History

 On the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Club, someone wrote this history of the club. The author did not record their name. 

Origin and History of Kiwanis Golden K's First 25 Years

In the early part of 1983 members of the Noon Kiwanis Club developed the idea of forming the Blackhawk Golden “K” Club. A committee made up of Roland Strommen, Russ Hegge and Frank Stratton went to work to actually form such a group. There are several ideas as to why they wanted to do this. One was to have some way to spread the ideals of Kiwanis to an older group of people, thus, the Noon Club contacted the following 30 men who became the charter members of our club.

Original Club Officers 

President-------------William Buckley

First Vice President--------------Lowell Grover
Second Vice President------Bruce Bell
Secretary --------Edward Carroll
Treasurer-----William Oestreich

Directors -------  Robert Buell,  William Carpenter,  G. Roy Jensen,  Donald Crosby.  George Siekkenin

 Charter Members

 Arthur Bergman / Harland Bjerva / Lee Bowlus / Robert Corneth / Orian Freeman Bernard Gillespie / Harry Hulick / Henry Kreiner / Tony Kutz / Delwin Lenerz / Paul Loofboro / Wallace McRoberts /Joseph Plazewski / Jesse Scarborough Woody Schoenfeld / Glenn Schumacher / Edwin Sullivan / Walter Stamstad / Robert Wegner / Orlin Worman

Officers of Sponsoring Club

President Roland Strommen President-Elect Robert Seaton Vice-President Carl Luedtke Past President Marvin Roth Treasurer Ray Brost Secretary Frank Stratton

From this beginning of 30 members our club has grown over the years. In the 1990’s we reached a high of 157 members, currently in 2008 we have 106. This fluctuation in numbers is due to death, moving away and some who are no longer physically able to be active. 

As of March 13 [2008], we’ve had 125 members who have died. The charter program took place at the Elk’s Club on Wednesday, October 26, 1983.Our meetings are held every Wednesday of the month from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. We met for years at the Alpine Restaurant in Creston Park until a fire closed it. The new Alpine met in the Shopko Plaza until they no longer have room for us, at that point we transferred to the Sons of Norway Lodge on West Milwaukee Street.

 We are one of their major sources of income. In the beginning our dues were $32.00 annually with $20.00 initiation fee. We would have a beverage and rolls or donut for $1.50. Now we’re up to $90.00 and $3.00 for these items, inflation over 25 years is the cause.

While at the Alpine the membership would pass the hat once a year for a special tip for Rose a waitress on her birthday! We follow a basic format for each meeting, there’s singing of America, pledge of allegiance, invocation, refreshments, educational moment, raffle drawing, business reports, happy box, songs, and adjournment.

The main business is often the question of money. We have 2 major accounts: administration and service. The former one is based on dues, etc to be used only to run the club with its basic costs, and activities, this comes from members only. The service accounts come from fund raising from the public. Over the years we started rather humbly with bake sales, helping the noon club with their pancake and peanut days, and Easter lilies.

Then in the 1990’s with the input of John Higgins we had bake and rummage sales at the fairgrounds. Some time in the early to mid 1990’s John came up with the in house raffle sale for the administration fund, and tree sales for the service account. The latter really boomed-one year we sold 12,000 trees.

Then in 2002 Bob Johnson and Peter Kealey started the Truck on the Ice idea. These are our 2 major sources of income, for the service account.

We also have a peanut and lily day. There was also a fund raiser that raised both monies from members and the public.

 Jim Clark managed the I.D.D. Fund. This iodine deficiency disorder program was to fight worldwide the sad affects of the lack of iodine in people. The International Kiwanis started this idea.

In all, our club raised $30,000 which really helped people around the world. What do we do with the monies raised for the service account? We’ve given $1,000’s over the years to many worthy individuals and causes, the Salvation Army, and Echo are 2 major ones.

There are scholarships at the U-Rock, Blackhawk Tech, and even the F.W. Douglas Living Scholarship Fund, at Craig High School, Camp Wawbeek, Rock Co. Health Center, and many others. It is the aim of our club to continue in the years ahead to carry on the work we have so successfully preformed to date.

There will be challenges in regards to fund raising and membership.

The past has shown us that it can be done. So, here’s to the next 25 years.