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Two Chatham-Kent Kiwanis Clubs come together in 2014 to better serve their community
In 2014 the Kiwanis Clubs of Chatham and Chatham-Kent Golden K, with a history dating back to the original charter of the Kiwanis Club of Chatham in 1930, merged their memberships and became the Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent. Pictured above are the 2014 presidents Eileen Richards of the Golden K club, left and Stan Wharram of the Chatham club, right, receiving their new club charter from Kiwanis International President-elect Dr. John Button.
The former Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent Golden K was chartered on April 17, 1997, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Chatham. The newly chartered Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent started with a membership of sixty members.
The Officers and Directors for 2014-15
A worldwide service organization
The Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent is affiliated with Kiwanis International, a worldwide organization that was formed in 1915. Kiwanis International has more than 280,000 members in over 96 nations. Kiwanis projects focus, but not exclusively, on the needs of young children. The Kiwanis motto is "Serving the Children of the World". Each Kiwanis club establishes service projects and supports these projects through fundraising and direct donations and/or members volunteer time for causes that better the community locally and in partnership with other Kiwanis clubs to support international projects.
Kiwanis clubs are also active in elementary and secondary schools and in colleges and universities as well as clubs for adults with disabilities. In 2004 our Kiwanis Club, in partnership with Community Living Chatham-Kent, established the Aktion Club of Chatham-Kent, a Kiwanis club for adults with disabilities.
Aktion Club of Chatham-Kent members attended
the 2013 Aktion Club Conference
Since 1997 the Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent Golden K has donated over $350,000 to its service projects and provided thousands of hours as volunteers. Some of the projects receiving our support include:
Local community projects
- Children's Hospital of Western Ontario
- Chatham-Kent Health Alliance ((Nursery & MRI campaign)
- Kingston Park Playground
- Community Living Chatham-Kent
- Good Neighbours/United Way
- Healthy Babies: Healthy Children (Public Health Unit)
- Chatham Kiwanis Music Festival
- Outreach for Hunger
- Children's Safety Village
- Chatham-Kent Science Fair
- Pediatric Critical Care (London)
- Capitol Theatre for the Performing Arts
- Heritage Days (Education Day)
- Cancer Society (Daffodil and Pink Ribbon campaigns)
- Meals on Wheels
- Ontario Senior Games
- Operation Red Nose
- Salvation Army Kettle Campaign
- Santa Claus Parades
International projects
- Kiwanis International project to eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD)
- Sleeping Children Around the World
- Kiwanis EC&C District project HIV/AIDS
- "ELIMINATE" the Kiwanis International project to eliminate maternal neonatal tetanus in 39 countries started in 2012 and continue
Partnerships in service
In 2006 our Club, in partnership with Home Depot, Kaboom, and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, was involved with the Kingston Park project. Through funds from Kaboom and the work of 200 volunteers, including many Home Depot employees, playground equipment was built, pavilions were painted, flower boxes were built and landscaping was enhanced - all in one day. In 2007 our Club, once again in partnership with the Municipality and with funds from bingo and a Community Partnership grant added playground equipment for younger children.
Recognizing outstanding service
In 2009 our Club established the Syd Kemsley Community Service Award in honour of Syd and the late Barbara Kemsley. Syd joined the Kiwanis Club of Chatham in 1948 and transferred to our Golden K club as a charter member. His many years of community service included serving as chair of the Chatham Kiwanis Music Festival. The award is presented to a deserving citizen who serves this community in a like way. Recipients to date have been Syd Kemsley, Gordon Reynolds, Dr John Button and Janet Braddon.
Janet Braddon receives the Syd Kemsley Community Service Award
from 2012-13 president Cathy Telfer
The Kiwanis International Foundation established the Walter Zeller Award to recognize outstanding supporters who have contributed $1,250 US to the Kiwanis International ELIMINATE project. Zeller was the first contributor when the Kiwanis Foundation was established. Our club is proud to have nine of our members who are Walter Zeller award recipients.
Past president John Tole receives his Walter Zeller Award
from EC&C District "ELIMINATE" co-ordinator Jim Garey
Fund raising projects
Our members lead and volunteer for a variety of fund-raising activities that have included
- Bingo (with appreciation to Riverview Bingo Palace, Lorne Cummings and Austin Hadlock and all bingo volunteers)
- Nevada Ticket Sales (with appreciation to Lorne Cummings)
- Theatre Bus Excursions (with appreciation to Zetta Burgess and John Tole for organizing the trips)
- Sale of Chatham-Kent Souvenir Coverlets
- Sale of Gladioli (with appreciation to the late Evan Arnold for growing and cutting the blooms)
- Up With People Show (in partnership with Kiwanis Clubs of Chatham and Ridgetown)
- Grant; Trillium Foundation of Ontario
- Grant; Municipality of Chatham-Kent Community Partnership Program for equipment at the Cultural Centre and Kingston Park
- Skip-a-Meal for Outreach for Hunger and other projects (with appreciation to Ted Hunter)
- Individual member donations to specific projects
| Current membership - March 2018 | 52 |
Appreciation is expressed to the following for their dedicated leadership to our Kiwanis Club. We are proud to have had three Lieutenant Governors of Division 3 Bluewater St. Clair: Ian Rutherford, Laurraine Kent and Jim Robinson. (* indicates Distinguished, ** Distinguished with Excellence)
| Golden K president | Chatham president | Lt. Governors | |
| 1996-97 | Lorne Little | Darrel Stewart | Ian Rutherford* |
| 1997-98 | Lorne Little | Enio Sullo | Lloyd Harrow |
| 1998-99 | Lloyd Richards | John Thompson | Stan Jones |
| 1999-2000 | Janet Braddon | Brian Knott | Ellen (Stephan) Luft* |
| 2000-01 | Ron Marentette | Gord Reynolds | Ellen (Stephan) Luft* |
| 2001-02 | Mary Alice Marchand* | Ron Robertson | Laurraine Kent |
| 2002-03 | Jim Robinson* | Chuck Scott | Laurraine Kent |
| 2003-04 | John Tole* | Chuck Scott | Jim Robinson |
| 2004-05 | Bill Alexander | Mark MacKew | Jim Robinson |
| 2005-06 | Jim Pepper | Mark MacKew | Al Mifflin |
| 2006-07 | Rob Ralston | Don Braddon | Al Mifflin |
| 2007-08 | Liz Dorner | Bonnie Barnes | Al Mifflin |
| 2008-09 | Jim Robinson* | Antoon van der Reijden | Don Burnard |
| 2009-10 | Ken Cucksey | Antoon van der Reijden | Don Burnard |
| 2010-11 | Janet Braddon | Bonnie Barnes | Sheila Donald |
| 2011-12 | John Tole* | Bonnie Barnes | Sheila Donald |
| 2012-13 | Cathy Telfer | Stan Wharram | Bud Orr |
|
2013-14 |
Eileen Richards |
Stan Wharram |
Bud Orr |
|
Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 |
George Service Dick Roe Mary Alice Marchand Mary Alice Marchand
|
|
Cathy Telfer** Cathy Telfer** David Murray David Murray
|