On May 26, the Rapid City Cosmopolitan Club will celebrate its 80th birthday, and Dick Kahler will be there, just like he’s been there for the past 50 birthdays.
 
     By contrast, Kenny Putnam will be celebrating his first Cosmo birthday as one of the newest members of the local civic club.
    
     The addition of Putnam and 20 other new members last week made the Rapid City Cosmo Club the second-largest in the nation, now boasting 100 members. That’s a step in the right direction, says Cosmo Club member Bob White, whose ultimate goal is to make the Rapid City club the largest in the nation.
 
    The International Cosmopolitan Club formed in 1918 and today has 70 clubs in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It has more than 2,000 members.

     Rapid City’s club organized Feb. 11, 1929.

    In its early years, the Rapid City Cosmo Club raised funds for various causes, including a milk fund to provide milk for schools. To raise money, the club held its infamous Cosmo Follies each year. The event often featured some of the town’s most prominent business leaders decked out in drag. Kahler remembers those days with a laugh, but said eventually, the Follies died away.

     When the government began providing milk to schools, the milk fund died away as well. Eventually, however, the Cosmos took up the cause of diabetes. Today, they are often referred to as “the club that fights diabetes.”

     White said the club wants to play a role in the prevention and elimination of diabetes, a disease that affects 24 million people in the United States. Nationally, the Cosmos have raised enough money to open six diabetes centers in the United States.

     Locally, the Cosmos co-sponsor the Black Hills Sport Show each year to raise money for diabetes prevention and research. It has contributed money to the Cosmopolitan Diabetes Foundation, the Children’s Care Fun and the Rapid City Regional Endocrinology Clinic and Diabetes Inc. The club also contributes to such local organization as Big Brothers/Sisters, Working Against Violence Inc., CASA and others.

     On May 26, the Rapid City club will celebrate its birthday with International Cosmo President Jim Smith of Saskatoon, Canada. At the banquet, the club will toast its 80 years and recognize past presidents. It also will honor Cosmo of the Year Steve Ferley; the club's Community Service Award honoree, Bill Keck; and The Rapid City Distinguished Service Award Honoree, Linda Rabe.

     The club also will induct its new members, including Putnam. Putnam said he vividly remembers the Cosmo Follies as a kid and would love to revive a similar talent show-type event now that he’s involved. Kahler laughs at the thought of a Cosmo Follies revival but admits it was a crowd-pleaser.

     Putnam has the same memory and thinks a return of the Follies might just be a great idea.  “I remember the Como Follies as a kid. … I was 10 or something,” he said. “It just seemed like it was a popular event. I honestly thought that was a popular way to push the cause to the public.”

     Interested in the Cosmopolitan Club?  he Rapid City Cosmopolitan Club meets from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. each Monday at Thirsty’s, 819 Main St., Rapid City. The last Monday of each month, the club has “Mingle Mondays” when it visits new and established businesses in Rapid City to learn more about the community.

     The Cosmo Club co-sponsors the Black Hills Sport Show each February to raise money for diabetes research and prevention. It also raises funds by ushering at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center events. Spouses of club members have their own organization called the Cosmo Pals.

     The Rapid City Cosmopolitan Club will celebrate its 80th birthday Tuesday, May 26, at Minerva’s in Rapid City. For more information, call Bob White, 716-3647, or go to www.rccosmopolitanclub.org.

     Contact Lynn Taylor Rick at 394-8414 or lynn.taylorrick@rapidcity journal.com.