Earl Collins Foundation 

As a Kiwanian, Earl was a Charter Member of the Cape Girardeau Kiwanis club and served as Mo-Ark governor in 1952.  During his administration, the decision was made to have the first Mid-Winter Conference in Springfield, Missouri, in February of 1953.  The Springfield-Downtown Kiwanis club sponsored the conference then and for several more years.  The meeting was attended by 190 Kiwanians and, since it was a success, the Mid-Year Conference, as it is presently known, is a vital part of our District's annual activities.  Earl was the first salaried District Secretary and KIWANIGRAM editor, serving in this position from 1956 until his death in 1960.

When the scholarship fund was established, soon after his death, it was suggested that each club in the Mo-Ark District contribute $1.00 per member to the fund, with the interest to be given to deserving students attending Southeast Missouri State College.  The recipients of the scholarships may not attend the college or university of their choice.  The first club to contribute $1.00 per member was the Kiwanis Club of Sullivan, Missouri, followed by the Kiwanis Club of Liberty, Missouri.  Currently, each club contributing $2.00 per member received a banner patch to signify the club's desire to make an investment in the leaders of tomorrow.  Individuals are also encouraged to make contributions to the fund as a memorial or to honor Kiwanians, friends, family, or associates of Kiwanians.

The organizational meeting of the Earl A. Collins Memorial Scholarship Fund was held on January 21, 1961, and the "not for profit" charter was issued by the State of Missouri on February 1, 1961.  The corporate number, as issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Missouri, 2984.  In June of 1964, the Internal Revenue Service issued a 501(c)(3) exemption to the Fund.

Serving on the first Board of Directors of the Earl A. Collins Memorial Scholarship Fund were Linus W. Bartels, W. Donald Dubail, Clarence P. Lehnen, Joe A. Mueller, J. Max Poe, H. J. Reininga, and Oran Vaughn.  The original officers were the four District Officers plus a Past Governor from Missouri and one from Arkansas, and one Kiwanian at large.

Under the leadership of the 1983-84 President, Lou Stepter, the process of changing the Earl A. Collins Scholarship Fund into a Foundation was begun.  Any recommendations or changes were to be approved by the Missouri-Arkansas District Board.  Dr. Myral C. Coatney D.O. had some copies of other foundation bylaws and agreed that he would help in the process of revising the bylaws and restructuring the Earl Collins Scholarship Fund into a District Foundation.  It was decided to transfer ownership of the KIWANIGRAM to the Foundation.  Beginning in October of 1986, the Foundation assumed ownership and began publishing the KIWANIGRAM.

The bylaws reflecting the changing of the Earl A. Collins Scholarship Fund into a foundation with the name "The Earl Collins Foundation of the Missouri-Arkansas District of Kiwanis International" was presented and approved by the Missouri-Arkansas District Board at its regular meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, on August 24, 1984.  The "Certificate of Amendment of a General Not For Profit Corporation" changing the Earl A. Collins Scholarship Fund into the Earl Collins Foundation of the Missouri-Arkansas District of Kiwanis International was approved by the Missouri Secretary of State on January 7, 1985.  The first board meeting was held in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, February 22, 1985, with Dr. Myral Coatney presiding.  The first general meeting of the Earl Collins foundation was held in Springfield, Missouri, on August 8, 1985.

With the new Foundation organized and in operation, many ideas for bequests, donations, and fundraising were discussed.  Floyd Baugus suggested a Foundation Honorary Award for individuals or clubs that contribute over $1,000.  Dr. Myral Coatney recommended there be a Charter Member designation for individuals or clubs that made contributions of at least $1,000, or contributed $250 per year over a period of four years.  The first individual to make a $1,000 donation to become a Charter Member was Dr. James Smith of the Kiwanis Club of Paris, Arkansas.

The first club to make a $1,000 donation to become a Charter Member was the Kiwanis Club of Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  It was eventually decided that the 1994-95 administrative year would be the last year that enrollment in the Charter Program could begin.  The first official foundation fundraiser was the "Silent Auction" which was started at the suggestion of 1984-85 MO-ARK Governor Gene Engelhardt and was held in Springfield, Missouri, producing $1,300.  The next foundation fundraiser was the selling of cookbooks; this idea was conceived by Delba Engelhardt.  She suggested that Kiwanians from both Missouri and Arkansas be invited to send their favorite recipes to her, she would compile them and edit a District Cookbook.  The first year's sales produced approximately $3,000.  Both the cookbook sales and the Silent Auction fundraisers have been successful and continue to be ongoing foundation fundraisers at District Conventions.

