FORWARD

The first Kiwanis Club in the Carolinas District was officially completed on August 11, 1919, at Asheville, NC, with a charter membership of 100. The charter was presented October 14. The Charlotte, NC Club was next completed August 27, the charter presentation being made on October 16, 1919, and the third club at Greenville, SC, September 20, of the same year. Their charter was presented October 17. All three charter presentations were made by Roe Fulkerson.

Other early clubs in the order of completion were: Spartanburg, SC, October 2, 1919; Greensboro, NC, October 23, 1919; Winston-Salem, NC, November 26, 1919; Raleigh, NC, January 3, 1920; Durham, NC, February 12, 1920; Wilmington, NC, March 10, 1920; and Columbia, SC, March 15, 1920.

The Carolinas District was organized January 12, 1920, at Chattanooga, Tennessee. At that time there were only seven clubs in the District. With the establishment of several clubs in the Tennessee District during 1919, the Board of Trustees added the existing Carolinas Clubs to the Tennessee District October 25, 1919, thereby forming the Tennessee-Carolina District. Since the Governor-Elect of that District did not act, the District never really functioned in this combined form. At a meeting of the Tennessee and Carolina Clubs existing at that time, the Carolina Kiwanis Clubs organized the Carolinas District on January 12, 1920, at Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Paul F. Haddock of Charlotte, NC, was elected District Governor, Jesse W. Boyd of Spartanburg, SC, was elected District Secretary, serving throughout 1921. Capus M. Waynick of Greensboro, NC, served as District Secretary in 1922, Roderick H. McDonald, Columbia, SC, served as District Secretary from 1923, until his death January 6, 19 38, and Herbert W. Hennig, Past District Governor, Darlington, SC, served continuously as District Secretary until 1970. 1970-71-72-73 Carl B. Hyatt, Jr., Asheville, NC, and 1973-74 R. Ed Batton, incumbent, Smithfield, NC.

The membership of the seven clubs in the Carolinas District January 12, 1920 was about 450. (Six clubs were functioning in the fall of 1919). On July 1, 1939, there were 75 clubs and a membership of 3,472. The aggressive District leadership has in part, together with the fine loyalty and cooperation of the individual club officers, enabled the Carolinas District to record a gradual and continuous growth in membership.

The District finances were in excellent condition with assets August 1, 1939, of $4,222.12. The 1939 budget was $6,700.00.