AUGUSTA — Nearly 100 Kiwanis members, dignitaries and guests filled the room at Augusta’s Senator Inn on June 9 to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Kiwanis Club of Augusta.

Augusta Mayor William Stokes lauded the organization for its years of service to the community and read a proclamation designating June 9 as Kiwanis Day in Augusta. Sen. Roger Katz, R-Augusta, whose father, the late Bennett Katz, was a past president of the organization and a catalyst of the University of Maine at Augusta, accepted posthumously his father’s Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Kiwanis District-4 Lt. Gov. Bob West, according to a release. Katz also presented Club President Chuck Calligan a Maine legislative resolution honoring the Augusta Kiwanis Club.

New England Kiwanis District Gov. Vesta Browne, Gov.-Elect Frank Dennett and Kiwanis International Trustee Steve Hill were among Kiwanis officials participating in the event.

Others on the program included Past Kiwanis President Milt Huntington, who recognized 29 Kiwanians for their combined 575 years of service to the organization, amounting to an estimated 115,000 hours of dedication to the club and the community, according to the release. The Legion of Honor recipients included Dr. Brint Darlington, 60 years; Roy Hussey, 55 years; Robert Leason, 45 years; Roger Pomerleau and Peter Thompson, 30 years; and Carolyn Perry, Nina Mendall, Chuck Calligan, David Hastings, Jed Davis, Henry Madore and Mark Johnston, 25 years. Seventeen others received Legion of Merit recognition in five-year increments during a 20-year-period.

Also on the program were Bob West who spoke of Kiwanis traditions; Clayton Rollins on the Kiwanis Scholarship Foundation; Betsy Pohl on 25 years of women in Kiwanis; Carolyn Perry on the first woman governor’s year; and Dr. Alice Savage on Kiwanis sponsored youth programs.

Kiwanian Charlie Kanozak served as master of ceremonies with Kiwanis members Mark Johnston, William Tozier and well-known Augusta vocalist Birdie Katz providing musical entertainment.