There were 33 men at the organizational meeting for the Kiwanis Club of Seneca Falls Monday, March 8, 1937, at the Gould Hotel. The club's first Thursday noon meeting took place that week, with a program presented by members of the Geneva Kiwanis Club, which sponsored the Seneca Falls Club's formation.
Members of the Kiwanis Club of Auburn visited the March 25 meeting to help the club get started.
More than 150 Kiwanians from 13 cities attended the club's charter night, May 6, 1937. The new club had 41 members. The club's gong and gavel were presented by the Geneva Club. The Auburn Club presented a Kiwanis banner. All are still in use.
The tradition of joint meetings of the Seneca Falls Kiwanis and Rotary clubs began the day after the charter banquet. They met at the Gould Hotel to hear a blind woman speak about her Seeing Eye Dog.
The club was just a week old when it announced its first community project, the annual Sunshine Special for children. On Aug. 4, 1937, 500 children saw a movie at the Strand Theater on Fall Street in Seneca Falls and then were taken by cars to Cayuga Lake State Park for games and refreshments.
Over the years Kiwanians have been involved in many fund raising activities, including fly-in breakfasts, popcorn sales, dinners, auctions and roasts of local celebrities. All the profits are used to support community projects.
The Kiwanis Club of Seneca Falls celebrated its 50th anniversary with a dinner on March 28, 1987. Seneca County Judge Daniel DePasquale, a long-term club member, was the subject of a roast which drew more than 200 people.
The Seneca Falls Kiwanis Club was the first in the area to induct a woman. On Aug. 6, 1987. Patricia Preece, who long had been a volunteer in club projects, joined the club within a month of the rule change which made her membership possible.
Among the club projects is one that has gone on for decades -- the Junior Kiwanian program. The club hosts seniors from local high schools at its meetings to introduce them to the concept of community service. Relationships have grown with some of the students who have returned for visits and in some cases joined the club.
The club has had 8 members honored with the George F. Hixson Award, one recipient of the Walter Zeller Award, and one recipeient of the Kaiser Award.
Hixson Award Winners:
- Esther Garnsey, March 10, 1997 (deceased)
- Vincent "Jimmy" Colella, March 11, 1997 (deceased)
- Grover VanRiper, Dec. 30, 1997 (deceased)
- Martin Toombs, Nov. 22, 1999
- Bruce Wheeler, Sept. 14, 2000 (deceased)
- Joyce Sinicropi, March 5, 2001
- John King, Nov. 6, 2004 (deceased)
- Mark Robinette, Oct. 10, 2020
Zeller Award:
- Martin Toombs
Kaiser Award:
- Thomas David
The following people have served as club president:
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Finger Lakes Division Lieutenant Governors:
- Martin Toombs, 2017-18
- Thomas David, 2022-23
