Sidney Kiwanis Club Celebrating 100 Years of Service

"Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time." From its start in Detroit on Jan. 21, 1915, it has grown to include 445,167 members in clubs all over the world.

The Sidney Kiwanis Club was organized on Dec. 22, 1924 and was presented its charter on April 15, 1925 by its sponsoring club, Glendive. Officers were: president Carl Brattin, vice president Ira Bendon, treasurer J.A. Loken, district trustee R.P. Imes and secretary J.H. Clark. Directors were F. George Johnson, J.I. Turner, W.K. Adams, C.S. Clemmensen, Noel Carrico, Albert Christensen and R.P. Imes.

Since the beginning, meetings have been at noon on Thursdays. The club met in various churches to begin with, settling on the Congregational Church for a few years, with the wives providing lunch. In January of 1928, the move was made to the Valley Hotel Cafe, then to the Jensen Cafe in February of 1930. The Lalonde Hotel became their new home for many years until it burned, then the Elks Club provided meeting space. The club currently meets for food, fellowship and a great program every Thursday at noon at the Moose Lodge. Whether informative or entertaining, often both, the programs are always good.

Committees in 1927 included agriculture, attendance, business standards, classification, finance, good will and grievance, house, inter-club relations, Kiwanis education, laws and regulations, membership, music, programs, public affairs, publicity, reception and under-privileged child with special committees for vocational guidance and US-Canada Week. Today's committees are membership/education, sponsored youth, programs, publicity and public relations.

Of special importance to the original group of Kiwanians was participation in the Richland County Fair. In 1926, in order to spark interest in the smaller communities, they decided to present the play "Banish the Scrub Bull" and traveled to every rural hall or school in Richland County. That summer, those communities, 15 in all, provided displays at the fair and some continue today, helping to make the fair the best in the region. Those plays were followed by talent shows consisting of a Kiwanian or two and the local residents, with the money raised going towards the fair as well.

Kiwanis has always supported 4-H and continues to do so. In 1928, each member provided a sack of certified seed potatoes to a member of the Boys Potato Club and agreed to visit the plot at least once during the growing season. In return the 4-Her would donate a sack of potatoes back which would be used to feed hungry children in the area. They also individually sponsored 4-H hog raisers.

In 1931, the Sidney Kiwanis Club was named the Top Club out of 1800 worldwide and awarded the International Kiwanis Efficiency Award for its rural beautification project. The Sidney project originated from a desire to develop better relations between the city and rural areas, and became a Kiwanis International objective.

Women were finally allowed to join Kiwanis in 1990 or 91', a decision which unfortunately caused a few men to leave the club. Sharon Rau became Sidney's first female president in 1997 and went on to become the first women Lt. Governor of District 5 which covers the state of Montana. Current president Elaine Stedman is slated to become Governor in 2025. Most would agree that allowing women to join was a smart move!

Priorities shifted throughout the years as times changed but the focus of Kiwanis has always been to serve. Activities have included an Easter egg hunt and free kids movie, cleaning highway ditches, conducting food drives, middle school awards, Boys and Girls State, Bike helmet program, Montana Chamber Business week, Boy Scouts, youth rodeo, baseball and softball, hockey, Special Olympics, swim team, Hugh O'Brien Scholarship, books for newborns, post-prom parties, Terrific Kids, BUG (Bring up Grades), 4-H, FFA, March of Dimes Walk, Blankets of Love, All Their Shots While They're Tots (which was the first use of the Kiwanis sign on S. Central and earned the club the 1992-93 Outstanding Club Project for Young Children:

Priority One award), the huge Baby Think it Over Doll project, and so many more. Kids have been helped with hearing aids, or special education needs, the list goes on and on. Every year, at least one scholarship is given to a deserving senior from Sidney High School.

Kiwanis has developed a close relationship with the Boys and Girls Club, providing support and taking their turn serving lunches there. The Annual Coat Drive provides hundreds of families in Richland County with warm clothing and footwear. Twice a year, members deliver Meals on Wheels. Kiwanis also rewards kids with a pizza party through the MBI (Montana Behavioral Initiative), a proactive approach in creating behavioral supports and a social culture that establishes social, emotional and academic success for students where they strive to become Safe, Respectful and Responsible. Kiwanis has also sponsored the Athlete of the Year Award with The Roundup for several years. Sidney also participates in providing playground equipment in communities throughout the state, as well as other statewide initiatives.

In 1993, the club started taking tickets at all Sidney High School home games and continues that project today. They also man the people movers at the Richland County Fair.

Two major fundraisers provide the means by which Kiwanis serves children in the area: the annual apple sale in the fall and the pie social in the summer. All proceeds from those two events go to the Youth Fund.

Internationally, the Sidney Kiwanis Club and its members have contributed generously to worldwide initiatives such as IDD, ridding the world of Iodine Deficiency, and providing Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus vaccines in over 50 countries. Visits with Canadian clubs, including conventions and golf tournaments, have been especially enjoyable.

As Kiwanis celebrates its 100th year of service to this community, they invite anyone who wishes to find out more to join them for a free lunch any Thursday at noon at the Moose Lodge.