Cheney Kiwanis has deep roots in the community

The Cheney Kiwanis club began in September 1972 and has been involved in the community ever since. Whether the club is participating in events behind the scenes or in the public eye, their presence has been known for quite some time in Cheney.

The Kiwanis club is not just known to the city of Cheney, it is international. Overall, there are over 700,000 adult and youth members around the world. With the club's motto, "serving the children of the world," the foundation is also affiliated with the Key Club at high schools, the Builders Club at middle schools and the K-Kids at the elementary schools in the community.

"Our primary focus is to involve the youth in the community," Mark Eckreich, club membership chair, said.

Cheney Kiwanis currently has 27 members, with only about one-third of them being Cheney residents, while the rest live in the county. Their meetings take place on Thursdays at 7 a.m. in Sessions Village at 2219 N. Sixth St. in the Cheney Care Center complex. If anybody is interested in joining the club, they just have to come to a meeting and a member will sponsor them.

"We have never turned anybody down," Carl Schwenn, the current Kiwanis president said.

A typical meeting starts with ringing a bell and calling the meeting to order. Then the members have a flag salute, songs and the "Kiwanis Prayer." They then take care of birthdays and anniversaries. The next part of the meeting is a 50/50 raffle, with proceeds going to a fund that benefits the community. They close the meetings with announcements, jokes and ringing the bell to adjourn.

Most of the meetings features a guest speaker who presents information on a variety of subjects that include city and county government/agencies, youth administrators, non-profit organizations that benefit families and children, county agencies, Eastern Washington University faculty and administrators and Kiwanis regional and international projects.

A big part of the Cheney Kiwanis is their involvement in the community. They help at events by donating either money or their time. Some of the events are:

• Club social events: Sweetheart dinner and club picnic.

• Community events: annual Easter Egg Hunt, Harvest Festival at EWU, Mayfest.

• Fundraising: Selling cotton candy at the Cheney Rodeo parade, Blackhawk/Kiwanis golf event, providing refreshments at the Sprague rest stop on Interstate 90.

• Community support: Packing Special Olympics sack lunches, planting flowers at Care Center, yard of the month award, collect and distribute Coats for Cheney Kids, helping with gifts for Cheney Kids.

• Youth Support: annual $1,000 scholarship to a Cheney High graduate.

• Sponsorship and financial support: Betz and Salnave K-Kids service clubs, Cheney High Key Club and EWU Circle K.

• Financial support for: Paint-a-Helmet (free bike helmets), Ronald McDonald House, Kiwanis Children's Cancer Program, Kiwanis International Project, Cheney Outreach, Gifts for Cheney Kids.

Giving back to the community is a big part of why Kiwanis is thriving, but there is also the social aspect of it. Some people have joined to hear guest speakers or just for the contacts and friendships made through the club.

"The impact it has on my life has definitely been giving back to the community for what they have given to me," Bob Mostek, a past club president, said. "It is like paying it forward. Also, it is a good way to make contacts and reacquaint with each other."

Cheney is not the only Kiwanis club in the West Plains area as Medical Lake and Airway Heights also have organizations.

"Most of the people that visit our group from other Kiwanis clubs mention what a fun and festive group of guys and gals that we have," club secretary Jeri Morgan said.

The next Cheney Kiwanis meeting will take place Thursday, March 2, at 7 a.m. Everybody is welcome to join and see what the club does for the community firsthand.

Grace Pohl can be reached at [email protected].