SYLVESTER “SYL” NEAL
KIWANIS CLUB OF VALLEY AUBURN, WASHINGTON
KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT-ELECT
Sylvester Neal is president-elect of Kiwanis International. He was elected in June 2009 at the 94th annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee. He previously served as trustee and as vice president.
Syl has belonged to the Kiwanis Club of The Valley, Auburn since 2003. He is a former member of the Kiwanis Clubs of Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska, and earned Kiwanian of the Year honors four times. He served as governor of the Pacific Northwest District in 2002-03. He is a life member of Kiwanis International and a Diamond-level George F. Hixson Fellow of the Kiwanis International Foundation.
Before joining the international board, Syl served on international committees for youth services, Children’s Miracle Network Telethon, membership diversity, and new club building and membership growth-North America.
Syl is a retired Alaska state fire marshal. In addition to his involvement in Kiwanis, he has chaired the Alaska State Fire Commission on Fire Prevention and Control and served on the board of Alaskans for Drug Free Youth and two community college boards. He has also held volunteer positions with United Way, Special Olympics and served as chairman of the Alaska Fallen Firefighters Memorial fundraising committee. He is an ordained deacon in his church and received the Citizen Volunteer Award from the Anchorage School District.
Syl and his wife, Doris, are parents of five children and have seven grandchildren.