KIWANIS

KIWANIS. The local club held its first charter banquet on February 26, 1920 at the HOTEL JULIEN.

The Kiwanis "Jollies," the organization's fund raising activity was begun in 1924. In 1925 the Kiwanis Club held its first annual charity ball. In 1939 the club sponsored its first 4-H Fair and in 1940 the club held its first Christmas party for children. The organization's first softball tournament was held in 1952. Continuing its list of "firsts," the Dubuque club in 1987 initiated its first female member, Chris Kohlman. She had been a member of the Key Club at DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL and had later helped found Circle K Club at CLARKE COLLEGE. (2) A shoe program for needy children was established in 1962 to supply shoes free for local children whose parents could not afford to buy them. Other activities sponsored by the club include the Master Corn Growers Contest, scholarships for students and work on BARN (THE) at FLORA PARK.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to developing youth as leaders, build playgrounds and raise funds for pediatric research. Clubs help shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, mentor the disadvantaged and care for the sick. (3)

Kiwanis’ Service Leadership Programs provide service and leadership opportunities for young people and adults with disabilities around the world. Elementary school students Kiwanis Kids provides three programs—K-Kids, Terrific Kids and Bring Up Grades—for students ages 6 to 12. In 2004 HOOVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL began offerng the K-Kids program. (4) Teens Kiwanis offers three programs that allow students to discover their own leadership potential—Builders Club, exclusively for middle and junior high school students; Key Club, the largest high school service club in the world; and Key Leader, a weekend leadership experience for students age 14–18. Young adults Circle K International has clubs on more than 500 campuses in 17 nations. Aktion Club is the only community service club that provides members with disabilities opportunities to become integrated in their communities while developing initiative and leadership skills. (5)

Kiwanis’ Worldwide Service Project is a Kiwanis-family initiative to make a positive difference in the world on behalf of children. In its first Worldwide Service Project, Kiwanis worked to virtually eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), the leading preventable cause of mental retardation. In 2010 about 70 percent of the people in the developing world now have access to iodized salt. UNICEF has hailed this project as one of the greatest public health triumphs of the 20th century. (5)

See: Larry FRIEDMAN

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Source:

1. Blocker, Sue. "Kiwanis Initiates First Female Member," Telegraph Herald, September 2, 1987, p. 3

2. "Kiwanis," Online: http://www.kiwanis.org/about/history

3. Lyon, Randolph. Teacher at Hoover Elementary School

4. "Kiwanis"

5. Ibid.