UNITY —Will the current service club display at Unity and District Museum soon see an expansion?
Local Kin Club members and former Kinsmen and Kinettes say there is a need to permanently house material that showcases the storied history of the service club in the community. At present, this collection is being moved amongst current and former members and there is a real risk of losing or damaging these important pieces of history.
Founding Kinsmen member, Barry Richards, and his wife, Joyce, found historic Kinsmen and Kinette items when downsizing. They brought them to the local newspaper office, hoping someone could find a place to display them.
My parents were Kinsmen and Kinettes, and I a member of the North Battleford and Unity Kinette Clubs for more than 25 years and I proposed the idea to Unity Kin Club president, Amanda Whyte about initiating a Kin history display at the local museum.
Currently Kinsmen and Kinette archives are homeless and have moved about multiple times as members come and go. The Kin Club is hoping they can find permanent space to display these items.
Kin efforts have been part of the community for more than 60 years and included the start of what is now known as Unity Western Days. Telemiracle fundraising efforts were part of the clubs’ efforts to contribute to the province-wide telethon. The list is long and, like the Kinsmen diamond at the Unity Regional Park, the contributions have been a big part of community culture.
While the idea is just that, an idea, the concept of developing space at the local museum to include this club’s history needs help. For one, there needs to be funding to create expanded space at the museum. The museum also needs to decide on a suitable display area.
“Currently, we have a few Kin items in the club area, and I think a few photo albums," says Chris Martin, museum volunteer. "In the club area we have historic items included from the cubs, guides, Rebecca’s, 4-H, Lions, Queen Esther, Kinettes, cadets and a few other old clubs. The display includes an archive area for photo albums, books and scrapbooks."
Martin adds all Unity’s service club have contributed to the community and are a big part of Unity’s history. The Horsman house has a room dedicated to the old homemakers’ clubs and includes meeting minutes and archive books.
There are many past Kinsmen and Kinettes behind the idea of a special section dedicated to Kin history. Whyte, says, “We would need to have a conversation with the museum group to see if they are on board with creating a Kin specific display, where it might be located and what may be needed for funds and manpower to make this dream come to reality.”
There may come a time where former Kinsmen and Kinette club members will be sought to help out with adding historical items for the proposed display or make a donation to help create display space.
