The Kiwanis Club of Newnan marked a century of service Thursday evening with a gala celebration at the Newnan Centre.
The event brought together hundreds of members and community leaders to honor 100 years of civic engagement, fellowship and impact.
Founded on Sept. 25, 1925, the Newnan chapter began with 40 charter members. Today, the club has 115 active members who continue to meet weekly, working together to improve the lives of local children and families.
The club’s formation was inspired by a 1925 newspaper article encouraging the establishment of community service organizations.
The club’s first president was Judge W.L. Stallings, with early leadership including A. Sidney Camp as vice president, Charles H. Arnall as secretary and F.W. Stripling as treasurer.
“Kiwanis is more than lunch,” said longtime member Cherie Bell. “We talk about things, learn about what’s going on in our communities, and collaborate on what we can do as a club to keep moving in positive ways. So 100 years from now, there’ll be a room full of people celebrating what we’ve done.”
The evening featured a raffle, recognition of longtime members and personal stories from those who’ve experienced firsthand the club’s impact on their families and the broader community.
Among those honored were two of Newnan Kiwanis’ longest-serving members:
Ned Chambless, who joined on Dec. 1, 1970, received the Governor’s Leadership Award and the Georgia District Legacy Award for more than 50 years of service.
Bobby Rooks, a member since June 1, 1967, was also honored with the Georgia District Legacy Award for nearly 58 years of continuous membership.
Georgia Kiwanis District Gov. David Simmons also recognized longtime members Brad Sears, Frank Barron and Chip Barron for each serving more than 50 years in Kiwanis.
Simmons gave special recognition to Nancy Walden, a former Georgia Kiwanis governor, for her exceptional contributions to the club, acknowledging that she would have qualified for the 50-year award had women been allowed to join prior to 1987.
Walden, who joined Kiwanis the year women were first admitted, spoke of her deep connection to the club, both personally and professionally.
“I was working with elementary children and enjoyed giving to them,” she said. “I thought, well, you know, serving children of the community, our mission is serving the children of the world.”
In 1988, Walden helped charter a new Kiwanis club in Clayton County, which met at 6 a.m. with fellow school administrators.
Reflecting on the years since, she added, “The last nine years have been very challenging … and you’ve been there to support me and encourage me through all of those challenges, and for that, I shall forever be grateful.”
Club President Beth Neely, who will serve through 2025, said the key to the club’s longevity is finding joy in service.
“This isn’t just a civic club about helping people, even though that’s what we do. We have a good time doing it, and I think that’s what keeps us coming back,” she said. “Service isn’t always fun, but if you can have a good time doing it with good people, that’s what keeps us going.”
Since its founding, the Newnan club has remained focused on supporting children and families, hosting community events and funding local needs. The club has sponsored the Coweta County Fair for decades, using proceeds to fund annual grants.
The club’s annual Christmas Shopping Spree, which gives local children a $150 shopping budget at Walmart, is funded by the club’s annual golf tournament, weekly raffle proceeds and a grant from the Georgia District Kiwanis Foundation.
Globally, Kiwanis International includes more than 6,500 clubs across 83 countries, with over 448,000 members. In the past four years alone, Kiwanis clubs worldwide have contributed more than 7.1 million service hours and raised $1.3 billion.
In 1987, women were officially admitted into Kiwanis International. The Newnan club welcomed its first female members the following year, helping shape a more inclusive and vibrant organization.
For many in Newnan, Kiwanis isn’t just a club, it’s a family tradition. Current members Chip Barron and Frank Barron are descendants of F.W. Stripling, who served as the club’s original treasurer in 1925, continuing a legacy of service across generations.
As members reflected on the past century of milestones, they also looked ahead, with the same optimism and commitment that launched the club in 1925.
“Regardless of the leadership, no leader can take credit for anything that’s happening, because it’s the people who make up the club that propel us forward,” Neely said.
