MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

June 19, 2010

Volunteers needed to help area groups and organizations

KaeAn Russell
Phoenix Staff Writer

— The decline in participation in the Muskogee Kiwanis Club has the president worried about the kids it serves.

“The kids are Kiwanis’ number one priority,” said Mike Stewart, Kiwanis president.

Kiwanis Club is hosting their annual fishing outing for developmentally disabled children at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Honors Heights Park. About 110 kids from Camp Bennett are planning to come to the outing for fishing and hot dogs with the Kiwanis members.

But with only 18 active Kiwanis members, the club has to have outside volunteers help with the outing, Stewart said.

“Kiwanis is still one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the area, but memberships have gotten lower,” Stewart said.

The club’s membership has decreased by about 50 members in the last 10 to 15 years.

The Kiwanis Club is one of the organizations in the New Voices program that Muskogee Nonprofit Resources Center seeks to help.

The New Voices program has been established to help organizations boost participation on the organizations’ boards, said Jessica Hisey.

Hisey is the marketing and membership specialist for Muskogee Nonprofit Resources Center.

“Muskogee Nonprofit Resources Center helps provide resources for the Muskogee organizations,” Hisey said.

Many of the organizations’ board members serve on several boards, and with low participation, many will end a term on one board and move on to another, Hisey said.  

An organization’s board is responsible for governing, financing and organizing the organization’s projects.  

“Most organization’s board openings are not well-known, so the current board members will normally ask someone they know if they would fill the spot,” Hisey said.

Kiwanis Club is an international nonprofit organization and was chartered in Oklahoma in 1919. The Muskogee Kiwanis Club does several community projects, such as the newborn blanket program and the Dial-a-Story program.

Reach KaeAn Russell at 684-2920 or krussell @muskogeephoenix.com.

New Voices



New volunteers and future board members of non-profit boards and civic organizations are needed.

If you would like to volunteer your time with one of the 350 nonprofit groups in Muskogee, stop by the Muskogee Non-Profit Resource Center at 207 N. Second St., or call them at 683-4600. You can also get a New Voices form at www.muskogeenonprofits.org and click on News and Events.

If you go:



WHAT: Kiwanis fishing trip for developmentally disabled kids.

WHEN:  Tuesday, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

WHERE: Honors Heights Park.