The 83rd Annual District Convention will be held during the weekend of September 7 - 9 at the Drawbridge Inn in Ft. Mitchell, KY. At this meeting Dr. Ken Clawson, a long-time member of the Richmond Kiwanis Club, will become Governor of the Kentucky-Tennessee District. He will be the first member of our club to become Governor of the two-state area. Members of the Richmond club are especially urged to attend on Sunday, September 9th at which time Ken will be inducted as governor.

Special training sessions for new officers will be held Friday with workshops being held on Saturday. The Governor's Banquet will be held on Saturday evening.
There is a $100 conference registration fee, due by August 15, with rooms costing $84 per night in the main building and $74 per night in the Garrison building.

The Wellness on Wheels Wagon (WOW), one of the many projects supported by the Richmond Kiwanis, distributes health information to youth and schools in the Madison County Area. See here is Phyllis Adams, Richmond Kiwanis member, who is seen providing information at the Berea Spoonbread Festival. The wagon was also provided information to youth at the Kiwanis Carnival.

10 Things You Need to Know About Immunization

1. Why should my child be immunized?
Children need immunizations (shots) to protect them from several dangerous childhood diseases. These diseases have serious complications and can even kill children.

2. What diseases do vaccines prevent?
Measles
Mumps
Polio
Rubella (German measles)
Pertussis (Whooping cough)
Diphtheria
Tetanus (Lockjaw)
Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib disease)
Hepatitis B
Varicella (chicken pox)

3. How many shots does my child need?
The following vaccinations are recommended by age two and can be given in five visits to a doctor or clinic:
1 vaccination against measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
4 vaccinations against Hib (a major cause of spinal meningitis)
3 vaccinations against polio
4 vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP)
3 vaccinations against hepatitis B
1 vaccination against Varicella

4. Are the vaccines safe?
Serious reactions to vaccines are extremely rare but do occur. However, the risks of serious disease from not vaccinating are far greater than the risks of serious reaction to the vaccination.

5. Do the vaccines have any side effects?
Yes, possible side effects can occur with vaccination: slight fever, rash, or soreness at the sight of injection. Slight discomfort is normal and should not be a cause for alarm. Your health-care provider can assist you with additional information.

6. What do I do if my child has a serious reaction?
If you think your child is experiencing a persistent or severe reaction, call your doctor or get the child to a doctor right away. Write down what happened and the date and time it happened. Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Report form or call (800)338-2382.

7. Why can't I wait until school to have my child immunized?
Immunization should begin at birth and most vaccinations completed by age two. By immunizing on time, you can protect your child from being infected and prevent the infection of others at school or at day-care centers. The
young are especially susceptible to disease because their bodies have not built up necessary defenses to fight infection.

8. Why is a vaccination health record important?
A vaccination health record helps you and your health-care provider keep your child on schedule. A record should be started at birth when your child should receive her first vaccination and updated each time your child receives the next scheduled vaccination. This information will help you should you move to a new area, change health-care providers, or enroll your child in day-care or school. Remem-ber to bring this record with you every time your child has a health-care visit.

9. Where can I get free vaccines?
The Vaccines for Children Program will provide free vaccines to needy children. About 60 percent of children are eligible, including those without health insurance coverage, all those who are eligible for Medicaid, and Native Americans/Alaskan natives.

10. Where can I get more information?
You can call the US National Immunization Hotline for further immunization information at (800)232-2522 (English)or at (800)232-
0233 (Spanish).