Events and Activities : Kiwanis 75th Anniversary Celebration this Weekend at Kiwanis Park

On November 20, 1947, a group of local residents chartered the Kiwanis Club of Vinton with the help of the Cedar Rapids Kiwanis Club. Thirty five charter members chose Ernest Kammerer, who at the time was manager of the Vinton Palace Theatre and had worked to organize the group, as its first president. Most of the early charter members were local businessman such as: Nicholas Gavalas, Don Lane, Robert Mahood Sr., L.A. Michael, Max Reinstein, Marion Kruse, Richard Beckwith, & Jack Siegel as well as professional men including doctors, attorney's, and bankers.

Some of the early projects included a carousel that was powered by a Model A engine which gave rides to children on Friday and Saturday nights. In the winter, members would take the carousel horses home and refurbish them. The club also sponsored a talent show held at the Lincoln High School and judged Christmas lights in town, awarding prizes. Vinton became known as the City of Lights. The club sponsored a local Iowa corn yield contest and farmer's appreciation dinner. They also did roadside cleanup and sponsored youth dances at the school.

The Kiwanis Club of Vinton first started giving out high school senior scholarships in 1958 and has done so ever since. In 1962, high school senior Morris Eckhart, received a Kiwanis scholarship for $200. He hadn't intended on going to college but, years later told the club that since the Kiwanis thought enough of him to give him a scholarship he decided to go to college. Morris ended up earning a law degree, returned to Vinton, as a lawyer and joined Kiwanis. He was an active member, served as a President, and maintained his membership until he passed away unexpectantly.

Don Lane was a charter member and the first club Secretary. He served as club Secretary from 1947 until he suffered a stroke in 1991. Don had tremendous dedication to the community and to Kiwanis.

In 1961, the club started the first annual Kiwanis Pancake Day which became the largest fundraiser for the club.

Pancake Day continues with as many as 1600 area residents attending, earning the club as much as $6000

to be used for community projects. The money earned at the early Pancake Days was used to sponsor foreign

exchange students to attend Vinton High School.

The club was always very active in the community, mainly focusing on serving the needs of children. Some of the activities over the years that served children are: Easter Egg Hunt, High School Scholarships, Christmas Party for special needs children, distributing dictionaries to 3rd grade students, Backpack Program, sponsoring a Cub Scout pack, promoting Kiwanis Park, and donating money to many local groups that serve children in the area. An important sponsorship was the Type lll polio vaccine clinic in 1963

In 1964, the Kiwanis joined forces with the Lions Club to start replacing 2500 stately Elm trees in Vinton which were

dying from Dutch Elm disease.

On Thursday, December 15, 1967, Iowa State Board of Regents approved plans for Vinton's new park on land leased from the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in the southwest section of town. Commenting on the Regent's action, Galen L Grote, chairman of the Kiwanis Club park project committee, said: "Although not officially notified by the board of Regents of their specific requirements, the Vinton Kiwanis Club will naturally work with the Board in developing this park area for Vinton."

Part of the land for the park was leased to Vinton by the IBSSS. Under terms of the lease the Regents needed to approve the park plans. Vinton turned the property over to the Park Commission, and the Vinton Kiwanis club continues to make improvements.

The Kiwanis Club has always supported the Vinton's Park and Recreation Department on many local projects. During the late 60's and early 70's, the Kiwanis Club focused on planning and furnishing Kiwanis Park along the Highway 218 bypass. Kiwanis Park included ball fields, a playground, and shelters for people to enjoy. In 1999, the Vinton Kiwanis Club received the Lay Organization award from the State of Iowa Park & Recreation Association. Kiwanis Park is still a focus for the club which currently includes raising funds for the new splashpad which was completed in 2021.

In 1969 the Vinton Kiwanis Club took the lead in forming the first community ambulance service. Up until that time the

local funeral homes provided the ambulance service. Vinton made state wide news in the Des Moines Register as one of the first communities in the state to start a stand alone ambulance service.

