March 28 at Lincoln South Rotary - Kiwanis International Trustee

On March 28, 2025 at Lincoln South Rotary Club, we heard from Kiwanis International Trustee Dennis Baugh.
How did this come about - a Kiwanis International Trustee visiting Lincoln South Rotary Club?
 
John Herdman introduced Dennis Baugh. John explained that he met Dennis for the first time on the day he married Nancy. Darlene, spouse of Dennis, had been friends of Nancy for years and they attended the wedding. Since that time the couples have become travel partners - in particular going on cruises.
 
Dennis is an International Trustee for Kiwanis International. As Trustee he is a director overseeing a large district which includes the Iowa and Nebraska Division. He was in the area for a Division Conference in York, Nebraska over the weekend. The Iowa-Nebraska Division is geographically located between Washington, Iowa to Ogallala, Nebraska.
 
Sharing some history of Kiwanis, we learned that, like Rotary, Kiwanis started in the middle of the United States. Rotary started in Chicago, Illinois and Kiwanis started in Detroit, Michigan. Both organizations became International organizations when clubs opened in Canada. Rotary started in 1905 and Kiwanis in 1915. 
 
Kiwanis actually started as under the name of the Supreme Lodge of Benevolent Order of Brothers but changed it to Kiwanis which they understood as "we build" translated from the Algonquian Native American language. The organization started for business networking but change the focus in 1919 to a focus of serving children.
 
Dennis explained that the organization continued to expand and can now be found in over 85 countries. In Lincoln there are 7 clubs that include Lincoln in their name. They also have youth clubs including:
  • K-Kids: For primary/elementary school students (ages 6-11), focusing on service projects and leadership development within their schools and communities.
  • Builders Club: For middle school students, encouraging service and leadership skills.
  • Key Club: For high school students, providing opportunities for service and leadership development.
  • Circle K International: For college and university students.
And, they have Aktion Club which is for for adults with disabilities.
 
The causes defined by Kiwanis include:
  • Health and nutrition.
  • Education and literacy.
  • Youth leadership development.
Each cause supports the others - all of them helping young people develop throughout childhood and into adulthood - creating a generation of leaders who then also contribute to that continuum.
 
Dennis shared the global initiatives of Kiwanis International.
 
Maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) is a painful and deadly disease that disproportionately affects areas where poverty, lack of education and inadequate health infrastructure make unhygienic birth practices more common. 
 
In 2010, Kiwanis launched The Eliminate Project, a global campaign to eliminate MNT by supporting UNICEF’s efforts to administer vaccines and promote clean delivery and umbilical cord care practices. Newborn deaths from tetanus have dropped 57%, according to the World Health Organization. Of the 39 priority countries assessed, 27 have since achieved MNT elimination. The Kiwanis Children’s Fund continues to work with UNICEF to help complete its work in the 12 countries where MNT remains a threat. During the period 2011-2020, the Kiwanis family raisied more than US $119 million.
 
Iodine deficiency is one of the world’s leading causes of preventable intellectual and developmental disabilities. It also increases the risk of thyroid disease and can negatively impact fetal health and development. The effects can be prevented through the adequate consumption of iodized salt.
 
Kiwanis became involved in the fight against iodine deficiency in a campaign with UNICEF that lasted from 1994 to 2005. In that time, Kiwanians raised over US$105 million for salt iodization, testing and monitoring, and community outreach and education in more than 89 nations. As a result, 88% of the world’s households have access to iodized salt, and hundreds of millions of children have escaped the effects of iodine deficiency.
 
Dennis shared that, annually, the International Presidents of Rotary, Kiwanis, Sertoma and Optimists meet.to discuss how the service organizations may work collaboratively to extend service to even more people around the world.
 
He closed with a challenge to all service organizations - where clubs are struggling and wonder if they should continue or disband - "what would your community look like if you were not here?".
 
 
BIO
 
Dennis G. Baugh of Palmyra, Virginia, U.S., was elected to a three-year term as a trustee of Kiwanis International during the 2023 Kiwanis International Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. He serves as a trustee for the United States and Pacific Canada regions of Kiwanis. 

A member of Kiwanis for 15 years, Baugh is currently a member of the Kiwanis Club of Charlottesville, Virginia, and the Kiwanis Club of Big Sky RX e-club in Montana. At the club level, he has served as treasurer, secretary, vice president and president (2010-11) as well as membership chair. In the Kiwanis Capital District, he has served as lieutenant governor and governor (2020-21), youth protection manager, regional trustee, district convention chair, district chair to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund and division director of the Capital District Kiwanis Foundation. 

At the international level, Baugh has chaired the Membership Committee on Young Club Counseling and the Membership Committee on Club Excellence.  

As a donor to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund, his honors include a George F. Hixson Fellowship, a Walter Zeller Fellowship, a Dr. Wil Blechman Fellowship and a Centennial Award. 

As a Kiwanis member, Baugh has participated in club opening events and chaired two Kiwanis membership task forces on club coaching. He and his team trained over 1,000 certified club coaches. 

As trustee, Baugh wants to maintain an open line of communication with members and his assigned district governors to ensure they can access available resources. He also will use his experience in organizational governance to work with his fellow trustees on making sound decisions that will best benefit and grow Kiwanis. 

Baugh holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in criminal justice. He began his career working in corrections and completed it working with at-risk youth, retiring in 2015. Outside of the Kiwanis organization, Baugh has served as a member of church, community and governance boards. Baugh continues to be active in his church and enjoys traveling (cruises are a recent pastime), reading, working around the house and staying current on community affairs. He and his wife, Darlene, have three adult children and five grandchildren.