Kiwanis Club

 

Projects

 

KIWANIS ANNUAL AGRICULTURAL FAIR

In 1996 the Board of Directors endorsed the idea and committed to a long-term service project to create an annual agricultural fair with accompanying amusements and carnival events. The Board agreed to enter into a lease with the City of Vidalia for use of property, located behind Threlkeld Motor Company.

Additional financial support has been provided by the Sweet Onion Classic Committee in order to improve the property and to erect appropriate buildings to support the Fair. A community building, provided by the Sweet Onion Classic, is located on the west end of the property.  In 1999, construction was completed on a concession/restroom facility.

The Kiwanis Annual Agricultural Fair is by far the largest and most comprehensive service project of which our club has undertaken in the recent history of the club.  Success of the project  depends on each Kiwanian doing his/her part.

Committee Chairpersons:  Abe Glaser    -    Committee Members:  Craig Adams, Charles Andrew, Lynette Berry, Susan Braddy, Johnny Carroll, Travis DeLoach, Bob Dixon, Patricia Dixon, Wendell Dixon, Dennis Donahue, Donald Estroff,  Marlen Ethredge, Brian Frederick, Jeff Glaser, Debbie Kittrell,  Dan Murray, Karl Owens, Matt Oxley, Emson Smith, Bill Torrence,  and all members of the club for the operation of the fair

31st  ANNUAL ONION RUN 

In 1978 a committee was organized to plan and execute the Vidalia Onion run. The committee was comprised of a chairperson and three fellow Kiwanians who made all of the arrangements for the race. For several years, Kiwanian Ron Lambert was the race coordinator and, with his small committee, promoted the race, acquired the logo, had the course TAC certified, acquired the t-shirts, handled all of the registration functions, and coordinated all of the race day functions that was culminated by the trophy presentations. The first race drew about 40 participants and grew slowly but steadily over the next 10 years. From about 1988 to 199 1, Neal Estroff assumed the role as race coordinator and was responsible for adding giveaways to the event.

Things have changed from the early days when Ron and Neal would announce a week before the race what everybody's responsibilities would be. Now, the Onion Run Committee starts meeting in November to prepare for the late April run. Over 300 man hours are involved with the preparation and running of the event. The Vidalia Onion run is now recognized as one of the finest I0K events in Georgia.

In the 1990s, Race Coordinators have been Steve Brown, Wendell Dixon, Howard Holman, and in 1997 Larry Atkins took over. Regular Committee members who have participated in the planning of each year's event have been Dennis Ingley, Larry Threlkeld, Charles Andrew, Tom Peterson, and Randy Sparks. In 1990, Kiwanian Eddie Tyson suggested that some consideration be given to adding a 2- mile Fun Walk and a I0K Walk. With the Walk in place, it became possible to go to the local schools and encourage children to participate. Also, in 1994, Gary Campbell headed up a committee that approached large companies about their employees' signing up as a group. These changes have resulted in over 1500 people participating in the Run/Walk each year, with twice that many attending to watch.

Until the 1991 race, breaking even was the goal, putting a little money in the coffers was a plus. In 1991, the Vidalia Advance, now the Advance/Progress, agreed to become a major sponsor. The Advance is now responsible for finding the sponsors, who in exchange for some advertising, agree to foot the bill for the Onion Run's largest expense, the t-shirts (about $6,000 in 1997). Additionally, the Advance/Progress gives the Onion Run Committee a check for $ 1,000. Now the Onion run generates an annual profit of around $5,000, which is put back into the community with our many projects.

Thanks to our annual sponsors and the man-hours donated by Kiwanians, the Vidalia Onion Run/Walk is a fun family-oriented event that is a community service project of our Kiwanis Club.

Committee Co-Chairpersons: Dennis Ingley, Howard Holman-    Committee Members:  Warren Botnick, Steve Brown, Jimmy Davis, Travis DeLoach, Wendell Dixon, Duke Hale, June Hunter,  Debbie Kittrell, Ron Lambert, Rich McCloskey, Sherri McDonald, Wendell NeeSmith, Larry Threlkeld,  Charles Andrew,  Matt Oxley, Darren Mcclellan, and all members of the club during The Run.

