Greg Jayne’s Dec. 20 column, “Larger truth in Kiwanis demise,” reflects serious analysis of American society. However, Kiwanis International verified that there are currently six Kiwanis clubs in our division with 88 members, not 45. Utilizing virtual meeting platforms, modified projects, and the ongoing support from community members like Mark Matthias, GiftTree, and McDonald’s, we are continuing with our mission of serving children.
An integral part of our Kiwanis family are the 13 Key Clubs we sponsor in Clark County. Last year, there were 12,138 members in 307 Key Clubs in the Pacific Northwest! These amazing young adults have continued to meet, adapt and perform service throughout the pandemic. Just as Walk & Knock morphed into the Drive & Drop campaign, Prairie Key Club along with other student groups hosted a drive-thru Christmas tree display and collected donations for the Clark County Food Bank. A recent divisional meeting focused on voter registration, and Key Club International is currently sponsoring a Global Leadership Program.
As Kiwanians, we are honored to sponsor these extraordinary young people and provide club advisers. Several have become Kiwanis members after college. Society has definitely changed, but I believe these students will become the future pillars of our democracy, who provide unity and support to their communities.