Club Information

Gaylord Kiwanis Club History

The knowledge and success of our past experiences builds an exciting future!
The Kiwanis Organization was born in Detroit, when the first club was chartered by the State of Michigan on January 21, 1915. Our Gaylord club was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Petoskey and received its charter on December 20, 1934. Mr. Frank Shipp was the first president and the club was born with 38 charter members. Our first project was to sponsor Gaylord's Boy Scout Troop #1, a tradition which has continued to this day. In December 1935, the Gaylord Kiwanis Club distributed 16 Christmas baskets to local needy families. By 1953 this project had grown to 60 baskets and during the year 2000 we distributed over 400. At the 1987 Kiwanis International Convention, the organization welcomed women and we are fortunate to have the Michigan District's first female governor-elect, Ms. Sue Petrisin taking office this year! There are now more than 8,000 Kiwanis Clubs worldwide, with a total membership of over 300,000.
Gaylord Kiwanis History Timeline
December 20, 1934 Charter date: The club begins with regular meetings on Thursdays at 6:15 pm at the Central Hotel, meals cost $1.60 for the newest members of division 8; nearly 20 years after Kiwanis began in Detroit Michigan the Petoskey Kiwanis club has started something in Gaylord with the downtown businessmen. Dr. William Carrington was the International President at this time. January 30, 1935 Charter Presentation: to President Frank Shipp by Michigan District Governor Ben Dean (International President in the 40's). District Secretary Forney Clement and International representative King Gillette join LG H. Carl Spitler in the affair. This is the clubs first event, a ladies night at the Masonic Lodge. Allen Schreur is the toastmaster and Ray McKinley is the club secretary who for the next few years provide the club history with his reports. By month end the roster has bulged to 44 members and the first faux pas has occurred as only three members showed up to interclub with Rogers City for their charter night. In his first tactful move Ray McKinley does not record any names for posterity, a tradition begins. March 1935 The first of two serious projects are underway: building a Boy Scout troop in the community and establishing better relations with area farmers. Interclub successes begin as the Charlevoix and Grayling charter nights are attended by nearly all of the 45 members. April 1935 The Boy Scout troop has leaders and is underway. May 1935 Allen McDougal heads an interclub to Grayling, presents a program "Observations on being a better Kiwanian"; accompanied by the Gaylord Kiwanis Quartet and Orchestra to entertain that evening. July 24, 1935 District Governor Ben Dean returns with a Kiwanis theme program. August 1935 A softball game vs. our Boy Scouts is attended by over 100 persons. President Frank Shipp attends the District Convention in Pontiac. September 1935 The Club works with area farmers to present the "Top of Michigan - Potato and Apple Show"...Author Holly Compton, 1927 Nobel Prize Physicist, makes the first club program visits, the topic is his discoveries of cosmic x-rays and the world travels he has had. October 1935 Officers are elected: 1936 year of service
President	Allen Schreur, Elder of Church (Later Day Saints), local Chevy car dealer and Lt. Governor in 1944.
