I joined the Mount Vernon Kiwanis two years ago. It was a big deal, given that for most of my life I’ve tended more toward participating than joining. For me, the difference between those verbs is more than nuance. Like Groucho Marx, I’ve always been a bit sceptical of any organization that would have me as a member. There should be some standards, after all. 

Kiwanis was different, however. To begin with, it felt like a good way to honor the legacy of Meyer Sign’s founder, John Meyer, who had been a member of the Mount Vernon Kiwanis and a much loved member of the community. 

As a new arrival to the Magic Skagit, it didn’t take long for me to appreciate the impact of the long-time nonprofit on our community, especially when taking my grandsons to Kiwanis Park on 18th Street. And then, of course, there was the decades long tradition of the Tulip Festival Salmon BBQ, which in addition to being a major fundraising exercise is also a month-long opportunity to enjoy a fantastic meal in the historic setting of the Hillcrest Lodge.

It was only after joining Kiwanis, however, that I began to appreciate its mission of “serving the children of the world.” Through its fundraising efforts, the Mount Vernon chapter realizes this mission by recognizing and supporting youth in our community through scholarships and awards. It was also quickly evident just how much this commitment to serving our youth was a shared attribute among the club members. Getting to know these members has further increased my respect for the organization.

One of the Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club members who regularly inspires me is Swil Kanim, who first came to my attention a few years ago on the last day of the Salmon BBQ for that particular Tulip Festival. My wife and I were enjoying our ice cream bar dessert (just one element of the Salmon BBQ menu) when a dapper gentlemen picked up a violin and blew me away. If you’ve heard Swil Kanim play, as many in our community have, you know exactly what I mean. For those of you who haven’t, type “Swil Kanim” into your browser and be amazed.

At a recent Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club meeting, we recognized a couple of “students of the month,” and we were all impressed with not only their academic achievements, but even more so with their community involvement and their belief in the importance of service in their lives. In response, Swil Kanim honored our young award recipients with music, and prefaced his pieces with stories of a wise uncle and the healing mysteries of nature that with Swil Kanim’s permission I’m honored to share. Enjoy the beauty of his words as well as his violin.