GRAVETTE -- Members of the Gravette Lions Club heard from guest speakers Dennis Kurczek and Bob Kelley, representing the local Kiwanis Club, at their meeting Tuesday, June 21. Kurczek is president and Kelley is sheriff of the Gravette club. Both shared some of the history of Kiwanis Clubs and the many activities they sponsor to help children around the world.
Kurczek, who spoke first, is ending his second year as president of the Gravette Kiwanis Club and is to become lieutenant governor of District 19, which is made up of six clubs. He said that Kiwanis was founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan, and the name comes from an Indian expression for "We Trade" as the founders were a group of businessmen. The motto was originally "We Build" but has now been changed to "Serving the Children of the World." The Kiwanis began its focus on children in 1919 and now there are clubs in about 80 countries. There are about 50,000 members, 150,000 service projects and 19,000,000 service hours logged. The Kiwanian's main goal is to make an impact with his service, Kurczek said.
Kiwanis sponsor K Kids clubs in elementary school, Builders Club in middle school, Key Club in high school and Circle K in college, all of which are focused on leadership development and provide valuable training for youth, Kurczek said. Kiwanis' efforts to improve health have focused on maternal and neonatal tetanus and incidents of the disease have dropped 96%, he said. An earlier focus on iodine deficiency resulted in 88% of households worldwide now having access to iodized salt. UNICEF called this "one of the greatest health breakthroughs in the 20th century."
Arkansas Kiwanis sponsor the Beatrice Johnson Youth Camp, established in 2012 east of Clarksville, with camping pads, bike/walking trails, skeet shooting and archery areas. They also contribute to the Kiwanis Children's Fund, an international foundation. Members of the local club have volunteered their time painting a room at the library, painting park benches, supporting the Bright Futures backpack project, running the concession stand at Gravette football games and sponsoring an annual pancake breakfast fundraiser at Gravette Day. They provided three scholarships to graduating seniors.
Kelley concluded the program with some anecdotes about the Gravette Kiwanis Club and noted that Lions and Kiwanis are not rivals but both have the same purpose, to serve and meet needs in the local community. He said, when he moved back to Gravette in 1987 after 18 years as a schoolteacher in Missouri, he liked the charm of the Gravette area and the fact that people are friendly and look out for each other. Kurczek agreed, saying that Kiwanis "would love to partner with the Lions on a project."
The meeting was opened with an invocation by Randy Cannon and outgoing tail twister/Lion tamer Bill Mattler gave his last tail twister, a quiz about which of several doors a person would go through first.
Club treasurer Jeff Davis gave the treasurer's report and said he had received correspondence inviting club members to participate in the World Service for the Blind's 75th anniversary. Another letter has been received confirming the club's approval for an American Rescue Plan grant. Letters have been sent out to former members of the Rogers club which was recently disbanded to see if they are interested in starting a branch club.
Members voted to order 10 more flag sets to be sold and plans were made to order fancy nuts for sale soon.
Lions Club members will assist library director Karen Benson with a project for the children's summer reading program and will have a booth in the park on Gravette Day, Aug. 13, selling tickets for a handmade quilt and a banjo made by members. They also plan to have a float in the Gravette Day parade.
Davis, as a past district governor of Arkansas Lions, installed Al Blair as the 2022-2023 club secretary to conclude the meeting. Blair was not in attendance when other new club officers were installed at the June 7 meeting.
Gravette Lions Club meets at 12:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center. Guests and prospective members are always welcome.
Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND
Bob Kelley and Dennis Kurczek visit the Gravette Lions Club meeting Tuesday, June 21. Kelley, sheriff of the Gravette Kiwanis Club, and Kurczek, club president, were guest speakers for the meeting. They related information about the history and activities of the Kiwanis and expressed interest in having the Lions and Kiwanis clubs work more closely together.