Kiwanis Club History
Chartered: April 12, 1950
By the Bangor Club of Maine
First regular meeting Tuesday April 18, 1950, Northeastland Hotel. This was the first of 2,573 Tuesday Noon Kiwanis regular meetings at the hotel.
First Year (Great Start)
July 1950, First Family Picnic at Echo Lake. Aug, 1950, first official community project: P.I. Kiwanis assumes sponsorship of the Child Health Clinic. Sept. 1950, first fund-raising project for the clinic “News Boys for A Day” (Star-Herald) Raised $2,200. Nov 1950, sponsored a Girl Scout troop.
Second Year (Great Start)
Club assisted Community Association in distribution of Christmas packages to 88 needy families. Decorated hospital with Christmas lights. Organized Kiwanis Juvenile Bicycle Event.
Helped 82 children in clinic and spent $1,000 for medical care and medicine.
Third Year (Great Start)
The first Talent Show was presented and about 2,500 people attended; 75 percent of the members of the club took an active part in solicitation for the Community Chest. The Child Health Clinic provided for 124 children (clothing was also collected for the child).
Fourth Year (Great Start)
Approximately 50 percent of the club members gave blood for the Red Cross Blood Bank. Sponsored Kids’ Day Derby Races. Conducted Safety Poster Contest. Sponsored a junior baseball team. Assisted in Mantle Lake development. Clinic served 99 children.
Fifth Year (Great Start)
Kids Day sponsored in cooperation with local air base, 300 children participated. Kiwanians assisted in repairing damage to playground from hurricane. Children Health Clinic served 100 children.
Sharing the K:
1957 Caribou Kiwanis Club; 1961 Monticello Kiwanis Club; 1965 Circle K Club Aroostook State Teacher College(65-72); 1990 Presque Isle High School Key Club; 1993 Easton Kiwanis Club; and 1997 Fort Kent High School Key Club.
Ladies Join Club:
October 1987 Presque Isle Kiwanis inducted 12 lady members. First Women President was Mary LeBlanc 1991-1992.
Kiwanis Home Garden and Recreation Show: Started on April 13, 1984: Has attracted over 50,000 paid visitors. Has produced over $100,000 above expenses for community projects.
Kiwanis Health and Dental Clinic: Started 1950 first community service project. In 1962 added dental clinic. Today we cover all of SAD 1with over $106,000 expended.
Kiwanis Talent Revue: Started in 1951 with proceeds for the health clinic, later dental clinic. This project has showcased local talent while supplying over $105,000 to the clinics.
Kiwanis Christmas Basket Project: Since our involvement in 1951, approximately 5,000 families have been served. In one year alone we served 240 children and 100 adults. We supply food for Christmas Day, mittens and toys for the children.
Sinawik: Kiwanis spelled backward, it is also a unique partnership between Northern Maine Technical College and P.I. Kiwanis Club. Kiwanis supplies the necessary finances and building materials, and NMTC students furnish the labor. 2000-2001 saw our 24th house built. The school has saved over $500,000 on supplies. The club generated revenues for projects of approximately $95,000. We have supplied $14,000 for NMTC student scholarships.
Kiwanis Scholastic Fund: We offer eight Kiwanis scholarships to Presque Isle High School yearly. We also oversee The Jaycee scholarship, F.S. Cunningham Scholarship, and The Jim Lyford scholarship.
Serving The Division: From 1962 to 2001, the P.I. Kiwanis Club has supplied the Lt. Gov. for 17 of those years.
Highlights 1950s: Assumed project of renovating community swimming pool after floods rendered it unfit for use. Worked with local service clubs and Chamber of Commerce to raise $30,000 for new golf course. First annual scholarship.
Highlights 1960s: Dental clinic added to health clinic. Assumed control of the former ABS Scholastics Fund from WAGM-TV. Raised $10,000 for A.R. Gould expansion.
Highlights 1970s: Donated $8,500 to develop Riverside Bicentennial Park. Sinawik partnership with NMTC started. P.I. Kiwanis Board of Directors supported in writing to the president of Kiwanis International and Circle K that female members be allowed to join Circle K.
Highlights 1980s: $20,000 donated to the Julian Turner Memorial Radiation Therapy Simulator. NMTC beautification and sign project. Major support of youth hockey and youth hockey association.
Highlights 1990s: Started our association with the Special Olympics by running the softball throw. Presque Isle High School Auditorium curtains $16,000. Charter benefactor for Presque Isle High School Hockey Program.
Are we relevant today?: In one year we gave donations of $44,574 to 51 projects. We also donated 3,191 hours of service to the community.
Ongoing Community Projects: Kiwanis Home, Garden and Recreation Show; Kiwanis Talent Revue; Kiwanis Chicken Stew Dinner; Kiwanis Child Health and Dental Clinic; Sinawik; Kiwanis Christmas Baskets; Bureau of Children Special Needs Funding; Kiwanis Scholarships SAD 1/NMTC.
Iodine Deficiency Disorders: Presque Isle Kiwanis Club has donated over $10,252 by individual and club donations. P.I. Kiwanis average per member is $150.76.
Kiwanis International Honor Award 1997-1998: For multiple Service, Ruby Section.
Photo courtesy of Susan Watson
NEWEST KIWANIS MEMBERS WELCOMED — The Presque Isle Kiwanis Club inducted three new members, shown here at a meeting March 3, 2009. Pictured, in front, from left: Carolyn Kimball, new member; Arelis Jimenez, new member; LaNiece Winslow, membership chairperson; Lisa Brown, new member; and Rose Marie Louten, Club member. In back: Deirdre McMahon, Club treasurer and Janet Kelle, Club president.
