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Pilot Club of Great Bend recognition and award winning year
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COURTESY PHOTO Great Bend Pilot Club members Rhonda Knudson and Billie Bonomo with Nurse Melanie Lewis, University of Kansas Medical Center – Great Bend campus North Unit.
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COURTESY PHOTO Great Bend Pilot Club members Barbara Watson is pictured with District Awards Chair Mary Cramer and her District Individual Heart awards.

The Pilot club of Great Bend as a service organization has persevered during a difficult spring and has shown that it’s members can still find ways to be of service and caring for the community.   

Pilot Club of Great Bend was recognized on the international level from Pilot International even when the annual convention was canceled due to the pandemic.

Great Bend Pilots were recognized for outstanding volunteer hours 2019-2020 with a fourth place within the entire organization. This means that Great Bend Pilots found ways to serve the community with volunteerism even in a difficult year.

Club member Barbara Watson was recognized by the District Awards Chair Mary Cramer with the “Individual Heart Award.” Hving joined in January 2019, Watson, even as a new member, showed her creativity, inquisitive, caring and generous nature – the true embodiment of the Pilot Creed, Do More, Care More and Be More.

Pilot club of Great Bend as a club was recognized on the district level by Heartland Pilot International. Heartland is made up of the four states Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. Even though the district convention was canceled due to the pandemic, Pilot Club of Great Bend at the Large club level was recognized with a 2nd in membership growth, 1st place in “Club Heart- volunteerism” and a first place in the Yearbook/Handbook.   

Pilot Club of Great Bend will also be included in the Pilot International 100 year Commemorative Yearbook for their “Work at Home” service projects. Three projects by the Pilot Club of Great Bend/Heartland  district during the months of the Kansas Stay at Home order and continued social distancing were:

•  A “Pick-Me Up” for the nurses at the three county hospitals with a bear in handmade scrubs and mask to use as a unit mascot and remind people of the importance of masks as part of the “Nurses Pick-Me Up” first responder basket.

• The use and making of Plarn bags (using plastic bags to save them for the landfills) and a Cinch Bags the members will be making for their upcoming Fall “Homeless Giving with Care project” in Barton County.

• Mask making for the “Masks for members and the Community project.” The club seamstresses have made over 300 masks during the last few months during the stay at home order in Kansas.

Pilot International’s mission is to influence positive change in communities throughout the world. To do this, they come together in  friendship and service, focusing on encouraging brain safety and health and supporting those who care for others.