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Troup County’s George Elkins was recently elected governor of the Georgia District of Kiwanis.

This will be the LaGrange Kiwanis chapter first governor since it was established in 1940.

“The Georgia District Board members nominated me three years ago as vice governor,” Elkins said. “That position learns for two years and then it is an automatic movement up. So, essentially I have two years to learn how to do this job.”

Elkins has been a Kiwanis member for almost two decades. Aside from governor, Elkins has served as president, district training chair, secretary, vice chair and more.

“I have been preparing since the first time I became a chair of Kiwanis,” Elkins said. “All the awards I have won or the awards I have been honored with are all things that get you more knowledge in Kiwanis. It supports the preparation process of being here today.”

As governor, Elkins will lead the Georgia board of directors and officers.

“We meet four times a year and review by-laws, issue financial budgets and just go through a whole process like a business would,” Elkins said.

The Kiwanis Club of LaGrange is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. Kiwanis clubs are volunteer-based and spend hours volunteering in the community helping fight poverty, specifically within younger generations.

The LaGrange chapter gives out scholarships every year, hosts fundraising events, donates money to local charities and more.

On Thursday, the LaGrange chapter surprised Elkins by honoring him during its weekly meeting.

“It is a real honor George to have you not only serve Kiwanis but come from our local chapter here in LaGrange,” said Kiwanis President Dale Jackson.

“I will say I can wrap up all of the Kiwanis and all of the political parties in Georgia and I would say George Elkins is probably the hardest working individuals that I know in either one of the organizations.”