29 Aug 2015 Searcy Kiwanis Club celebrates 90 years of service
Story and photos
by Sonja J. Keith
The Searcy Kiwanis Club recently celebrated a significant milestone – its 90th anniversary of service to the community.
Searcy club president Cassandra Feltrop, executive director of the Unity Health Foundation, presided over an anniversary luncheon July 8, held at Unity Health-White County Medical Center.
“I would like to welcome each of you here today to join us in this monumental celebration for our club,” she said.
The event included displays of club memorabilia, recognition of past presidents and accolades from local officials. Members from the Conway Kiwanis Club, which chartered the Searcy organization, were also in attendance.
Cassandra gave a brief history of the organization. “The main emphasis of this Club was to promote a better environment for economic and business growth,” she said of the group’s origin. “This Club served in the capacity of chamber of commerce back in the early days, bringing industry and development into Searcy and White County.”
Today, the Searcy Kiwanis Club’s focus is children and other community service projects. Members expressed that focus in reciting the Kiwanis Club mission statement that the club is dedicated to “changing the world, one child and one community at a time.”
“We have supported everything from summer baseball and softball programs to Boys and Girls State, from swimming and soccer to Friends for Life, from the Arkansas Highway Cleanup project to the Be A Winner Program and so much more,” Cassandra said. “Our current main project is our Shoes for Kids Project which we started in 2013. We gave away about 275 pairs of shoes our first year, 345 pairs of shoes last year and this year our goal is to give away 500 pairs of shoes at A Day of Caring.”
Searcy Mayor David Morris and White County Judge Michael Lincoln presented proclamations that recognized the Searcy Kiwanis Club for its community service.
“I appreciate how much the Kiwanis Club has meant,” the mayor said, adding that it was an honor to be with members to celebrate the monumental achievement. He said the club had served in a number of ways in making Searcy what it is today.
The county judge also applauded the club’s efforts. “When you help a child, you’re helping generations,” he said.
Others on the program included Belinda LaForce, president of the Searcy Rotary Club; Mary Lou Dunn with the Sunshine School; Rick Sublett, Kiwanis lieutenant governor; Gene Bartley, past Kiwanis governor; and Dan Newsom, past president.
Tom Martin, who served as club president in 1982, became a member at the encouragement of his employer and another past president, T. R. Garner. “He wanted his people in his store to be involved in the community,” he said.
Tom described the Kiwanis Club has having a steady presence in the community with a focus on youth. His fondest memories as a member are from the annual Christmas party given for the Sunshine School. “That’s one meeting I will not miss and all the club members feel that way,” he said, citing the joy in the faces of the kids.
Past president Dan Newsom became a member in 1987 when he moved to Searcy. He said while the club has a lot of different projects, the focus has remained on serving youth. He added that membership in the club is increasing. “I think there’s a new spark of excitement,” he said. “It’s great to be a Kiwanian.”
