Well known club trying to gain roots in Strathmore

Times Reporter

 

There are many clubs and organizations in and around Strathmore, but one club the Town is missing is the Kiwanis Club.  One man is working to fix that by bringing the club to Strathmore. Cory Johnson has been a Kiwanis member since 1992 and in 2002 he became a board member. 

“I worked my way up the ladder from volunteer, to intern, to a counselor, to resource staff and then after I left the camp they asked me if I wanted to join the Kiwanis club and I automatically wanted to join because it was a chance for me to give back, because I received so much from them,” said Johnson. 

Kiwanis is an international organization and their mission is to help make a difference in the community one child at a time. There are over 600,000 members worldwide. Johnson became the president of the downtown Calgary Kiwanis Club. Then he became the Lieutenant Governor, and after that was elected the Governor Elect for Western Canada. 

“So here I am, (the) Governor Elect (and) there is no Kiwanis Club here. I was like ‘well, that doesn’t look good,’ a governor should have a club in his hometown,” said Johnson. 

One day Sandi, Cory’s wife, came home and told him there were two people interested in joining so they started asking their friends if they would like to be a part of the group by helping underprivileged kids and make a difference in the community. Almost everyone they asked said yes. 

“We’re looking to see if people could donate a space, could donate money or even their time and want to join and become a member. So any resources that would help us out,” said Cory. 

The first meeting was held on September 16. The goal is to start with 10 members and then work their way up. In order for them to be able to charter a club they must have a minimum of 25 members.  

“It doesn’t have recognition from Kiwanis International at this point. We haven’t done all of the important things you’ve got to do to get it up and running,” said Cory. Members are already looking at what they can do to help out. 

“Some of the projects that we’re thinking about doing is helping out with the Christmas hamper program, (or) doing a day where we select kids that are underprivileged and have them come to Walmart and give them a gift certificate where they can go shopping by themselves, (or) with a parent, and they can buy whatever they want,” said Cory. 

They are also thinking about starting a reading program, buying used bikes to fix up and give to the kids in need. They are even thinking of doing a rib fest kind of contest.  Already the group has about a dozen ideas of what they want to do, but for now they are starting out small. Cory is hoping the group will reach Club status by the end of October. He is also hoping to eliminate a stereotype that many people have when it comes to service clubs. 

“A lot of members are older in service clubs and I want to eliminate that stereo type because everybody has something to offer and I feel we all need the ability to give back,” said Cory. 

“I think my philosophy is that everybody should come and if you have kids bring them because that’s what we’re all about, is kids.” The next meeting will be taking place on October 14 at 6 p.m. A meeting place has not been designated yet. Cory said part of joining Kiwanis is the whole getting people together to network and socialize. The commitment per member could be any thing from an hour a month to 50 hours a month. To find out more about the club or to join email cbj@coryjohnson.ca, call 403-829-5844 or check out Cory’s website at coryjohnson.ca.