Dodge City AMBUCS Chapter History
December 3, 1983 to May 31,2022
December 3, 1983 to May 31,2022
The Dodge City Chapter was Chartered December 3, 1983 by the Enid A.M. Chapter with 36 Charter Members. The Spark Plug was the infamous Ray Schoonover. Marston J. Dodge of Kalamazoo, MI was the National President, H. Robert Clift of Enid, OK was the Region 5 Director, Arvin Trent of Salina, KS was the 5-C District Governor, and Butch Dowse from Dodge City was the Charter Chapter President.
Region 5 was renamed Great Plains Region and Nebraska & Arkansas were added to Oklahoma & Kansas. In 1990 two Districts (5-F & 5-G) were added to the Region. Dodge City became part of District 5-F. On June 1, 2017 District 5-F was dissolved, and we are not affiliated with any District at this time.
Region 5 was renamed Great Plains Region and Nebraska & Arkansas were added to Oklahoma & Kansas. In 1990 two Districts (5-F & 5-G) were added to the Region. Dodge City became part of District 5-F. On June 1, 2017 District 5-F was dissolved, and we are not affiliated with any District at this time.
Fund Raisers:
- The first fund raiser was held in 1984 which was a Kathy Twitty Concert (daughter of Conway Twitty). It was fortunate the chapter took the guarantee because the show was a bust.
- The second fund raiser was painting the light poles in the Walmart parking lot. Fortunately, one member had a bucket truck that would reach the top of the poles.
- In 1987, the first Home & Leisure Show was held and that continued annually until 2017.
- 1987 was the same year the first Dodge City Days Charity Golf Tournament was held and this fund raiser still continues today.
- In 1988, we provided security for the “Big Bird” live show for all three performances.
- In 1989 Summerfest was started, including a city-wide fireworks display on July 4th, and continued for many years.
- Working the concession stand at the Dodge City Civic Center is a fund raiser we became very proficient at. We worked all the major events and often took commission as opposed to guarantee pay in order to make more money.
- From 2002 – 2007, we provided ushers for the Dodge City Legends Semi-Pro Basketball team (USBL) for every home game at the Dodge City Civic Center. We also operated the pass gate.
- 2008 was the first year we had bounce houses at the Dodge City Round Up Rodeo. The bounce houses were furnished by K&M Rental so all proceeds were profit. This project continued for several years until K&M closed.
- In 2018, we started a Charity Auction at Central Station Bar & Grill. This has become an annual event continuing today. In 2022, we held an on-line auction a few days prior to the live auction which seemed to work pretty well.
Service Projects
- In 1992, our chapter built and operated a BMX race track at Wright Park. We operated the track for several years until the city took over.
- In 1992, we entered our first float in the Dodge City Days Parade, it was seen by thousands, and took 2nd place. We continued to enter a float every year, then in 2014 we started facilitating the parade for the Chamber of Commerce.
- In 1993, we constructed our first ramp which was concrete and actually went uphill from the house. Today we install aluminum ramps which can be repurposed if there is no longer a need for it.
- In 1994, we constructed a 0.32-mile concrete walking trail in Beeson Arboretum. Then in 1995 built a picnic shelter in the park and in later years, installed accessible playground equipment and a wheelchair swing in 2019.
- A summer camp for children with special needs was held for many years with pictures making the front cover of the AMBUCS Magazine in 1996.
- Anytime our community has held a Health Fair we have had a booth promoting AMBUCS, Amtrykes, and the Dodge City Chapter.
- We held our first annual Special Olympics / Arrowhead West Christmas Party in 1996 and it is still going strong today.
- 2014 we started faciliting the Dodge City Days Parade for the Dodge City Chamber of Commerce. We still continue to facilitate the parade today by promotion, registration, staging, judging, and providing awards to the winners. The first parade entry is our Amtryke Demo Trailer.
- Trek For Trykes was held for a few years around 2017. Participation was limited and the project was discontinued.
- We have provided special equipment for people in need including: walkers, page turner, wheelchairs, van wheelchair lifts, pediatric stander, and scooters.
- In 2019, the 46th Annual Kansas Shrine Bowl was held in Dodge City. Our chapter facilitated the Shrine Parade through Downtown Dodge. One thing we learned is there isn’t a lot of difference between a group of Shriners and a group of AMBUCS.
- Providing scholarships for second year therapy assistant students has assisted many through the program. The majority have been with Colby Community College.
- An emergency fund provides up to $150 to assist people in need with medical treatment, travel expenses, lodging, etc.
- The first AmTryke donated by our chapter was built by the Longview, TX Chapter in 1994 before trykes were a National AMBUCS initiative. We have donated a lot of Amtrykes over the years of various sizes and designs. We have also had a lot of trykes returned when they were outgrown, and we have reconditioned them and repurposed them to others.
The Dodge City Chapter has built three new AMBUCS Chapters: Garden City, KS / Prairie Schooners in Dodge City, KS / Cimarron KS. None of these chapters are active today.
The first Regional Convention/Conference hosted by the Dodge City Chapter was in 1988, we hosted again in 1996, 2002, and 2017.
Many members of our chapter over the years have served the AMBUCS organization at the District and Regional level. The only National Officer from Dodge City, at this point in time, is Duane Nietling: National Big Hat President 2011 – 2012.
We are privileged to have 2 of our Chapter’s Charter Members still active in our chapter today. (Merle Kaufman & Bill Hawley)
Through the years we have had many exciting, fun, sensational, fun, entertaining, fun, pleasurable, fun, delightful, and fun chapter socials. These have been enjoyed by members, family, friends, members of other chapters and many dignitaries.
We chartered with 36 members in December and in May ended the year with 41 members. Year end 1985 and 1986 was our lowest membership at 26. The largest membership was 70 in 2009 – 2011. Current membership May 31, 2022 is 37.
The first Regional Convention/Conference hosted by the Dodge City Chapter was in 1988, we hosted again in 1996, 2002, and 2017.
Many members of our chapter over the years have served the AMBUCS organization at the District and Regional level. The only National Officer from Dodge City, at this point in time, is Duane Nietling: National Big Hat President 2011 – 2012.
We are privileged to have 2 of our Chapter’s Charter Members still active in our chapter today. (Merle Kaufman & Bill Hawley)
Through the years we have had many exciting, fun, sensational, fun, entertaining, fun, pleasurable, fun, delightful, and fun chapter socials. These have been enjoyed by members, family, friends, members of other chapters and many dignitaries.
We chartered with 36 members in December and in May ended the year with 41 members. Year end 1985 and 1986 was our lowest membership at 26. The largest membership was 70 in 2009 – 2011. Current membership May 31, 2022 is 37.
