Across The Years With Lakewood Kiwanis
written by Tim Friedmann

(Selected portions from 25th Anniversary booklet written by George W. Grill,
and "From Silver to Gold--25 Years of Community Service 1946-71," by Cap Clark and J. Frank Gibson)

Kiwanis Started in 1915

Kiwanis was created by a professional organizer named Allen Simpson Browne. His concept for the new organization included the exchange of business among members. However, the Detroit club, just weeks after being the first to receive its charter on January 21, 1915, began involving its members in their first service project. The founding club's name is Detroit Kiwanis No. 1, in recognition of its heritage. During the next five years, Kiwanians would debate the basic purpose of the organization: mutual business exchange or community service.

The name "Kiwanis" was coined from an American Indian expression, which broadly interpreted means "we trade" or "we share our talents." The Kiwanis motto, "We Build," was officially adopted by the membership in 1920. It was proposed by Roe Fulkerson, first editor of Kiwanis magazine.

While Detroit is proud to lay claim to the title "No.1 club in Kiwanis," Cleveland is equally proud to be the No. 2 club. Kiwanis missionaries from Detroit came to Northeast Ohio in July 1915, and the Cleveland club received its charter on October 19th of that year, beginning with 135 members. During the ensuing months, an Ohio corporation was formed to protect the name and emblem of Kiwanis. A charter, dated September 23, 1915, granted the right to organize and charter local Kiwanis clubs. In Kiwanis history this is known as "The Ohio Charter."

Kiwanis International conventions began when the Kiwanis Club of Cleveland invited representatives of other clubs to a meeting in May 1916. At that time, just 16 months after the Detroit No. 1 club was chartered, there were a total of 16 clubs and some 1,900 members. Conventions have been held every year since, except during the war years 1943-45 when smaller conferences were held.

In November 1916, Kiwanis became international with the organization of the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. However, the organization's official name, Kiwanis Club," was not changed to "Kiwanis International" until the so-called "Constitutional Convention" in 1924. This Constitution and Bylaws, with Kiwanis officially adopting the name "Kiwanis International" as well as the six permanent "Objects of Kiwanis."

Until 1962, Kiwanis clubs were limited to the United States and Canada. In April of that year, the Tijuana, Mexico club was the first to organize outside the two founding nations.

Today, Kiwanis clubs are active in more than 75 nations and geographic areas.

"Our Mother Club"

The "Mother Club" of Lakewood Kiwanis is the Cleveland No. 2 Club and Lakewood has always been proud of its relationship to this historic and energetic body which for the first six years of its existence was the only Kiwanis club in the Cleveland Metropolitan area.

Our "Daddy"

Harry Hoard, a Lakewood resident and president of the Cleveland club in 1921, is referred to as the "Daddy" of the Lakewood club. although at the time it was not the custom for one club to sponsor another, Mr. Hoard approached Dr. Walter Keating, and discussed the possibility of extending the benefits of Kiwanis to Lakewood.

In early April, Hal Denton, a Kiwanis International club organizer, quickly began asking new members to join. J.W. Chrisford, better known as "Bill," was the first to sign the roll and became the club's first vice-president. Dr. Keating assumed the duties of president. W.H. "Bill" Steinkamp was the first secretary-treasurer of Lakewood Kiwanis, an office he held for the first three years of the club's existence.

New directors included Rev. Alfred J. Wright, minister of the Lakewood Presbyterian church; John C. McGonagle, manager of the Lakewood Buick Company; Harry A. Barr, highly respected in the real estate profession; Lewis Reidy, a furniture dealer; Jack Graham, food merchant; Dr. D.W. Peterson, a well-known dentist; and William R. Daniels, then laying the foundation of what was to become one of the leading undertaking establsihments in the state.

In the year of our club's organization, the Kiwanis International Convention took place in Cleveland. Lakewood Kiwanis delegates were Dr. Keating and Charles T. Rich, with alternates J.W. Chrisford and Rev. A.J. Wright.

Charter Party

Our charter from Kiwanis International was presented by Harry H. Hoard, president of the Cleveland Club at a meeting held at the Masonic Temple on June 20, 1921. We were Lakewood's first, and at that time, only service club. The Kiwanis Club of Lakewood was the 40th club to be chartered in the Ohio District, and the 441st in Kiwanis International. Membership was close to 50,000 in the United States and Canada. Today, total membership (including all K-family members) exceeds 565,000 with nearly 8,800 clubs worldwide.

Meeting Places

During the first year, meetings were held at various churches, particularly the Lakewood Presbyterian and Lakewood Congregational, until arrangements were made with the Lakewood Masonic Temple. At one time, we purchased our own food, employed our own cooks and waiters, and determined our own menus. The Masonic Temple continued as the site for our meetings until the end of 1966 when, due to conflicts between the Temple Board and our club, forced a move to the Lakewood YMCA beginning in 1967. After 16 years, we outgrew the Lakewood Y and moved back to the Masonic Temple, where meetings continue to be held on Tuesdays at noon as always.