On November 5, 1953, the Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club was officially chartered with 35 members.  The Charter Night Program was held at the Belle Haven Country Club on Fort Hunt Road.  The General Chairmen of the event were Clarence Gosnell of Mount Vernon and Marvin Sims of Alexandria, our sponsoring Club.  Accepting the Charter for Mount Vernon was Donald Ball, the First President of our Club.  The other Officers were Clarence Gosnell, First Vice President, Eugene Olmi, Second Vice President, Walter McClanahan, Treasurer, and August Saury, Secretary.  The first Board of Directors consisted of Walter Crain, Richard Hardie, Bruce Harris, William Kress, John Kurtz, Preston Millard, and Alexander Robertson. 

The Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club had its beginning with a small group of businessmen who were members of the Alexandria Junior Chamber of Commerce during the late 1940's and the early 1950's.  They met weekly as a separate lunch Club at the Penn Daw restaurant on Route 1.  Cooper Dawson, a member of the group, owned the restaurant.  Also among this group was Clarence Gosnell, a land developer and home builder, who was community-minded and wanted this small group to form an organization f its own.  Since most members were either living or working in the Mount Vernon area, they decided to give their new organization a Mount Vernon name and to promote community service.  This led the group to Kiwanis International, which offered them what they were looking for in a major service organization.  The Alexandria Kiwanis Club agreed to sponsor the new Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club, and the ceremony was held, as noted above, at the Belle View Country Club on November 5, 1953.

On October 1, 2008, the Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club celebrated its 55th Anniversary at its Charter Night blowout party.  Officers and Board of Directors members were installed by the District Lt. Governor, awards were presented, 4 new members were inducted, and dance music and song were provided by the "M & R Projects" band.  The Country Club chef surpassed himself with his crab-stuffed chicken delight entree, and the desserts were, as always, as rich as you could ever want.  It was a memorable meeting for all the attendees, never to be repeated until next October at our 56th Charter Night party evening! 

Community service to the needy, student leadership programs to local schools from grades 1-12, and youth services for children with special needs as well as Head Start programs remain at the core of our varied buffet of service programs and projects.  Visitors are always welcome to participate in our community service projects and to join us for a dinner program on either the first or third Wednesday of the month.  Simply contact the President or webmaster at any time to make specific arrangements.