By Dave Azwell
The Osage City Kiwanis will celebrate its 60th year as a service club in Osage City with an open house 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Osage City Santa Fe Depot. The public is invited to celebrate this historic date with the local Kiwanis members. Refreshments will be served.
Chartered on Sept. 21, 1957, the Kiwanis is a local service club made up of men and women who are part of the Kiwanis International’s global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
Kiwanis has initiated many service projects over the years for the betterment of Osage City, the local school district, and the surrounding area. Children of the community are of the club’s primary focus, with service leadership programs sponsored at the high school, middle school and elementary school, such as Key Club, Builders Club and K-Kids/BUG (Bring Up Grades). Osage City Kiwanis also funds and supports academic scholarships, educational programs, school equipment and supplies for USD 420 students.
In cooperation with other civic organizations, Kiwanis has co-sponsored school theatrical events, public library functions and other worthwhile community activities.
In addition to promoting service and leadership skills, Kiwanis is actively engaged in various fundraising endeavors. The primary service project and major fundraiser is a year round paper recycling program that has been an ongoing activity for years. Approximately 60-80 tons of miscellaneous paper and magazines are recycled from around the city and surrounding area each year.
Other fundraising activities include an annual breakfast that kicks off the Chamber’s “Christmas on Market Street” event in November, a yearly chili feed in January or February, and Smoke in the Spring State BBQ Championship in April. All proceeds go towards providing funds for children’s activities and community projects.
Kiwanis meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at the Osage City Santa Fe Depot, Fifth and Market streets, Osage City.