Onion Run Results

Current Info for Vidalia Onion Run

•  6:45 a.m. – Starting Time, Registration for Entrants
• 7:00a.m. – Registration Packets Available 
• 7:50a.m. – 2 Mile Fun Run & Walk 
• 8:30a.m. – 10K Onion Run & Walk 


All entrants will receive a 100% cotton T-shirt.  Fruit bar and fluids will be provided at the finish line. 

Please be advised no roller blades, roller skates, bikes or skateboards will be allowed in the race. Parents with jogging strollers are allowed. 

Event Information      

You may register for the race online soon.

Awards

• Awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place male and female finishers in all age divisions of the 10K Onion Run. 

• $600 cash divided between overall top 3 male and female runners in 10K run. 

• $600 cash divided between top 3 male and top 3 female runners 40 and up in 10K run. 

• $250 cash bonus for male and female course record setters in 10K run. 

• Awards for top male and female finishers of the Fun Run. 

• 10 drawings for $50 gift certificates. 

ALL USTAF MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRANTS MUST 
HAVE A USATF NUMBER TO COMPETE!!! 

TALENT SHOWCASE 

For the last several years our Kiwanis Club has sponsored the Talent Showcase, a Talent contest for local youth. Youth learn poise and confidence as they compete for valuable scholarships which are awarded the winners in the senior division and trophies in the other divisions and categories. The senior division winner goes on to compete in the state-wide Talent Showcase Contest.

The Talent Showcase committee is responsible for the organization and operation of  this contest. While this project comes under the Youth Services Committee, a separate committee is in charge of the event..

Committee Chairperson: Debbie Kittrell - Co-Chairpersons:  Biram Chapman, Sherri McDonald
Committee Members: Bob Dixon, Brian Frederick, Michael Manning, Hughes Threlkeld, Tim Walker, Mark Wiggins, Lee Arnold, June Hunter, Travis DeLoach, Wright Gres,  Loyd Mobley

Talent Showcase Results

 

ANNUAL EVENTS

BOY SCOUT TROOP #933

On February 21, 1919, the first Boy Scout Troop in Vidalia was organized with ten boys as charter members. The first scoutmaster was 34-year-old Walter Lee Downs, Superintendent of Schools at the Vidalia Collegiate Institute (Vidalia High School). The Vidalia Public School System was the Troop's first Chartered Organization (sponsor). The school system sponsored the Boy Scout Troop through 1928.

The Kiwanis Club of Vidalia was the true sponsor and supporter of the Troop from its inception. Professor Downs was a member of the Kiwanis Club. In 1929, the Kiwanis Club of Vidalia officially assumed the role of Chartered Organization and has retained its sponsorship to the present day. Although the troop sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Vidalia has had different numbers assigned in years past, it has remained Troop #933 since 196 1.

The first scout hut was a wood frame house located on the east side of Church Street between 5th and 6th Street. The McNatt, Greene and Thompson Law Offices currently occupy the site. The original Scout Hut lasted for 41 years. The Kiwanis Club of Vidalia purchased six metal Quonset huts from Camp LeJune, North Carolina. The City Council granted the Club permission to erect one of the structures at the comer of Winona Street and 5th Street. According to Carl Cannon, Club President at the time, the Club spent $800.00 on the project. This expenditure depleted the Club's funds for the year. The other structures were donated to Scout Troups in Reidsville, Claxton, Brooklet, and Metter.

In 1993, through the leadership of Matt Oxley, Troop Committee Chairman, the Kiwanis Club of Vidalia stepped forward to erect a new hut. The old "bam raising" method was used with a dawn to dark marathon on November 5, 1994, involving more than 100 volunteers. Through thousands of hours of work by Kiwanians and local citizens, a $25,000 donation from the Sweet Onion Classic Golf Tournament, a $5,000 donation from the American Legion, and numerous other donations of goods and services, the new hut became a reality. The Scouts held their first meeting in the new building on January 28, 1995.

