwanis International, with Doug Hohe and Elaine Ruch receiving accolades as a distinguished president and distinguished secretary, respectively. Chapters must demonstrate exceptional community service, membership growth, leadership education and other criteria to qualify for distinguished status.

Hohe has been a Kiwanian for 15 years and has served twice as club president.

Weber also highlighted the club’s efforts regarding the Kiwanis’ Eliminate Project, an ongoing joint effort with UNICEF by Kiwanis International to eradicate maternal and neonatal tetanus overseas. Most recently the project has been instrumental in work in India and Cambodia. “It’s amazing the feeling that you know you’ve done something,” Weber said.

“It’s not some theory; it’s not something that might happen. It’s real. It’s concrete.”