Kiwanis Club of Neepawa & Area: Building Community, One Child at a Time

NACTV had the opportunity to sit down with Angie Weisgerber, President of the newly formed Kiwanis Club of Neepawa & Area, to learn more about how the club got its start, its vision, and exciting plans for the future.

NACTV had the opportunity to sit down with Angie Weisgerber, President of the newly formed Kiwanis Club of Neepawa & Area, to learn more about how the club got its start, its vision, and exciting plans for the future.

A Family-Inspired Beginning

The idea to start a local Kiwanis Club came through a family connection. Angie shared how her niece, who has served as the Kiwanis Western District Governor for the past two years, inspired the initiative.

“My niece approached me last year and said, ‘Auntie! I think we need to start a Kiwanis Club in Neepawa!’ She’s been the Western District Governor for the last two years, and one of her goals was to start new clubs. She said, ‘I love Neepawa! It’s such a great community. I think we can do this.’ So I took on the challenge.”

Building a Community of Volunteers

Starting a service club from scratch is no small feat, but Angie was ready for it.

“I just started sending messages to friends and people I knew in the community. People started replying, ‘Sure, this sounds great! Let’s do this!’ We needed a minimum of 15 members to become a chartered club, and we were fortunate to have 20 people sign up. For a first-time effort, that was really encouraging.”

Angie credits much of their early success to guidance from the Kiwanis Club of Brandon, their sponsoring club, and the wider Kiwanis International organization. “Kiwanis International has been a big resource for us. The Brandon club helped us from the ground up—offering advice, guidance, and support every step of the way.”

Vision and Mission: Supporting Children and the Community

The Kiwanis Club of Neepawa & Area is part of Kiwanis International, a global organization dedicated to serving children and communities.

“Our vision is to be a positive influence, especially in our local community, so that one day all children wake up in communities that support and believe in them. Our mission is to improve the world, one child at a time, through a group of dedicated volunteers.”

Early Projects and Partnerships

Although newly established, the club has already begun making an impact. One of their first collaborations was with the Rotary Club of Neepawa, offering free public swimming last summer. They are also partnering with the Neepawa Pickleball Club to host an upcoming pickleball tournament.

“We’re still in the early stages, focusing on building up our fundraising so that we can support existing programs or create new ones—like events and activities that benefit local kids.”

Looking Ahead: The Sky’s the Limit

Angie is enthusiastic about the future and sees plenty of opportunities for growth and collaboration.

“We’re working on building partnerships with local organizations like the New Wave Rotary Club. I think that will form a really strong core of people, and together we can brainstorm new ways to make a difference.”

As the Kiwanis Club of Neepawa & Area continues to grow, their commitment to community and children remains at the forefront of everything they do.