A History
of
Kiwanis de Amigos

BY: George Mitcham

1995-96

Ed Claros shows his special style in leading Kiwanis de Amigos.  Membership reaches a high of 33 members.  Members play Santa and take 22 children on a Christmas shopping spree.  The club raises $26,700 for use on service projects.

1996-97

Under Ed Zeches' leadership Kiwanis de Amigos maintain a high level of service to the community.  The club raises $23,000 for various charities.

At the Annual Charter Night Banquet Dave Betts is unofficially crowned the 'Toilet Paper King'.  Apparently, after finishing golf, John Tully, Doug Meriwether, Dave Patterson, Gary Greene and Dave Betts were resting in the main lobby of the country club.  Dave left to use the restroom.  Several minutes later he came out of the restroom, and walks back into the lobby.  His fellow Kiwanians then notice that Dave has been pulling a long trail of toilet paper out the restroom because it got stuck in his pants when he tucked in his shirt.  His fellow Kiwanians diligently followed the trail of paper back into the restroom and right into the stall and up to the paper roll.  It was one long line of unbroken toilet paper.  Dave remains remarkably calm and unembarrassed about the whole affair as the rest of the members joined in loud laughter.  Hence, the 'Toilet Paper King' is born.

1997-98

Patricia "Pat" Taylor becomes the first woman to be President of Kiwanis de Amigos, and the club gets its' own web site.  Approximately $12,000 is contributed to local organizations including: Academic Decathalon; Arizona Families for Children; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Boys & Girls Clubs; Camp Fire Boys & Girls Clubs; Desert Survivors; 4-H Clubs, House of Neighborly Service; Kamp Kiwanis; Kiwanis IDD Fund; Laura Eileen Bacon (kidney transplant) Fund; Life Directions; Little League to Sidewinders Game; Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus; United Cerebral Palsy; and Youth On Their Own.  The club also holds its annual Christmas Shopping Spree.

1998-99

Doug Meriwether is elected President of Kiwanis de Amigos.  The 4th Avenue Street Fair and Annual 'Kiwanis for Kids' Golf Tournament remain the major fund raisers.  The golf tournament nets $10,000 with $6,300 going to Pima County Young Children's Council.  Approximately $20,000 is contributed to local charities including: Academic Decathalon, Arizona Families for Children; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Boys & Girls Clubs; TUSD-FRWC; Desert Survivors; Highland Free School; Kiwanis Books For Kids; Cub Scouts Pack #231 Scholarship Fund; Kiwanis IDD Fund; Norma Sequiros (kidney transplant) Fund; Little League; Tucson Boys Chorus; Hixson Award; Children to Children; Casa Gloriosa; Tools for School; Pima County Young Children's Council; Tucson Nursery Schools; Children's Miracle Network; OASIS; Tucson Community Food-bank; and Our Mother of Sorrows Recreation Project.  The club members again host a Christmas Shopping Spree for local children.  Members helped drywall a new house for Habitat for Humanity.

The Hixson Award is presented to Doug Meriwether and Walter Schaffer for outstanding service to Kiwanis and his community.

1999-2000

The Kiwanis de Amigos celebrate their 20th anniversary, and Steve Perkins becomes the club's first president to serve a second term.  Club members participate in C.A.R.E. Fair, and $2,500 in gifts are handed out at the annual Holiday Shopping Spree.  Donations are made to: Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowlathon $450; Book donations $350; and Fund for Cribs (Nursery Infant Center) $1,200.

Gary Greene is presented with the Hixson Award for this outstanding service to Kiwanis and his community.  A special party is held in his honor at Doug Meriwether's home.