Five Towns Kiwanis elects first woman president

A commercial slogan of many years ago, “You’ve come a long way, baby,” was intended to show how far women had come in their battle for equality. Barriers continue to be broken, as the Kiwanis Club of the Five Towns elected the first woman president in its 67-year history on Oct. 13.

Woodmere’s Laurie Marks Law, 54, a five-year member of the local community service organization, which was founded in 1944, was elected to a one-year term. Law previously served as a vice president and recording secretary of the club.

A businesswoman who runs Miles Ahead Network, a Woodmere-based marketing and advertising firm, Law worked for nonprofits as an administrator and executive for more than 20 years before establishing her own business. “I have very strong ties to the nonprofit arena and bring a lot to the table to helping the Five Towns Kiwanis Club,” she said. The charitable work This Kiwanis group focuses primarily on donating to organizations that help children.

Law’s membership in Kiwanis may have been preordained, as she has known fellow member Rick Levine for a long time. They both grew up in the Brooklyn community of Sea Gate, near Coney Island. “I have known Rick for more than 50 years — he did pull me into Kiwanis,” Law said. “I have always been philanthropic. Rick invited me to join and I was hooked. I really enjoyed raising money for the community and charities in the community.”

Levine, who has held the top post in Five Towns Kiwanis and was a lieutenant governor for the Kiwanians statewide, said he thinks “it’s a cool thing” that his group has its first woman president. “Her dedication, her honesty and communication will make her a good president,” Levine said. “She has a devotion to the children of the community, and that is what we do.”

Through the years, the club has donated money or items to a variety of causes, from helping students at Lawrence High School who couldn’t afford to pay for a trip to Disney World to supporting the Five Towns Early Learning Center in Inwood.

Dr. Fred Seltzer, the club’s secretary and another former lieutenant governor, said that it has had women members before, but this is a “perfect storm” of “the right person at the right time.”

“Two reasons,” Seltzer added. “She is very organized and an executive type. Second, her heart is where the club’s heart is with helping children. I guarantee you when you put those two things together, it’s a home run.”

As president, Law will oversee the Kiwanians’ 10 committees and all events, seek out new members and attend state, national and international Kiwanis conferences.

Combining what she has learned during her business career and the contacts she has in the nonprofit world, Law has set goals for her term as president. “I want to strengthen our ties to local charities,” she said, “increase membership, and increase the money that we have to fund charities.”