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Photograph by George Sakkestad
Ernest Patterson joined the Los Gatos Kiwanis Club in 1960 and hasn't missed a meeting in 38 years.
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Los Gatos Kiwanis celebrates 75 years By Shari Kaplan
After decades of doing for and giving to others, the Los Gatos Kiwanis Club is more than entitled to toot its own horn--especially now that the club has reached the 75-year mark.
On March 6, the Kiwanis Club celebrated this landmark anniversary at La Rinconada Country Club. Even in the midst of a party filled with dinner and dancing and merriment, the club found a way to incorporate its motto "We Build."
The club presented the town of Los Gatos with three new benches to be placed along the Los Gatos Creek Trail, one in memory of the club's longest standing member, the late Dr. Ben Nerenberg. Los Gatos Mayor Jan Hutchins accepted the gift. Several Kiwanis International dignitaries were also present.
More dignitaries are coming March 18, when the local club hosts a luncheon meeting involving all 17 clubs of the South Bay's Division 12. Los Gatan Don Wolf, the lieutenant governor of the California/Nevada/Hawaii district, will preside and welcome District Governor Bob Maurer.
Kiwanis International was founded Jan. 21, 1915, in Detroit. Its six permanent Objects (objectives) were codified in 1918; and membership was opened to women in 1987. The organization now includes more than 8,500 clubs in 82 countries, with more than 140,000 service projects yearly.
The Los Gatos Kiwanis was chartered on March 8, 1924, following about five months of meeting, planning and organizing by San Jose Kiwanians George F. Shaner, Lewis H. Neumann and Wendell C. Thomas and some 15 Los Gatans, including Walter Crider, P. E. Curtis, E. H. Melvin and Dr. L. S. Frary. Initially, the civic-minded men planned to form an unaffiliated men's club, but decided instead to form their own local chapter of Kiwanis International. The club initially met at the old Hotel Lyndon.
The second oldest Kiwanis Club in Santa Clara County, the Los Gatos Kiwanis has come a long way since the 1920s. It has sponsored scores of community service projects benefiting the town, its schools and its parks and contributes--with money, volunteer hours or both--to dozens of local and county service agencies and charities. Since 1996, it has also run the annual Fiesta De Artes.
"The majority of people in Kiwanis say they've gotten involved to give back to the community because at this point in their lives, they are established and successful," says Kiwanian Mary Tomasi-Dubois. "Also, being able to stand back and see what a group of people can accomplish by working together is very rewarding."
Los Gatos accountant and Kiwanian Ernest "Ernie" Patterson agrees. The club's third-longest standing member and the only one with perfect attendance--38 years worth--Patterson joined the club less than a month after moving to Los Gatos in October 1960.
"I feel when you move into a new town, you should look to see what service clubs exist--not only to do things for your community, but also to get to know people," he says.
He maintains his attendance record by going to meetings in other states and countries whenever he travels. "If you're a stranger somewhere, you always meet interesting people who take you around town. It's almost like you already have a friend there," adds Patterson, who over the years has held every officer's post in the club except secretary.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
