Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 05/02) - The Kiwanis Club is now in Yellowknife to assist in meeting the needs of children and youth.

Larry Brown, governor for the Western Canada District, was in town last week to meet with individuals interested in joining the organization.

Governor of Western Canada Kiwanis, Larry Brown (bottom left) reviews the organization's mandate with team leader Al Mueller (bottom right) and founding members Kirby Marshall (top left) and Andy McMullen. - Tara Kearsey/NNSL photo

Al Mueller, team leader for the Yellowknife chapter, says about 14 individuals have already committed to joining the group.

The Kiwanis Club is an international organization that tackles issues related to healthy child development and finding opportunities to make the community a better place to live, work and play.

"We would like to sign up 20 people as founding members, but whatever the membership grows to, the more the better," said Mueller.

The mandate for the chapter, says Mueller, is to focus on child welfare and bridge any gaps between existing youth programs and organizations.

"We will look at any and all projects that are for the good of the community within Yellowknife," he said.

Primary areas of interest for the city's new club is helping out with the Side Door, assisting with literacy programs, lobbying for bus transportation for special needs individuals, and developing special camps for troubled children.

The Kiwanis Club will host a meeting at the Super 8 Motel Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Tea Room. Anyone and everyone is invited to attend, says Mueller.