Several of our past presidents were present at the club’s 49th anniversary, where they spoke about their passion and dedication to Kiwanis. 3-25-2025
Kiwanis Reflection Speech – by Ed Pruitt,
President since 2024-2026
I truly appreciate all of you for sharing your stories about how you came to Kiwanis. Each journey is unique, and it’s inspiring to hear the different paths that brought us all together. I may have taken a different route to join Kiwanis, but I am genuinely grateful that I did-and even more grateful for each one of you.
Thank you for your service-not only for what you have done in the past as presidents and leaders, but for what you continue to do for this club today. Your dedication, your time, and your heart for service do not go unnoticed. I am sincerely thankful for our relationships and for your continued participation in this organization.
I joined Kiwanis around the same time as McElroy. Coincidentally, Polly and Dr. C were instrumental in that decision. Unlike Frank’s story-where he might say he was “tricked” into joining- I was simply invited. They asked me to attend a meeting… and I did.
What truly motivated me to join a service organization was a deeper desire to give back to the community. I had visited other organizations, including Rotary, and attended their meetings. But something about Kiwanis stood out to me.
I’ve always believed that if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. A strong community is essential for all of us, and each of us plays a role-no matter how small-in making it better.
What deeply resonated with me about Kiwanis was its mission-its ethos-of putting children first. That spoke to my heart. Children are our future, and by investing in them, we are securing the future for all of us. That belief aligned perfectly with my values.
I wanted to surround myself with like-minded individuals-people who genuinely care, who want to give back, and who are willing to serve. Kiwanis gave me that opportunity, and I am truly grateful.
So again-thank you, Polly. Thank you, Dr. C. I appreciate you both very much.
I’ve had the honor of serving as president twice… and it feels like I might be president for life! (Hopefully that’s a joke!)
And for anyone wondering about the “secret” to becoming president… I think I figured it out.
The secret is simple: don’t show up to meetings-because somehow, that’s how you end up becoming president!
But in all seriousness, it has been a true honor. It means a great deal to me that you would trust me with this responsibility. I do not take that lightly.
Thank you for that trust. Thank you for that privilege.
And thank you, Janet McDonald, for everything you’ve done today.
Dr. Maria, as always, thank you for your leadership and support.
If there’s anything else you need from me, I’m always here to serve.
Thank you all.
Frank Consentino
Past President 2008-2009
In 2006, my life changed in a way I never expected. My late wife had just passed away, and I found myself wandering through life feeling lost, empty, and helpless. I didn’t have direction-I was simply existing, trying to make sense of the pain.
One day, my attorney, Freddie, called me and asked, “Frank, what are you doing for lunch on Tuesday?”
I said, “I don’t know… what am I doing?”
He replied, “We’re going to lunch.” So, I showed up.
We walked into a restaurant in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and I quickly realized this wasn’t just lunch-it was a meeting of the local Kiwanis Club. We sat down, and Freddie, dressed as sharp as any attorney would be, reached into his suit pocket, pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, and said, “Sign here.” Without hesitation, I said, “Freddie, I trust you with my life,” and I signed.
It took about four months for the process to go through, and I still don’t know why it took so long-but eventually, I was officially voted into the Kiwanis Club. And that’s when everything changed.
My very first project was serving food to a group of hungry children at a local auditorium. I remember looking at those kids-really seeing them-and something deep inside me shifted. Because in that moment, I wasn’t just serving food…
I was seeing myself. I remembered what it felt like to be a foster child, to be hungry, to feel unseen, and to wonder if anyone cared. And standing there, helping to feed those children, I realized something powerful: This is where I belong.
That day, Kiwanis didn’t just give me something to do-it gave me purpose.
It gave my pain a direction.
It gave my life meaning again. And from that moment on… I was all in.
I had the honor of serving as President of the club around 2008-2009. Following that, during the 2010-2011 term, I was privileged to serve as Lieutenant Governor for the State of Florida.
That experience was incredibly meaningful to me, as it allowed me to grow not only as a leader, but also as a servant to the community. Being recognized as Lieutenant Governor of the Year was truly humbling, and it reflected the dedication of the entire team I had the opportunity to work alongside.
Thank you! Frank
Mrs. Maria O’Gara
Past presidente 2021-2022
To follow Frank, I had the privilege of serving as President during COVID-around 2021, I believe. It was certainly a challenging time, but also a deeply meaningful one.
