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Kiwanis Club Of The Desert
History Of The Kiwanis Club Of The Desert
In the mid-1950's, Tucson was emerging from a small Southwest desert town into a major population and commercial center of Southern Arizona. To local Kiwanians, the city's rapid growth soon suggested the need for a new club to serve the needs of the "North" side. Thus, the origin of the Kiwanis Club of the Desert -- sponsored by the Bisbee Kiwanis Club; chartered on May 3, 1956; meeting for the first time at the Steak and Sirloin Restaurant; and electing Bob Nason as it's first president. True to the Kiwanis theme, the club was established as a service club to aid and assist the community, with primary emphasis on the support of the youth.
Shortly after the Club was organized, membership quickly grew to about 50-55 members; representative figures over the years are 1962-46 members, 1973-51 members, 1984-46 members, 1992-44 members, and currently, 2006-33 members.
In a legal sense there are three important dates for the Kiwanis Club of the Desert. First, of course, is it's May 3, 1956 charter from Kiwanis International. On December 17, 1957, the Club was incorporated by the State of Arizona for a 25 year period; that incorporation was renewed in perpetuity on December 14, 1982. The need to clearly segregate the administration of charitable and scholarship funds from Club operating funds led to the organization of the Desert Kiwanis Club Foundation in February 1985. The State of Arizona granted a nonprofit incorporation charter for the Foundation on March 25, 1985.
The Club's noon luncheons have graced numerous eateries and generally followed the city's growth to the Northwest. Between that first meeting at the Steak and Sirloin and todays home at the Fountains, the Kiwanis Club of the Desert has stopped at places such as the Green Shack (Northwoods), El Corral, JJ's (Cliff Manor), Coat of Arm's/La Bodega/Bull Ring, Macayo's, the Sheraton El Conquistador, Westward Look, Tucson National Resort, Roma's Cafe and the Silverado Steakhouse.
The raison d'etre of any Kiwanis Club is service to the community's youth. The Desert Club has compiled an enviable record over the years through its club sponsorship and college scholarships. The Desert Club has been able to boast of more youth club sponsorships than any of the 130-odd Kiwanis Clubs in the Southwest District. The Canyon del Oro (CDO) High School Key Club was organized in 1975 and joined in 1978 by the very active Marana High School Key Club. When the Marana School District built its second school in the mid-1980;s, we transferred sponsorship of the CDO Key Club to our sister, Catalina Kiwanis Club and assumed sponsorship of the fledgling Mountain View H.S. Key Club. Marana and Mountain View have proven themselves to be among the best in the country. The Builders Club came along in the early 1980's and are a testament to the efforts of our late Life Member Bob White, later the tireless efforts of the late Ed Simon & currently our clubs Steve Richards. In addition to sponsoring two key clubs at the high schools, we now sponsor four Builders/K-Kids Clubs in Middle & Elementary Schools.
The College scholarship program was begun in 1976. The stipends have grown from the early grants of a couple hundred dollars annually for one or two students, to up to several thousands of dollars for several students. Currently the students selected for scholarships are eligible to receive $1,000 per year for four years. During 1976 - 2006, about 150 students have shared in over $250,000 in Desert Kiwanis Foundation scholarships.
Although the youth clubs and scholarships have been, and continue to be the prime focus of our Club's support, many other causes have been aided by the time, effort and resources of the Desert Club. During the 1970's, the Club sponsored Boy Scout Troop #215, when there was an initial need to expand scouting efforts into the growing Northwest. A roster of the other causes supported over the years include; Special Olympics, Boys/Girls State, Big Brothers, Operations Plus, Salvation Army, elementary school programs, the State Juvenile Detention Center, 4H/FAA, Casa de los Ninos, various book funds, Children's Library at the University of Arizona Hospital, Pima County Teenage Homeless Program, Youth-On-Their-Own, Little League baseball teams, Project Turnaround & Wright Flight.
Although the time and money of the Club's members are the lifeblood of its support to the community, outside funds must be raised to meet our clubs goals. In earlier years, a spaghetti dinner, prepared and served by the members, starred as the largest source of funds for the scholarships. Other projects have included dog track night, Tucson Toro baseball games, travel and adventure film presentations, car raffles, bowl-a-thons, casino nights and rummage sales.
