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August 2024
Club News & Announcements
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CLUBS FEATURED THIS MONTH: | |
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- Mason City-River City
- Spencer Hy-Noon
- Emmetsburg
- Kearney
- Grundy Center
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- Lincoln Southeast
- Lincoln Sunrise
- Ottumwa
- Cedar Falls Rough Risers
- North Platte
- Wahoo Area
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Mason City-River City sees successful projects | |
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Once again, the Mason City-River City Kiwanis Club enjoyed a very successful annual Fly-In Breakfast. It was held on May 18 at the Mason City Airport.
The weather cooperated and many people came out to enjoy breakfast and check out the airplanes. Members served 859 meals, just under last year’s record, raising over $9,300 for the kids of North Iowa. The club is again thankful for the help and partnership with the Clear Lake Club, North Iowa Air Service, as well as many members volunteering their time to flip pancakes, scramble eggs, slice ham and serve meals – 58 River City and Clear Lake Kiwanians! Thanks are also given to the 34 K-Kids, Builders Club and Key Club members who helped out at the event cleaning tables and selling lemonade. An amazing day!
Later in May, the Kiwanis members participated in the 85th Annual North Iowa Band Festival Parade and promoted the Chicken BBQ held on June 29. Kiwanians were joined by members of the SLP programs who then helped clean up the 1.5-mile parade route as a service project for the community. Way to go, kids!
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The club rounded out the month by grilling and serving hot dogs to the local YMCA Kids Camp kids on May 31. While the usual cooks enjoyed some much-needed time off, club members stepped in to serve hot dogs, chips, treats and lemonade to over 100 kids and staff members.
The Cannonball Day Chicken BBQ in June is the club’s biggest fundraiser. More than 3,100 half-chicken dinners to the community and 400 quarter-chicken dinners to local care centers make this event was another huge success for the club. The smell of barbecue, contagious smiles and laughter, high fives, and fun were abundant throughout the day. A HUGE thank you to the community for showing up and supporting kids by purchasing a dinner!
Submitted by Dana Thomas, Mason-City River City Kiwanis Club
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Spencer Hy-Noon brings awareness to flood campaign | |
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The Spencer Hy-Noon Kiwanis Club has been trying to bring awareness to the ongoing needs of their community’s schools. Like many residents in the community, the schools are still dealing with the devasting effects of this summer’s flooding.
The club has become aware of organizations partnering to help fund school supplies for kids and teacher. While dollars have been raised, the goal has not been met yet.
The Spencer Schools campaign set up by LOVE Takes Root can be found here: https://fundraise.lovetakesroot.org/spencerschools
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Submitted by Karen Buchholz, Spencer Hy-Noon Kiwanis Club secretary | |
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Emmetsburg reaches out to help neighboring community
On June 21, the rain came in buckets. By June 22, the city of Spencer, Iowa, had flooded. The Emmetsburg Kiwanis Club then reached out to the Foundation Church in Spencer, as that church had set up an outreach center.
Mark Evans, Emmetsburg Kiwanis president, got in touch with the church to see what was in need. He found out they were in need of hamburger patties to feed their outreach staff at the church. That was something the Kiwanis club could happily provide. But, members knew the need was even greater.
Mark got in touch with managers of the Emmetsburg Fareway Store and informed them the Emmetsburg Kiwanis Club wanted to help out with hamburger patties and also cleaning supplies, knowing the stores in Spencer may be sold out. The club wanted to spend $1,000 that came from tent rentals and pancake fundraising.
When members went to pick up their order, the Emmestburg Fareway Store not only got the club's order filled at a discounted price, but they also donated $400 more in cleaning supplies!!! It was very kind and a much appreciated donation. It's all about being good neighbors!
Submitted by Emmetsburg Kiwanis Club
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Kearney hosts annual golf fundraiser | |
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Kearney Kiwanis Club members cooked and served pancakes and sausages to the 2024 Shrine Bowl players and coaches. The Shrine Bowl was played June 1 at the Ron and Carol Cope Stadium in Kearney.