Scoutmasters of Troop 933

Walter Lee Downs	1919-1930	Marion Ruffin	1951-1953	Donald Key	1981-1982
Rev. Robert Orr	1930-1935	Lewis VanDyke	1954-1955	Jim McDaniel	1983-1984
Carl Renfroe	1935-1936	Bryan Lynn	1955-1963	Trent R. Powers	1985
Fred Browning	1937-1940	Marshall Black	1963-1966	Wendell Metts	1986-1987
W. M. Watkins	1941-1942	Charles Reynolds	1966-1967	Dennis Webrand	1988-1989
T. Winston Ivey	1943-1944	Earnest W. Bell	1967-1969	Roger Reaves	1990-1993
Ray Peacock	1944-1945	Kenneth Argroves	1970-1971	Dwayne Farmer	1993-1994
J. T. Alexander	1946-1948	Bill Hopkins	1971-1972	Steve Tomlin	1994-1998
Gerard Swarthout, Jr.	1949	Bill Evans	1973-1974	Jesse NeeSmith	1998-Present
T. Winston Ivey	1950	Charles Andrew	1974-1980

 

Institutional Representative: Wesley Luhn

SCHOLARSHIPS

The Vidalia Kiwanis Club makes almost $5,000 available to area high school graduates who have a desire to further their education. Most of the scholarships are available to any graduate of Vidalia High School, Toombs County High School, or Robert Toombs Christian Academy. Three scholarships include graduates of Montgomery County High School for eligibility. The requirements of the scholarships emphasize financial need and the desire for higher education rather than relying strictly on academic achievement. Counselors from the area high schools are called upon to inform and advise the scholarships committee as they decide on granting the awards. When the students are chosen, a representative of the Kiwanis Club is present at any type of awards ceremony that may be held at their school and each of the recipients is invited to attend a regular meeting of the Kiwanis Club to be honored by the membership.

• The Tom P. Hutcheson Scholarship was established by the Kiwanis Club to provide a means for the community to honor one of its distinguished citizens and a former Vidalia High School System Superintendent.  Mr. Hutcheson is a past president of the Kiwanis Club and a former Lt. Governor of the Georgia District of Kiwanis International.

• The R. E. Ledford Scholarship was established by the Kiwanis Club to honor one of its past presidents and to recognize an outstanding citizen of Vidalia. Mr. Ledford was president of the Kiwanis Club in 1936.

• The family of William A. Hooker, III, a sixth grade student at the time of his accidental death in 1987, created a scholarship in his memory. The scholarship is for attendance at Brewton-Parker College.

• The Dennis Sikes Scholarship was created in 1992 by the Board of Directors of the Kiwanis Club specifically for a student to attend Brewton-Parker College. Dr. Sikes is a graduate and lifelong supporter of the college.

• In order to recognize and honor, during his life, its only then living charter member of the club, the Kiwanis Club Scholarship was renamed the Cliff A. Poe Scholarship. The two awards are only for students who wish to attend Southeastern Technical Institute.

• The Dr. Larry A. Smith Scholarship was established by the club in 1994 in memory of a beloved and devoted member of the Kiwanis Club and an outstanding community benefactor. This scholarship is for a student to attend Dr. Smith's alma mater, the University of Georgia.

• The J. R. Trippe Scholarship was created by a community-wide effort in 1981 to honor the memory of a former Superintendent of the Vidalia City School System. The fund has provided a scholarship every year since 1982.

Committee Chairperson: Tony Brooks    -    Committee Members : Archie Branch, Jack Dell, Don Mays, Reid Threlkeld

 

POINSETTIA SALE      

   Did you know? 

 

·        Poinsettias are the world’s most famous weed!

 

·        Poinsettias are also called the “Christmas Star” or “Winter Rose.”

 

·        Poinsettias actually make great cut flowers, but to keep the “blooms” from drooping, sear the cut stem immediately with a candle flame.

 

·        We sold 909 plants last season, down from 1,051 poinsettias in 2006.  Let’s get back over a thousand this year!

 

• The reason we sell poinsettias every year is to raise money for our club projects and community service outreach.  The money we raise helps fund all those ramps, our student scholarship program, and other

  great Kiwanis programs!  

 

This form & money are due to Wendy by Tues, Nov. 25^th

Plant Pick Up at Brick Warehouse

(Hwy. 280 next to Harton Chevrolet)

Tuesday, Dec. 2^nd & Wednesday, Dec. 3^rd 

11am to 5:30pm

Committee Chairperson: Wendy Brannen- Committee members: Directors on the Kiwanis Club Board