2007-08 Officers

President                                      Bob Dureault

Immediate Past President          John O'Connor

President Elect                             tbd

Treasurer                                       John O'Connor

Secretary                                       Richard Bullock

Mission Statement

Consistent with the Objects of Kiwanis International, the San Francisco Kiwanis Club has the following specific goals:

• conduct interesting, stimulating meetings that provide insights to members and guests on a broad range of topics
• engage in projects and provide financial support that will primarily assist children and families in San Francisco, such programs predominantly directed at those in need
• maintain and build club membership, as well as the funding of the Permanent Trust, so that both the volunteer and spending capacity of those resources are increased over time
• work in cooperation with other Kiwanis clubs or organizations to achieve the goals of assisting children and families in need
• support Kiwanis youth programs at all levels in order to build leadership; to instill an ethos of service; and to develop future club membership
• encourage fellowship by providing time for personal interaction as well as social activities that will build personal bonds among members, creating the organizational strength that can be used to achieve service goals

Club History - Part of a Great City's Tradition

A short five yeas after the first Kiwanis Club was formed, the Kiwanis movement had reached San Francisco. Our club was chartered on June 14, 1920, as the Kiwanis Club of San Francisco at the Fairmont Hotel and Mr. J. Sterry Lamson was installed as the first President. Meetings have been held in the Fairmont ever since, and our present President, Jack Fleming, is the 85th civic leader to hold that position.

Service Clubs in those days restrict their membership to men as women were not included in the “business world,” but served as homemakers or possibly schoolteachers and nurses. This all changed with World War II and the Kiwanis Club of San Francisco was one of the first to recognize the fact that business women also wanted to serve their community. On at least ten occasions, the club offered a bylaw change to Kiwanis International. Finally, in 1986, we could wait no longer. On December 14th of that year, we inducted three women in violation of Kiwanis bylaws. The tide was turning, and in 1987, Kiwanis International requested that we withdraw our “usual” bylaw change request in favor of seconding the headquarter’s motion. The rest is history and the club has since benefited by the services of tens of women and the leadership of two female presidents.

In the early ‘50’s, the foresight of this club’s early leadership resulted in the establishment of a permanent trust (endowment) fund. This fund, now totaling several hundred thousand dollars, is our primary source of charitable funding. Over the years, our club has provided funds to worthy causes in excess of one million dollars.

Club members are active in numerous worthy organizations and most of our charitable funds are given to these causes. A principal worthwhile recipient has been the Bothin Burn Center, St. Francis Hospital, the largest, best equipped center west of the Mississippi. Forty years ago, the club entered into a partnership to support the center with Kiwanian Dr. Vincent Pennisi, the first Burn Center Director. Since that time, the club has supported the burn center to the tune of over $200,000. Other major recipients include the Boy Scouts of America, the Salvation Army, the YMCA, Tenderloin Youth Activites and many more.

In addition to the Salvation Army bell ringing at Christmastime, the club is active in work parties for the Boy Scouts, Point Bonita YMCA and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Our outreach involvement includes participation in Oakland Raiders Tim Brown Training Camp for Disadvantaged Children, the Sargeant Kenn & Shugrue Tenderloin Games and other sponsored youth activities.

Come, be a part in making history by becoming a member!

 

Kiwanis Club of San Francisco
Past Presidents