Eloise Killeffer: Kiwanis Ringmaster Retires

When she began her term as president of the New Canaan chapter of Kiwanis International two years ago, Eloise Killeffer's goal was to give the organization a higher profile in town.

"We're so low key nobody knows we're here," Killeffer told Patch. "We need the community's support. The community needs to know who we are."

Now in its 70th year in town, Kiwanis continues to fulfill its mission to "serve the children of the world" by raising money for scholarships through its annual pancake breakfast in December and other initiatives. But with membership hovering around 24, Killeffer thought the group could use a boost.

"We used to be a much bigger club at one time," Killeffer said. "We had a different membership base. One of biggest obstacles is there are no corporations in New Canaan. The business people are self-employed, or work at one- or two-person law firms." 

Membership dues, at $500 a year, are not inexpensive, and along with its dwindling membership, the club's profile in town was diminishing.

"For years we sponsored a soap box derby every spring at Waveny," Killeffer said. "The last time we did it was 2007 and four kids showed up. We sold the soap box cars to Danbury."

Even Kiwanis Park is no longer theirs and, except for its name, it is associated with another service club in town. "We turned it over to the town rather long ago," Killeffer said. "The Exchange Club sells Christmas trees at Kiwanis Park now."

Killeffer and her fellow members were looking for something that would put Kiwanis back on the map.

And then the circus came to town.

Kiwanis member Kathleen Holland and her husband Jeff were in Little Compton, RI for a weekend in 2009 when they stopped by to see a one-ring circus that was performing at the local fire department, Killeffer said. 

"She told us about Circus Vidbel. She brought pictures and information and we got in touch with them," Killeffer said. "They had two days available in all of 2010. We booked them."

Knowing this was an ambitious undertaking, Kiwanis partnered with the YMCA to bring the circus to New Canaan last July. "Smartest thing we ever did," Killeffer said.

They sold 2,500 tickets and raised more money than with any fundraiser, Killeffer said. Circus profits have been allocated, including a donation of $6,000 The Outback to fund its new recording studio.

In an e-mail to Patch, Susan Cossette Eng, director of marketing and financial development for the YMCA said, "It was so rewarding to partner with the Kiwanis Club to bring the circus to our community. Both the Y and the Kiwanis Club share a common mission of serving children ... We really look forward to doing it again next year"

Killeffer's two year term as president will end on Wednesday when Jenny Esposito takes over. Esposito is the Store Manager at TD Bank in New Canaan and has been a Kiwanis member for nearly 20 years. She appreciates the energy Killeffer has brought to her role.

"Eloise is wonderful. She's so involved in the community," Esposito said. "She embraced the role and did wonderful things with it. We're going to continue to build on what she's done for us."

Killeffer said that she's tried "really hard" to build the Kiwanis brand in town.

"We'll all keep on doing that," she said.

Now leaving the center ring … Eloise Killeffer.