Kiwanis Board member Mike Markwell and new Escanaba president Casey Wright chat after the monthly board meeting. Wright is beginning her first year as club president, and Markwell is leading the club’s transition from its Home and Garden Show to its Spring Expo. (Contributed photo)

ESCANABA – The Escanaba Kiwanis Club changes its leadership every year. This year, though, that’s not the only change taking place.

For some time, the club has been noticing shifts in its annual Home and Garden Show, according to Kiwanis Board member Mike Markwell. The show dates back to the 1950s when the club’s Pancake Days were born. The show is the club’s major fundraising event, helping to pay for Kiwanis and other youth programs throughout the area.

The club next year will kick off its brand-new Spring Expo, set for April 10-12.

“We were always looking for new vendors, and among the feedback we’ve heard is we’ve gotten less garden vendors in recent years and have gotten new vendors that don’t have much to do with gardens. The key is we’re continuing to bring more of a variety of vendors into the new show,” Markwell said.

The club’s new president, Casey Wright, said the new show meshes well with the club’s long-term goals of increasing membership and doing even more for local youth organizations.

“I believe in our mission that we are a service club that emphasizes serving youth in our community, and we are going to attract other residents who would also like to do that,” Wright said.

In the past, a challenge to building more memberships was residents who may find it difficult to pay dues to the national Kiwanis organization. The board has decided to cover those dues payments for members who take part in a level of volunteering for club activities and events.

“We’ve rebranded from the Home and Garden Show to the Spring Expo to reflect how much the event has already grown. It’s now about more than home improvement,” Wright said.

Since moving back to the area just over two years ago, Wright said she wanted to increase ties to the community, and the Kiwanis was a perfect fit.

“I was looking for ways to make more of a connection in the community. The club has been a great opportunity to build relationships and better understand community needs. I was happy to step into open roles, first as club secretary and then as president,” Wright said.

Wright’s mother, Patricia Rudden, was a Kiwanis lieutenant governor in the past, as well as club president and Home and Garden chair.

“The Escanaba Kiwanis Spring Expo will bring together local businesses, nonprofits, and families to celebrate the spirit of our community,” Wright said. “Through interactive exhibits, food and fun, the Expo will provide a welcoming space for residents to connect, discover local resources, and support initiatives that help children thrive.”

Residents who want to learn more about the Escanaba Kiwanis and its new Spring Expo can go to the club’s Web site, EscanabaKiwanis.org.

Wright works at UKG, a provider of workforce management and human capital management solutions. Markwell is minister at Immanuel Lutheran Church.