I met with past-presidents of the Broad Ripple Kiwanis Club, Susan Neal and Chris Carlson, at the Pawn Shop Pub for lunch. The occasion was the 25th anniversary of the Broad Ripple Kiwanis. It was also 25 years ago when the Supreme Court ruled that service clubs must allow women as members. In 1987 Broad Ripple Kiwanis was one of the first clubs in the nation to start with women members. The Kiwanis Club at the Pyramids sponsored the new Broad Ripple club. Two of the charter members of that original Broad Ripple group are still members today - Susan Neal and Tom Bardach [of Bardach Awards, a long-time business once at the corner of Broad Ripple Avenue and Guilford]. Broad Ripple Kiwanis met at the Kennington Legion Post at 65th and Westfield Boulevard for many years. Don Glenn, the principal of Broad Ripple High School at that time, was the first president. Around 1999 the club moved to Calvin Hall at Northminster Presbyterian Church at 1660 Kessler Boulevard. Broad Ripple Kiwanis have been meeting at Binkley's, on the corner of Kessler and College, for the last six years.

"Kiwanis is all about service," explained Susan Neal, "Community service. And Kiwanis International's primary focus is helping the children of the world."

"Our club focus is the children in the area we serve, the Broad Ripple area," added Chris Carlson.

One of the first fund raising events for the club was the Duckling Dash, chaired by Tom Bardach. The Dash was held for ten years and raised $10,000 each year. Broad Ripple Kiwanis sponsored newspaper recycling bins at Broad Ripple Park "before recycling was cool," said Neal. Currently, the bin behind Einstein Bros Bagels at Broad Ripple Avenue and Compton supports Broad Ripple Kiwanis.

An upcoming fund-raising event is Pints for Half-Pints to be held at Bier Brewery, 6133 E. 65th Street, on October 6, from 6 to 10pm. (details in the next Gazette)

Fund-raising allows the club to help local children, such as with the Dr. Lew Robbins Scholarships given out to two students at Broad Ripple High School each year. The club sponsors Broad Ripple Haverford Little League. They also partner with School 55 to help students with assignment notebooks and Science Fair supplies. All the projects to help children are far too numerous to list here.

Kiwanis is for anyone who wants to do community service and meet people in the area. Many lasting friendships are made. Meetings are at Binkley's every Tuesday for lunch, and feature a guest speaker. Details can always be found in the Gazette on page 3. The meetings are open to the public and all are welcome to drop in for lunch to hear a speaker or to just meet a new friend.