California Kiwanis faces low membership, could face closure

<p>Democrat photo/Liz Morales</p><p>The tables provided for the Kiwanis Ham Breakfast were packed full nearly all day Sept. 15 during the Ozark Ham and Turkey Festival. Unfortunately, this may be the last breakfast the Kiwanis Club serves.</p>

Democrat photo/Liz Morales

The tables provided for the Kiwanis Ham Breakfast were packed full nearly all day Sept. 15 during the Ozark Ham and Turkey Festival. Unfortunately, this may be the last breakfast the Kiwanis Club serves.

The California Kiwanis Club may have served its last ham breakfast.

The club, which makes children in communities its primary concern, has been seeing a steady decline in members.

Bill Pace, who has been a Kiwanis member since 1966, said the group has tried to regain membership.

"We've tried for two to three years to get it back up, but no luck," Pace said. "It's down to 10 members now. And you just can't do these projects with just 10 people."

Pace said he has worked with the Kiwanis Club to raise approximately $10,000 per year for the community.

"We do this breakfast, a golf tournament, a cow drop and another breakfast at the fair," Pace said. "Those are the main fundraisers."

Deanna Benne has been a Kiwanis member for five years.

"I just enjoy helping kids," Benne said. "Everything we do is all for the children in this community. It's a great organization, but we just need members to keep this going."

The fate of the club hangs in limbo as members wait for their October meeting, when they will decide whether to continue on.

"It's been a fun run," Pace said. "It's made up of individuals, not businesses. It's important people understand that.

"But there doesn't seem to be any interest out there."