Following much deliberation and debate during 1981-1982, a key policy decision was made to concentrate on two major fund-raisers per year. Mayfest, a brainchild of the late Lou Landon, was a musical variety revue presented each spring by the Finer Arts Department of Marana, CDO, and Mountain View High Schools. The first Mayfest was held in 1982, and raised about $25,000 for the Club's coffers. In succeeding years the event continued to be a financial success by bringing in $10-20,000 per year to support the Desert Club's Scholarship fund. The final Mayfest was held in 1990 at the Mountain View High School campus. The second fund raiser, also began in 1982, was the Help-a-Kid Golf Tournament. The event, a four-person scramble, drew about 100 participants, and each year raised about $10,000.
Currently, the Desert Club actively supports two great programs offering important incentives to young people for self-improvement. Project Turnaround recognizes Marana School District kids that set academic, self-discipline and family value goals, and achieve those goals! We help Project Turnaround and revel in watching the joy of those kids which meet, and are recognized for meeting their targets. Wright Flight, a program originated here in Tucson, similarly requires a "contract for improvement" and rewards those successful with a flight in, and piloting of, privately owned light aircraft. Despite a few *barf bags* at flight's end, there can be no doubt that this program is powerful, positive contribution to today's youth in stepping to their next level.
A club is what the members and officers make it, and those of the Desert Club seem to have made it one of the great honors. Since 1975, the Desert Club has had nine Distinguished Presidents (an honor bestowed by Kiwanis International for exceeding defined goals): Maurice Bossuyt ('74-'75), Bob White ('77-'78), Bill Thoman ('78-'79), Ed Simon ('79-'80), Ray Wills ('81-'82), Ray Harrell ('82-'83), Wade McLean ('83-'84), Ron Sprague ('87-'88), Kevin Morrison ('93-'94) and Chuck Cowles ('03-'04). Also, Bob Markley ('67-'68), and Ray Wills ('83-'84) went on to serve as District Lieutenant Governors.
In the mid-1950's, Tucson was emerging from a small Southwest desert town into a major population and commercial center of Southern Arizona. To local Kiwanians, the city's rapid growth soon suggested the need for a new club to serve the needs of the "North" side. Thus, the origin of the Kiwanis Club of the Desert -- sponsored by the Bisbee Kiwanis Club; chartered on May 3, 1956; meeting for the first time at the Steak and Sirloin Restaurant; and electing Bob Nason as it's first president. True to the Kiwanis theme, the club was established as a service club to aid and assist the community, with primary emphasis on the support of the youth.
Shortly after the Club was organized, membership quickly grew to about 50-55 members; representative figures over the years are 1962-46 members, 1973-51 members, 1984-46 members, 1992-44 members, and currently, 2006-33 members.
In a legal sense there are three important dates for the Kiwanis Club of the Desert. First, of course, is it's May 3, 1956 charter from Kiwanis International. On December 17, 1957, the Club was incorporated by the State of Arizona for a 25 year period; that incorporation was renewed in perpetuity on December 14, 1982. The need to clearly segregate the administration of charitable and scholarship funds from Club operating funds led to the organization of the Desert Kiwanis Club Foundation in February 1985. The State of Arizona granted a nonprofit incorporation charter for the Foundation on March 25, 1985.
The Club's noon luncheons have graced numerous eateries and generally followed the city's growth to the Northwest. Between that first meeting at the Steak and Sirloin and todays home at the Fountains, the Kiwanis Club of the Desert has stopped at places such as the Green Shack (Northwoods), El Corral, JJ's (Cliff Manor), Coat of Arm's/La Bodega/Bull Ring, Macayo's, the Sheraton El Conquistador, Westward Look, Tucson National Resort, Roma's Cafe and the Silverado Steakhouse.
