NEWPORT-Rodney Buckner, thenew President of the Newport Kiwanis Club, said Tuesday he would do his best toreverse declining membership and attendance of the local civic club.

"Our members are not asinvolved as they used to be," said Buckner at the Kiwanis's annual banquet.Forty people attended the banquet held at the Mountain Crest Inn.

"We must do better," saidBuckner in brief remarks. He reminded those present, "We're a service club, nota social club."

Buckner and other officersfor 2009-2010 formally take office today, Oct. 1.

Other new officers include:President Elect, Jeffrey Greene; Vice President, Donald H. Jones; and Treasurerand Secretary, Audrey B. Jones.

Irma Erts, former member ofthe club's board of directors and chair of the Community Services Committee,was selected as the Kiwanian of the Year.

When reached by the NewportPlain Talk on Wednesday, Erts said her selection, announced at the banquet,"was a complete surprise, but a wonderful one." She added, "It's a great honorto be chosen. I hope I can live up to it."

The Kiwanian of the Year isselected by his or her peers, and not by committee.

Before C.D. Reese, pastKentucky-Tennessee Governor, announced Erts had been selected, he said theKiwanian of the Year is "someone who sets high standards for Kiwanians."

Erts has been a member of theNewport Kiwanis Club for eight years, she said.

New members of the board ofdirectors are: Tiny Kilgore, Vella Calfee, and Alvin Watts.

Daisy Crowder, the outgoingPresident, was ill and could not attend the banquet.

Glen Kleine, Governor for theKentucky-Tennessee District, said the district was "5,500 members strong," andthe goal is to increase it to 6,000 by the end of the 12-month term that startstoday.

"We are a working civicorganization that works with kids," Kleine said. He added, "We have a veryactive district."

He said that in the past 12months, members in the District donated or raised an impressive $1.5 million tosupport children and other projects.

In one project, Kiwanianssuccessfully worked to end an iodine deficiency in many children in Third Worldcountries by adding salt to their diets, and thus slowing the amount of mentalretardation.