LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Attending the 96th Pilot International Convention from Great Bend were Renee Johnson, Past Governor of Kansas-Missouri Pilot International, and Great Bend Pilot Club President Janice Walker. They joined more than 600 Pilots who participated in the global event that drew representatives from more than four countries and geographic areas around the world.
“Attending the Pilot convention provides a valuable new outlook on Pilot Club and our club initiatives each year,” Johnson said.
Convention attendees participated in workshops, learned about important issues facing communities globally, elected international officers, voted on the 2017-2018 Pilot International budget and helped set the future direction for Pilot International.
“It was exciting to gather with so many Pilots from other countries,” Walker said. “It’s a great reminder that Pilots are not only making a difference in our local communities, but also around the world.”
Locally, Pilot Club members make an impact in the community through service, such as providing booster seats to families, bike helmets to youth, and blankets and quilts to foster children. The club is a major sponsor for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, sponsored playground equipment for the Tot Spot, and provided electronic educational and learning games to four separate care organizations in the area. It provided the pool lift at Club 1 Fitness, and presents the BrainMinders Program to preschools and kindergartens in the area. The club is currently working on an area-wide autism clinic for educators, families and professionals for the Spring of 2018.
The Great Bend Pilot Club has 33 members and meets at noon on the first and third Tuesday of the month at at the Classic Inn. Pilot clubs are groups of men and women that identify needs within their communities and work together to fulfill those needs. To find out more about friendship and service opportunities with the Great Bend Pilot Club, contact Janice Walker, Joyce Beadles-Fry or Marilyn Kopke.
Pilot International is a community-based volunteer service organization founded in 1921 in Macon, Georgia, on the principles of “Friendship and Service.” The name “Pilot” was inspired by the mighty riverboat pilots of that day who represented leadership and guidance. With more than 7,200 members in almost 300 Pilot Clubs, Pilots can be found across the U.S., the Bahamas, Japan and South Africa. Pilots carry out their mission to “Do More, Care More and Be More” by providing financial and hands-on support for national and local initiatives in keeping with its causes of youth development and leadership; brain safety and fitness; and caring for families in times of need.