TAWAS CITY Serving the Children of the World is the Kiwanis organizations slogan, and the local Tawas club has maintained this motto for nearly 75 years.

Whether providing scholarships to students, or serving as a source of comfort to children enduring long hospital stays, the Tawas Kiwanis Club assists young people through a variety of avenues in addition to giving back to the community as a whole, via multiple service projects.

This branch is part of Kiwanis International, an organization which has served children for more than 100 years.

Longtime member Ken Cook who serves as both president and treasurer said the Tawas club was chartered in December 1945, with Secretary Kim Leet adding that the group is currently comprised of 19 members.

Cook and Leet were joined for the interview for this story by Tawas Kiwanis Club board members Tony Johnson and Jan Rockwell, as well as immediate past president Dave Lesinski.

Of their various projects, Johnson says the clubs Run By the Bay 5k event is one of its biggest fundraisers.

The race is set to enter its 14th year this summer, and will be held in East Tawas on Saturday, July 11.

Leet said another large fundraiser is the sale of gourmet nuts, for which Cook noted that they bought two pallets this year.

Thats 160 cases, Lesinski pointed out.

Six cans per case you can do the math, Johnson added with a laugh.

He said the Tawas Kiwanis Club also raises money through hot dog sales, while members are stationed at art shows and other events during the year.

As for how the proceeds raised are then distributed and used, Cook first explained that the club has two separate accounts.

We have whats called a service project account, and then we have an administrative account, he said. Any money that we raise in the community goes back into the projects.

Cook said the members dues and some other minor revenue go into the administrative account, which takes care of all of their international dues, Michigan district dues and any other kind of overhead expenses, such as supplies, sending officers to conventions and so on. So we spend no money of the publics in that area.

As a result of the Tawas Kiwanis Clubs fundraising efforts, they have been able to make such contributions as a sizeable donation toward the playscape at Tawas City Shoreline Park.

In another example, Johnson says the group keeps in contact with Tawas Area Schools to find out what the needs are for those in the district, and Kiwanis has provided hygiene products, school supplies and other essentials for students in need.

He added that scholarships have also been offered if, say, there are problems with accommodating field trips. We can help fund those field trips for students.

Educational scholarships are given out by the club, as well, to assist students with some of their expenses as they head off to college.

Additionally, Kiwanians have offered a helping hand to the young people of the community who are considering a career in law enforcement, with Lesinski noting that the club sends students to the Michigan State Police Law Enforcement Career Academy.

Cook said the members also support various childrens hospitals throughout the state, via annual contributions to the Kiwanis of Michigan Foundation.

He explained that these children may be dealing with anything from cancer, to severe accidents or other issues which require extensive rehabilitation.

Either way, Cook said the youngsters have to contend with being in an unfamiliar environment, not attending school and more, which is quite an adjustment. Therefore, the money raised by the clubs goes toward personnel costs and the programs that help distract the young patients during this time.

Its not really going toward the medical care, its going toward the psychological care, he pointed out.

According to the Foundation, Michigan Kiwanians contribute more than $200,000 each year to help hospitalized children by supporting non insurance reimbursable activities promoting childrens recovery. The support the Foundation provides can take many forms, but it is all designed to ease the anxieties and speed recovery of hospitalized children.

Aside from monetary gifts, the Tawas Kiwanis team also gets hands-on with their efforts. And, chances are you have seen at least one of the structures the club has been a part of during your travels in the community.

For one, members donated the materials and physically constructed a pavilion and picnic tables for those at the Iosco County Medical Care Facility.

A pavilion in Shoreline Park was also donated and built by the local Kiwanis crew.

Further, the club is responsible for the kiosk which can be spotted in Shoreline Park, as well as the one along the bike path on US-23, across from Tawas City Walmart.

Cook shared that the structures were originally built as informational kiosks. And we would put businesss names in there and where they were located on the map for the public to view.

This has shifted a bit over time, and the small buildings are now more like historical kiosks, with photos and information on the communitys bygone days.

Theyre really nice pictures, too, they really are, Rockwell commented.

Another familiar sight which the Kiwanians are behind is the sign located near the intersection of US-23 and M-55, listing all of the local service clubs and welcoming passersby to the area.

