LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Owego
Kiwanis Club

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those fraternal organizations of high purpose and worthy
accomplishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the
citizens of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 90th Anniversary of the Owego Kiwanis Club; and
WHEREAS, Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to
changing the world, one child and one community at a time; and
WHEREAS, The six permanent objects of Kiwanis international are to:
give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material
values of life; encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all
human relationships; promote the adoption and the application of higher
social, business, and professional standards; develop, by precept and
example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship;
provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring
friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communi-
ties; and cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opin-
ion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness,
justice, patriotism, and goodwill; and
WHEREAS, The first Kiwanis Club in the New York district was chartered
on May 1, 1916, in Rochester; its first president was attorney George F.
Hixson who served for two years, the only person to do so; and
WHEREAS, During George F. Hixson's tenure, the Kiwanis Club became an
international organization by chartering a club in Hamilton, Ontario,
Canada; he played key roles in the early years of Kiwanis while the
organization was transformed from a commercial to a community service
organization; and
WHEREAS, Eight of the first 25 Kiwanis Clubs in the world were formed
in New York State from 1916 to 1919 including New York City, Buffalo,
Albany, Troy, Binghamton, and Schenectady, to name a few; and
WHEREAS, The Kiwanis Club was three years old when the New York
District was organized September 27, 1918, in Syracuse at a convention
which had 37 delegates in attendance; at this time, Clarence A. Nelson
of Utica, New York, was elected as the district's first governor; and
WHEREAS, The second convention held on September 25, 1919, in Elmira,
New York, was attended by only seven Kiwanians; due to the rapid growth
of the organization, 455 Kiwanians attended the third district conven-
tion in 1920, which took place in Utica; and
WHEREAS, Today, under the luminous leadership of co-Presidents Beth
and Mark Johnson, the Owego Kiwanis Club supports numerous local organ-
izations including Owego Little League, Owego Teener League, Owego
Gymnastics, Owego Boys & Girls Club, Camp Ahwaga, Ti-Ahwaga Players,
Waterman Center, and Kamp Kiwanis, as well as Link To Life; and
WHEREAS, Organizations of singular distinction such as the Owego
Kiwanis Club provide a model for enhancing the quality of life in the
community and, as such, merit the grateful praise of the community of
the State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Owego Kiwanis Club; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Beth and Mark Johnson, co-Presidents, Owego Kiwanis Club.