CUMBERLAND (Wisconsin) KIWANIS

Caring for the community/Supporting children/Faithful in service/Learning together/Serving together

Cumberland Kiwanis is a part of Kiwanis International, which exists to be “Serving the Children of the World”. The various projects of Cumberland Kiwanis seek to support and serve the children and youth of our community.

Cumberland Kiwanis is made up of men and women of all professions and ages, including permanent residents, snow-birds and summer friends. Our goal is to support the children while making Cumberland a better place to live, work, raise families, and retire.

Cumberland Kiwanis members meet once a week on Monday for noon lunch at Skiddies Restaurant, 1135 Second Avenue. The normal regimen begins with recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer, a song, announcements, conversation over lunch, a speaker presenting a topic for the day, and then we leave! It’s all done in less than an hour: start at noon, out by 1 p.m. The highlight of these weekly gatherings is the speaker for the day! We’ve listened to our local baseball coach and some of his players, and we’ve heard a professional baseball umpire talk about his trade. We’ve learned how electric power is produced in Cumberland and how water is tested and delivered to homes. We’ve heard presentations on wood carving, photography, bow-making, and accordions. We’ve learned about environmental issues and bio-fuel production. Kiwanis members from the Community Christmas Chorus have serenaded us, and member Jim Kerr has sung Karaoke. We’ve learned about businesses and industry in town, including Ardisam, 3M and Seneca. We’ve heard reports from the local hospital and nursing home and received information and help from other health professionals, received invitation and encouragement from the Healthier Cumberland Coalition and the Cumberland Community Education exercise facility in the high school. We’ve learned about Ireland, Russia, China, Japan and the middle east and even taken a geography quiz under the tutelage of member Gene Uhlenhopp. More than one member has said something like, “I’ve learned more about Cumberland in one year of Kiwanis meetings than in all the other years I’ve lived here!”

Cumberland Kiwanis provides service opportunities for National Honor Students. Kiwanis members set up and tear down for the Red Cross Bloodmobile and do spring and fall highway cleanup. We’ve donated and installed batting cages and the sign at Islander Park (see cover). Our two major fundraisers each year are the August Rutabaga Festival food stand and the annual fall Spaghetti Supper. Of special note in 2007: a completely new and beautiful Rutabaga food stand was built and now offers an expanded menu! Many members put in countless hours on the project. Proceeds from our fundraising projects and collections support college scholar-ships for high school seniors, “Shooting Stars” (helping families in need during medical crises), the Cumberland Memorial Hospital’s parenting newsletter, Cumberland area Boy Scout and Girl Scout organizations, the area hospice organization, and Cumberland Chamber projects.

We welcome guests to join us at our Monday lunch meeting at Skiddies! Invite someone!

To get a better idea about our exciting weekly programs, check out the minutes of our recent meetings!

New!!! A member directory online.