Lesinski and Cook spearheaded the actual construction of the sign, then reached out to the involved service clubs, which all chipped in on the project.

Another thing we do is volunteer our time to help the Michigan Salvation Army, Cook went on.

He said the Tawas Kiwanis Club always takes one weekend a month, pre-Christmas, to staff the town with its members for bell ringing to raise money.

This year, the weekend we did it, we collected just under $3,200, Cook said. And we passed that right on to Salvation Army.

When it comes to their hands-on work, Kiwanians arent afraid to get a little dirty, either, as was the case during their inaugural Tawas River Cleanup event in 2018.

The public was invited to join in, as the group used kayaks and canoes to collect debris from the bottom and the banks of the water.

There are a number of ways to learn more about joining the club, for those looking to get involved and give back to others.

While many people have hectic schedules that only seem to get busier each day participation in the group is flexible and can be tailored to accommodate the needs of the club member.

Were not asking for a lot of time, said Lesinski.

He added that, for the average person, if the Kiwanians took just several hours of their time a year, it would be a lot.

The club doesnt have a super strict schedule, and members dont have to log X number of volunteer hours in X number of months. However, people obviously have to show up and put in some work in order to be a member.

For example, it was mentioned that Kiwanians wont get penalized for missing a meeting here and there.

Although, that being said, if you dont attend you wont know whats going on and youre really not doing any good to yourself trying to do a service to the community, Cook stressed.

The twice-a-month meetings often feature guest speakers, as well, from a range of different groups and organizations.

If you care about kids, thats what Kiwanis is; the whole thing is about kids, Lesinski said, as to why people should consider joining. And I dont know a group where you can give as much time, or as little time, to help the community kids. To me, its just a simple thing.

Kiwanis is all about kids, agreed Rockwell. And thats something thats sometimes not really pushed, to where people understand that kids need help. And we always could use help.

Beyond the altruistic aspect of what Kiwanis offers, theres a social aspect to it, too, Johnson added.

He said the group has lunch a couple times a month, they try to get together during the holidays, they gather for summer picnics and take part in other social events.

As for the current members, many are involved in the community in other ways, beyond being Kiwanians.

Leet, for example, serves as vice chair of the Tawas City Zoning Board of Appeals, while Cook is the city mayor. Lesinski is a forerunner for the Knights of Columbus, and Johnson is president of both the Oscoda Area Schools Board of Education and the Iosco County Community Foundation, just to name a few.

Cook said that when many of the Kiwanians were kids themselves, there were Little League coaches, school board members and others who were putting back into the community. And its our turn.

When asked about their favorite activities as club members, If its got anything to do with food, Im in! Rockwell joked.

Clearly the club clown, he also said he has been a Kiwanian since Moby Dick was a minnow, and is one of the longest standing members of the organization.

Cook shared that Run by the Bay is his favorite fundraiser because, generally speaking, there are a lot of families involved.

He said people often check in with the club to see when the event is going to be held each year, because theyre coming to visit their families in the area and want to arrange their trip around the 5k.

So theres a lot of family things connected with that event, said Cook, adding that it also turns out to be a great fundraiser.

The Kiwanis website lists the following, as the best reasons to join the organization:

The opportunity to help: We believe that those who give the most are the happiest. There is nothing more beautiful than individuals who reach out to make other peoples lives beautiful. It teaches us the value of service to others and shows us how important our contributions are in making this world a better place most especially for the children.

Personal growth and development: Membership provides education in human relations and personal development. Being in service to others develops good character in every person. It gives us experiences that teach and develop us to become better individuals.

Make friends and be part of something great: Being a member allows one to take part in the many activities and projects we create. We have a great group of members who enjoy spending time with each other for the betterment of our community.

For anyone wanting more information, or looking to join Kiwanis, Johnson recommends stopping by The Buckhorn Inn during one of the groups meetings.

They gather at the venue, located on M-55 in Tawas City, at 12:05 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, and all are welcome to attend.

Further details can also be found by visiting https://tawas.kiwanisone.org, sending an e-mail to kenbcook@gmail.com or contacting Cook at 362-4412.

Excerpt from:
Kiwanis puts children at the forefront of its outreach efforts - Iosco County News Herald