Kiwassee Kiwanis Club of Midland celebrating 45th anniversary - Midland Daily News
Kiwassee Kiwanis Club of Midland is celebrating its 45th
anniversary since the initial charter of Feb. 22, 1967. Fourteen
members of the evening Kiwanis Club of Midland created the noon
luncheon club, and a membership drive brought in 12 new members
from the community. The name Kiwassee came from the combination of
Kiwanis and Tittabawassee. Doug Lake and Max Bottomley are original
members still participating in the club.
The 98 current members of Kiwassee Kiwanis of Midland are part
of Kiwanis International, a worldwide service organization with
more than 250,000 members dedicated to "serving the children of the
world."
Service to others is the main focus of club activities, and
committees work to find Midland County and international projects
that benefit newborns and preschoolers, elementary school children,
high school students, and the community in general. Donations of
funds and/or "sweat equity" are made.The second service project undertaken by the newly formed club
in 1967, was ringing the bells for the Salvation Army Christmas
collection, and that service project is to this day one of the most
popular efforts.Among the many projects are monthly readings to area
preschoolers in the Kiwassee Kiwanis Literacy Program, construction
of playgrounds, Spring Day of Caring participation, CROP Hunger
Walk organization with Church Women United, Salvation Army
Adopt-A-Family program, and Tall In The Saddle.Fundraising is done by selling candy and nuts during the
holidays, a dinner dance at the Midland Country Club in March, a
golf outing in June, and the Travel and Adventure Film Series, a
joint project with Midland Kiwanis Club, conducted at the Midland
Center for the Arts.Kiwassee Kiwanis Club of Midland meets at noon Tuesdays in the
Garden Room of the Midland Center for the Arts. Prospective new
members who are interested in continuing Kiwassee Kiwanis'
tradition of service to others can contact Dave Bender, 837-4374,
or Penny Ecarius, 496-1425.Kiwassee Kiwanis Club of Midland held its charter night banquet
on February 22, 1967 at Country Squire Inn. Kiwanis Club of Midland
members, out of town Kiwanis members, and new Kiwassee Kiwanis
charter members and their wives attended.
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