PALMDALE – Alan Penn, President of the Kiwanis International Organization, will visit the Kiwanis of Palmdale West club on their regular Dec. 29 meeting.
Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time. Kiwanis Clubs are located in more than 90 countries and have more than 600,000 active members.
Penn is currently visiting southern California to appear on the Kiwanis International Float in the upcoming Rose Parade. His host while in the area is the Governor of Kiwanis, which regionally oversees the states of California, Nevada, and Hawaii. Governor Richard “Dick” Olmstead is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Palmdale West.
Penn previously served as trustee, vice president, and president-elect of Kiwanis International.
He served with honors as governor of the Ohio District in 1999-2000, was Key Club district administrator four years, counselor to Circle K International one year, member of the Kiwanis International Foundation Board one year, and serves as executive director emeritus of the Ohio District Kiwanis Foundation.
Penn served multiple terms on international committees including the Key Leader program and curriculum development team, before election to the international board. He is a Diamond-level three George F. Hixson Fellow, Tablet of Honor recipient, Rose Float Fellowship member, and Heritage Society member of the Kiwanis International Foundation. He has received the Key Club G. Harold Martin award, is an honorary member of Circle K International, a Mel Osborne Canadian Foundation Fellow, and a member of the Ohio District Kiwanis Hall of Fame.
Penn is a former teacher, school administrator, and university instructor. He has served on the Medina City Council and the board of the United Way of Medina County. He has served his community as a Red Cross, Heart Association, Garfield Elementary School and Head Start volunteer. Penn served on the State of Ohio Governor’s Community Service Council for eight years and the American Association of Community Service Councils for seven years. Additionally, he was chair of the Ohio Council for four years. In 2008, Penn was recognized by the State of Ohio Governor’s Council as the outstanding community volunteer for Ohio.
(Information via press release from Kiwanis Club of Palmdale West.)
