|
 |
“90 Years of Service”
A History of the Greenville Kiwanis Club
1921 through 2010
Compiled by: William T. Maxwell and W. Roy Haines
Edited by: W. Roy Haines
A History of the Kiwanis Club of Greenville
Part 4 of 5 – 1990 through 1999
Read Part 1 – Greenville Kiwanis 1921 to 1949
Read Part 2 – Greenville Kiwanis 1950 to 1979
Read Part 3 – Greenville Kiwanis 1980 to 1989
The Kiwanis Club of Greenville owes a debt of gratitude to Kiwanian
William T. Maxwell for the following history of the Club. Bill served
the Club as President, Secretary, Distinguished Lt. Governor and
unofficial Club Historian. The passing of Bill on September 10, 2000
was a great loss to the Club and the community. The Club history from
the 1920’s through the 1970’s, as compiled by Bill, appeared in “The
Daily Advocate” on June 6, 1986 in a tabloid honoring the local club’s
65th Anniversary. Information from the 1980’s through Kiwanis year
2009/2010 is what current members remember. There will undoubtedly be
some memory failures and the like, for which “The Ki-Yak” editor, Roy
Haines, is very sorry. With the preamble out of the way, let’s all go
down memory lane and refresh a few memories.
The 1990’s
In the 1990’s, the Club meeting place went from the Greenville Inn back
to The Elks Lodge. In spite of the various moves over the years, the
meeting date has been consistent… Wednesday from 12:00 noon to 1:00
p.m. The only regular change is during “The Great Darke County Fair” in
August when for one week we have no meeting as Club members tending
Fair Gate No. 5. Over the years, our Club membership has gone from 28
members to a high of 99. For some reason we never could break the 100
mark. During the 90’s, the Club dropped staffing Fair Gate No. 3, but
continued to staff Fair Gate No. 5.
The 90’s saw the introduction of two new recognition projects,
“Teacher-of-the-Year” and “Citizen-of-the-Year.” The
“Teacher-of-the-Year” awards were: 1993/4---Tim Nealeigh;
1994/5---Martha Davis; 1995/6---Andy Arnett; 1996/7---Nanette Hottle;
1997/8---No award given; 1998/9---Trace Snyder; 1999/0---Vanis
Brumbaugh. The “Citizen-of-the-Year” awards were: 1992/3---Joy Marchal;
1993/4---Marion Grimes; 1994/5---No award given; 1995/6---Bernard K.
Dent; 1996/7---Richard Rehmert; 1997/8---William Benkert;
1998/9---Hazel Blanchard; 1999/0---Jim Doseck.
The continuing “Kiwanian-of-the-Year” honorees were: 1990/1---No award
given; 1991/2---Brad Dill; 1992/3---James A. Schaar; 1993/4---Mike
Baker; 1994/5---No award given; 1995/6---No award given; 1996/7---No
award given; 1997/8---Tom Lawson; 1998/9---No award given;
1999/0---George Massar.
The “Young Children: PRIORITY ONE” projects during this decade
included: (1) participation in a reading program for 4th and 5th
graders at Woodland Heights Grade School. This program was discontinued
after several years, but a number of Club members volunteered to
participate in the “Ohio Reads” program at South Grade School; (2)
donated books to the “Darke County “Head Start” program; (3) donated a
pediatric trauma board to the Greenville Area Emergency Rescue Service;
(4) purchased infant car seats for newborn babies that were
distributed, as needed, by Wayne Hospital; (5) purchased youth car
seats for WIC eligible children to be distributed through Darke County
Health Department; (6) purchased “Teddy Bears” for the Red Cross to
give to children who are victims of house fires.
In an effort to keep our highways looking neat, the Club participated
in a “Highway Clean-up” project along U.S. 127. A sweep of the area 4
times a year produced an enormous amount of trash. By the year 2000,
this project was dropped due to the difficulty of getting enough Club
members to help on 4 Saturday mornings during the year. The Club
participated in Kiwanis International IDD (Iodine Deficiency Disorder)
project through monthly 50/50 drawings, individual direct contributions
and Club contributions. In 1996, the Club donated and had planted 20
trees in the Greenville City Park system. The value of the
tree-planting project amounted to $2,000.
