With their iconic annual event, the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair, opening in less than a month, Kiwanis Club of Statesboro members filled their community room for the induction of new club officers during the Sept. 24 luncheon and heard a "Wow!" from the incoming, regional Kiwanis Club lieutenant governor.

Janine Hunter hails from Baxley, where she works as a banker, serves on the Appling County Chamber of Commerce board and has been active in the Kiwanis Club of Baxley for 21 years. In previous years she has served as her local club's president and held essentially all of its other leadership roles, somewhat as her friend and acknowledged "mentor for Kiwanis" Trish Tootle has done in the Statesboro Club.

Now Hunter is beginning a term as lieutenant governor for Georgia Kiwanis Division 17, which encompasses clubs from Baxley and Vidalia over to Effingham County. She attended as special guest as the top office of the Statesboro club passed from 2025–2026 President Kasey Hagan to 2026–2027 President Crystal Simpkins.

"I just want to tell you how impressed I am, and the word is 'Wow!' This is just wonderful to see a club this big," Hunter said. "That's great, and actually the other word is 'jealous.'"

What she meant was, Baxley has a smaller club, which doesn't host a week-long regional fair with an opening parade. So it doesn't meet at a fairgrounds. Most area Kiwanis clubs don't have anything quite like this, but they host other events and share in the Kiwanis International motto, "Serving the children of the world."

After last week's meeting, Hunter said she is coming back to ride in the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair Parade on Monday, Oct. 19.

"I'm so excited. It's the first time anybody ever asked me to ride in the parade," she said.

This year's fair, Oct. 19–24, will be the 64th annual. Its theme is "Stars, Stripes and Carnival Lights," with 2026 being the United States' 250th anniversary year. Proceeds raised from the fair and other events go to scholarships for area high school graduates and grants to educational programs and organizations for children, not just in Bulloch but some in surrounding counties. In fact, several checks were presented to such organizations during the meeting.

Officers for 2026–27

Leadership in the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro is a group effort, with a president, president-elect and past-president usually serving together, in a progression meant to develop and retain experience.

The 2026–2027 officers, installed last week, are President Crystal Simpkins, President-Elect Gwen Yarbrough, Vice President Greg Ponder, Club Secretary Dyana Ellis, Club Treasurer Chris Wiggins and Past President Kasey Hagan.

Additionally, the club has a nine-member board with three cohorts of three directors each generally serving three-year overlapping terms. So, last week's ceremony also included the induction of Byron Mullican, Blaine Olmstead and Jason Parrish as board members for the 2026–2029 term.

Continuing board members are Sam Gaston, Warren Grover and Jeremy Wilburn, concluding their 2024–2027 term, and Jay Cook, Connie Saunders and Bobby Turner for the 2025–2028 term.

Passing the gavel

Simpkins received her lapel pin and certificate as club president, presented by Hunter. Both Hagan, as the outgoing president, and Simpkins, as incoming president, made brief speeches.

"First, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank Kasey for her leadership and service to the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro," Simpkins said. "Kasey, thank you for your time, your energy, your commitment you given to this club, and the laughs that we have shared together. Your leadership has helped move us forward."

After club members joined in a round of applause, Simpkins thanked them all and spoke about 2026–2027.

"As we move into this new year, my goal is simple," she said, "to build on our strong foundations while finding new ways to serve, connect and grow. I want us to strengthen our membership, increase engagement, support our committees and continue to create opportunities that make and difference in the lives of children and families."

Simpkins presented Hagan with the traditional past president's plaque with gavel attached.

Fairground upgrades

"Looking back at what we've accomplished together over this year, I couldn't be more proud of our members and our board and our shared impact," Hagan said.

Recapping her term, Hagan noted several specific improvements to the club's physical facilities. One project, for which planning and land acquisition efforts reportedly began a few years ago, has been to create an exit drive from the fairgrounds to Burkhalter Road. She credited Matt Anderson and Marilyn Darrell for leading the effort in the beginning and a vote of the membership for carrying it forward.

"This will significantly improve accessibility, traffic flow and safety for everyone visiting our grounds," Hagan said, prompting applause for those involved.

Recent "long-overdue property improvements" have included replacing a well tank that had served the fairgrounds since the 1960s, expanding water and sewer lines for the midway restrooms and expanding the livestock area parking, she said. She called forth applause for Bobby Turner as the year's facilities chair.

A planned, club-approved but still future improvement will bring an overhaul of the fairgrounds' internet infrastructure, "unfortunately, not for this fair," but with "all-new Wi-Fi with great connectivity" by the time of the 2027 fair, she said.

Finally, Hagan said she was "thrilled to pass the gavel" to Simpkins.

"Your passion for Kiwanis, your leadership and your vision for the club are exactly what we need," she said.

Simpkins then got to use her gavel to ring the bell, concluding the meeting.