Published: November 11, 2009 09:22 pm      

Kiwanis Club celebrates 90th birthday

Members of the Logansport Noon Kiwanis Club celebrated the organization’s 90th year in the community at their regular meeting Tuesday.

“What a great thing for Logansport and for this club,” Logansport Kiwanis president Bob Dunderman said. “I’m glad to be a part of it.”

When the club was established in 1919, Logansport had a population of about 25,000 residents. Kiwanis member Dick Rusk said at that time the city housed 25 churches, seven hotels, six banks and two newspapers.

Local newspapers cost two cents, or $3.50 for a one-year subscription.

Although a 1919 edition of the Logansport Pharos-Reporter described Logansport as being “already over-clubbed,” the Kiwanis membership jumped from the 62 founding members to 106 members in the club’s first six months.

In honor of the anniversary, Don Canaday, the immediate past president of Kiwanis International, spoke at Tuesday’s meeting.

“A group of caring citizens decided in this community 90 years ago that there were needs not being filled,” Canaday said. “This group has a legacy of touching lives for the better for 90 years. And even though you’ve touched thousands and thousands of lives, it’s deeper than you realize.”

Canaday told a story from personal experience about meeting a man by chance at a restaurant. Canaday and his wife were waiting for seats when he invited a man and his wife to join them at their table so as to cut down on waiting time.

While dining, the man noticed Canaday’s Kiwanis pin. The man said he believed Kiwanis had saved his life.

The man told Canaday he had a rough childhood growing up in Gary, but had been mentored by local Kiwanis members through sports leagues created by the club. The local Kiwanis club gave the man a $500 scholarship, allowing him to attend trade school and eventually become a manager in his trade.

“He told me that scholarship not only allowed him to receive an education, but it kept him out of trouble and allowed him to send his own kids to college,” Canaday said. “And that’s what we do in Kiwanis.”

Canaday has been a member of Kiwanis since 1969 and has served on the international board for the past seven years. Canaday spoke in 23 countries and 26 states during his tenure as international president.

Canaday congratulated the Logansport club for its strong organization and continued commitment.

“You are willing to give of your time, your talent and your treasure for the benefit of someone else,” he said. “I call that the Kiwanis heart.”

• Jennifer Tangeman is a reporter for the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5148 or jennifer.tangeman@pharostribune.com.