KIWANIS CLUB OF GREATER OMAHA
The Kiwanis Club was chartered in 1938 and took on the name of Dundee Kiwanis Club. The meeting place was the Blackstone Hotel. In 1973 the club celebrated their 35th anniversary in the ballroom. The club moved their meeting place to the Dundee area and met at the Fireside Restaurant until it closed and then they met at the Ranch Bowl until 1978 when they started
meeting at Anthony’s Restaurant on 72nd Street and F Street. Due to the remodeling of Anthony’s the club met moved to the Westside Community Center on 108th & Grover. When Westside needed to remodel their location the club moved the meeting place to The German-American Society on 120th & Prairie View Drive. The club meets every Monday at 11:45 till 1:00.
For over 79 years the club has participated in the local Salvation Army Kettle Day. During the early years the location was at 15th & Farnam in downtown area. For many years the Kettle Day location was at Westroads Shopping Center. Since 1976 the club has had several additional shopping center locations west on 132nd and Center and now 173rd and Center.
The social activities are a great part of the Kiwanis Club Fellowship. The club has quarterly fun and fellowship activities that involve the spouces as well as Kiwanians. Some of the most interesting fun times have been steak fries at the lake homes of one of the members and a series of dinners that emphasize the food and the fellowship of the club. Some of these dinners are of one nationality where we take on the food of that country.
KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL
Kiwanis was founded in Detroit, Michigan, on January 21st, 1915 by Allen Browne as a fraternal club for business and professional men.
The original name was “The Supreme Lodge Benevolent Order Brothers”!
The name soon changed to “Kiwanis”, an Indian name meaning “To Express One’s Self”!
The Kiwanis Objects Are:
TO GIVE to the human and spiritual, rather than to the material values of life.
TO ENCOURAGE the daily living of the Golden rule in all human relationships.
TO PROMOTE the adoption and application of higher social, business, and professional standards.
TO DEVELOP, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship.
TO PROVIDE, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities.
TO COOPERATE in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and good will.