Dayton Kiwanis celebrates 100 years

DAYTON–A wonderful time was had by the local Kiwanis Club at the 100th year celebration event held on September 17 at The Barn at Blue Meadows. Governors and Lieutenant Governors old and new from around the district attended and were introduced. Dinner was provided from The Q Wood Fire Grill and a club history presentation was given by Terry Nealey followed by the granting of Legion of Honor Awards to Dayton members.

The event began with a welcome to about 100 in attendance given by current President Kim Lyonnais who then led the Pledge of Allegiance. Chuck Reeves and Jim Thorn on piano led the group in singing “America,” “O, Canada” (to represent the Canadian members in the region), and “It’s a Grand Old Flag.” Former Dayton resident Pastor David Bruce led the invocation before dinner was served and attendees were free to visit.

Following dinner, Former Lieutenant Governor and Past President Gary Schroeder introduced the Kiwanis International Trustee Jackie Sue McFarlin, together with those who earned their “red suit jackets”: Governor Greg Wegrich, Governor Elect David Crozier, Lieutenant Governor Dan Dotta, and Lieutenant Governor Elect Chuck DeGooyer. They came from around the Kiwanis district which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, British Columbia, and The Yukon.

McFarlin expressed her sentiments about Kiwanis. “One thing about being a Kiwanian in a small town is that you may work on service projects or fundraisers, but sometimes Kiwanians don’t realize that work also means you’re pulling a community and [its] members together,” McFarlin said. She also highlighted how the Dayton club has worked beyond the community. “The Dayton Kiwanis helped do the first exchange program with Japan, and were also instrumental in starting the first club in Russia.”

Past President Terry Nealey gave a presentation of the history of the Dayton Kiwanis put together by fellow Kiwanian Joe Huether. He talked about the motto of the Kiwanis when it first formed of “We Build.” Nealey emphasized that Kiwanis is about building of communities through service, particularly for children. He cited various historical Dayton Chronicle articles throughout the years reporting on the Kiwanis activities and members and said, “I just want to pause and express the importance of the newspaper, the press, in letting people know what was going on.”

One of the most impactful programs was the Dayton-Yamate Exchange, pioneered by Kay Laymance and Charles Clizer. The program continues to this day.

Eric Thorn underscored the role Dayton Kiwanis played in the community, from its sponsorship of a Little League team to its serving as a forum for young people and organizations. Thorn said FFA officers have, over the years, benefited from having Kiwanis as a forum for communicating their activities in the community. Publicly acknowledging farmers championing conservation, by putting the spotlight on Conservation Farmers of the Year, is another service of the club.

He shared photos and names of people, as well as snapshots of the community from years past. Nealey highlighted the local participation in the SIGN Fracture Care International Program in developing countries. Better-known fundraisers were featured, including the Kiwanis burgers for various events and Turkey Bingo. He spoke of the programs the club supports, like The Missoula Children’s Theater.

Programs have played a key role over the years. One of the first was the story of local farmer Frank Finkel, who is said to be the only white survivor of the Little Big Horn Battle in 1876. He first told his story at a Kiwanis meeting in 1922. Speakers of note include Jim Valley of the group Paul Revere and the Raiders, Dick Smawley, WSU basketball coach George Raveling, WSU and Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien, Christine Gregoire, Tom Foley, and others.

Dayton Kiwanis had a reputation for its musicality, its members boisterously belting out favorite songs to start each meeting.

Also, he spoke how Camp Nancy Lee was in recent years transferred over to the Kiwanis who have since renovated it to be rented at an affordable rate. Camp Nancy Lee was named after Lloyd and Carol Rainwater’s daughter Nancy Lee, who was inflicted with Cerebral Palsy, the property gifted to the club by the Rainwaters in her memory. Lloyd Rainwater Sr. leased the property for $1 to Camp Fire Girls in 1957.

Service projects have included Turkey Bingo, Builders/Key Club, Camp Nancy Lee, Christmas Baskets, Dayton Co-op Pre-School, Dayton D.A.R.E/SADD, Dayton Food Bank, Liberty Theater Summer Youth Missoula Children’s Theater, Easter Egg Hunt, HOBY Conference, Iodine Deficiency Prevention, Little League Baseball, Northwest Burn Foundation, Pony League, Project Timothy, Delaney Public Library, Riparian Fund, Scholarships, enior Graduation Party, Soccer League, SIGN, Special Olympics, Speech Camp, Summer Reading Program, Swim Team, 4-H Livestock Sale, Tot-Spot, F.B.L.A., Rocketeers, Athletic Complex, Yamate Exchange Program, Softball, Red Cross Blood Drawing, School Footbridge, Hospital Helipad, High School Track, The Club, Road To Leadership, and others.

Past presidents of Dayton Kiwanis were then recognized followed by a presentation of Legion of Honor awards by Governor Wegrich to Kim Lyonnais and Gary Schroeder for 30 years; John McFarland (who was not able to attend) for 35 years, and Terry Nealey for 45 years of service.

The event closed with the song “Auld Lang Syne” before adjournment into the next 100 years.

Charter members of the club in 1922 were Arthur F. Barnett, Gustave E. Bartel, Elmer C. Baremen, Chas. N. Boyd, Chas. J. Broughton, E. Van Broughton, Alfred P. Cahill, Fred Cahill, Roy R. Cahill, Wm. E. Cahill, Wm. A. Chandler, Lawrence C., Churchman, Howard W. Cooper, Frank A. Cote, George M. Cultra, Wm. W. Day, Ed Davis, W. Bert Dingle, Elmer E. Dunlap, Roy O. Dyer, Loren F. Dumas, Omer F. Erbes, Walter A. Frary, Augustave C. Gerkin, Wm. C. Gilmore, Peter F. Hawkins, Gustave Hansen, Wm. P. Hooper, Everett A. Holmes, Wm. G. Hughes, John A. Hubbard, Walter L. Rodrick, Ray P. Richardson, Clarence R. Rogg, Zala E. Scott, Claude Swegle, Lloyd R. Terwilliger, Geo. R. Thompson, S. Zeno Varnes, Wm. L. Walls, John L. Wallace, Ralph E. Wilcox, Wm. H. Younger, Clark Israel, J. Grover Israel, Wm. H. Ingraham, Geo. W. Jackson, Chas. D. Lewls, Wm. A. Meyer, Albert A. Monnett, Harry G. Moe, Geo. W. McCauley, Marvin McCauley, Dean A. Nichols, Andrew L. Nilsson, Arthur N. Nilsson, Fred M. Norris, Homer E. Price and Wm. F. Rennewanz.