On July 12, 23 golf teams participated in the club’s golf tournament at the Meadowlark Country Club. This is the biggest fundraiser event to support the programs sponsored by the club.
Submitted By Lou Maxson, Kearney Kiwanis Club
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Grundy Center helps with summer party | |
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The Grundy Center Kiwanis Club provided a hot dog dinner during the Chamber/Main Street Summer Kick Off Party. The club set out containers for free-will donations and received more than enough to cover the expenses of the project.
More recently this summer, the club donated $500 to the Grundy Center Woman's Club to support their File For Life service project. Every household in Grundy County is encouraged to pick up a free refrigerator magnet that holds vital medical information for every person in the household. This can give EMS personal information that might save someone's life.
Submitted by Tim Melloy, Grundy Center Kiwanis Club secretary
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Lincoln Southeast creates library station | |
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The Lincoln Southeast Kiwanis Club created a library Makerspace station at an elementary school to help enrich the reading experience. The Makerspace station is an area where students can creatively demonstrate their understanding of topics they’ve been studying.
The club supplied a variety of art, craft, and building materials for each monthly activity. For example, one month the students used Legos and Play-Doh to retell scenes from their books.
Students and staff at the elementary school visited with Kiwanians to share how the Makerspace has helped make the library more tangible, bringing stories to life, and allowing the students to interact and build upon the things they’re reading.
Submitted by Lisa Belden, Lincoln Southeast Kiwanis Club president
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Lincoln Sunrisers show school pride, raise dollars | |
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Lincoln Sunrise Kiwanis has just completed another very successful fundraising activity supporting the Nebraska Husker Baseball team at home games in Haymarket Park.
For several years, Sunrise members have helped run the Concession Stand on the Third Base side of the stadium. In return for support in providing the resources to take and fill orders from the fans, the club receives a portion of the proceeds from each game worked. The weather can be cold, wet, sunny or downright hot. Members are there for the fans of the Huskers.
Proceeds earned are used to support the many programs the club helps support. In addition to the revenue sharing by the concessionaire, fans are also very generous with the tips they leave.
Club members also worked at the Lincoln Salt Dogs game, Kids Day Out, in late May. Always a BUSY fun time.
Thanks goes to all members who support this major fundraiser for Sunrise Kiwanis. Thanks also to coordinator, Joan Taylor, who makes sure a crew of 8-9 members attends the games. Also, thanks to the non-members who have volunteered to help and all the members past and present, who have contributed their time over the years. Members have done this activity for over 10 years. The late Skip Thomas, a long-time member coordinated the activity for many years.
Submitted by Ted Ericsen, Lincoln Sunrise Kiwanis Club secretary
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Ottumwa Kiwanis helps serve bike riders
The Ottumwa Kiwanis Funnel Cake Tailer made a good impression during RAGBRAI in July. The club manned the trailer when over 22,000 bike riders came through the community on July 25. Pictured are Ottumwa Club members Marta Shafer, Andy Maw and Tom Shafer.
Submitted by Tom Shafer, Ottumwa Kiwanis Club
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Cedar Falls Rough Risers pop corn, share member honor | |
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The Cedar Falls, Iowa Rough Risers popped Kettle corn at the Sturgis Falls Celebration June 28 through 30. They contributed 240 hours to the popping and raised over $10,000. The days were long but the results were rewarding.
The Rough Risers were assisted by members of the Waterloo Kiwanis Club. The money raised will be donated to various organizations, such as The Food Bank and Koats for Kids, Gift of Giving.
In other club news, Cedar Falls Kiwanis Rough Riser Marv Heller received the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Eight over Eighty Award at the 14th Annual Courier’s Eight Over Eighty luncheon. Marv and seven others received this esteemed honor. There were 95 entries for this honor, of which only eight were picked.
