On The Town:

Members of the Burbank Kiwanis Aktion Club members have pinned their hopes on attending the Aktion Club Convention this summer, and on Sunday they convened at Pickwick Bowl to knock down some pins in order to make that hope a reality.

Staging their second annual Bowl-a- Thon fundraiser, Aktion Club members, participants and guests were welcomed to the Pickwick lanes by Burbank Kiwanis for Fun President Linda Curtin and Immediate Past President Jan Loporchio. Among the supporters on hand were club advisors Donna Wade, Julie Strasser, Paula Moody, Isabel Adams, Maria Di Liberto and Pam Roldan. Also in attendance were numerous family members and friends including Mireya Kulp, Natasha Keith, Erika Herrera, Rudy Donofrio, Betty Thompson and Mike Ciggiano.

Following a hot dog lunch, Aktion Club members took to the lanes to compete for trophies and to raise funds. The proceeds from Sunday’s event will be used for travel to the Fresno area and to cover registration costs for club members who will be representing Burbank at this year’s Aktion Convention and Camp in Sanger, Calif.

“Last year they attended their first convention,” Curtin said. “Not only did they have a great time, but it was a great learning experience for them.”

Chartered in 2004, the Burbank Aktion Club is made up of adults who live with developmental disabilities. The local chapter is one of more than 200 international Aktion Clubs that were first organized in 1987 in Florida. With the assistance of fellow Kiwanians, the Aktion Club concept spread throughout Florida and eventually the world. The Aktion Club became an official sponsored program of Kiwanis International in October 2000.

Today, Aktion Club members in seven nations allow adults living with disabilities to develop initiative and leadership skills through hands-on service. Once skills are developed, members are expected to return service to their local communities.

In addition to the United States, Aktion Clubs in Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Jamaica and Malaysia have encouraged the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.

They promote the adoption and application of higher social, business and professional standards and the formation of enduring friendships.

Their mission is to demonstrate the dignity and value of citizens living with disabilities and to render unselfish service to build better communities.

Among the Aktion Club members who participated in Sunday’s Bowl-a-Thon were Karen Young who serves as the president of the Burbank chapter and her officers, Vice President Sandy Saenz, Secretary Chris Kulp and Treasurer Michael Harlan. Others in attendance included Veronica Acua, Mark Aguilar, Jason Donofrio, Robert Eskandari, Mary Gary, Matthew Hamming, Danny and Joey Harris, Ricky Hernandez, Alberto Herrera, Ivet Khanlar, Julia Liganor, Helen Lopez, Steve Lupercio, Christina Ortiz, Gabriel Pacheco and Michael Riley.

Sunday’s event saw Christina Ortiz roll the high game for the women, while Gabriel Pacheco took top honors for the men.

 DAVID LAURELL can be reached by e-mail dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.