Kiwanis Key Club and Builders Club will build on a tradition of service

Kiwanis International

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. This defining statement makes clear why Kiwanis members have served the Oskaloosa community for over 90 years.

Local Kiwanians are now fulfilling one of their long-sought objectives of forming two new Kiwanis clubs especially for youth ages 11 to 18.

“The core values of these clubs are character building, caring, inclusiveness and leadership,“ said Diane Ottosson, one of the Kiwanis leaders. “They are so much more than a service club. We have great kids here in Oskaloosa and these clubs will give them an opportunity to meet other great kids and to really make a difference in their own lives and in the life of the community.”

The Builders Club for middle-school youth will be co-sponsored by the Mahaska County YMCA, with Kathy Rothfus, youth director, as its advisor. Crystal Van Donselaar and Jeff Smith will represent Kiwanis as club advisors. The Key Club—a group for high school students—is co-sponsored by the Oskaloosa Public Library, with William Ottens, library director, as its advisor. Kiwanis members Eric Palmer and Margaret Ratcliff will also serve as Key Club advisors.

Parents and students are invited to attend an informational meeting on Tuesday, January 15 in the upper level meeting rooms of the Oskaloosa Public Library. Club advisors and other Kiwanis members will be present from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to share details, answer questions and help students with submitting applications. More information on the clubs can be also found at www.keyclub.org and at www.buildersclub.org.

The new clubs will begin holding meetings on the fourth Wednesday each month throughout the school year, with the first official meetings set for Wednesday, January 23 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. For more information, contact the club advisors or any member of Kiwanis.