Kiwanis Club of Swift Current - 100 Years of Building Part Eight, 1981 to 1991
During 2021, the Kiwanis Club of Swift Current celebrates its 100th anniversary. This is the eighth of 10 articles summarizing club projects and activities during ten decades of service.
In June, 1992, history was made as Joan Bates, Linnea Goodhand, and Fran Schroh became the first female members of the Swift Current Kiwanis Club. Joan continued to make history in 1994 when she and fellow Kiwanian, Steve Krochak, were married, and in 1995 when she served as the first female president.
New fundraising projects during the 90s included the sale of Bronco Lottery Calendars, a pancake breakfast in cooperation with the Pioneer
Co-op with proceeds to the Sheldon Kennedy Foundation, an Up With People concert, and the sale of perogies, souvlaki, and cabbage rolls. The 66th annual Apple Drive in 1998 netted the club $8,088.07. Prairie Pioneers’ members assisted the club with most projects and their share for this one was $1,200. During the 1992/93 year, it was reported that the club raised $37,309 and spent $36,696 on community projects as members contributed 4,031 volunteer hours.
The club sponsored the “Shout No” program aimed at street-proofing children, the “Break the Cycle” Bike Ride to raise awareness of the need for the prevention of child sexual abuse, Kidsport, and the SC Rhythmic Gymnasts who represented Saskatchewan and Canada in Berlin.
In 1994, Kiwanis International adopted a worldwide service project to eradicate Iodine Deficiency Disorder which resulted in mental deficiencies in children. UNICEF and the World Health Organization administered the project while Kiwanis Clubs raised funds. The Swift Current club set a goal of $12,000 through special fundraisers but actually contributed over $15,000 when individual member donations were included. Following the turn of the century, Kiwanis International and its partners were pleased to announce the successful elimination of iodine deficiency in all affected countries.
In 1998, the local club became active in volunteering at Canadian Blood Services donor clinics by ushering and maintaining an orderly flow of donors.
Signs of change occurred when it was decided in 1996 that meetings would be smoke-free and in 1999 that weekly bulletins could be sent by e-mail. Lunch meetings moved from the Horseshoe Lodge to the Modern Café where the club has met weekly ever since.
The club showed interest in issues including Reconciliation. In 2000, three members attended a Sweat Lodge Ceremony at Nekaneet First Nation and Judge David Arnot was invited to speak to members about First Nations and Treaty obligations.
As a Millennium Project, the club installed benches, a picnic table, lights, and a bike stand to create a rest stop on the Chinook Parkway overlooking Chinook Golf Course.
Kiwanians continued to celebrate milestones in their history. To mark the 75th anniversary, cake donated by Pioneer Co-op and Safeway was served to shoppers at local malls and an old-fashioned hoedown was held at Frontier City Saloon. In 2001, a gala event at the Legion Hall celebrated 80 years of service to the Swift Current community.
Excerpts for this article were gleaned from “Fifty Years of Building” by J. Baden Campbell