Cindy Greening (at podium) and Barb Duran (to the right of the podium) speak at the May 20 Melvindale City Council meeting about forming a local chapter of the Kiwanis Club.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE – A new Kiwanis Club is forming in Melvindale, said Michigan District Governor Cindy Greening, who will be Downriver July 27 to 29 to speak to individuals and local businesses.
Kiwanis is a global volunteer service organization founded in Detroit in 1915 that focuses on youth leadership, community development and charitable fundraising.
Greening and Barb Duran, past president of the Downriver West Kiwanis Club, spoke at the May 20 Melvindale City Council meeting, explaining what the group does and introducing members of the Melvindale High School Key Club, which is a branch of Kiwanis.
Greening said the focus of Kiwanis is helping children, although they do help others in the communities they serve.
“The Kiwanis mission defines us: ‘Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time,’” she said. “We will be asking locals to consider what they can contribute to guiding the new club to find solutions to children’s issues.”
The organizers will meet with those interested in forming a local Kiwanis Club at 6 p.m. July 29 in the Packard room at the Best Western Greenfield Inn, 3000 Enterprise Drive in Allen Park.
Greening said those forming new Kiwanis Clubs work with them for up to two years to make sure they get off to a strong start.
She said Kiwanis International has expanded to 85 countries during its 111 years of existence. In addition to Key Club for high schoolers, its service leadership programs include: Aktion Club for adults with disabilities, CKI for college and university students, Builders Club for middle school students and K-Kids for elementary school students.
For more information, go to kiwanis.org.