My Kiwanis moment

There comes a time when a Kiwanian becomes a “Kiwanian.” An ill baby heals. A teenager becomes a leader. A disabled athlete completes a race. A child smiles. And a Kiwanian made it possible. Such events seal a Kiwanian’s membership for life. They are “Kiwanis Moments,” and this past May, KIWANIS Connected asked readers to share their Kiwanis moments. Here are five examples. You too can share your story in the Kiwanis Member Community.

William Walters
Kiwanis Club of Easton, Pennsylvania

“In 2004, my club nominated a young man for a Robert P. Connelly Medal for Heroism. At the charter celebration for the Spring-Ford Kiwanis club, Pennsylvania District governor Bill Brandamore and I presented the medal to the young man. In attendance were not only his mother and father, but the two young boys he pulled from a burning car. Also in attendance were the boys’ mother, grandmother, and aunt. It truly was memorable, and it brings tears to my eyes just typing these words to know that Kiwanis not only was able to award the young man the Connelly medal, but more importantly, it brought the two children and the young man face-to-face for the first time since the accident. (They live 50 miles apart.) Also, it allowed the new members of this new Kiwanis club the opportunity to experience this wonderful event from such a tragic happening. (The boys lost their father in the car accident and fire.)

Pat Hawkins
Kiwanis Club of Highland, Indiana

“While spending a day at Camp Riley with Indiana District Key Clubbers, I sat down to have lunch with the campers, who have differing disabilities. A 16-year-old in a wheelchair was waiting to eat. His name was Steve, and he couldn’t use his hands or legs. Unsure what to do, I asked if I could help. He smiled and said, “Would you mind feeding me?” I began feeding him, thinking, “There, but for the grace of God, could have been my son.” We chatted about Kiwanis and Key Club and where he was from. When we finished our lunch, Steve smiled again, but this time, there was a hint of tears in his eyes. I asked if he was OK, and he replied, “I’m just grateful. This is the first time someone fed me who wasn’t family and wasn’t getting paid to do it.” He went on to say he would always remember that it was a Kiwanian who did it. He didn’t realize that he had given me much more that day. He touched my heart, and I knew I would always be a Kiwanian.”

John Beere
Kiwanis Club of Manassas, Virginia

“Through our district’s support of child car seat safety programs, I involved the Manassas club in a number of aspects of this valuable service. We produced identification stickers and supported car seat inspections. After tiring of being just a pair of helping hands, I enrolled in the four-day certification to become a child passenger safety technician. My first inspection was at the grand opening of a convenience store. At the end of the event, the store representative asked if we would check her seat. We did and made a number of adjustments to bring the seat to the recommended standards. We heard back from her after her car had been rear-ended a week after the seat check. An inattentive driver hit her vehicle at 35 miles per hour. The rear of her car was crushed all the way to the back window. She recalled thinking at that moment, as she saw what was unfolding, her son would be safe. Sure enough, the baby received no injuries. Mom credits the seat check with saving her son from injury or worse. Knowing I made the seat tight and correct, I felt I surely touched the life of a young child. Without Kiwanis, I never would have made that connection.”

Dorothy Brown
Kiwanis Club of South St. Catherine, Jamaica

“When I worked on my club’s talent showcase, I had the pleasure of watching children, ranging from ages three to seven, sing and dance.”

Doug Ryan
Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks, California

“Since joining the Thousand Oaks club this past September, my favorite moment has to be involving my nearly 12-year-old son, Jeremy, in nearly all my Kiwanis activities. The one that stands out is the club’s Wheels to the Sea project. This event requires many volunteers to push about 40 special needs kids, who are in wheelchairs, about four miles on trails through the mountains to the Pacific Ocean, where a huge barbecue awaits them. Jeremy did not relish the idea of getting up early and asked, ‘When are these activities going to be over?’ By the end of the day, he was so impressed with the kids and adults he couldn’t wait to do the next one. I am a very lucky dad to have this quality time with a growing-up-too-fast son and teaching him how to give back to the community.”