https://www.facebook.com/152943218248255/

Kiwanis Club of Joplin

Home
United States
Joplin, MO
Kiwanis Club of Joplin

Serving the Joplin community for over 103 years! Our primary focus is providing safe and nurturing environments for local youth.

Helping kids grow and succeed is at the heart of everything we do, from volunteer initiatives to financial support.

11/01/2026

In 2020, With a proud history of service to the community, the Joplin Kiwanis Club marked its 100th year of service with a sculpture presented to the Joplin Public Library. Service is a long-held tradition with the club, and it continues today.

On the cover of this 2020 edition of ShowMe magazine, Kiwanian Jim Fleischaker (and a member at the time of the Library Board), Larry Myers, chair of the 100-year committee, then president Mathew Gibson, and Jo Ellen Davis, then president-elect, were featured. They are pictured below.

10/25/2026

Last Week’s Meeting: Club Member Dr. Matt Harding filled in for scheduled speaker Abby Brower, a Court Appointed Special Advocate for CASA. Dr. Harding serves on their Board.

Jasper County CASA empowers local volunteers to serve as advocates for children living through the chaos of foster care. Their volunteer advocates ensure that a child’s physical and emotional health are provided for in a safe environment. CASA volunteers advocate for the best interest of the child.

There are currently 256 kids in Jasper County in foster care, with only 126 volunteers to advocate for them. A minimum commitment of six months to a year is needed for volunteers. CASA recruits volunteers, provides thorough training, observes as they take the oath, appoint them to a case, and guide them as they change a child’s life. No volunteer experience compares to being a CASA!

10/13/2026

The Kiwanian of the Year Award was presented at this week's meeting.

Jon Dermott began his 60th year of membership in Joplin Kiwanis on October 1st. He attended his first Kiwanis meeting at the Connor Hotel. He is the first Kiwanian to attain sixty years of service in the club's one-hundred and six year history.

Prior to his freshman year at the University of Arkansas, he went to Marine Corps Boot Camp at Camp Pendleton in southern California and served in the United States Marine Corp Reserves between 1956-1963. In Kiwanis, he has an outstanding 60-year attendance record, participates in nearly every service project and event of our club, and has participated in nearly every interclub meeting for the last several years. He purchases five dollars worth of door prize tickets every week, and when he wins he always donates the prize back to the club. He has also served as President and other offices of the club. In 1994, he was elected Circuit Judge, 29th Judicial Circuit of Missouri, and served Jasper County in that capacity from 1995 to 2006.

Jon Dermott is a member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. He served on the board of the United Way of Joplin (President, 1973-1974); Kiwanis Club of Joplin (President, 1976-1977); Freeman Hospital Board of Directors (President, 1982-1983); Joplin Family Y Board of Directors; University of Arkansas Alumni Association Board of Directors; Board of Directors, Twin Hills Golf and Country Club; and Board of Directors, George A. Spiva Center for the Arts. He also enjoys his memberships in Associated Investors of Joplin and the Roughnecks Club.

Judge Dermott is shown receiving the award from Kiwanian Shawna Wheat.

09/24/2026

Member John Hird will be riding to his next Kiwanis meeting in his new toy! It's a very rare 1980 L82 Corvette. There were only 75 of these made, and this one is very special. Check out the Chromed engine and wheels. It has fewer than 10,000 miles and has won over 70 car show trophies. John has several Corvettes but this one stands out. Congrats!

09/11/2026

Despite his busy schedule leading up to the November election, Jasper County Clerk Charlie Davis took the time to address our weekly meeting Tuesday.

He gave timely information on the State Representative District 161 issues, as well as those of the State Congressional Map issues. He told us that the printing of ballots at a cost of $100,000, was held up pending decisions by both the Missouri Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. There were several questions by our members on both issues.

Election security was also explained by Charlie, noting that a documented process was in place for absentee voting, with little or no chance of fraud in Jasper County. Election day voting uses paper ballots and voting machines are not connected to the internet.

He also described the process and need for election judges. Persons from both political parties are selected for election polling places to ensure fairness. He also pointed out that write-in candidates for offices have to be pre-registered for votes in their favor to count.

It was clear that Charlie Davis goes above and beyond to ensure that his office is non-partial and non-political in its duties. His presentation was timely and informative. Another of our great speakers at Kiwanis meetings.

09/04/2026

Our speaker at Tuesday's meeting was Bayli Dukek, Director of Communications for Watered Gardens Ministries. She gave general information about all the ways Watered Gardens assists the community, but also spoke specifically about its newest project, Freedom Village

Freedom Village is no small undertaking. It will include:

24 homes in Phase One on 7 acres with room for future phases.

Each home is approximately 400 square feet.

A spacious community building.

Addresses the affordable housing problem for the disabled homeless.

Offers local churches many relational ministry opportunities.

It will eventually encompass 57 Tiny Homes for veterans and the elderly.

Several of our members attended the Groundbreaking Ceremony for this project on September 4th, at the 800 block of East 12th Street in Joplin. The project will be funded by donations and will not involve any government funding or tax dollars.

If you would care to donate or learn more about this and other Watered Gardens Ministries, go to Wateredgardens.org.

Bayli Dukek is a veteran herself, having served her country for six years in the National Guard. We thank her for her service, and also for an informative presentation.

08/25/2026

This week’s meeting agenda featured the presentation of a major community award, Educator of the Month to Janet Parker-Spain.
Janet Parker-Spain is a JAG (Jobs for America's Graduates) Specialist at Joplin High School.

As a specialist, she helps students organize their ideas about their future careers and bring a sense of purpose to high school, as well as clarity about where they want to be after graduation. She emphasizes community service and to give back to those who help them succeed. She also helps students compete in state and national competitions. Her students have won first place twice for their business plans.

The Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program at the Roi S. Wood campus of Joplin High School has earned a perfect 4.0 grade, scoring all ‘Excellent’ designations on the 2026 Mid-Term Compliance Report. It has been overseen by district educator specialist Janet Parker-Spain since 2021, scored at the highest level in each report category, affirming strong performance and student impact by consistently exceeding compliance expectations with complete documentation and full program implementation.
Parker-Spain was also named Southwest Region Outstanding Specialist for the 2025-26 school year. She was given the award at the JAG State Training Seminar earlier this year. The Kiwanis Recognition includes a major store gift certificate provided by Steve's Body and Frame of Joplin.

Ms. Parker-Spain has been an Educator at Joplin Schools for Twenty years. She has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Crowder College for over eight years.

Pictured at the Kiwanis Award Ceremony for Joplin Educator Janet Parker-Spain at the club's weekly meeting, is L to Right; Joplin Schools Superintendent Dr. Kerry Sachetta, Janet Parker -Spain, Dr. Edward Raschen Assistant Principal/Alternative Administrator, and Jared Bruggeman, Kiwanis Club President.

08/02/2026

JULY 28 PROGRAM: Betsy Mense (left in photo), Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce President, Aaron Slifka (right in photo), Vice President, presented the program.

They shared several projects the Chamber is offering and economic
development projects. The Chamber is tracking visitor activities and reported more than 76,000 visits to the new Momentum Bike Park. Information about the Chamber events, programs, projects and initiatives is available at https://joplincc.com/ .

07/28/2026

Our sympathy to member Loren Smith and family on the loss of his wife of 72 years, Virginia.

Virginia Lee Smith, 93, of Joplin, Mo., went to be with her Lord on July 18, 2026, at home with family following a brief illness.

Virginia was born on March 15, 1933, in Henryetta, Okla., to Irvan and Violet (Amburn) Darnall. On October 11, 1953, she married Loren E. Smith Jr. in Springfield, Mo. They went on to have three beloved children and share 72 wonderful years together. Her priority was always her family, but she had many passions including reading mysteries; playing card games ranging from bridge with friends to Skip-Bo with her grandchildren; tending to her flowers; and road-tripping throughout North America while journaling all the way.

Virginia was a faithful member of First Christian Church in Joplin, Mo., for more than 58 years, where she sang in the choir, served on the board and worked in various women’s ministries.

Virginia’s life was filled with cherished friends including many from her church family, her bridge-playing buddies, extended family and neighbors that she held very dear. She was loved by many and will be remembered for her warm smiles, kind words and joyful demeanor.

Virginia is preceded in death by her parents and youngest brother, Jerry Darnall. She is survived by her husband, Loren; her brother, Thomas Darnall of St. Cloud, Minn.; her daughters, Jan Smith and Lisa Ewing (John) of Joplin, Mo.; her son, Eric Smith (Patricia) of Fayetteville, Ark.; five grandchildren, Bethany Bandy (Brian) of Joplin, Mo Braden Ewing of Bentonville, Ark., Marissa Ewing, Jackson Smith and Benjamin Smith, all of Fayetteville, Ark.; and two great-grandchildren, Eli Bandy and Avalyn Bandy, both of Joplin, Mo.

Honoring Virginia’s wishes, a family celebration of life is planned for a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in Virginia’s memory to First Christian Church, 409 W. 4th St., Joplin, Mo.

07/22/2026

At this weeks meeting, The Joplin Kiwanis Club inducted eight of its members into the club's Legion of Honor. A minimum of twenty-five years of service is required for this award. Left to right, recipients are: Todd Chenault, David Evans, William Eichman, John Hayek, Nancy Wilkins, Richard LaNear, and James Hicklin. Don Swanson was unable to attend.

Jim Hicklin reached the fifty-year milestone, while the other recipients have from twenty-five, to thirty-eight years of service.

Address

PO BOX 1017
Joplin, MO
64802

Opening Hours

12pm - 1pm

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Kiwanis Club of Joplin posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.