Charter Members: Back Row: Wally Koepke, Rhonda Jones, Cara Cunat, Polly Fishback, Dave Kilpinsky, Mike Haug, Joe Kroupa, Bill Beese, Joyce Haug, Gaby Mc Donald. Front Row: Carolyn Janus, David Domenella, Kelly Domenella, Jim Rochford, Miki Cunat

Founders & Charter Members The Kiwanis Club of Richmond – Spring Grove has grown from being the vision of a group of life long dedicated Kiwanians to a vibrant organization dedicated members doing works of compassion, service and charity for children in need in the Richmond and Spring Grove communities and around the world. In late summer 2002 Christopher Zock, Past Kiwanis International Circle K President, Jim Rochford, Illinois-Eastern Iowa District Governor and three other former Kiwanis governors, teamed up with Brian Cunat, Kiwanis International President 2001-2002, with the goal of forming a Kiwanis Club in the Richmond - Spring Grove area. Kiwanis has had a strong presence in the Northern Illinois area through the Kiwanis clubs in the surrounding communities and it became evident to this group that the needs of the children in Richmond and Spring Grove could be better served through a local club. To this end, they recruited a small group of community minded citizens to become Charter members of The Kiwanis Club of Richmond - Spring Grove. Our First Steps Initially, the Club met at Skoopers, the local ice cream parlor where owner and club member, Caroline Janus, served the group lunch at each meeting. Later the Club was invited to hold meetings at the Community Room of Kensington Manor, a newly completed Cunat development in Richmond, where the meetings are still held today. The Club was officially chartered in September 2002. The first club activity was in the Spring of 2003, when Club members took a group of kids to the circus in Chicago. This was a wonderful event that provided an opportunity for children who otherwise might not get the chance to see a live circus.

Our Accomplishments In early 2003, Kelly Domenella, wife of the Inaugural Club President, Dave Domenella proposed her idea of getting local women together for an evening of Bunco, food, drink, silent auctions and lots of fun As a result the club’s biggest fund raiser, Girls Night Out was born. The results of this first fundraiser were so impressive that Girls Night Out has become an annual event and continues to be the club’s largest fund raiser.  Kelly Domenella was elected as the second Club President serving during 2003-2004 and continues to lead the GNO event each year. Under Kelly’s leadership, the Club received Distinguished Club recognition from Kiwanis International. Click here to learn more about Girls Night Out In that same year, Club member and 2001-2002 Kiwanis International First Lady, Miki Cunat, conceived and introduced the Kiwanis Sweet Water project that today serves over 7,000 children at risk in Vietnam. In addition to the Club’s generous contribution of funds and over 650 Kiwanis Hospital Dolls, Miki was responsible for raising $65,000 for this project. These funds are still being put to use in expanding hospital facilities and providing basic health care for children in a region where there is none. Click here to learn more about the Sweet Water Project Miki became the Club’s third President for the 2004-2005 year.  The succeeding presidents: Joyce Haug, Howard, Doughman and Terry Amore each left their own mark with their contributions and leadership in the following years.   The club mourns the recent death of Terry Amore, president 2007-2008, and will always remember and appreciate his involvement with our club and our community. Heather Spyra has now assumed the role of President for the current year.

Our Club has also sponsored and participated in various events and service projects including the Little Miss Peanut Contest which is held annually, sponsoring a car in the Kiwanis Club of McHenry, McHenry, IL Soap Box Derby, as well as Richmond Round Up Days, Spring Grove 4th of July Parade, and various other local community events. The Club participates in the annual Kiwanis Peanut Day in late September each year. Donations made by the club to help children in need have grown to tens of thousands of dollars in funds which are given to local and international charities and service organizations, in addition to many hours of hands on service. Our Future The Kiwanis Club of Richmond Spring Grove has passed from adolescence into maturity, and will play an even greater role in the community and in Serving the Children of the World in the coming years. Acknowledgements We would especially like to thank our founders, Brian Cunat - President Kiwanis International 2002-2002, Chris Zock - Past Kiwanis International Circle K President, and from the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District: Jim Rochford, Governor, Darrell Fox - Past Lt. Governor, Earl Forbes - Past Governor and Larry Spone - Past Governor. Without their vision and encouragement, none of the good that has been done by this Club in the past four years would have been realized.