By way of celebrating its own 100 years, the Greenfield Kiwanis Club recently honored the membership of some of its longtime members.

Phil Corrinet was recognized for 25 years of membership; Arjen Vriend, Dan Gagaris, Doug Clark, Bill Baker, Jeanne Milton and Gary Longley, meanwhile, were recognized for 30 years; and Steve Chamberlain was recognized for 35 years.

The recognition comes as the organization celebrates more than 100 years in Greenfield, according to member Tom Murphy. Each member with more than 25 years of service was presented with a Legion of Honor certificate for their membership.

The club, which got its start in 1922, has raised money and provided volunteer support to organizations throughout the city, particularly to those working with youth. In its early years, the club covered the cost of uniforms for the Greenfield High School Band. The Kiwanis helped send the band to the state tournament and hosted a clambake for more than 160 band members.

In more recent years, the club has donated to Camp Kee-wanee and coordinated the rebuilding of the flag pole on top of Poet’s Seat Tower. In 2021, the club took over the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office’s annual golf tournament to benefit Warm the Children. Members also take part in an annual Bicycle Safety Rodeo, which provides helmets and bicycle safety lessons to kids.

“It’s good people that have a similar desire to help the youth in the community,” Gagaris said of the club. “It helps keep me young by working with youths.”

Gagaris said before moving to Greenfield, he was a Kiwanis member in Missouri. When he moved to Massachusetts, a member of his church noticed his Kiwanis pin and invited him to join the Greenfield chapter. Since joining 30 years ago, he’s helped with the Recreation Department soccer programming, built accessibility ramps for local residents, raked leaves with the Key Club and read to elementary school students. He’s also a “big supporter” of the triathlon and is most proud of the Kiwanis Club’s involvement in replacing the flag pole at Poet’s Seat Tower.

Corrinet, meanwhile, said he’s most proud of the club’s role in financially supporting Camp Kee-wanee, helping to keep its doors open when it was at risk of closing about 15 years ago.

“Now it’s a very active summer camp,” he said. “That was real positive energy.”

Over the years, however, the group’s membership has begun to dwindle. Corrinet said there are about 20 members, of which half are active. As recently as six or seven years ago, there were closer to 55 members.

Corrinet said there are multiple reasons to join, if not just for the opportunity to volunteer.

“It’s a fun organization, and it’s great for networking,” he said. “There are lots of different reasons people get involved.”

Gagaris also recalled a time when membership was closer to 50 members.

“It’s just hard finding people that have the same civic vision as we do and have the time to commit to volunteering in the community,” he said. “It’s been tough trying to replace our aging population and some of the folks have moved away … but that’s been the biggest challenge: trying to find people who are excited about helping the youth.”

He said that isn’t a knock on the younger generations — they have their hands full.

“The few of us that are left know what it means to give a book to a child and put a helmet on a child at no cost to them or their families,” Gagaris said. “It’s something we do out of the kindness of our big hearts.”

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter (X): @MaryEByrne.