The Early Morning Risers Kiwanis Club celebrated 40 years of helping the Austin community Wednesday morning.

“Having so many community leaders come together in a club like Kiwanis whose mission is to serve, and in our case we serve children, I think that helps the community see that business leaders, government leaders, etceteras, offer a vital piece of the community personally,” Kiwanis President Elect Eric Shoars said.

Wednesday’s meeting featured several guests, including some of the original members who shared stories of the early days of the Early Risers, and Mayor Tom Stiehm. Shoars said this event was particularly cool because Wednesday, the regular meeting day, fell on the same date as the club’s inception 40 years ago.

He hoped the club’s 40 years have made an impression on the community, though he himself has only been involved about five years.

“Our mission for Kiwanis is, ‘Come on in the water’s fine,’” Shoars said. “We want more people to join us, because I think in these times especially it’s not money that will solve problems, it’s relationships and it’s communicating, collecting and collaborating with people one on one.”

The Kiwanis Club has supported many programs over the years, including the Woodson Kindergarten Center greenhouse, painting homes in the community before Vision 2020’s CHIP program, and helping with a children’s backpack program.

“That’s what makes it exciting for me to come to the meetings once a week,” Shoars said. “It’s not just the fellowships and the friendships, but it’s being around so many individuals whose hearts are helping others.”

Shoars said the club is always looking for new members, and anyone who would like more information or to join can contact the current president, KSMQ President Eric Olson. Shoars is excited to be involved in a club that’s been in the community 40 years and doesn’t look to end anytime soon.

“For me being here today and seeing some of the charter members, and being kind of the fruit of the seeds they planted 40 years ago is very exciting,” he said. “Because regardless of who is a member of this club at any given year, the legacy, the spirit of why the club was founded, continues on and it’s just a terrific thing to realize that Kiwanis has been a part of the community for 40 years and will be for many years to come.”

Members of the Kiwanis Club currently include:

•Eric Olson – President

•Eric Shoars – Past and Elect President

•Cindy Jensen – Secretary, Treasurer

•Rick Young – Newsletter Editor

John Donahue, Joe Fuhrman

Rich Pavek, Peter Green, Harold Verdoorn, Bruce Sorenson, Webb Davis, Peter Grover, Jim Mueller, Roger Boughton, Randy Kramer, Steve Leif, Lowell Foster

Jeff Anderson, Dough Bibus, Cindy Folken, Rich Chuick, Mark Nibuar, Brad Bergstrom