GRANITE FALLS — When Lisa Streich joined the Granite Falls Kiwanis Club just 2½ years ago, she knew it would put her as a volunteer in the organization’s iconic popcorn stand in the community’s downtown.
Never in her wildest dreams did she expect that her membership in the club would put her in Pasadena, California, riding a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade . But that’s where she finds herself: She is one of seven chosen from across the country to ride on the Kiwanis International float in the famous New Year’s Day extravaganza.
ADVERTISEMENT
To spot her in the parade, look for the Kiwanis International float featuring the theme “Beeing Together.” It features a dangling bee hive and two giant bees amidst its colorful flowers.
Kiwanis International invited the small-town chapter from Minnesota to seat a representative on the float in recognition of its success in growing membership. While the national narrative is that membership in service organizations is declining, the Granite Falls chapter of Kiwanis has seen a 20% membership increase in the last year.
It’s a small chapter of just over 30 members, but the proportion of its growth caught the attention of the organization, which counts more than 445,000 “family members” worldwide, according to its website.
Club members credit Streich for her outreach and for helping make the local chapter’s growth possible. They asked her if she would represent the club on the float. Being relatively new to the group, Streich said she felt the honor should belong to one of the club’s long-term stalwarts. She said she would go only if no one else would do so.
Streich has long been active in community service projects. Ironically, that is why she said she was initially hesitant about joining the local Kiwanis Club when invited to do so. She was very involved in a fundraising campaign for a destination park playground at the time.
“Did I need one more thing to do?” she asked herself.
Her friend, who asked her to consider joining the club, convinced her to take in a meeting and check it out.
ADVERTISEMENT
She has not turned back since. The once-a-week noon meetings by themselves are fun, she said. It’s an opportunity to break bread and have a good time with people she would usually not get to meet and know, she explained.
Many of the meetings feature talks and programs put on by guests invited by club members, and they are very informational and interesting, she added.
Streich said she also appreciates the service aspect of being a member. The Kiwanis mission is focused on serving youth. The local chapter helps fund activities for youth and hosts events such as an annual fishing derby.
“We work well together as a team,” she said, adding that the addition of new members adds to the excitement.
The local chapter raises funds for its community philanthropy through sales at the downtown popcorn stand. Members take turns staffing the popcorn stand during a season that runs from May into September.
Streich said she looks forward to her time in the popcorn stand. “All the people we meet at the popcorn stand. It’s just amazing,” she said.
Yet no doubt, it’s not quite as amazing as a New Year’s Day break from a Minnesota winter in sunny California. The Kiwanis have had a float in the Tournament of Roses parade since the 1920s.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 136th annual parade is set to feature tennis great Billie Jean King as the grand marshal under the theme “Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language.” The Kiwanis International float will be among 39 floats covered in flowers and natural materials.
The floats, marching bands and equestrian units follow a 5½-mile parade route lined by more than 700,000 spectators, according to the Tournament of Roses website. It estimates that television coverage reaches more than 20 million households.
The New Year’s Day parade will be broadcast on national television beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The Trust Project
