Massapequa Kiwanis has come a long way since it was chartered by Bert Field of the Manhasset Kiwanis Club on June 9, 1949. In the last 50 years the club has sponsored many projects, programs, and youth organizations in Massapequa and the surrounding communities. This year the club is using their 50th anniversary to help raise awareness about their annual fund raiser to benefit local youths.

On Monday, June 14 the Massapequa Kiwanis Club will be holding their 15th Annual Golf Outing. The club is proud to have Billy Beato and Massapequa Fuel as a major sponsor for this event. They are seeking additional sponsorship, which can range from $50-$1,000, from other community members and organizations. Individuals may golf at a cost of $145 per person, which includes a full breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktail hour, refreshments on the course, contests, raffles, and awards. This exciting event will be held at the Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course in Woodbury.

According to Massapequa Kiwanis President Bill Moseley, having held this event for 15 years makes the Massapequa Kiwanis the "Grandaddy" of golf outings. Moseley explained that this golf classic began at a nine hole golf course but in order to expand the event and get more people interested and involved the club decided to change to an 18-hole course a couple of years ago.

Change is not something new to the Kiwanis Club. According to Moseley, one of the biggest changes to the club over the last 50 years was the addition of women. Kiwanis International, a traditional men's club, accepted women into their ranks in the mid-eighties. Moseley believes that this addition was a positive step for the organization because, in a time in which most Kiwanis Clubs are struggling for membership, he said excluding half the population would not make sense.

Currently the Kiwanis Club of the Massapequas has about 40 members. Moseley believes that it is the individual members who make the club so successful. He said that he always tells new members that, "Even if this club does one thing the whole year or if, as an individual member, you participate in one project or program, that's something that probably wouldn't have been done otherwise, so it really is providing assistance to the community."

One of the main ways that the Kiwanis Club assists the community is through their sponsorship of programs for the younger generations. The Kiwanis Club sponsors Circle K in colleges, the KEY (Kiwanis Educating Youth) Clubs in high schools, Builder's Clubs in junior high and middle schools, and since last year K-Kids for children in the elementary schools. These programs encourage youth in the community to get involved and serve others.

Serving others is one of the key foundations of Kiwanis. The club is known for getting out there and helping others, whether it be financially or physically. According to Moseley, "Even though we support a couple of programs and projects monetarily, most of the time we're more willing to get out and roll up our sleeves and do the dirty work, to build something or whatever someone in the community needs."

The Kiwanis Club of the Massapequas is a truly community minded organization. Throughout their existence the club has included many prominent members of the community, such as mayors, former mayors, school board members and other leaders. One of the more recognizable names that was once a member of the Massapequa Kiwanis was Jerry Seinfeld's father, Cal, who was a signmaker in Massapequa. Moseley said that the club has a picture of an eight-year-old Jerry Seinfeld, in a little bow tie, doing magic tricks in front of the club.

While all club members may not be quite as well known as the Seinfelds, they all have a desire to help their communities. When asked what makes the Massapequa Kiwanis special Moseley replied, "It is a real sense of community and involvement. I can't speak for other clubs but you really have a feeling of community with the club. There's always something going on."

One of the things necessary for the club, which accepts any community members over the age of 18, is a service attitude. The main goal of the club is to help others. Moseley said the club is always looking for community minded men and women who are willing to take a look at what the club is doing. He concluded, "Our main goal right now is just trying to focus on membership and focus on the projects that are out there to do."