Imd. Past President	Frank Shipp, President Gaylord State Bank
Vice President	Allen McDougal, Prosecuting Attorney
Treasurer	Chris Feiberg, Co-op manager (produce)
Secretary	Ray McKinley, Gaylord Lumber treasurer
6 Directors	Including Norm Glasser, GSB cashier and future bank president moves up from membership chairman
The roster down to 32 members as some deleted for non-attendance December 1935 The club undertakes a Christmas tree display downtown and begins another tradition - distributing candy and peanuts to area children. 16 Christmas baskets of food and clothing are distributed to poor. 1936 Paul McDonald (owner Gaylord Printing - newspaper) becomes club's third president, McKinley still secretary 1942 The war years change the focus of the club in some areas, 4 members are overseas in teh conflict; a 4-H fair is held sponsored by the club, ties to agriculture increase, in one year through work of the members and USDA 743 workers are placed on 361 local farms, members provide workers and vehicles for the potato harvest (350 man/days) to record a record 600,000 bu crop for the year, scrap drives, Red Cross, USO activities cluster every report. Leonard Thomas of Gaylord Mfg. is elected club president in the clubs new meeting place the Rendezvous Cafe. The 1942 Annual Report is lengthy.., "...Difficult to differentiate between Kiwanis and Community activities...pledging effort for victory and guided by basic American Citizenship"... 1949 Floyd Lake becomes Lt. Governor for Division 8 of Michigan District 1953 Frank Peters becomes Lt. Governor for Division 15. Ralph Keyes is Michigan District Governor ...club reports that Goodfellow Drive was a success and Christmas baskets were delivered to 60 families, 11 members interclubed at Petoskey for the spring divisional, club sponsored Youth Dances and purchased glasses for a needy youth. The program selection highlight was on October 16th when Lem Noirot presented a water film produced by Culligan. 1958 Gerry Meyers steps down as Treasurer and the Kimble (owner of Hillsdale Motel) years begin in 1959, Ivan Davis is president of the club. Welcome Earl Kimble. 1963 Gerry Meyers becomes president of the club, Earl the treasurer when the meetings take place at the Star Restaurant for 49 members. Formed a Key Club of 20 that year, Doc Hird cm Goodfellow reported $400 profit and the X-mas baskets provided goodies for 176 children and elderly...Little League Team (cost $50 sponsor senior boy) were our guests to the Air Force Base...Float committee = 3 members. 1966-67 Lt. Governor Roy McMillen leads Division 15 from home club of Gaylord which meets at the Chalet were Secretary Bob Richardson keeps track of events...the club adopts a budget of $2100++...makes $363 on Goodfellow; $409 selling fruitcakes; running 3 Little League teams reports over 700mhs, Christmas Project totals $300,240mhs, 243 people. 1968 Irv Manville: President: X-mas totals = $800, 600mhs, 554 people 1974 August 8th Bart Cook sponsored by Don Bershbeck and Bee Simmons 1975 April 4th Jet Ormsbee sponsored by Orem and John Mero...Phil Hooper, Lou Tebbe, Gerry Noffsinger join club...budget = $15,575...The club project that fills report after report is the Red School House... 1978-79 Earl finally retires from the treasurers job...the club will miss him for the next few years...for around 20 years he has kept the book of club finances in order. Jack Weston turns over gavel to Jim Daust. First dinner dance sees 42, a perfect attendance. 1984-85 Lou Tebbe elected at Spring Divisional to Lt. Governor Division 20, #5/Gaylord. Club hosts the District Convention Phil Hooper and others have worked so hard to get comes off with only minor glitches... 1985 Club hosts Michigan District Bowling Tournament 1988 Club hosts the District Golf Tournament, regarded best ever by many. Campaign to elect Grant Bliss Lt. Governor (on to Leadership Training) for 89-90 is a success, #6/Gaylord. 1995 District Convention 1999 District Golf Tournament
Lt. Governors from Gaylord
Allen Schreur 1944 Floyd Lake 1949 Frank Peters 1953 Ray McMillin 1967 Lou Tebbe 1984-85 Charles Bliss 1988-89 (Governor Elect) Grant Bliss 1989-90 Bob Kozak 1994-95 Bob Copenhaver 1992-93 and 1997-98 George Bour 2008-2009
Other Notes
Governor of Michigan District Ralph C. Keyes 1953 Vice President of Kiwanis International 1976-77 forfeited his Presidency because of ill health... Petoskey was not the most northern club at the time of charter... Hosted the Michigan District Bowling Tournament in 1985 Charter Years of Area Clubs Charlevoix in 1934 Cheboygan in 1934 Gaylord in 1934 Harbor Springs in 1950 Indian River in 1979 Little Traverse Bay in 1976 Newberry in 1977 Onaway in 1982 Petoskey in 1922 Rogers City in 1934 Sault Ste. Marie in 1923 St. Ignace in 1951