Mission Statement
We members of the Kiwanis Club of Florence strive to enrich the lives of children in our community and beyond and to assist in the development of our present and future community leaders.

Vision StatementWe desire our club to be known as the premier civic club in Florence with a diverse membership comprised of young professionals through senior citizens, who together foster an atmosphere of fun, fellowship, and volunteerism.

Today we have been notified that one of our most beloved Kiwanis members Jack Busch has passed away. For all of us he was an inspiration and a beacon of light when he attended out meetings. Throughout his time in Florence he has placed his fingerprints on many projects and led the way to making our club the greatest civic club in Florence. He was a man that put others first and loved to entertain. We will truly miss his jokes, his charisma, his great big heart, but most of all the man that will ever be Jack Busch. Thanks for all your years of service.

Jack pictured above with his wife at this year’s Kiwanis Banquet. Jack is our 2007-2008 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner.

[Submitted by Brent Tiller]

A little about Coach Macy....


Last year Coach led the 6-22 Patriots (06-07) to a 21-9 record and a share of the Peach Belt Conference Championship. Under her direction the Patriot\'s turn-around was the ninth-best turn-around in Division II history. While posting the 21-9 record, along with the share of the Peach Belt Conference regular-season crown the Patriots earned a bid to the NCAA Division II national tournament, where the program served as host for the South Atlantic Regional.

Besides being a great coach, she is a motivational giant and with her outgoing personality brought fans out in the masses to watch their games. In the community she holds clinics and camps for the young and the young at heart. Heather Hoopsters and her coaching clinics are becoming the \"it\" event for sports in the Pee Dee. Look for more great things to come from Coach Heather Macy.



[Submitted by Brent Tiller]



Picture from the South Florenec Key Club on October 2, 2008. This was their first service project - they collected donations for the Florence Humane Society's recent yard sale.

Great Job
[Submitted by Brent Tiller]

2008 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner



On Tuesday September 23rd the Club held it\'s Annual Banquet. At the Banquet President Pete Hoogendonk recognized the following award winners.

Kiwanian Of The Year - Pierce Campbell
Spark Plug Award - Bill Dubose
Kiwanis Lifetime Achievement Award - Jack Bush (pictured above)

Thanks for all the hard work you all do to make the club successful!

[Submitted by Brent Tiller]


Dr. Neal D. Thigpen has been a member of the Francis Marion University faculty in Florence since 1971. A native of Baltimore, MD, he earned his B.A. in history at the University of Maryland, where he earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in American Government and Politics.

He served as chairman of the Political Science Department at Francis Marion from 1972 to 1996 and again from 2002 to 2004. He is the author of many articles and monographs on American politics and a member of numerous academic honor societies and professional political science association.

Francis Marion University established the “Neal D. Thigpen Chair in Public Affairs” in Dr. Thigpen’s honor in 2002.

Dr. Neal Thigpen will be discussing this years elections both national and local. Have your questions ready for Dr. Thigpen.

[Submitted by Brent Tiller]