Kevin Twomey is still shaken.
“I was totally shocked” he said Sunday describing a Kinsmen Life Member award he received during a dinner at Old Town Pelham Hall last week.
“I thought I was going for a ceremony to officially open the hall”, which was just renovated.
A Life Member is the highest honour in the Kin Canada organization.
The public relations officer for the Fonthill and District Kinsmen Club is among five active life members in the club. Only one of 11 in the club designated since it was formed in the 1950s.
Twomey, 58, called it a humbling experience and quickly credits club members for inspiring his 24 years of service.
“It is a nice group and we are fortunate that we stick to the traditions of the Kin founders,” he said
First World War veterans created the Kinsmen Club in 1920 to recapture the comradeship and sense of service they felt in the trenches.
Twomey joined in 1990, he said, because he liked what he read about it.
Its motto of “serving the community’s greatest needs” has kept him going --- along with the smiles and hugs he receives from seniors, special Olympians and others the club helps.
“You see the results of what you do.”
The Fonthill club “tries not to burn out people,” he said.
“We hold a couple of major fundraising events a year such as the Home and Leisure Show in the spring and craft show in the fall.”
The Kinsmen use the money for such events as an annual seniors Christmas dinner, poinsettia gifts to the hospital patients, Pelham Citizen of the Year program and a number of donations to charities such as cystic fibrosis, Pelham Cares, and Woman’s Place.
“Everyone has stress in their lives. We avoid giving any to our members,” said Twomey.
His family has expanded its Kin involvement. His wife Betty is a member of the recently chartered Kinettes.
Twomey said the Kinettes have already made a name for themselves. They tackled a touchy job of monitoring parking during the Thursday Fonthill Bandshell concerts.
“Other clubs considered it too controversial to take on. The Kinettes made it work. We’re proud of them.”
Kevin and Betty have three children: Jessica, Sarah and Patrick. Twomey works for Niagara Parks and is an elder with Bethany Christian Reformed Church in Fenwick.
Twomey said there is a lot of need out there and anyone can help ease the stress in small ways each day with a smile, by opening a door and doing dozens of little things that bring a little joy.
By joining a service club you help even more.
About the Kin Life Member award, he said he feels honoured, “but I don’t feel I deserve it.”
