History of Springville Kiwanis
| Kiwanis International was founded January 21, 1915, in Detroit,
Michigan, by Allen Simpson Browne, a Moose lodge organizer, and Joseph G. Prance who was a
tailor. Kiwanis is an organization devoted to the principle of service; to the
advancement of individual, community, and national welfare; and to the strengthening of
international goodwill. Kiwanis membership spans the globe, with more than 300,000
members in more than 8,000 clubs in 82 countries, giving 70 million and 7 million
volunteer hours for community service each year. Through the organizational efforts of John J. Link, the Kiwanis Club of Springville was born in April 1961. The permanent Organization meeting was held at the Springville Hotel on April 17, 1961. Lt. Gov. Kirk Hubbard of the Riverside Club, Buffalo was the convener of the meeting and Mr. James Graham represented Kiwanis International. Two of the members were former Kiwanians. John Link was a member of the Chaffee-Sardinia club, and Rev. David P. Foulk was a member of the Putnam County, NY club. The sponsoring clubs for the Niagara Frontier South Division were Chaffee-Sardinia and Arcade clubs. The formal presentation of the Club's Charter was made in the Springville
Elementary School on July 22, 1961. The following are the presidents that served for
the first five years: |
| William J. Weismantel | 1961 |
| John J. Link | 1962 |
| Dennis W. Goodemote | 1963 (January - June) |
| O. Frederick Hofmann | 1963-64 |
| Donald R. Huckle | 1965 |
| LLoyd L. Lamb | 1966 |
| Richard Gentner | 1967 |