Kiwanis Club marks 91 years
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The Kiwanis Club of Pembroke is 91 years young, and its members gathered Saturday evening to celebrate their accomplishments while also reflecting on the future.
This was the club's annual charter night at Wesley United Church's community hall, which marks the moment when the club first organized on April 25, 1922, and was chartered June 6 of the same year. It has been rolling along ever since.
One of the highlights of the evening occurred when the club took time to honour their own.
Receiving the Mel Osborne Fellowship Award, presented to Kiwanians who have contributed to the growth and work of Kiwanis, was Bob McLaughlin.
Presented Legion of Honour Awards were Gerry Binhammer and Gene Murphy, who each have been members for 50 years, and Larry Fisher, who marks more than 40 years as a Kiwanian.
Elizabeth Gilmer, Jay McLaren and Lloyd Koch each received the Walter Zeller Fellowship Award which recognizes high impact donors. The Kiwanis Club has been supporting the Eliminate Project, which aims to stamp out maternal and neonatal tetanus, which kills thousands of newborns and their mothers in developing countries. The contribution through the Fellowship will be made in their names, and each one will help vaccinate approximately 700 mothers.
The evening also featured performances of dancing by The Tap Quartet - Hailee Liedtke, Jessica McCluskey, Daniele McCluskey and Kiana Ruddy - from Michelle's School of Performing Arts, and Celtic Soles - Nicole Godin, Stephanie Hartlin, Suzanne Hartlin, Annette Janke, Emma Nieman and Kathy Nieman. Both groups choreographed by Gayle Lyons-Lafrance.
There was also piano performances by Bridget and Quinn McCann, and a vocal solo by Sarah Beimers.
Making the evening particularly special was the appearance of Dr. John Button, Kiwanis International vice president, who honoured the club by being the keynote speaker. He is in line to be the next president of Kiwanis International, and would be only the ninth Canadian to do so.
He said the Kiwanis Club is facing problems not only of attracting new members, but retaining them as well.
'People still want to volunteer, but clubs sometimes aren't able to meet their needs," Button said, because they weren't getting any "take home value." This is even more important now, as there are so many things now competing for people's limited personal time.
"The future of Kiwanis depends on the reassurance of the values which made us great - fun, fellowship and service. It is those which are the take home values of Kiwanis."
Button said it is the fun which brings people into Kiwanis, the fellowship which provides the important bonds and partnerships to support each other in good times and bad, and service to the community, as they all know it is a privilege to serve.
"We Kiwanians have made the world a far better place," he said, and informed the members of the Pembroke club they have a lot to be proud of, noting their accomplishments in contributing $50,000 to the Pembroke Regional Hospital expansion, $50,000 to the new Algonquin College campus, $30,000 for a new splash pad in Riverside Park, $225,000 for the Kiwanis Field House, $235,000 for the Welcome Centre, to name a few.
"You have also invested heavily into young people," Button said, noting for Kiwanians, helping the youth and children is one of their top priorities.
Stephen Uhler is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist