Southwestern Ohio Kiwanis Mental Health Association

SWOKMHA'S  BEGINNING  WAS  IN  1957

           From time to time we all have heard or read of the poor conditions that existed in mental institutions in the State of Ohio more than forty years ago. In 1957, one of the objects of Kiwanis International was the alleviation of mental health problems. Upon this premise the Wyoming-Lockland Kiwanis Club scheduled its April 30, 1957 meeting at greater Cincinnati's Longview State Hospital.

           About sixty (60) members of the club attended this meeting, which included a tour of the facility. What the members saw on their tour so aroused them that immediately upon conclusion of the tour, on the same night a special open meeting of the Board of Directors was convened. At this meeting, a special committee, consisting of Dr. Thomas Crotty, Mr. Thomas Jennings, Mr. Gilbert Shaver, Mr. Herb Schultz and Mr. Ted Marty, was appointed to investigate ways and means to improve the lot of the patients.

           During the regular May 7 (1957) meeting of the Wyoming-Lockland club, the special committee reported that the magnitude of the task was far beyond the ability of the local club to undertake alone. If it was possible to enlist the aid of all the local clubs and later, all of the state clubs, the task would be possible and success probable.

           The board approved invitations to each of the thirty-six (36) clubs in greater Cincinnati, asking them to send one (1) representative to a meeting at Longview and participate in a tour similar to that which the Wyoming-Lockland club had undertaken. Each of the 36 clubs was visited by a member of the Wyoming-Lockland club at which time a short presentation was made concerning the meeting purpose and personally extending the invitation.

           On May 28, the meeting was held, attended by about sixty (60) Kiwanis members as well as representatives of the press. The group was so shocked by conditions, that, after the tour a panel-type meeting was convened and discussion was led by the host Wyoming-Lockland club. It was agreed the general approach to the problem would be for the members present to explain conditions to their respective clubs and for their clubs to appoint a delegate to a large committee that would formulate a policy for action. It would start at the local club level and proceed through the division and district levels in an orderly manner, finally having resolutions prepared for the State Legislature for action in the 1959 session.

           The delegates met on July 1, 1957, again at Longview, and constituted themselves as the Southwestern Ohio Kiwanis Mental Health Committee. About fifty (50) Kiwanians were present, officers elected, and sub committees formed to pursue the following objectives:

1. Stimulate public understanding of the problems facing state institutions for mental health.

2. Secure adequate treatment and facilities for the mentally ill.

           A resolution was also prepared for the Ohio District Convention in August, 1957.

           The officers elected for the first SWOKMHA year, in 1957-58, were Dr. Thomas Crotty, General Chairman (Wyoming-Lockland) and Herbert Niemoeller, Secretary-Treasurer (Cincinnati). There were also seven subcommittees appointed.

           (Editor's note: That was the beginning of SWOKMHA as we know it to be today. The information was taken from a publicity piece prepared by W.F. McAllister, a member of Wyoming-Lockland and publicity chair of the Southwestern Ohio Kiwanis Mental Health Committee).