Glen Ellyn Kiwanis member named district governor
On October 1, 2015, Penelope "Penny" Linneweh joined Susan "Sue" Petrisin, the first female president of Kiwanis International, in taking office as the Governor (district leader ) of the Illinois Eastern Iowa District of Kiwanis.
Penny is one of 14 woman leaders who will govern with Petrisin during the Kiwanis year. The worldwide international volunteer organization focuses on serving the children of the world.
Penny is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Glen Ellyn, and her club sponsors Key Clubs at Glenbard West and Glenbard South High Schools and a Builder's Club for elementary school students at Glencrest Junior High School. The Glen Ellyn club also sponsors an Aktion Club for disabled adults, providing opportunities for these adults to serve their community. The club also volunteers for the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry and Glen Ellyn Children's Resource Center. The club was named Non-Profit Organization of the Year in 2015 by the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce.
Linneweh is a CPA who has owned her own business in Glen Ellyn for 30 years. A member of Kiwanis since February of 1989, Penny has served Kiwanis as Illinois Eastern Iowa District Treasurer, twice as lieutenant governor and twice as president of the Glen Ellyn club. She is currently the board president for SCARCE, a non-profit organization that teaches environmental responsibility and has served as board president of Family Shelter Service and Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce. Additionally she's served as treasurer of the BR Ryall YMCA, the Glen Ellyn United Way and DuPage Art League. She is married to Glenn Scott, a Kiwanian since 1997, and has four grown children and seven grandchildren.
"I never could have achieved the goals I had as a child and young women without the help of caring people," Linneweh said. "I've always felt a need to help others, especially children, obtain their full potential so they can also realize their dreams. Kiwanis is an organization of people who hold these same beliefs. By serving as governor, I will be able to help all of the clubs in Illinois and Eastern Iowa 'change the world one child and one community at a time'."
"One of the many great things about Kiwanis is the leadership opportunities provided while serving your community," said Petrisin, who has been active in Kiwanis since her days in a high school club. "Kiwanis is a wonderful place for women - and men - to learn about working together while helping other people." Petrisin is associate director of the Michigan State University Alumni Association.
Governor Penny is shown above (on the left) at the Charter NIght for the newest club in the I-I District, the Kiwanis Club of Glendale Height. The other "female leaders" in the photo from left to right are the Glendale Heights Charter President Connie Barreras and Vice President Isabelle Baldwin.