April 25, 2024
Sikeston civic clubs committed to serving the community
SIKESTON — Sikeston civic clubs, especially members ages 50 and older within them, are committed to community involvement and service and have been for many years. Boyd Green, current president and 20-year member of the Sikeston Lions Club, said the organization has accomplished much over the years, and he has thoroughly loved it. ...
By Gina Williams~Standard Democrat/Ageless Living
SIKESTON — Sikeston civic clubs, especially members ages 50 and older within them, are committed to community involvement and service and have been for many years.
Boyd Green, current president and 20-year member of the Sikeston Lions Club, said the organization has accomplished much over the years, and he has thoroughly loved it.
According to Green, the Sikeston Lions Club is the oldest civic club in Sikeston.
“We are 102 years old and formed in the year of 1922,” Green said.
According to Green, the club does a lot for the community, and the money they raise goes right back into the community.
“We have projects that we do and events that we put on that raise money — the money that we pump right back into the community in the form of charitable donations,” Green said.
According to Green, the Sikeston Lions Club helps the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center, Sikeston schools and athletics, Missouri Delta Medical Center, Southeast Missouri Food Bank, Spread Hope Now and many other organizations.
“We even donate to Lions Club International, which helps with vision and hearing worldwide,” Green said.
According to Green, one of their most popular events is the annual charity golf tournament. Green said they have been hosting the golf tournament for 27 years.
“We raise a lot of money with the golf tournament and we give back to our various causes,” Green said. “Another thing we do is print and put together the entire football program for the Sikeston High School football team.”
Green also mentioned the club has a fall chili day and holds its Cotton Ramble Bicycle Ride in the fall.
According to Green, he and many other 50 and older members of the club have been involved for years and find it enjoyable.
“It gives a good feeling knowing that we are helping people and it makes you want to stay involved,” Green said. “It’s nice that you can still be involved in the Lions Club over the age of 50.
Green continued: “You know, these types of clubs are good for folks who sort of age out of young professionals or the Jaycees. A club like the Lions Club would be a good transition because there are no age restrictions on Lions. We have Lions that stay until their 90s but want to continue to grow and gladly accept new members no matter their age.”
Terry Williams, a member of the Sikeston Kiwanis Club’s board of directors, said the civic club raises funds for a variety of children’s and youth programs.
“We have a couple of fundraisers,” Williams said. “We do a pancake day in the spring and a fish fry in the fall.
Williams continued: “We take care of and support Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts, all the sports leagues, Kenny Rogers Children’s Center, Bulldog Pantry, the schools — just anything to do with the children or youth, we support it.”
Williams said the club also gives approximately $10,000 to $15,000 in scholarships to high school students each year.
“One of the things that is pretty cool is that we also have what is called a ‘K Club’ that is made up of high school students that have a joined the club in support of the Kiwanis to learn about the Kiwanis Club and to, hopefully, at some point in their future become a Kiwanis member and volunteer in the community,” Williams said.
According to Williams, he has been a member of the Kiwanis Club for 30 years, and he said a large percentage of the club’s members are older, but there are also some younger members.
Williams said being a member of the Kiwanis Club for so many years has been a wonderful experience for its members.
“It’s given us all a sense of belonging to something that gives a service to the community,” Williams said. “We are making a positive impact on the community and we really have a close-knit group of people that are like-minded and believe in what we do. It’s a good feeling to come together and be a part of that.”
Joe Blanton, a Sikeston Rotary Club member since 1990, discussed some of the club’s community outreach efforts.
“Our motto is service above self,” Blanton said. “In other words, putting other people first.”
Blanton said locally, the club organizes a chili day and provides basketball programs for Sikeston High School.
“The programs are given out to the people that go watch the high school basketball games,” Blanton said. “We sell ads for them and they have information about the team.”
Blanton said the club also maintains a large section of South Main in Sikeston to keep it free of trash.
“We pack food at the food bank; we support a large variety of charities, including Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, United Way, Kenny Rogers Center, and more,” Blanton said. “We probably have about 25 charities we support.”
According to Blanton, club members enjoy serving the community, and the club meets weekly on Tuesdays during lunch with a guest speaker from the community.
“The speaker will talk about something of interest,” Blanton said. “A wide variety of people talk about developments here in town, but we also have people that will talk about healthcare, things you can do to take care of yourself and more.”
According to Blanton, the club has a large number of 50 and older members who have been involved for years. Blanton said they all have a genuine desire to serve the community and enjoy doing so.
“We have some members who have perfect attendance,” Blanton said. “They’ve never missed a meeting for decades.
He continued: “It’s a real pleasure to have the older members and they’re still all very active.”
According to Blanton, there are younger members who have joined the club, and the older members are very proud of them.
“I have truly enjoyed being a Rotarian, and I am also proud to be a Rotarian,” Blanton said.
Blanton said Sikeston’s civic clubs are important and praised them all for their efforts.
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__Want to join a civic club?__
— If interested in joining the Sikeston Lions Club, visit the “Lions Club of Sikeston, MO” page via Facebook.
— For the Sikeston Rotary Club, go to the Facebook page: “Sikeston Rotary.”
— For the Sikeston Kiwanis Club, visit the “Sikeston Kiwanis” Facebook page
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