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Marv (pictured, right) is one of the founders of the Cedar Falls Kiwanis Rough Risers Club. He has been a club president and served as a Lt. Governor. Marv was a teacher and then educational professor at the University of Northern Iowa, where he served for 27 years. His record as a builder is unmatched, as he led the club in the building of numerous shelters at the CV Soccer Complex, YMCA and city parks. There were also other building projects at The Hartman Reserve as well as many handicap ramps. In addition to his Kiwanis work, Marv spent many years with Habitat, being involved with over 100 homes and 13 trips to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.
As one Rough Riser so aptly put it “Marv is a builder - building confidence in young teachers, a builder of homes and a builder of hope after tragedy”.
Submitted by Jim Larson, Cedar Falls Rough Risers Kiwanis Club
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North Platte Kiwanis Club checks off projects | |
It’s been a busy summer for the North Platte Kiwanis Club. Club members and their K-family helped out again at the annual Buffalo Bills Rodeo. Pictured are North Platte Key Club members preparing to scan tickets and in the background, members of the Aktion Club hand out programs for the rodeo.
It takes many hands to help out at this four-day rodeo. The following hours were worked: Kiwanis Club (and club family members), 13 members, 109 hours; Key Club, 4 members, 25.25 hours; and Aktion Club, 9 members, 24.50 hours. That is a total of 158.75 hours worked by 26 people.
On July 24, the club members setup and cooked pancakes for the 4-H members and their families at the Lincoln County Fair. They served 140 to 150 people at the event.
On July 30, the club hosted a special program and asked the Rotary Club and the North Platte Buffalo Bills Kiwanis Club to join. A total of 48 were in attendance in the Canteen Room at the Community Playhouse. The presenters were Johnny Rogers and Sue Errico (pictured), co-authors of the Musical The North Platte Canteen. The show is scheduled for the last weekend of September and first weekend of October at the Community Playhouse.
Submitted by Rex Cross, North Platte Kiwanis Club secretary
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Wahoo Area Kiwanis tackles busy months
There was no shortage of community service and club fundraising for Wahoo Area Kiwanians in July and August. These are two of the clubs busiest months every year.
The community Bike Helmet and Safety Rodeo, which is typically held in June, was even moved to July this year. This is an event sponsored by multiple organizations in the community. Wahoo Kiwanians again attended and helped youth spruce up their bicycles. The bike decorating table is always set up by the Kiwanis club.
Club members also did their part to help out the Saunders County Amusement Association (SCAA). There is no outside carnival brought in to provide rides and games during the Annual Wahoo Saddle Club Rodeo and Saunders County Fair. This is all done by volunteers. On July 19, club members were present to run the motorcycle and the carousel rides for both evening shifts.
The following week, club members were back at the fairgrounds. But this time, they were firing up the grills for the Fair Pancake Breakfast. This is an annual fundraiser for the club and is always on Wednesday morning of the eight-day fair. This year, about 300 adults and youth were served.
The Pancake Breakfast also provided an opportunity to draw the three lucky winners of the Kids Need Books Raffle. Kids Need Books is one of the club’s signature projects and was created several years ago to make sure no kid leaves a school book fair without a book. In addition to a garage sale in May, raffle tickets were also sold. Prizes were a quilt and two gift certificates to area businesses – all donated by members. Funds raised from both the garage sale and raffle will help keep the book-purchasing program going at all three schools serviced by the club.
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After taking a quick breather the first week of August, club members were back at it again on Aug. 10 for the annual baseball game. Now in its 22nd year, the Wahoo Kiwanis All-Star Baseball Classic brings together American Legion ball players from across Nebraska.
This is the club's original signature project. This year, 27 players made the trek to Sam Crawford Field for an afternoon hitting challenge and a nine-inning baseball game in the evening.
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Each player took home a souvenir ball branded with the Kiwanis emblem. There were also special plaques for the MVP of each team and for the hitting challenge champion.
Submitted by Wahoo Area Kiwanis Club
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