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KIWASSEE KIWANIS
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KIWANIS IN MIDLAND
The city of Midland has had a Kiwanis club since July 14, 1921 when the Midland
Kiwanis Club was chartered as the 18th club in Michigan. Midland has benefited greatly
from Kiwanis service over the years as can be seen in two of their projects.
The first was the purchase of Camp Neyati, 192 acres on Crooked Lake near Farwell.
The Midland Kiwanis Club bought the camp from the Flint YMCA that was going to
lose it at the depth of the depression. Since that time Kiwanis has put several hundred
thousand dollars in this camp for children so that it has become one of the best in
Michigan.
A second project of the Midland Club was to sponsor the program that brought Lake
Huron water to Midland. Historically, Midland had very poor water that was drawn
from the Tittabawassee River with a high salt and mineral content. During spring runoff
and in periods of low water, it was undrinkable because of the door and algae. Almost
every block had a well where people got drinking water and carried it home in gallon
jugs.
In the 1940s, several of the members of the Midland Kiwanis Club decided to investigate
the possibility of bring good water to Midland. The best available water was in Lake
Huron. Some club members made a study of the lake currents and found that the nearest
clean water was at White Stone Point. Nearer points were polluted with sewage outfalls.
Other members did a feasibility study and cost analysis on bringing the water to
Midland. Armed with the data and with total club support, the program was presented to
the voters with the result that good water came some 41 miles to the families of Midland
in 1948.
The Midland Kiwanis Club continued to grow and had over 80 members in the early
1950s. Periodically, some one would suggest the starting of the second club. The idea
usually engendered considerable discussion with the idea usually being dropped.
In 1965, a study was made that indicated a number of potential Kiwanians were unable to
attend a Monday evening meeting due to other commitments. As a result of this study, a
group of 14 Kiwanians from the Midland Club met at the Pickel Barrel for lunch to
explore the possibility of starting a second club in Midland. Those that met were:
Art Allen, Bill Bradley, John Glass, Tom Houtman, Bob Kingsley, Fred Lowes, Mert Lilly,
Mahlen Moore, Wally Moore, Floyd Peterson, Allen Ott, Bud Parker, Dick Smith, and Frank Towsley.
In addition, Ben Hines from the Freeport, Illinois club was there making a
total of 15. Each attendee put $10 in a bowl to start a treasury. The 15 men went out to
recruit at least 10 more, because 25 were required to get a club charter. When the club
was chartered on February 22, 1967, there were 49 members.
While this discussion of this beginnings of Kiwassee make it seem almost cut and dried,
it wasn't. First there was the problem of a name. In general, Kiwanis clubs are named by
the town they are in and the area of the town they serve, such as Downtown, Northwest,
and Riverside in Saginaw. But In Midland, both clubs would recruit from the same
area, thus a geographical designation would be misleading. Kiwassee was chosen with
the Ki from Kiwanis and the Wassee from the Tittabawassee River that runs through
Midland.
At the charter night dinner, the Midland Club presented Kiwassee with a banner and a
bell. Kiwassee officially the 217th Kiwanis club chartered in Michigan. Gil Ward, of
the night club and also a past Lt. Gov, presented 2 flags.
When Kiwassee started there was no project money and so someone suggested a car wash
which resulted in a lot of wet fellowship and a total of 17 cents an hour for those
working.
Without money, we had to look for projects that would require work instead of funds so
we worked with the Senior Class at Midland High School and offered an all-night
graduation night party. If they would earn the money, we would do the work. The
project has continued to the present time.
A second service that started the first year was ringing the bells for the Salvation Army
Christmas collection.
After the first money raising project turned out less profitable than hoped,
the Midland club took pity and volunteered to let Kiwassee have a share of the profits
(based on percentage of sales) from their travel lecture series.
Two club members wrote our first song book, "Sing Along With Mike and Gene"
-- Fred Lowes, 1982 (with additions from other members)
Initial Officers:
Ben Hines, President
John Gloss, Secretary
Harold Steinke, Treasurer
Initiation of activities over the years:
1967
47 members
Senior class party
Salvation Army Christmas Collection
Milk for retarded children
Start of Smoke Signals newsletter
1968
58 members
Eagle Boys Village support
1969
Sponsored attendees at Fellowship of Christian Athletes camp
Sponsored interclub of 4 Kiwanis clubs with 163 attendees
1970
Started pancake supper as fund raiser
1971
Sponsored Junior Achievement company
Began meeting at Tuesday noon
Increased membership 29%
1972
Started pop corn sale as fund raiser
Built a picnic shelter at Sanford Park
1973
Hosted football bust
1974
Gave cassette recorder to Girl Scouts of America
1975
Painted Reece House
1976
Furnished wheel chair for Dial-A-Ride
Gave savings bonds to outstanding commercial students
1977
Support for child with learning disability
Produced senior citizen resource manual
1978
Hosted 61st District Convention attended by over 1300
Made contribution to alternative education program
1979
First sales of cashew nuts in glass jars
1980
Adopted Stratford Woods Park
1981
Had first meetings in Midland Center For The Arts
1982
Built picnic shelter at Stratford Woods
75 members
1983
Support for hospital Pediatrics, students councils, Ashman St. School,
Sensory Nature Trail for disabled in Dow Gardens
1984
Support for Special Olympics, Stratford Woods, barrier-free churches,
Midland Hospital
1985
Support for Big Sisters, Thanksgiving Breakfast
1986
Play equipment at Stratford Woods, Essay Contest
Monitors at Dow Gardens Christmas Walk
1987
Volleyball area at Stratford Wood, garden at Pinecrest Home
Helped start Council On Aging
18 new members, 10th largest chapter in State
1988
Lee Lucas and Karen Knight inducted as first women members
Help to cancer patients, retraining scholarships
Worked with Boy Scouts on Christmas Wreath Sale
100 members
1989
Project FACE (Facing Alcohol Concerns Through Education),
Big Brothers fishing
1990
Safe Homes Program, High School Values Survey, Pinecrest Improvements
Inspirational Breakfast
1991
Alcohol Awareness for Pregnant Women, Doula Kids Program,
Adopt-a-Highway
1993
Radio auction
First female president, Michelle Minkel
1998
Web site
2000
Dow High School Key Club, Reading Is Fundamental
West Midland Family Center playground
2001
Winter Light Festival traffic control
2002
Santa House
2003
Rock Youth Center, Salvation Army playground, Together for Kids, Magic Ride
2004
Adams School Post Card Project, Bell Ringing Band, Tall in the Saddle
2005
Shelterhouse playground
2006
State Key Club Convention, Golf Classic
2007
TV programs on MCTV
2008
ESA playground project
2009
Chime choir
2010
Aktion Club, Stratford Wood beautification project
2011
Dinner-dance
2012
Parade participation
2013
Holiday flag project
Meeting venue changed from Midland Center for the Arts to Trinity Lutheran Church
Corporate membership
2014
Furnished room at North Midland Family Center
Meridian High School Key Club
2015
Digital signin at meetings
non-meal membership
2016
Memorial bridge at West Midland Family Center
Fun Committee
Major funding to New Hope Village, ACT Uganda,
STEM playground project, Longview Early Childhood Education Center pavilion
2017
50th Anniversary Celebration
2018
Roundtable discussion by community leaders on what are most pressing problems for County's children & youth
2019
Portalbuzz website
2020
Zoom video meetings
Past Presidents Charter Members Kiwassee Charter Night Photo 2013 talk on history |
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6/23/20 |
