What Is A Kiwanian?
- An individual of good character who adheres to the
standards of good conduct in a community and believes in and subscribes to the Objects of
Kiwanis International The individual believes in giving primacy to the human and
spiritual, rather than the material values of life, believes in treating other human
beings as the individual would like to be treated in all human relationships; believes in
promoting the adoption and application of higher social, business, and professional
standards; desires to develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive and
serviceable citizenship; believes in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion
and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism,
and goodwill, and the individual desires to provide through this club a practical means to
form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build a better community.
A Kiwanis Glossary
- Active Membership - the basic kind of Kiwanis
membership involving full participation and regular attendance.
- Circle K Clubs - the largest collegiate
organization in North America with nearly 700 clubs. It provides a means of responsible
student action involvement on the college campus.
- Golden K Club - Kiwanis clubs designed to provide
fellowship and service opportunities to retirees and those who might not otherwise enjoy
those opportunities. They function as regular Kiwanis clubs.
- Honor Membership - Accorded to an individual not
an active or senior member, who has rendered some distinguished public service and who the
club wishes to reward in this fashion. Honorary membership must be renewed by the club
from year to year.
- Inter-club - A Kiwanis meeting at which at least
four members from another club are in attendance, or at which two members are accompanied
by Circle K or Key Club members.
- Key Clubs - Key Club is a service organization for
the high school student. Sponsored by a local Kiwanis club, it develops initiative,
leadership ability and good citizenship practices in young people.
- Leave of Absence - Local Board-approved absence
from club meetings and activities of not for less than 30 days nor more than six months.
Leaves of absence are granted to members who, because of special problems, are unable to
participate regularly in club events.
- Legion of Honor - Recognition for Kiwanians with
25 or more years of service.
- Make-up - While a club has regular attendance
requirements, a member whose schedule forces him to miss regularly scheduled meetings can
remain "in good standing" by participating in inter-clubs, attending meetings of
other clubs, attending board meetings, round tables, etc.
- Official Delegate - Representatives of the club at
district and international conventions. Each club is entitled to three official delegates
at district conventions and to two at international conventions.
- Round Table - A meeting held at a different time
and/or place for the benefit of club members who are not able to attend a meeting which
has had its time and location temporarily altered. Often Round Table meetings are held on
a day other than a scheduled holiday to provide the same attendance opportunity.
- Senior Membership - A class of membership for an
individual who has been an active member in good standing in one or more Kiwanis clubs for
no fewer than ten years, but who is unable to meet attendance requirements because of
health, business, or other extenuating circumstances. All privileges of active membership
remain with Senior Membership status.
And Now...
- You know what Kiwanis is and what it does; how it can
provide a sense of fulfillment and a knowledge that your effort really counts. Avail
yourself of everything Kiwanis has to offer. Make your own contribution in return - AND
ASK SOMEONE ELSE TO BE A KIWANIAN, TOO!
Kiwanis is a worldwide service
organization for individuals desiring personal involvement in the leadership and
improvement of their communities. As a group, we can achieve what individuals cannot do
alone. Thus our motto and the cornerstone of Kiwanis -"We Build".
What Kiwanis Can Do For You
- Provide the opportunity for lasting friendships and the
fellowship often lacking in a busy, work-a-day world. Involve you in the life of the
community, its social and service opportunities and also provide a better understanding of
its problems. Open the door to the informal exchange of ideas on a wide range of topics.
Encourage you to share your own ideas and opinions with others in your peer group. Develop
your leadership skills by serving the club in positions of responsibility. Broaden your
general knowledge by providing, on a regular basis, speakers on scores of interesting
subjects. And, finally, make you a better citizen, provide you with a sense of
fulfillment, and impart the knowledge that the effort of each individual really counts.
What You Can Do For Kiwanis
- Participate regularly in meetings and club functions.
Give the members a chance to know you better - to build lasting friendships with you.
Strengthen Kiwanis by lending your talents and special skills where they are needed. Speak
out. Share your ideas with others. Give recognition to other members for their
contributions to the organization and community. Recruit new members; invite your friends
to join. In short, help to keep Kiwanis the number one service organization in the world
today. So For Now... You'll have the opportunity to work in concert with others for the
benefit of the community and its people. You'll start to build the friendships that can
last you a lifetime. Later On... You'll have the opportunity to assume greater
responsibilities - committee chairmanships and elected offices in the club.
In Good Company...
- Well over 325,000 Kiwanians in more than 8,500 clubs
serve in 71 countries around the world. In today's high schools and colleges, Key Club
International and Circle K are among the largest, if not the largest people-serving
organizations designed for young people.
The Kiwanis Story
- FOUNDING: Kiwanis was founded in Detroit,
Michigan, January 21, 1915. The first Kiwanian was a merchant tailor named Joseph Prance.
The original name was "The Benevolent Order of Brothers," and its purpose was
the mutual exchange of preferred treatment in professional and business dealings.
"SHAKING DOWN": Within a year, the name had been
changed to "Kiwanis" taken from an Indian term "Nun Keewanis"' which
roughly means "Self Expression". It had also become obvious that the original
purpose lacked the power to attract and hold members. The purpose of the organization thus
became "community service," a concept from which Kiwanis has never deviated. A
little later, Kiwanis. "bought itself' from organizer Allen Browne,
"incorporated itself," and began following a growth pattern that continues
today.
ESTABLISHING ITSELF: In 1916, Kiwanis entered
Canada (Hamilton, Ontario), thus becoming "international." Kiwanis moved into
Mexico in 1962, breaking with its long-standing tradition of serving only in the U.S. and
Canada. International extension has continued since that time, and today, Kiwanis serves
the needs of over 71 countries around the world.
REACHING MATURITY. Kiwanis is part of a
twentieth-century phenomenon. The "service club movement," as it has been
termed, is one of North America's most important contributions to the life of our
times." Today, the service club movement is bigger, better-accepted, and more desired
than ever before in its history.
What Your Club Does
Membership in your local Kiwanis club offers many
benefits. Weekly club meetings provide fellowship - old-fashioned fellowship - and a
welcome break from the more serious cares of the day. Just as important, active membership
provides the means through which you, and individuals of similar persuasion, can do
something for others:
- Teach a boy how to play baseball
- End isolation for a shut-in
- Help a young person deal with drug related problems
- Find a job for a handicapped youth
- Feed and clothe an orphan
- Motivate a teenager to complete his education
- Unite with young people in joint community-service
projects
Your club is geared to address the needs of the
community through its standing committees, each of which is concerned with a different
area of service. On a broader level, Kiwanis clubs all over the world share the commitment
to solving problems of international concern through participation in "major emphasis
programs." All of these programs enable Kiwanians to give of themselves - experience,
knowledge, time and love - to all who need them.
What Kiwanis
International Does
- Kiwanis International, of which your club is a part, sets
the policy and tone for all clubs to follow. Locally elected delegates to the annual
International Convention serve as the organization's official legislative body, and they
alone institute policy changes. Delegates also elect a governing body, the Kiwanis
International Board of Trustees, to carry out these policies.
The Board, in turn, appoints an International Secretary, who serves as
managing director of the International Office in Indianapolis. Here the records of Kiwanis
are kept, a magazine and other printed literature are produced, and administrative
assistance is given to local clubs. Most important of all, service programs are conceived
and developed, each designed to aid clubs in meeting the needs of their communities.
Program guidelines and background material are furnished to Kiwanis clubs around the
world.
Last updated 10/31/99
©1999 Colville Kiwanis, all rights reserved