KIWANIS PRESIDENT--Mike Wegley, newly installed president of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Merced is shown being give a piece of the "Board" by former Kiwanis District Governor Pete Fluetsch. Wegley's president's pin was "on order". Big Bad Bubba’s BBQ was probably the appropriate place for the installation of new officers of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Merced, a group of fun loving members who come up with some very off the wall stuff when they install their new officers.

Pete Fluetsch wearing the same Hawaiian print jacket he used when he was district governor and western cowboy hat, conducted the installation program even though his wife insisted that he wear something more appropriate for the pictures taken of the installation.

When Mike Wegley was installed he received no pin as new president, it hadn’t been BELL AND GAVEL--No one could become president of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Merced without a bell and gavel so Karen Adams (outgoing president) presented Mike Wegley with the bell and gavel which almost got stolen before he gave his acceptance address.ordered yet and outgoing president Karen Adams only received a plaque because she bought it for herself.

As part of the Wegley acceptance address he got serious for a moment and told the members that he did not intend to see Kiddieland die while he was president and would be asking for membership support as well as volunteer support to keep the historic childrens park going.

This was all in good fun and part of the club’s effort to keep things light and not weighted down with the usual paraphernalia which installations usually come with.

Charter member Ralph “Buzz” Busby led the pledge and God Bless America and after introductions the group of over two dozen dove right into the BBQ ribs and chicken.

Once the official part of the meeting started, Fluetsch was interrupted about every five minutes with an audio which announced that the shooting gallery was open and inviting anyone to take a pot shot.

Fluetsch, not to be out down, just wove the audio into his address and without missing a beat, kept the installation going toward completion.

Meanwhile Karen Adams officially transferred the bell and gavel to new president Michael Wegley and while Wegley was thanking Adams for the excellent job she had done as president he almost had the bell and gavel stolen.

Joining Wegley and Adams on the new board are Shay Lopez, president elect, Alan Schoff, vice president, Sephanie Perez, secretary and David Ness.

Board members for the club include: Brian McCabe, Doug Fluetsch, Kent Floro, Dave Fuentes, Mickey Lenahan, Ronda Amezcua, and Ellen Taylor.