Before moving to Florida, I was a Kiwanis member for about six or seven years in New York. When I relocated, my husband joined the club first and then encouraged me to get involved as well. Interestingly, he later stepped away-but I stayed.
That’s just who I am-I’m a doer.
So when there was a need for a secretary, I didn’t hesitate. I signed up without asking questions. There was a need, and I felt called to serve.
Looking back, I truly see it as one of the greatest blessings in my life-and it continues to be.
During COVID, we had to adapt quickly with Zoom meetings and new ways of staying connected. It wasn’t easy, but together, we made it work. And I want to say-you all did an amazing job.
My heart is full of gratitude, because none of it would have been possible without your support.
Thank you. Truly.
Mike McElroy
Past President 2019-2021
“Good afternoon everyone,
My name is Mike McElroy. I had the honor of serving as President around 2016–2017. I moved down here in 2013 after spending 40 years in law enforcement in New York.
When I came to Florida, I was looking for a way to continue serving-to stay connected to a purpose greater than myself and to give back to the community. Like some of you here, I even made a run for the School Board. Although I didn’t win, that journey led me to something just as meaningful-joining Kiwanis.
Since then, I’ve truly enjoyed my time in this organization. Kiwanis has given me the opportunity to serve our community in ways that genuinely matter, and for that, I’m grateful.
But I want to leave you with this: it’s important that we continue to bring in new members-new energy, new ideas, new leadership. We need people willing to step up and carry the mission forward.
Because the truth is… while some of us have served-and may continue to serve-we were never meant to hold these roles forever. Leadership is about passing the torch.
And I know… not everyone wants to be president for life… even if it sometimes feels like that might happen.
Thank you! MCElroy
Dr. Maria Barbosa
Past Presidente 2014-2015 & 2018-2019
I am truly grateful and happy to be part of this club.
Before I joined this club, I had already been invited by the other sister club. Few months later, member Frank Consentino came to speak with me, I had already been getting to know the Kiwanis spirit of service. But what truly touched my heart was when Frank and his lovely wife Ginette came to my store. They bought a table to help another family, and when I saw the kindness and generosity in his heart, it deeply moved me. Seeing someone so willing to help others made me feel that I wanted to join this club as well.
That was around 2008 or 2009, and from that moment on, I became part of this wonderful Kiwanis family. Later, I had the honor of serving as Club President in 2014–2015, and then I was blessed to serve again a couple of years later. Being trusted to lead this club twice has been a true privilege. I also had the opportunity to serve as a Lieutenant Governor for Division 7, which was another meaningful experience in leadership and service.
One of the things that inspired me most to join Kiwanis was seeing the impact this organization has on children. Before Frank invited me, I had attended an event at Belle Terre Elementary School, where my oldest grandson received a trophy. I remember thinking to myself, how wonderful it would be to give awards to children, including my own grandchildren, and to be part of something that encourages and uplifts them. Over the years, I have had the joy of giving trophies to six of my grandchildren. Today, one is 24, another is 22, and I also have grandchildren who are 13, (2w) 10, and 8 years old. Even the little ones have been part of those special moments. One time, when one of them was sick, we even delivered the trophy to his house.
Moments like that mean so much to me. Just being involved in the community and seeing the faces of children when they receive an award fills my heart with joy. It is a warm and beautiful feeling that is hard to describe. That is one of the reasons I continue to be a Kiwanis member and why I love what I do.
I do have the privilege of serving as chair of the Kiwanis Terrific Kids program. It is a project very close to my heart. Janet McDonald has helped with this program for long time, and Jill Woolbright, she did help me for few years, now she will be coming back to help me again, which I truly appreciate, because it is a lot for one person to handle alone. I am very thankful for that support.
I also want to thank all of the members of this club. Each one of you makes a difference in the lives of the children and families in our community. Your service matters. Your kindness matters. And together, we are making an impact.
In addition to my Kiwanis service, I was also honored to serve as a School Board Member in the past. I am deeply grateful to my community for trusting me and allowing me to serve.
Thank you all for your friendship, your service, and your dedication. I am proud to be part of this club, and I look forward to continuing to serve with love and joy.
Thank you! MPB