Dr. Coatney recommended that a Distinguished Service Award be given to individuals or clubs that need to be recognized for outstanding service to the Foundation.  The Distinguished Service Award recognition was approved.

Narvol Randol, of the Kiwanis Club of Cape Girardeau, was given the Distinguished Service Award for his having raised close to $100,000 for the Foundation Charter Program from the Missouri-Arkansas District.  At the time, Narvol resigned as Foundation Treasurer, was designated "Treasurer Emeritus," and was given a plaque with that designation to recognize him for his outstanding service.

The first club to receive the Distinguished Service Award was the Kiwanis club of Cape Girardeau for having contributed a total of $10,000 to the Foundation Charter Program.

The first couple to receive the Distinguished Service Award were Roberta and Howard Monroe of the Kiwanis Club of Creve Coeur, Missouri, for donating all proceeds, approximately $4,000, from the sale of decorative sweatshirts which Roberta created.

The Foundation Board decided to initiate the Fellow Program beginning in the 1993-94 administrative year.  It is modeled after and replaced the Charter Program.  A club or individual is named a "Fellow" by contributing at least $250 per year totaling at  least $1,000 over a four-year maximum time period.  The first club to make a $1,000 donation to become a Fellow Member was the Kiwanis Club of Cape Girardeau, followed by the Kiwanis Club of Springfield-South.  The first individual Fellow was Alvin Kroeter of the Kiwanis Club of Northwest St. Louis.

In recent years, the Governors and First Ladies have asked the clubs to make donations to the Foundation rather than presenting gifts to them. This has increased the annual income for the Foundation significantly.  Beginning in the 1995-96 administrative year, these donations will go to the Fellow Program rather than the charter Program.

The largest single donation to the Foundation to date is $149,237.56, received in June of 1986.  It was from the estate of William G. and Clara L. Cockrill, at the suggestion of W. Donald Dubail.  Over $13,000 was donated to the Earl Collins Foundation as a tribute to the 1991-92 Governor Del "Coach" Wachter who died while serving as MO-ARK Governor.  The Foundation received a bequest of over $10,000 from the estate of E. W. "Tuck" and Polly Tucker.

The Foundation has a plaque that is displayed at the District Conventions and Mid-Year Conferences listing the names of individuals and clubs that have made contributions to either the Charter Program or the Fellow Program. Also included are the names of the individuals and clubs that have received the Distinguished Service Award.

For several years, the amount of the scholarships was $500 for up to four years if the students applied and were approved for renewal.  There were from five to seven scholarships awarded most years.  Beginning with the 1989-90 academic year, scholarships were for one year only.  As the endowment increased to in excess of $300,000 and with interest rates over 10%, the amount of the scholarship was increased to $750 each, with up to 21 given for one year.  Beginning with the 1995-96 academic year, the Foundation has budgeted for 27 scholarships in the amount of $500 each.  This is one scholarship per division.  The District Key Club and District Circle K organizations have been included in the budget each year.  This has enabled them to provide additional leadership training materials and supplies, as well as funding for special projects that they did not have funding for otherwise.

Until the 1988-89 administrative year, the Immediate Past Governor of the Missouri-Arkansas Kiwanis District automatically served as President of the Foundation.  during the 1989 District Convention in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the current bylaws were updated to provide that the President of the Foundation be a Past Governor of the Missouri-Arkansas District and that he/she could serve a maximum of three cumulative years.  The revisions also provided that the Trustee from each division be a Past Lieutenant Governor of the MO-Ark District. An exception was made for Trustees who were currently in office so they could continue to serve.  The Trustees now serve for two years, with the Trustees from the uneven numbered divisions beginning in the uneven years and the Trustees from the even divisions rotating in the even years.

The offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer are elected each year.  The Immediate Past President is the only automatically designated officer.  Past Governor Ralph Merrill was the first President to serve a three-year term.  He served for the 1988-89, 1989-90, and 1990-91 administrative years.  Past Governor Les Mace has served as the Foundation Secretary since the beginning of the 1988-89 administrative year.

The first Foundation Brochure was designed and distributed during the 1990 District Convention in Hannibal, Missouri.  It is updated every few years to stay current.  A Foundation Logo was designed by Past Governor Gene Engelhardt.  It is now the official emblem for use on all Earl Collins Foundation pins, stationery, and awards.

The current goal of the Foundation is to increase the total endowment to at least $500,000.  At that time, it is hoped that additional funding can be given to the MO-ARK Circle K and Key Club organizations.  To achieve this goal, Foundation Officers and Trustees are encouraging Kiwanis Clubs and individuals to qualify for the "Fellow Award."