BAXTER-The Brainerd Area Sertoma Club hosted its third Regional Convention Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 4-6, at Arrowwood Lodge Brainerd Lakes.
Areas represented include Iowa, north and south Minnesota, east and greater Nebraska, and North and South Dakota.
There were 91 people at "Be Seen in '18," which is the theme the Brainerd club chose for the event. Lori Rubin and Steve Mau are the chairpersons for the event.
"The future of Sertoma is brighter than ever since this convention and others like it across the country are introducing a new plan called Vision 2020," Mau stated in a news release.
The Vision 20/20 presentation was given by International Vice President Darryl Ching, Chris Huether and Tim Hazel. The presentation is a strategy to improve communication and support of Sertoma members and partners at the community level, and to grow Sertoma service into new communities. Many other workshops and fun activities were planned for the three days, including a golf tournament and a dance.
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The Brainerd club is noted for its many activities raising money to support many charities and provide vision and hearing focus in schools and communities, including pipe and drape rentals, Winter Wonderland and flags in Brainerd for holidays, the release stated. Sertomans continue to provide vision and hearing screening at many area schools.
Also represented at the convention was the Camp Sertoma Club that coordinates the annual deaf and hard of hearing summer camp at Confidence Learning Center.
A video was prepared to showcase the Brainerd club's recently completed project to honor the memory of Bonnie Cumberland. Karen Munsterteiger, chairman of the board, was in charge of putting together this presentation, which shows how the Brainerd group interacts together with the community to have an impact.
Cumberland's legacy was established through a carefully thought-out plan that included some much needed permanent structures at Confidence Learning Center, a climbing wall and Burma Bridge, as well as an endowment through the Brainerd Public Schools Foundation for vision and hearing needs in the schools. The Brainerd club stated it hopes this endowment will continue to grow.
Cumberland's brother, Scott Cumberland, could not attend because of a doctor's appointment, but he did write a short note stating: "I'm so glad, though, that you continue to acknowledge Bonnie's contributions to your community-I know this meant everything to her. My hope is that it can inspire anyone even the slightest bit to help in the same manner."
Service to Mankind was epitomized by Cumberland's lifetime of service to the Brainerd area as a teacher, a mayor and a volunteer.
