The Carmi Kiwanis Club turns 100 years old this year and held an official celebration with about 3 dozen of the club’s 68 active members in attendance at the regular Thursday meeting. To commemorate, Mike Williams of the Harrisburg club who also serves as Kiwanis International’s District Lieutenant Governor was in attendance to congratulate club members on their efforts and milestone. He says the Carmi club is known throughout the region for its impact and notably for being the largest club in membership. In addition to cake and unveiling a preliminary look at this year’s Corn Day logo, club members were also challenged with a century’s worth of trivia. Among the things (known by some, learned by others) revealed during trivia were the club’s first president, Mr. John Pearce and that there were 50 charter members back in 1923. The club’s motto is “We Build” and Kim Gwaltney served as the club’s first female leader. In 1937, the Carmi Kiwanis Club hosted 3 different festivals. Everyone knows Corn Day, but there were also Rooster Day and Watermelon festivals. The club built the Girl Scout log cabin in 1952 and would years later donate the marquee that’s still standing at Washington Attendance Center.
In club business, President Emily Williams says the board voted to donate $500 to the Carmi Junior Pro squad and that entertainment for this year’s Corn Day festivities is close to being secured. Corn Day is the second weekend in October.
At next week’s meeting, members are expecting to learn more about and from Teresa Lee, the new owner of the Black Diamond Estate and the Black Diamond Inn and Social House.