The raison d'etre of any Kiwanis Club is service to the community's youth. The Desert Club has compiled an enviable record over the years through its club sponsorship and college scholarships. The Desert Club has been able to boast of more youth club sponsorships than any of the 130-odd Kiwanis Clubs in the Southwest District. The Canyon del Oro (CDO) High School Key Club was organized in 1975 and joined in 1978 by the very active Marana High School Key Club. When the Marana School District built its second school in the mid-1980;s, we transferred sponsorship of the CDO Key Club to our sister, Catalina Kiwanis Club and assumed sponsorship of the fledgling Mountain View H.S. Key Club. Marana and Mountain View have proven themselves to be among the best in the country. The Builders Club came along in the early 1980's and are a testament to the efforts of our late Life Member Bob White, later the tireless efforts of the late Ed Simon & currently our clubs Steve Richards. In addition to sponsoring two key clubs at the high schools, we now sponsor four Builders/K-Kids Clubs in Middle & Elementary Schools.
The College scholarship program was begun in 1976. The stipends have grown from the early grants of a couple hundred dollars annually for one or two students, to up to several thousands of dollars for several students. Currently the students selected for scholarships are eligible to receive $1,000 per year for four years. During 1976 - 2006, about 150 students have shared in over $250,000 in Desert Kiwanis Foundation scholarships.
Although the youth clubs and scholarships have been, and continue to be the prime focus of our Club's support, many other causes have been aided by the time, effort and resources of the Desert Club. During the 1970's, the Club sponsored Boy Scout Troop #215, when there was an initial need to expand scouting efforts into the growing Northwest. A roster of the other causes supported over the years include; Special Olympics, Boys/Girls State, Big Brothers, Operations Plus, Salvation Army, elementary school programs, the State Juvenile Detention Center, 4H/FAA, Casa de los Ninos, various book funds, Children's Library at the University of Arizona Hospital, Pima County Teenage Homeless Program, Youth-On-Their-Own, Little League baseball teams, Project Turnaround & Wright Flight.
Although the time and money of the Club's members are the lifeblood of its support to the community, outside funds must be raised to meet our clubs goals. In earlier years, a spaghetti dinner, prepared and served by the members, starred as the largest source of funds for the scholarships. Other projects have included dog track night, Tucson Toro baseball games, travel and adventure film presentations, car raffles, bowl-a-thons, casino nights and rummage sales.
Following much deliberation and debate during 1981-1982, a key policy decision was made to concentrate on two major fund-raisers per year. Mayfest, a brainchild of the late Lou Landon, was a musical variety revue presented each spring by the Finer Arts Department of Marana, CDO, and Mountain View High Schools. The first Mayfest was held in 1982, and raised about $25,000 for the Club's coffers. In succeeding years the event continued to be a financial success by bringing in $10-20,000 per year to support the Desert Club's Scholarship fund. The final Mayfest was held in 1990 at the Mountain View High School campus. The second fund raiser, also began in 1982, was the Help-a-Kid Golf Tournament. The event, a four-person scramble, drew about 100 participants, and each year raised about $10,000.
Currently, the Desert Club actively supports two great programs offering important incentives to young people for self-improvement. Project Turnaround recognizes Marana School District kids that set academic, self-discipline and family value goals, and achieve those goals! We help Project Turnaround and revel in watching the joy of those kids which meet, and are recognized for meeting their targets. Wright Flight, a program originated here in Tucson, similarly requires a "contract for improvement" and rewards those successful with a flight in, and piloting of, privately owned light aircraft. Despite a few *barf bags* at flight's end, there can be no doubt that this program is powerful, positive contribution to today's youth in stepping to their next level.
A club is what the members and officers make it, and those of the Desert Club seem to have made it one of the great honors. Since 1975, the Desert Club has had nine Distinguished Presidents (an honor bestowed by Kiwanis International for exceeding defined goals): Maurice Bossuyt ('74-'75), Bob White ('77-'78), Bill Thoman ('78-'79), Ed Simon ('79-'80), Ray Wills ('81-'82), Ray Harrell ('82-'83), Wade McLean ('83-'84), Ron Sprague ('87-'88), Kevin Morrison ('93-'94) and Chuck Cowles ('03-'04). Also, Bob Markley ('67-'68), and Ray Wills ('83-'84) went on to serve as District Lieutenant Governors.