CONTACT US: President Mike Heger...217-877-7779...mdheger@gmail.com____Secretary Susan Rayhill...217-864-4715...srrayhill@aol.com...We Meet at the Scovill Banquet Facility--9:30am every Wednesday...WHY NOT CONTACT US NOW!

Golden K of Decatur

In late 1980 an ad hoc committee was set up here in Decatur between what we now call the” Noon Club” and the Early Birds to set up a Golden K Club here. Needless to say there was not unanimous agreement that this was a good idea.

The first official meeting of the club was held in June of 1981 at the former Dinner Belle in what was then Fairview Plaza (now Fairview Park Plaza.

Kiwanis International

Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time — locally through Kiwanis club-sponsored activities and programs and globally through the Kiwanis international Worldwide Service Project..

Kiwanis
Illinois-Eastern Iowa

The I-I District consists of all K-Family clubs located in the state of Illinois as well those in the
following Eastern Iowa counties: Allamakee, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jones, Jackson, Cedar,

“THE RENEGADE REPORT”
By Rene Corcoran - #3

Going back to Report #1, there were two problems facing the Detroit #1
Club within months of its origin. The first was the name problem (see

Report #2)....moving from “Supreme Lodge Benevolent Order Brothers” (or
BOBs) to “Kiwanisers” and even later... to “Kiwanians”.

The second problem caused the Detroit Club to plummet from a membership of 250 to 50 in the summer of 1915. What kind of a problem would cause a club to crash in such a short time period?

The French have a term for it.....”raison d’etre”....our reason for
being. Who are we and what is our justification for existence? Allen
Simpson Browne’s idea was “we trade”. His vision was a businessmen’s club with social aspects. Membership in such a club ensured patronage from other members of the club. In other words, “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” There was an element of greed involved in joining the club. Sadly, most of the members of the Detroit Club bought into Browne’s idea.

Enter the evolutionists....those club members who envisioned another justification for existence. A small group believed that if the club was to succeed, it needed to offer community service of a philanthropic nature. First Detroit Club president Don Johnston stated, “At present, we have two factions. One is made up of those who have been misled - a trade group, let us call it.....while on the other side stands a body of men who believe that this club should be operated under the main principle of the Golden Rule.....”

By the end of 1915, membership climbed upward to 130 - all of whom knew the organization’s exact purpose. Listen to the wisdom of Johnston.... “All problems are solvable - if you but listen to the
philosophy of unselfish men and follow their advice”.....timely advice
for any club.

(The above summary is from Chuck Jonak’s book “Building Communities
1915- 1959”)

Didn't read Rene's previous reports "CLICK HERE"

Hit Counter