The Dalles Kiwanis Club Celebrates its 100th Year
Lee Huckins, former Lt. Governor and past president of The Dalles Kiwanis Club, flashes his “Kiwanis is my Superpower” cap at the club’s 100th anniversary celebration. Photo credit: Robbie Denning
By Karl Vercouteren
The Dalles Kiwanis Club celebrated its 100th year this fall.
The Centennial Celebration took place in the Civic Auditorium’s ballroom, where local Kiwanis held their first charter presentation over 100 years ago.
Kiwanis came to The Dalles in the fall of 1921, just a few years after the international service club’s founding. Early meetings were held at Hotel Dalles and a presentation of the initial charter was scheduled for December 1921. Winter weather caused the meeting to be postponed until the following April. The charter presentation drew dignitaries from throughout the Northwest, enjoyed official proclamations, and merited a two-page spread in the Daily Chronicle.
The Civic Auditorium was being dedicated that same weekend, so the local Kiwanians and their out-of-town visitors enjoyed a dance at the new facility’s ballroom.
Kiwanians met in the Civic Auditorium ballroom, site of the club’s charter presentation 100 years ago. Photo credit: Robbie Denning
100 years later, Kiwanis gathered at the Civic to celebrate their long history in The Dalles.
The club’s annual meeting held October 14th meeting at the Civic Auditorium included a Centennial Commemoration, banquet and the year’s end business.
Emcee of the Centennial celebration was Mary Stocks, former president, retiring secretary, and former Lt. Governor. Greetings were offered by Mayor Rich Mays and Kiwanis Pacific Northwest District Governor Greg Wegrich. Gov. Wegrich traveled from Bellingham, WA for the event. A number of past Governors and Lt. Governors were in attendance.
Pictured: The Dalles Mayor Rich Mays. Photo Credit: Robbie Denning
Retiring club president Justine Ziegler was honored for leading the club through the past year. Ziegler had needed to work and lead meetings from her home due to COVID precautions. Appreciation was also expressed for Trish Neal, formerly of The Dalles, who hosts Kiwanis Zoom meetings from her home in Anchorage, AK.
A display of historic artifacts at the celebration included the original club charter, clippings from the 1922 charter presentation and the club’s early years, a list of club presidents that includes many of the community’s leaders, and Helen Elsmore’s collection of pins gathered at district and international conventions. Elsemore was honored for organizing “Stuff the Bus” school supply collections, the latest of the club’s projects supporting children and youth.
Helen Elsmore (L) received the Kiwanis Club’s thanks for initiating the “Stuff the Bus” project from emcee Mary Stocks (R). Photo credit: Robbie Denning
Club treasurer A.J. Olson won “Kiwanian of the Year” honors for his leadership through the difficulties raised when the club’s major fundraiser, the Steak Feed, needed to be cancelled this past September. Olson continues as treasurer, joined by newly installed President Mike Wacker and Secretary Gene Parker.
