Ferd Ray, left, Doyne Swan, center, and Gene Bradfield, right, longtime Fairfax Kiwanis Club members, are pictured above with the Fairfax Kiwanis Club’s 70th anniversary cake.

The Fairfax Kiwanis Club recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of being chartered as a Kiwanis International Organization with a dinner. The event was held at Community Hospital-Fairfax and included installation of new officers and board members with members and guests in attendance.
Ed Taylor, past president, called the meeting to order with introductions, patriotic song, pledge and prayer. Brags and baloney were shared by several in attendance. Kiwanis Lt. Governor Harlyn Fritzsen, St. Joseph, was the guest speaker and installed the following new officers and board members: Roger Steinkruger, president; Jack Kruse, president-elect; Dr. Mike Garrett, vice-president; Marilyn Alldredge, secretary; Bob Alldredge, treasurer; and Ferd Ray, recording dues treasurer. Board members include: Ed Taylor, Gene Carder, Jon Davis, Danny Kemerling, Doyne Swan, and Betty Wennihan. New members installed were Andew Sanders, Julie Jones and Dr. Mike Garrett.
Many remembrances of past Kiwanis events, meetings and fun times were shared. The Fairfax Kiwanis Club was organized March 14, 1946, with 57 members. The club was chartered May 20, 1946 with a dinner at the school auditorium. The Fairfax Kiwanis Club now has 22 members and stays very active in community affairs as well as contributing to International projects. Fairfax Kiwanis meets every Tuesday at noon in the Community Hospital-Fairfax conference room with dinner and programs from the area.
The local Kiwanis Club has as their International and District projects: Earl Collins Foundation, Kiwanis International Foundation, The Eliminate Project to end maternal and neonatal tetnus, and Bringing Up Grades (BUGS) program.
Local projects include the following: Adopt-a Highway, Boy and Cub Scouts, Girl and Brownie Scouts, Summer Ball Program, Corn Yield Contest, Boys State, Fairfax Fair sponsor of prizes, queen candidate and booth, Santa’s Christmas treats, Light Night participation, donations for After Prom Party and Academic Banquet, Cornerstone Club member, contributions to Easter Egg Hunt and Community Service Back to School program, Back Pack Buddies program, Swim Night for Fairfax, Pink Out Night, EA Wolves Boosters, recycle batteries, Election Day Pancake Feeds, Missouri Special Olympics donor, National Child Safety Council, School Read-A-Thon, Masonic Lodge Back to School Clothing Fund, and donations from all the Brag and Baloney money collected each meeting to the Ministerial Alliance Fund.
Kiwanis’ defining statement, “Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time” is taken to heart by Fairfax Kiwanis Club. The local organization is always most gracious to entertain and gain new members for this worthwhile organizational endeavor.