In 1997, the Club was asked to join with the Greenville Senior High
School Athletic Department and the GSHS Athletic Boosters in hosting
and financially sponsoring the “Treaty City Invitational Cross Country
Track Meet.” Teams from 35 to 40 schools bring 1,100 to 1,400 runners
to participate the Saturday before Labor Day each year. The Kiwanis
Club is to purchase supplies for and staff the unprofitable lunch/snack
stand and help staff the racecourse.
For the 75th Anniversary Party on September 25, 1996, 115 Kiwanians and
guests were treated to a great dinner catered by Mike James at the Elks
Lodge. Greenville High School “Wavaires” supplied the evening’s
entertainment. International President-Elect Walter Sellers, a member
of the Xenia Kiwanis Club, and Ohio District Governor Dave Gillespie
were in attendance. Also, present were State Representative Jim Buchy
and Greenville Mayor Richard Rehmert.
Kiwanis Club members, like most Americans, like to eat or at least
think about food. With this in mind, the Club started another fund
raising project. The new project was a “chili supper” held prior to the
last home football game. Having put on some poundage with the “chili
supper,” the membership decided to hold a “Skip-a-Meal” fundraiser that
generated $175.00. After several years, the “chili supper” project was
discontinued.
In the 1990’s the Club membership participated in supplying the local
FISH project with nonperishable food products and/or monies to help
support community needs. This project was undertaken during the month
of November. The food and money collected from Club members and monies
from the Club were presented to Hazel Blanchard of the local FISH
project on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Another new fund raising project, the sale of “Entertainment Books” was
started. Gary Brown volunteered to serve as the Chairperson. The
project raises several hundred dollars each year for community projects.
The 90’s saw women joining Kiwanis for the first time. Terry Franz and
Marabelle Garland joined Greenville Kiwanis in September 1993.
In the 1997/8 Kiwanis year, Bill Maxwell and Roy Haines were the first
local Club members to receive the George F. Hixson Fellowship Award.
During the 1999/0 Kiwanis year, Frank Sheffer received the George F.
Hixson Fellowship Award and Roy Haines received the George F. Hixson
Diamond Award.
Presidents serving during the 1990’s were: 1990/1---Joe Goins;
1991/2---Dave Shahan; 1992/3---Fred Bernhard; 1993/4---Jerry Garrison;
1994/5---Eric Brand; 1995/6---James A. Schaar; 1996/7---Brian Gruber;
1997/8---Phil Crawford; 1998/9---Duane Smith; 1999/0---Terry Haworth.
President Haworth and Secretary Tom Lawson were recognized as
“Distinguished Club Officers” and the Greenville Club as a
“Distinguished Club” during the 1999/2000 Kiwanis administrative year.
KIWANIS INFORMATION
• The first Kiwanis Club was organized in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A., in
1914. The group received a charter from the state of Michigan on
January 21, 1915 --- the day that is recognized as the birth date of
Kiwanis.
• The name “Kiwanis” was coined from an expression of the American
Indians in the Detroit area, which was found in Bishop Baraga’s
dictionary of the Otchipew language. The expression “Nunc Kee-wan-nis”
meant, broadly, “we trade” or “we share our talents.” As a coined word,
however, “Kiwanis” has no meaning except as the name of a leading
international service club.
• The First Object of Kiwanis International is “To give primacy to the
human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life.”
• The Second Object of Kiwanis International is “To encourage the daily
living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.”
• The Third Object of Kiwanis International is “To promote the adoption
and the application of higher social, business and professional
standards.”
• The Fourth Object of Kiwanis International is “To develop, by precept
and example, a more intelligent, aggressive and serviceable
citizenship.”
• The Fifth Object of Kiwanis International is “To provide, through
Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to
render altruistic service, and to build better communities.”
• The Sixth Object of Kiwanis International is “To cooperate in
creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism
which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism
and goodwill.”
|
|
|
|
