The Beginning

We were chartered September 5, 1985. Our sponsoring club was the Columbia Kiwanis club, chartered in 1922, which in turn was sponsored by the St. Louis Kiwanis club (1918), the first club of the Missouri-Arkansas District. Our heritage goes to the origins of Kiwanis in Detroit in 1915.

We began with 26 members. Twenty years later we have about 75 members. Our membership represents men and women from all walks of life. Some are near retirement; most are actively retired.

What We've Been Doing

During our first year, two hands-on projects were started that continue today: Salvation Army bell ringing and Central Missouri Food Bank food donations and volunteering.

With growth in numbers our community service has grown. Here is a partial list of service activities we've done and are doing:

♥ Boy and Girl Scouts

♥ Boys and Girls Club

♥ Therapeutic Riding School

♥ 4H Leadership Conference

♥ Ronald McDonald House

♥ Iodine Deficiency Disorder

♥ Pediatric Cardiology

♥ Early Childcare Reading

♥ Highway Cleanup; City Cleanup

♥ American Legion Baseball Team

Sponsored Clubs in Public Schools

In our second decade we developed strong relations with children, parents, and faculty in some local schools. The clubs give kids opportunity for voluntary service as extra-curricular activity. The clubs are:

♥ Oakland Junior High School Builders Club

♥ Smithton Middle School Builders Club

♥ Lange Middle School Builders Club

♥ Derby Ridge Elementary School K-Kids Club

Want to Know More?

E-mail us if you'd like to buy a copy of John W. Ridgeway's book, Kiwanis Club of Columbia, Golden K, Missouri: It's History and Heartbeat.