1916 Thirty members signed up to form the Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee on July 26th. Temporary officers elected; permanent officers elected August 16th. Charter Night for the Club was November 23rd with 158 members on the roll.
1917 Club raised money to purchase coal for needy families; this program continued to spring, 1924.
1924 Interest developed in Girl Scout activities: guaranteed a loan of $3,000 at one of the banks for Girl Scout Summer Camps.
1926 First interest shown in Vocational Guidance program in cooperation with South Division High School.
1929 International Convention held in Milwaukee. Support given to 4H Program.
1937 Three Kiwanis members served on School Board Committee reviewing and approving plans for the new Gaenslen School for handicapped children.
1939 New Gaenslen School for handicapped children opened; Kiwanis acknowledged as instrumental in getting this project started.
1942 Sale of War Bonds and Stamps instituted - total sales for the year $144,000. Fifty members recruited by the President for service on Rationing Boards.
1944 Continued remembrance for servicemen; 373 pints of blood donated by members and $5,551,906 sold in War Bonds.
1947 Metropolitan Kiwanis Foundation incorporated to receive gifts, build, and supervise a "treatment center" for handicapped children.
1948 Gum-ball machines Sales Plan set up - with income pledged to Kiwanis Foundation for Crippled Children. In addition $100,000 raised during year by solicitation of members and corporations.
1949 First "Industry Clergy Day" set up - program repeated each year.
1954 Ground broken for Foundation building - $350,000 in bank to cover cost.
1956 Vocational Guidance supplied 623 speakers on 54 subjects for 20 high schools, with 21,739 students attending. Youth Rally held at Milwaukee Arena - 10,000 teenagers attended. Purpose was to awaken interest in boys and girls on patriotism and civic responsibilities.
1959 Organized Boy Scout Troop #152 of 30 physically handicapped boys at Gaenslen School.
1961 I.R. "Whitey" Witthuhn begins term as Kiwanis International President.
1970 Began a camp-out program in conjunction with Pleasant View School.
1974 Gerry Seider serves as District Governor.
1977 The new Kiwanis Club Children's Center at Curative Rehabilitation Center was dedicated.
1979 Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee Foundation, Inc. was created.
1982 Kiwanis sponsors and directs the first Milwaukee River Clean-up project along Milwaukee County parks.
1983 William Hirst serves as Lt. Governor.
1985 The club sponsored a Kiwanis Night at the Brewers Game and inter-club tailgate party.
1987 Club embarks on a student attendance program to combat low attendance by high school students.
1988 The club begins managing a concession stand at the Bradley Center as a fund-raiser.
1990 Club begins participating in the One on One program as mentors. Merle Cook serves as Lt. Governor.
1991 Club celebrates 75th Anniversary with special activities all year long.
1992 The Vice President of the United States, Daniel Quayle spoke at our club meeting.
1994 Club and the Milwaukee Rotary co-found the River Revitalization Foundation, Inc. Held a Mini-Grand Prix Race as a major Fund Raiser.
1995 Terry McGeorge serves as Lt. Governor.
1996 Made a three year commitment to YMCA Holton Youth Center.
1997 Jan Van Rens, elected as first female president.
1998 Presented an exhibit booth at the new Convention Center. Michael Pierski serves as Lt. Governor.
1999 Reached IDD goal of $50,000. Held joint meeting with Rotary. Sponsored new Metro(Nights) Club.
2000 Changed Club meeting format
2001 Formed 5th Aktion Club in Kiwanis International at Currative Rehabilation Services
2001 Celebrate 85th Anniversary
2004 Mary Chyla, Executive Director, Retires after 30 years with the Club
2005 Elizabeth Van Engel serves as Lt. Govenor
2006 Celebrate 90th Anniversary
2007 The Club holds a THRIVE flu clinic, a Kiwanis International initiative. Larry Crouch serves as
Lieutenant Governor.
2008 The 5th Annual "KIWI OPEN" golf outing raised its most monies, over $15,000. The Club
presented Marquette University with the Hall of Fame Award and Gwen Jackson with the
Kiwanis Milwaukee Award.
2009 The Club partnered with Friends of Bradford Beach and sponsored four Sandcastle contests for the "Family Days at Bradford Beach" event. Liz Van Engel serves as Lieutenant Governor.
