New York Kiwanians assembling for the District Caucus.

The left side of the podium, from left, Past Gov. Peter Mancuso, Jim Mancuso, the district's International Leadership Chair; Past Gov. and Past International Foundation President Jack Harten, Past International President Jerry Christiano and Past International President Tom DeJulio.

The right side of the caucus podium, from left: Past Gov. Joe Aiello, Governor-Elect Forbes Irvine, Past Gov. Mike Malark, Past Gov. David Booker, Past Gov. Joseph Corace, Past Gov. Joe Eppolito and District Secretary Justin Underwood.

Past Gov. Peter Mancuso, who also is a past International Foundation president, talking about his candidacy for International Trustee which will take place at the 2016 International Convention.

Jordan and Jaime Neuringer, members of the Brighton club, were in the registration area looking for two Kiwanians from Jamaica they met during a Kiwanis trip to that country last summer when they appeared for registration as well.

Past International President Paul Palazzolo conducting a game of "Family Feud" using the results of a survey of Kiwanians to determine the correct answers.

Early Thursday the weather had people wondering what would happen with the the planned pancake lunch at Indianapolis' Memorial Circle due to a steady rainfall. But by 11 a.m. the rain had cleared and thousands of Kiwanians, Circle K and Key club members, and members of the public were able to take advantage of the event. More Kiwanis clubs conduct pancake meals as a fund raiser than any other type of event.

Cooks prepared 240 gallons of IHOP’s famous buttermilk pancake batter for the Monumental Pancake Lunch. Kiwanis members and Indy residents lined the circle to enjoy 12,000 pancakes, 189 gallons of maple syrup, 94 pounds of butter and 625 gallons of coffee. And more than US$6,100 was given to The Eliminate Project.

A roving band was working hard to drum up support for a workshop on The Formula. The musicians wound their way through the display area and hallways looking for followers to come to the event.

International President Dr. John Button welcoming thousands of Kiwanian, Circle K, Key Club and Aktion Club members to the opening session celebration of Kiwanis' centennial.

The decades since 1915 were marked with various people wearing the dress of the era and talking about world and Kiwanis events of the decade. First were President-Elect Susan Petrisin (left) and Button, in the dress of 1915.

Key Club International President Maria Palazzolo dressed as a flapper of the 1920s.

Circle K International President Kathy Le as the Good Witch from the "Wizard of Oz".

Tim Harris of Albuquerque, New Mexico, captivated the audience with tales of his restaurant, Tim's Place. Harris, who has Down Syndrome, decided as a teenager he wanted to own a restaurant, which he opened in 2010. He bills it as the "World's Friendliest Restaurant". He told the audience that he has hugs listed on his menu -- they are free -- and "everybody orders at least one." A counter in his restaurant tracks the hugs and the number now exceeds 71,000. He's shown on stage while a video plays behind him on the big screen showing him giving President Obama a hug, which came at the president's request.

President Button talking about the Eliminate Project.

Representatives from various Kiwanis organizations celebrate the success to date of the Eliminate Project. Behind them is a picture from 2010 when the project was started, with then-President Paul Palazzolo, actor Tea Leone, and a representative from UNICEF.

President Button ended the evening by shooting some Eliminate Project t-shirts into the crowd. Left is his wife Debbie; at right is Key Club International President Maria Palazzolo.