In 1972, the first Kiwanis Christmas Party was started to provide a meal and a gift for each special needs student in the

local school district. Santa Claus comes to handout the presents. It brings tremendous joy to these students.

The project has been a yearly event ever since then, even during the Covid 19 pandemic of 2000.

In 1980, Perry Hummel, who served as a Kiwanis Lieutenant Governor and Jim Russell helped to organize a morning Kiwanis Club which was called the Kiwanis Club of Vinton Daybreakers. They met a 6:30 am at the 218 Café. Several teachers from the Vinton School District were charter members. The first President was Bill Reams. The Daybreakers had several projects dedicated to serving children such as a Halloween party for preschoolers, Sandbox Days, Bike Rodeo, Student Scholarships, Kids Fisherie, Tree Planting at the High School Football Field and sponsored students to Camp OK, and Hugh Obrien Youth Award. The Daybreaker's main fundraisers were selling Christmas trees, wreaths, and giant coloring books, a spaghetti dinner, placing Christmas roping downtown, and selling sweetcorn. The Club disbanded in 2003 when they no longer had a private meeting room in which to eat at 6:30 am.

Ken Stark, a president of the Daybreaker's club and was on Vinton's Park & Recreation Department. He initiated the idea of Party in the Park Celebration. In the mid 80's, the Noon Kiwanis Club and Daybreakers Kiwanis Club joined forces to support the building of the Kiwanis band shelter at Riverside Park. The band shelter is the gathering place for the Party in the Park activities.

In 1987 Kiwanis International allowed women to join for the first time. The first woman to join the Vinton Kiwanis Club was Linda Engelken Fischer in May of 1988, she also served as the first woman President of the club in 1991.

Joan Sainsbury was the first female to join the Daybreaker Club in October of 1988 and served as President in 1998.

Jan McCleod served as the first Female President in the Daybreaker Club in 1995.

In 1992, the Vinton Daybreaker Kiwanis Club started the bike rodeo for area kids to educate them on bike safety and

the importance of bicycle helmets. When the Daybreakers disbanded in 2003 the noon club took over the project.

In 2007, the club started to give out dictionaries to every 3rd grade student in the school district.

In 2020, a new playground, splash pad, and foot golf course was added to Kiwanis Park. The Kiwanis Club raised over $174, 483 for the Play Vinton Project which was 46% of the total money raised. $82,603 was used for playgrounds, and $91,879 was used for the splashpad.

In 2022, the club celebrated the 75th Anniversary at Kiwanis Park with a meal, club picture and a dedication of a new park shelter.

Vinton has two major service clubs that have been an important part of the community for 75 years or more.

Over the years the two clubs would have friendly competitions against each other such as a golf outing, demolition derby, and tug of war competition. Fun was had by all!

Based on the most recent Kiwanis Fact Sheet - Kiwanis started in Detroit, Michigan in 1915.

KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL is dedicated to serving the children of the world. This global volunteer organization annually raises more than US$100 million and dedicates more than 18.5 million hours to strengthen communities and help children. Through service projects and fundraisers, Kiwanis members improve their communities, make lifelong friendships, and, most importantly, help children thrive, prosper and reach their full potential. Currently, the Vinton club is one of more than 7,000 clubs worldwide; there are more than 350,000 Kiwanis members in 81 different countries. There are 6 objectives of the Kiwanis organization: Object 1: To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life. Object 2: To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships. Object 3: To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business and professional standards. Object 4: To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive and serviceable citizenship. Object 5: To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service and to build better communities. Object 6: To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism and good will.

The Kiwanis Club of Vinton meets every Tuesday from noon to 1pm or we also offer a satellite meeting at 6:30 am on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. If you are interested in being a member of this dynamic club dedicated to serving children in the area please contact: Tom Husnik at 319-350-2519 or you can email him at Tom.Husnik@gmail.com