LEWISPORTE -
All you have to do is mention the Kin name in Lewisporte and people automatically identify the service organization as being an outstanding contributor to the community.
They have been making important contributions for 35 years now. On May 15 an anniversary celebration was held to recognize the efforts of the Kinsmen, Kinette and K-40 Clubs of Notre Dame both past and present.
K-40 member Eric Perry began the evening with a toast to the Association.
"It is with great pride that I stand here tonight to toast the greatest service organization this country has ever seen," said Mr. Perry.
He referred to the motto "that is still the heart and soul of Kinsmen - Serving the communities greatest need."
"Tonight you are going to see how the Kinsmen Club of Notre Dame, through their hard work and dedication, has served the needs of this community," he said. "In summing up what this organization is all about - We're families together, making life better; We're Kinsmen, we're Canadian and we're working coast to coast."
In his response to the toast past governor Norm Dicks said during the past 35 years the Kin of Notre Dame have played a major role in the organization known as Kin Canada.
"You are the members - without you there would be no Kin Canada," he said. "You are Kin and all of your projects and donations are proof of this because without you there would be no club in Notre Dame.
"Fellow Kin, please continue to do what you do best, which is serving the communities greatest need. I am sure some of you will be here or somewhere 35 years from now doing exactly what we are doing tonight - celebrating your 70th anniversary."
Incoming Kinsmen president Mike Martin noted that the Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs of Notre Dame have both had a remarkable history in this district of serving the communities greatest need.
"Tonight we are celebrating 35 years of aiding the sick, supporting our health and helping in times of tragedy," said Mr. Martin. "As you know, these accomplishments would not be possible without something called leadership.
"Yes, we all have certain guidelines to follow when we except the invitation into the Kin Family, but we still need our own individual leaders as a group. In attendance tonight we have a large group of those leaders who have made, in my mind, the Kin Family of Notre Dame the best service club there is."
Foundation
In introducing the guest speaker, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister Responsible for the Volunteer and Non-Profit Sector Dave Denine, Lewisporte District MHA Wade Verge noted the accomplishments of one Lewisporte native who has made his mark in Kin Canada.
"A few years ago when I was a principal (at Lewisporte Collegiate) I taught a very capable, very talented, very intelligent young man by the name of Lee Burry," said Mr. Verge. "Right now he is the vice-president of Kin Canada and in August he will be the president of the Kinsmen Club of all of Canada.
"That's quite the accomplishment and honour and I'm sure Lee wears it with pride."
While Mr. Burry wasn't able to attend the celebration in person, he sent along a message of congratulations.
" "I will be forever grateful for the efforts of the Kinsmen Club of Notre Dame - they certainly played a role in allowing me to be where I am today," he wrote. "For all that you have done and continue to do, thank you from the bottom of my heart."
In his address to the gathering Minister Denine highlighted the "solid foundation" of the Kin Clubs contributing to the success they have experienced in Notre Dame.
"Here tonight you have past members, district governors, charter members, life members - the people who laid the foundation," he said. "Any time I go to a place and I look at a group, there's always someone who had to come before you, who had to lay that foundation because if it wasn't a solid foundation you wouldn't be where you are today and that's a credit to each and every one of you here in this room tonight."
Minister Denine said 35 years is a great milestone.
"Thirty-five years of commitment, dedication and community love," he said. "That's what it's all about, improving your community for the betterment of all your citizens.
"When you introduced the past presidents I wondered, can they remember all the things they were involved in - I bet they can't because it's so much. But I can tell you one thing, what you did you didn't do it for yourself. You did it for someone else and that's what makes your 35th anniversary so special."
Minister Denine added, "I know you have another 35 good years by the enthusiasm I have seen here tonight."
Honourary member Reverend Arthur Elliott sent along a message in which he noted it is impossible to assess the total impact of the Kin movement in this area over the last 35 years.
"But we do know that in terms of lives touched and helped, in terms of charities helped and sustained, in terms of your support of the Air Cadet movement in these past few years, in terms of your own fellowship and enjoyment as you have given yourselves to this important and essential work - the impact has been enormous," he wrote. "You have enhanced the spirit of the community and you have helped make this a sharing community.
"It is a volunteer organization like yours that asks what can we do, what can we give, rather than what can we get."
