It all began in 1915 in the City of Detroit, the birth of the service organization that would soon be called KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL, and whose objectives, selected in 1920 remain today: “To give primacy to human and spiritual rather than the material values of life.”
In 1962, Kiwanis International resolved to expand beyond the limits of continental North America, and the Kiwanis Club of Nassau, f
ormed in December 1962, gained the distinction of being the first “truly” international unit of the Kiwanis Organization. The expansion of Kiwanis to the Bahamas came through the efforts of men from Canada, from the Ontario-Quebec-Maritime District (OQM), who saw the need to offer services of Kiwanis in the Bahamas. The members of the Nassau Clubs, within a year, saw the need to further strengthen the growth and collected 38 men together to form the Kiwanis Club of Fort Montagu in February 1964. According to the Kiwanis Historian Dr. Hal Leyland, the Charter President of the new club was to have been Alvin Brennen (now Sir Alvin) however, because of circumstances not recorded, he stepped down and the Charter ceremonies, on 31st March, 1964 established Vincent Lotmore (Past President of the Nassau Club) as the first President of the Kiwanis Club of Fort Montagu. There were 38 charter members who met weekly in the Colony Room of the Montagu Beach Hotel on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Of these members, there are still active Past President, Carlton Jones, and Distinguished Lieutenant-Governor Roy Davis. In 1969, the Kiwanis Club of Fort Montagu became a member of the Division Council of Kiwanis Clubs in The Bahamas, with Roy Davis serving as Council Secretary. A major distinction was the selection of Frank Treco as the first Lieutenant Governor of the Bahamas Division 22 from the Kiwanis Club of fort Montagu. In 1971-1972, Past President Charles Lunn became the second Division Lieutenant Governor from the Club. During these years, the Club achieved many distinctions in the kind of projects undertaken: dental clinics at George Town, Exuma and H.M. Prison, Nassau, partnership in the building of the Deaf Center for Children and other assorted works at the prison including a fountain in the garden of the officer’s quarters and a barber shop to train the inmates. The Club’s activity in Kiwanis youth began in 1968 with the formation of the Key Club of Queen’s College. The Club sponsored the first Keywanettes Club, located at Queens College in 1975. The Key Club of St. Anne’s was organized in 1974 and in partnership with the other Clubs; the Kiwanis Club of Fort Montagu realized the formation of the Circle K Club at The College of The Bahamas in 1977. Roy Davis assumed the post of Division Chairman of Kiwanis Sponsored Youth in 1976. The Kiwanis Club of Fort Montagu assumed considerable strength at the Division level when in 1975-1976 Roy Davis became Lieutenant Governor and a year later, in 1977-1978, Idris Reid entered the post. At the end of the 1970’s nearing its 15th year, the Kiwanis Club of Fort Montagu had produced two other Kiwanis Clubs—the Kiwanis Clubs of Georgetown in 1973 and the Kiwanis Club of Over the Hill in 1975. As the 1980’s began, the Club was to continue its strong position in the Division. It further expanded its youth services with the building of the Builders Club of T.G. Glover in 1981, the Builders Club of D.W. Davis and the Keywanettes Club of St. Anne’s in 1986. Club membership fluctuated between 45 and 65 members.
51 years later Kiwanis Club of Fort Montagu still blazes strong. Currently we sponsor 3 K-Kids, 1 Builders Club, 4 Key Clubs, 1 Circle K Club and 1 Aktion Club. Club membership is 63.
