Kiwanis International was founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. In the early years, members focused on business networking. In 1916, Kiwanis became an international organization with the creation of the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton, Ontario. In 1919, the organization changed its focus to service. By 1962, worldwide expansion was approved. In 1987, women officially were allowed into the membership.

The Sikeston Kiwanis club was sponsored by clubs from Poplar Bluff, Bloomfield, and Charleston. It was chartered on Nov. 21, 1935,
with 28 charter members.  In turn, the Sikeston Kiwanis Club has sponsored 11 other clubs throughout southeast Missouri and northeast Arkansas. Our fundraising projects throughout the year support various organizations and activities that directly impact the lives of children in Sikeston and the surrounding area.  Some of these activities and organizations include Boy Scouts (since 1936), Girl Scouts, Boys State (since 1950), Little League baseball, Little League basketball, youth soccer, the D.A.R.E. program in Sikeston schools, Parents as Teachers, After Prom, the Sikeston Public Library, the Sikeston Depot, and the annual Elks fireworks display.

New members Kim Robinson (left) and Dwana Leible are installed
by Sikeston Kiwanis member George Parker on Dec. 19, 2011.

Also a part of the Sikeston Kiwanis family are: 

Key Club International, the oldest and largest service leadership organization for teens, teaches leadership through service to others. Key Club’s 250,000 members build themselves as they build their schools and communities. Key Club’s 5,000 clubs thrive in 30 nations in North America, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. By performing more than 12 million service hours each year, Key Club members make a difference in their communities and the world by organizing a variety of service projects and fundraisers such as food drives and raising money for cancer research. Currently, Key Club International is working to raise $1.5 million for UNICEF’s Operation Uruguay: Protecting the Rights of Children. Local projects have included planting and maintaining a community garden and helping with Kiwanis fundraisers, among others.

New members of the Sikeston Key Club were installed on December 2, 2011.

The newest member of our local Kiwanis family is Builders' Club, which organized last fall at the Sikeston Junior High School. Builders Club is a “student-led” community service organization that operates under school regulations and draws its members from the student body. Club members make an impact by selecting projects that meet their communities’ needs. Clubs raise money for HIV/AIDS prevention in Africa, organize recycling drives, clean up local parks and host canned food drives. Builders Club also partners with UNICEF and March of Dimes. Last year, clubs raised nearly $40,000 for UNICEF by participating in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.

Current officers for the Sikeston Kiwanis chapter are Jack Vincent, president; Larry Lindsey, vice  president; J.W. Hackworth, secretary; and Linda Myers, treasurer.

This page updated on December 20, 2011.