9/11
Don Manuel, the third person to serve as a Kinsmen president for the Notre Dame Club, recalled the fun times and days when they used to have a radio show fundraiser.
Mr. Manuel also recalled one of the most valuable times the Kin were ever called on to respond to an immediate need. That happened on Sept. 11, 2001.
"9/11 was when 273 people slept here," he said. "There are a lot of memories of those five or six days. The building was worthwhile for just that if nothing else."
Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor MP Scott Simms echoed that thought, reading out an article he had found written by someone from overseas who had benefitted from the kindness of the Kin Family during the events of 9/11.
In the article "Newfoundland - A Different Place" the man from Delta Flight 129 recalled the Kinsmen Club of Notre Dame welcoming the passengers "with open hearts".
MP Simms read the following from the article, "There were Kinsmen, Kinettes or K-40's with us 24 hours a day to look after our needs - guide us by flashlight from our bed to the lavatory at night."
He also read the conclusion to the article, "What an adventure, but most importantly, what an experience of the true meaning of the word caring. Lewisporte and in our case, the Kin Family of Notre Dame, have given us all that wonderful experience."
In the article it is noted that for the hatred that was shown the world on Sept. 11, 2001, Lewisporte showed the other side of the coin still existed with kindness.
MP Simms said, "Notre Dame, you've been a beacon not only to Lewisporte but to every community and this proves you were a beacon to the world."
Pride
One of the inspiring moments of the evening was the unveiling of a cheque to the town of Lewisporte representing the contribution the Kin Family has made to the community over it's 35 year history in the amount of $2,110,382.02.
"When Wilbert (Collins - acting president) and I unveiled that cheque everyone applauded - we applauded the cheque, we applauded the amount, but I think you guys should applaud each other because you are responsible for it," said Lewisporte Mayor Brian Peckford.
"Kinsmen and Kinettes have made a huge difference in this community," he said. "If the effort you guys put into the Kinsmen and Kinettes was put into building your own personal wealth everyone would be a lot better off (financially), but because of the work you guys do, we as a community, we are all better off for it."
The Mayor said when people are considering moving into Lewisporte many times they inquire with the Town as to the services that are available locally. He said they are always proud to tell people that Lewisporte has a Kinsmen and Kinette Association.
"As a community we are truly thankful for all that you do, we are proud to have such a strong Kin Family," said Mayor Peckford. " We congratulate you for the past 35 years and we trust you will continue this tremendous work."
Journey
Kinette Charter president Anne Winsor remembers well the early days of the Kin Family in Lewisporte.
"It was an exciting time when meetings were being held to investigate the starting of these clubs," she recalled. "A very young, energetic, enthusiastic group of people got together and began a journey that the people of Lewisporte and Notre Dame Bay area are still benefitting from today.
"It was a great year, we made lasting friendships and we truly were a Kin Family. So many people over the years have continued to work hard to keep this club vibrant and active. The building of this Centre was one of the milestones reached. Your dedication and tireless efforts have touched the lives of thousands and your commitment to make our area and our world a better place to live will never go unnoticed."
Partnership
Kinette president Kim Snow reflected on what it takes to have the type of success the Kin Family has achieved.
"It takes dedication, like the 32 years of service to the Kinette Club by Life Member Edna Hoffe," said Ms. Snow. "Even though we may not all have those years of service, we have all done our part to make this club what it is today.
"It's an intricate part of our community that can be called on in times of need, whether it be to fundraise for a family in need, taking part in the Remembrance Day parade or letting the Brownies use the building each Tuesday night - the list could go on and on."
Ms. Hoffe said she has enjoyed her 32 years as a Kinette.
"As you can see by the slide show tonight it has not been all work - we have had many laughs -whether it was peeling vegetables for catering, practicing a skit for spring zone of even trying for the Puff Award," she said. "I am proud to say that I am part of this family of Kin serving the communities greatest need."
Ms. Hoffe felt it was important to note the contribution of departed Kinette Zone coordinator Linda Peckford.
"Four years almost to this day we lost a good Kinette," she said. "Not only was she a Kinette, she was my best friend and she was always there to lend a helping hand - no task was too big or too small. To this day I miss her dearly. She would be so proud of us here tonight and her memories will last a lifetime. We love you Linda."
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