Sisters Kiwanis celebrates 35 years

More than 70 members and guests of the Sisters Kiwanis Club gathered at Aspen Lakes on Saturday, November 3, to commemorate 35 years of service in the Sisters community.

Bob Grooney, Sisters Kiwanis life member and past-president, was the Master of Ceremonies. Grooney delighted the crowd by recounting memories of the club's history, and hosted a round of "fines," which are a tradition during the weekly club meetings.

November 28, 2012 will mark the 35th Anniversary of the Kiwanis Club of Sisters. Founded by 35 members in 1977, Sisters Kiwanis was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Redmond and recognized in an official Charter Night held at Sisters Elementary School on January 26, 1978.

At the ceremony, Kiwanis Lt. Governor of District 78, Earl Schroeder, received the Legion of Honor for 45 years of Kiwanis membership and service. The Legion of Honor award recognizes members with 25 or more years of service every five years. Sisters recipients include Dave Clemens, 35 years; Bob Grooney, 35 years; Warren Seaward, 30 years; Earl Armbruster, 30 years; Bill Duehren, 25 years; and Jerry Taylor, 25 years.

The Kiwanis Club is extremely active in Sisters Country.

Over the years, Sisters Kiwanis has sponsored or provided significant assistance to: the Eastern City Portal ("Welcome to Sisters" sign and surrounding landscape); Village Green Park; Cliff Clemens Park; memorial benches and playground equipment; the Little League ball field (begun 1981); Sisters Library (Kiwanis painted the original library several times); Kiwanis House (purchased in 1992), which still houses the food bank and hosts the Sisters Dental Van; and the breakfast area at the Rodeo Grounds which has served up the Buckaroo Breakfast annually since 1980.

Sisters Kiwanis Club Life Member Tom Worcester affirmed, "The great thing about Kiwanis is that we have been involved in pretty much everything that has been done in the community."

In 1983, the Kiwanis Club of Sisters launched what arguably can be considered its most important service to the community of Sisters: the Kiwanis Food Bank.

"The food bank is a prize of this community, a big gold star on the calendar of humanity, every Thursday of every week," said Dr. Bonnie Malone, who served for many years on the board of SOAR (now Sisters Park & Recreation District, SPRD).

Malone recalled the key role of Sisters Kiwanis in the founding of SOAR (Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation):

"Primary to me is the effort made by a handful - maybe two hands full - of Kiwanians who promoted, organized and formed the foundation of SOAR, now SPRD, in the early '90s. I was the representative from Rodeo for this hatchling youth-focused entity. If it hadn't been for the Kiwanis driving force of leadership, I don't know if SOAR would have ever happened.

"The formative leadership from Kiwanis did so much work. Colin Adams, Tom Worcester, CB Davis, Tom Coffield. We were the stepchild of Kiwanis, and a very lucky stepchild. Cliff Clemens even participated as a founding member. Even the acronym was the product of a Kiwanis member, Tom Worcester, with 'Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation (SOAR).'

"Financially, Kiwanis has been SOAR/SPRD's greatest cheerleader, and believe me, I used Sisters Kiwanis as a lever more often than you could imagine when trying to raise money for SOAR from other organizations," said Malone.

Sisters Park & Recreation District Executive Director Anne Heath said, "From my perspective, Kiwanis provides an essential service to this community in the form of serving the humanity.

Whether it is our most vulnerable young children, students at risk or in poverty, or families in need, the Kiwanis [members] have a hand in how they are served.

The dedication of the members is overwhelming to me.

The amount of projects, services, and special activities that are all taking place at one time is amazing.

Strong and dedicated leadership is the key to any endeavor that is going to be long-lasting and sustainable.

I believe that the Sisters club has a history of great leadership and a well-thought-out plan for continuing that leadership.

Projects come and go, and the Sisters Kiwanis are always ready to step up and meet the needs of the community and be very successful at it."

Heath continued, "Obviously, for SPRD, the scholarship donations from Kiwanis are so essential. We have the policy that we will not turn a family away due to their inability to pay. We can't make that happen without a community of partners working beside us."

Other community activists invited to comment on the contribution of Kiwanis included Mayor Lon Kellstrom who noted, "Clubs like Kiwanis are a critical part of any community's structure. Certainly that's true in Sisters. The Food Bank is an invaluable service and much appreciated."

Councilor Wendy Holzman, added, "(With the Kiwanis) motto 'Service to the community with an emphasis on youth,' and a stated desire to improve our community through service projects and the development and support of community organizations, it is clear that the good of our community is at the heart of the Sisters Kiwanis Club."

Erin Borla, executive director for the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, explained that the Sisters Kiwanis Club was chosen to be the recipient of the Sisters "Non-Profit of the Year 2009" for the club's "tireless efforts in supporting Sisters and the surrounding areas. In 2009, Kiwanis doubled the number of families and individuals served from the Sisters Food Bank. The unending efforts of the members of this active club have proven to be a true representative of Sisters Country pioneering spirit."

Sisters Kiwanis is involved still with: Sponsorship of the Cub Scouts (since 1980); collecting old eyeglasses (since 1981); helping with the Red Cross Blood Drive (since 1982); Christmas Food Share (since 1983); Sisters Food Bank (since 1985); Key Club (since 1994); highway cleanup (since 1993); volunteers for Head Start and the SMART reading program and fundraisers including the golf tournament (since 1990), and See's Candy Sale (since 2002); and the antique sale (since 2012).

Malone remembered, "My second personal experience is with the Buckaroo Breakfast, which Kiwanis has been doing for probably 25 years or more. This fundraiser has become a standard of Sisters Rodeo, and only enhances our visibility and the fundraising goals of Kiwanis, in which we share like philosophies of community support. This symbiosis is so valued by the rodeo association and makes Kiwanis feel like part of our family."

New officers for Kiwanis were installed in September for the 2012-13 year. President Dave Huni is enthusiastic and optimistic about the new Kiwanis year.

"My wish for this year is for us to celebrate our 35 years of bringing service to our community and, in learning about our history, rise to the occasion by harnessing our varied and expansive talents. Along these lines, I think our new district governor, Greg Holland, wisely choose his theme for the year: 'Enjoy Your Service'."