The North Shore Kiwanis Club celebrated longtime member Scott Whitting for 50 years of service to the organization and honoring his military background during a dinner held at the Greenvale Townhouse Restaurant.
The April 15 event, which featured dinner, speeches and a ceremonial cake, honored Whitting’s decades of commitment to community service as well as his distinguished time in the U.S. military.
In a later interview, Club President Chris Salmon said planning for the celebration began several months earlier, after Whitting had been honored for his military service on Veteran’s Day of last year. Organizers later realized the recognition coincided with Whitting’s 50th year as a Kiwanis member.
“We decided it was great time to honor him for both things,” Salmon said, “both his 50th year in the North Shore Kiwanis Club and his military service.”
The evening’s program included remarks from several speakers who highlighted Whitting’s longstanding involvement in club initiatives and his impact on the community. Doug Barnaby of Sea Cliff, one of only two members who have been in the club longer than Whitting and who has known him for more than five decades, reflected on his early days in the club and his consistent leadership in volunteer efforts.
Whitting has played a key role in many Kiwanis projects, including fundraising events that support community programs. Among them is the Sea Cliff Mini Mart, which helps fund initiatives such as providing clothing and school supplies for children in need.
“Any type of those events that took place over the years,” Salmon said, “Scott was always like a key player.”
The celebration also spotlighted Whitting’s military service. A Green Beret, he served in West Germany during the Cold War and later volunteered for a second tour in Vietnam as a medical specialist supporting advanced operations.
Salmon said those stories left a strong impression on attendees, particularly newer members. According to Salmon, the event underscored the importance of recognizing community members who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to service.
“My big takeaway for the meeting was the wow factor that we got from some of the newer members,” he said, “or those who didn’t know Scott about his service.”
To learn more about the North Shore Kiwanis Club and their work, visit NorthShoreKiwanisLI.com.
