Local Kiwanis Club returns

From 1971 to 2013, a Kiwanis Club was active in the Twin Cites, at one time meeting regularly at the Travelers Inn restaurant to discuss club service projects focused on benefitting children and youth in the area.

That tradition and legacy was revived last week, with the formation of The Kiwanis Club of the Twin Cities, in the Harvey Vick Room of the South Fulton Municipal Complex.

Approximately 50 people were in attendance for the organizational meeting, which was facilitated by Union City, Tenn. Kiwanis Club members John and Cathy Fry, as well as others affiliated with Kiwanis.

Rogena Woods Mitchell, Club Opening Specialist, welcomed those in attendance, and then introduced Kiwanis leadership from California, Louisiana and Texas, who provided information as to purpose of Kiwanis Clubs and the opportunities afforded to those who become members, to connect with their communities and serve there.

In the information distributed at the organizational meeting, it was noted Kiwanis may serve both locally and globally, with Kiwanis joining with UNICEF in 1993 to virtually eradicate iodine deficiency disorders. In 2010, Kiwanis teamed with UNICEF again to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus from the face of the earth.

What ever the community needs most, Kiwanis is there, the brochure states.

It goes on to report nearly 150,000 service projects each year making a difference in the lives of children, with members providing more than 18.5 million hours of service and raising more than $100 million for local and global causes.

The Kiwanis Family of Clubs includes K-Kids for elementary school students, ages 6-12; Builders Club for middle school and junior high students, ages 12-14; Key Club for students ages 15-18; Circle K International for collegiate service and Aktion Club for adults with Disabilities.

The official name of the club was determined by membership vote, to be The Kiwanis Club of the Twin Cities and the meeting dates were set at the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 6 p.m. The first meeting will take place at Parkway Church of Christ in Fulton, 1301 Middle Road. The next meeting is Sept. 10.

Officers were elected, with William Hester to serve as President; Lisa Pritchard, President-Elect; Lane Archie, Treasurer; John Fry, Secretary; and Lawanda Alfred, Assistant Secretary.

Board members elected included Tim Cook, Kimberly Jackson and Josh Pritchard.

The first service project was coordinated during the organizational meeting, with those in attendance bringing non-perishable food items to be donated to the Twin Cites CARE ministry in South Fulton.

For more information about the Kiwanis Club of the Twin Cities, visit membership@kiwanis.org, or facebook.com/SouthFultonTNKiwanis.