McDougall speaks to Kiwanis on event

Kenrad Pederson introduced Dr. Kenneth McDougall to speak at the March 29 Kiwanis noon luncheon meeting in the Lantern Room. He told about experiences as a volunteer for the American Dental Association. He was active in the local, state and national organizations through the years and did a lot of traveling and got acquainted with other dentists.

McDougall said it was amazing that everywhere he went when people discovered he was from North Dakota they asked questions. “Do you have cell phones and the Internet in North Dakota?” “How do you get around in North Dakota, on snowmobiles?” He progressed up the ladder in leadership as a trustee and was elected chair of the National ADA Convention about two and half years before the meeting was to be held in San Francisco. At the election before the chair announced the name of the winner, he prefaced his words by saying, “Well, this surprised me, Dr. Kenneth McDougall, James-town, North Dakota, will chair the meeting in San Francisco.”

McDougall said he decided to plan the meeting the North Dakota small-town way. As people arrived they were helped to find their way, and a hostess gift awaited them in their rooms to say “welcome.” People were informed ahead of time on their ticket the room number of the classes they’d be attending. With 360 classes, it had been bedlam before with many people asking where their session was to be held. After the convention people complimented him on the event. Mc-Dougall said the comments weren’t meant so much for him personally as it was for the small town hospitality they received. He especially addressed the Key Club youth in attendance at the Kiwanis meeting saying, “Be proud of being from North Dakota. We can do so many things, because we have been involved in so many experiences.”

Guests at the meeting were Kiwanis spouses Marlene Axtman, Joyce Bentz, Vivian Welsh and Rod Wilhelm; Key Club officers Troy Borowicz, Kory Kleinknecht and Bobby Kesler, and future Kiwanis member Dr. James Johnson.

Kiwanis members have tickets to sell for their Annual Pancake Day, May 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Ticket prices are $6 adult, $20 family, $3 child- ren ages 6-12 and preschool children are admitted free. Proceeds go to support Kiwanis projects in the community.

Pam Wirth is the program chair for the April 12 Kiwanis noon meeting at the Lantern Room.

Tags: community, clubs, kiwanis, mcdougall