When Ferrin Lauve was a member of the Redmond Kiwanis Club in the mid-1970s, there were 25 members.

In the late ‘90s when he served as president of the club, 15 members resided on its roster.

Nowadays, the club’s membership has dwindled to five members — with hopefully many more to come.

Lauve is presently the lieutenant governor of Kiwanis’ Division 28, which includes 11 clubs on the Eastside. He’s not a member of the Redmond club anymore, but his heart still lies with the club and he’d like to raise its numbers to 25 and even 50 in the future.

Kiwanis’ specialty is youth-leadership building for students from kindergarten through college.

Lauve sat across the table from me in our staff conference room on Monday afternoon and you could tell he’s a Kiwanis man through and through. He had passion in his eyes and voice about the national service club — which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2015 — and I couldn’t help but be drawn in to his world.

At one point during our one-hour conversation, Lauve jolted forward in his chair, slapped his hands together and spoke loudly — and proudly — about the skeleton crew of the “newly revitalized” Redmond club that’s doing wonders for the community:

“Look at what these five members are doing. It’s amazing!” he said.

Some of the volunteer club’s service projects include sponsorship of the Ole (One League for Everyone) soccer team at Einstein Elementary, the Redmond High School Key club and the Pack 558 Cub Scout troop at Rosa Parks Elementary. They also help out at Derby Days and offer financial support for Avondale Manor, the Hopelink Food Bank, Lake Washington Schools Foundation and more. The club is also looking to support a local youth orchestra and art center.

Kiwanis has a presence in more than 80 countries and I was one of those students who benefited from the organization. As a youngster, I was honored at a Kiwanis luncheon in Hermosa Beach, Calif. for my involvement as president of my school’s student council and participation in several community events. I even made a speech at the luncheon about my activities. It was a huge moment for me.

“It’s a big deal among parents to have their kids develop a sense of the value of community service,” Lauve said. “It develops a great sense of self-worth and trust in the individuals. Also, the concept is working together as a team.”

Lauve felt the Redmond club’s numbers declined because members felt the lunches were too expensive, they weren’t keen on the noon meetings and people were retiring and leaving the club, which disintegrated to the point of being dormant for a few years in the 2000s.

But Lauve and others are bringing Kiwanis back.

He said people should join the club to help build the leaders of tomorrow and because it “makes a difference when the public knows that you care about the community.”

Redmond Kiwanis President Raymond Wong is equally as enthusiastic about the club as Lauve.

He’s been a member since 2008 and said they “want to do whatever we can to support the youth in the area.”

With the Ole Sounder Boys soccer squad, Wong said the players gain encouragement and self-pride when they’re involved with the team. Through Kiwanis’ sponsorship, a lot of the boys wore full team uniforms for the first time.

When discussing Kiwanis, Wong remembered the first time his dad took him to buy a baseball glove. It was a special moment.

“Everyone has a time when an adult did something for you that made an impression on your life,” he said.

That’s Kiwanis for you.

The club, which is actively recruiting new members, will next meet at 7 a.m. on Dec. 19 at the Family Pancake House, 17621 Redmond Way.