Friday, October 9, 2026
Merrick resident Martin E. Valk began his term as governor of the New York District of Kiwanis on Oct. 1, bringing more than two decades of local Kiwanis experience to the statewide leadership role.
Valk, who served as governor-elect before beginning his 2026-27 term, was sworn in at the New York District Convention in Corning by Linda Ramsey, a Kiwanis International trustee from Martin, Tennessee.
An attorney who has lived in Merrick since 1995, Valk joined the Kiwanis Club of Merrick in 2000. He has served as the club’s president, vice president and secretary, and currently serves on its board of directors. He previously served as lieutenant governor of the organization’s South Central Division.
Valk’s introduction to Kiwanis came when he was invited to speak at a club meeting about a proposed cell tower atop the Granite Building across from Chatterton School. With an advanced degree in environmental law, Valk spoke about the issue and came away impressed by the organization.
“I welcomed the opportunity to work with similar community-based people with the same goal in mind: helping the neighborhood be the best it can be and produce the best people it can,” he said.
As governor, Valk said one of the challenges he hopes to address is declining membership in Kiwanis and other volunteer organizations. He wants clubs to attract younger members in part by using their connections with local chambers of commerce and businesses to help young people find employment.
“So many Kiwanis clubs are integrated into the local chambers of commerce, that ideally Kiwanis clubs should be in the position to know what local merchants are looking for, what kind of local employees, and be among the first to know where the vacancies are,” Valk said.
He said Kiwanis members could also help young job seekers prepare resumes, practice interviewing and connect with prospective employers.
Valk and his wife, Tara Cooperman Valk, a retired physician, will each oversee a special project during his term. Valk’s project will focus on collecting and recycling unused sporting goods, including baseball bats, lacrosse sticks and mats, and donating them to organizations that can put them to use.
His wife’s project will focus on literacy by encouraging the creation of more Little Libraries, where residents can take or leave books.
“One reason we chose these projects in essence is to exercise the mind and body,” Valk said. “Healthy mind, healthy body.”
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Valk studied political science at Vanderbilt University before earning his law degree from Brooklyn Law School and an LLM from Pace University Law School. He and his wife have a son, Jacob, an associate sports producer at SiriusXM.
Valk is the second Merrick resident to serve as governor of the New York District of Kiwanis. The late attorney and judge Steven R. Scharoff held the position in 1989-90.
Those interested in learning more about the Kiwanis Club of Merrick can email Merrickkiwanis@gmail.com.
