Key Club

Key Club is a coeducational service organization for high school students, organized and sponsored by a Kiwanis club. It is a self-governing organization and elects its own officers, determines its owns service activities, and establishes its own dues structure. Its Objects include the Objects of Kiwanis. Once organized, a Key Club is continuously sponsored by a Kiwanis club. Although the ultimate responsibility for Key Club sponsorship is that of the Kiwanis board of directors, the sponsorship function is most directly carried out by the Kiwanis club Committee on Key Clubs, assisted by a faculty advisor (who may or may not be a Kiwanian) designated by the high school administration.

It was in May, 1925 in Sacramento, California, that the 11 charter members, comprising the first Key Club, met officially for the first time. Prior to that meeting, came a full year's activity through which the idea of Key Club developed and finally reached fruition.

Key Club continues to grow rapidly. There are now clubs located throughout the world. In these groups, thousands of students are receiving training in leadership and service. Key Club is truly an "international" organization. In 1946, the first club was built in Canada, and since that time many more have been added. Every year, led by the international officers, two hundred or more new Key Clubs are added to this fast growing organization, but emphasis is on permanent, active clubs, rather than on mere numbers as such.

Circle K

Circle K is a coeducational service, leadership development, and friendship organization, organized and sponsored by a Kiwanis club on a college or university campus. It is a self-governing organization and elects its own officers, conducts its own meetings, determines its own service activities, and establishes its own dues structure. Its Objects include the Objects of Kiwanis.

Once organized, a Circle K club continues to be sponsored by a Kiwanis club. Although the ultimate responsibility for Circle K is that of the Kiwanis Board of Directors, the sponsorship function is most directly carried out by the Kiwanis club Committee on Circle K Clubs, assisted by a faculty advisor (who may or may not be a Kiwanian) designated by the college or university administration.

District and International Conventions are held each year. At the International Convention, International officers are elected, the Constitution and Bylaws are amended, and Circle K members participate in a service project.

Builders Club

Builders Club is a coeducational service program, sponsored by a Kiwanis club, which provides young people between the ages of 12 and 15 the opportunity to help others, serve their school and community, and build a positive future for themselves.

The Kiwanis club role is to initiate organization of a Builders Club in accordance with guidelines provided by Kiwanis International, get the approval of school officials for its establishment as a school organization, recruit initial members, schedule the organizational meeting, file the Petition for Charter, plan for the charter presentation event, and after the club is fully operating, to provide continuous coordination, counsel, and assistance. Additional information, including a Petition for Charter and the Standard Form for Builders Club Bylaws, are included in the "Builders Club Building Kit," free upon request from Kiwanis International.

A Builders Club takes the name of the school in which its members are enrolled, and the school administration names a faculty member to serve as faculty advisor to the Builders Club. For this reason, a Builders Club must be approved by the school administration before it can be organized, and once organized, it must operate in conformity with school regulations regarding school organizations.

A Builders Club elects its own officers, determines the schedule for its regular meetings, and establishes its own committees. Projects are carried out under the supervision and cooperation of a faculty advisor, school administrator, and sponsoring Kiwanis club. The club may select its own projects, but is also seeks opportunities to work with the sponsoring Kiwanis club, Key Club, or Circle K Club and/or K-Kids Club in joint service or fund-raising activities.

K-Kids

K-Kids, a local Kiwanis club sponsored community service program for elementary school students, has experienced continued growth since its inception in 1990. Begun in Florida, the program soon spread to other districts. K-Kids was adopted as a sponsored program of Kiwanis International on October 1, 1998.

K-Kids clubs operate under school regulation and draw its members from the elementary school student body. K-kids is sponsored by a local Kiwanis club, working in concert with parents, teachers, and school administrators to provide young children their first experience in service learning, community service, leadership development, and partnering with organizations committed to the welfare of the community.

K-Kids clubs elect a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. Each club is supported by one or more faculty and Kiwanis advisors, parents, and a K-Kids Committee from each sponsoring organization. K-Kids may be sponsored by a Kiwanis club and a Circle K Club or by a Kiwanis club and a Key Club.

K-Kids is structured only on the local club level but is supported by the Kiwanis International Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. The International Office provides programs, literature, and opportunities to relate to elementary school children from countries all around the world. New club building kits are available through the Kiwanis International Office.

The district may have a district committee chairperson responsible for the K-Kids program on that level. This person serves to promote the K-Kids program, train Kiwanis clubs concerning their role in sponsoring a K-kids club and involving Key Clubs and Circle K as cosponsors of K-Kids clubs.

Above all else, K-Kids is a community-service organization whose members are dedicated to improving their communities. The variety of K-Kids service work is as broad as the need it fills. The elderly, the disabled, and the underprivileged are all benefited by K-Kids sponsored projects. Virtually any unanswered need is a potential target for K-Kids commitment and dedication.

Aktion Club

The Aktion Club program was created by the Florida District of Kiwanis International in 1987 to address the needs of citizens with disabilities. An Aktion Club is a community-service group of adults who are developmentally impaired, and it is co-sponsored by a Kiwanis club or division and an agency that serves people who have disabilities. An Aktion Club program has four primary goals for its members:

• To develop initiative and leadership
• To provide experience in living and working together
• To serve the community
• To prepare for useful citizenship

More information concerning Aktion Club bas be obtained from the International office.

Kiwanis International

Kiwanis is a worldwide service organization comprised of individuals who want to improve their communities. As a group, they can achieve what they cannot do alone.

Kiwanis is not a social club nor a secret or political society. It does prescribe a way of life for others. It often does, however, act as a forum for diverse ideas.

It performs service beyond the capability of an individual; assistance to the aging, the needy, and to youth; improvement of communities; encouragement of international understanding.

Individuals of good standing in the community, invited by a Kiwanis club itself, are eligible for membership. The cost is low, considering the tremendous satisfaction Kiwanis membership provides.

Kiwanis was found in Detroit, Michigan, January 12, 1915. It extended into Canada in 1916. Not until 1962 did it serve outside these two nations.

Today, Kiwanis numbers more than 300,000 members in over 8,000 clubs. Though Kiwanis serves in countries around the world, the basic principles are the same.

Key Leader

Kiwanis International announces Key Leader—a new leadership experience for today's youth leaders. It will focus on service leadership as the first, most meaningful leadership development experience. A Key Leader will learn the most important lesson of leadership—leadership comes from helping others succeed.