The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Kiwanis look to who needs help in new year
A new year for Kiwanis Club to bring new report of needs
By Dan DuChene, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 17, 2008
With nearly 87 members under its belt, the Ypsilanti Kiwanis Club is looking forward to another year serving the community.
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More than 20 of the group's active members, estimated at 40 people, gathered at Haab's last week to look back at the past year, talk about the coming year and eat some onion rings.
One thing the group looks forward to is unveiling its community needs assessment, which was created through interviewing several local community leaders. They plan to report their findings to City Council and the townships' Board of Trustees.
Members of the club said the report is still "on-going," but once the information is finalized they plan to act on it themselves and also try to recruit the help of other service organizations in the area.
"We can't do everything ourselves," said Kiwanis member John Pappas.
Aside from supporting nearly 40 non-profit organizations and other causes, from the Boy Scouts of America to Mott Children's Hospital, through fund-raising and volunteering, the group also provides a $400 scholarship to six deserving high school graduates in the area every year.
Last year the group raised about $4,700 for the Salvation Army by ringing bells throughout the area and won the Bell Ringer Trophy from the Salvation Army for its work in 2006.
To raise funds for its financial support, the members hold various fund-raising programs throughout the year, such as a pancake breakfast in the spring, a chicken dinner during the summer and ushering at Eastern Michigan University's basketball and football home games throughout the year.
Through fund-raising, the group brings in more than $10,000 every year.
"That all gets back to the community," said club member Dale Suckstorff. "It's amazing—the social conscious of this community."
Suckstorff said the group divides its budget into two separate accounts. The first, which is funded completely by fundraising and donations, gets spent on its community support programs every year. The second, funded through dues paid by members, gets spent on the various administrative costs of the group.
"We cannot commingle those funds," he said.
As much service and support the Kiwanis Club does provide, members feel they could get more accomplished if more people took part in the organization. Linda Lawther, the past president of the organization, said it's becoming difficult to find the volunteer time necessary to continue some of its programs. She said she hopes the group can become more visible and garner more attention from the community.
"There are great things being done and there are ways to get involved," Lawther said.
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