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Kiwanis Club
Information
"Name"
The name
"Kiwanis" was adapted from the expression "Nunc Kee-wanis" in
the Otchipew (Native American) language, meaning "We have a good
time," "We make a noise," or, under another construction, "We
trade or advertise." Some persons prefer to pronounce the word "ki";
others, "kee."
During the
organization's founding in 1915, members belonged to the
"Benevolent Order Brothers." The name, however, was
unsatisfactory from the first.
"It seems to me," said member Harry A. Young, "that Benevolent
Order Brothers is a might peculiar name for an organization of
businessmen. Who wants to be a BOB? Well, I don't for one. The
name sounds downright silly, and I think we'd be getting off to
a better start if we changed it right now before we go any
further."
A committee of members sought the assistance of Clarence M.
Burton, then historian for the City of Detroit, Michigan. Burton
found the expression "Nunc Kee-wanis" in Bishop Baraga's
dictionary of the Otchipew language.
The name was perfect. It satisfied founder Allen Simpson Browne,
because one variation of its meaning, "We trade," corresponded
with his conception of the new organization. He believed that
better business opportunities among the members--adding up
to a sort of reciprocal trade arrangement--constituted its prime
purpose.
Other members, however, believed that the group should "make a
noise"--a noticeable difference--through community service.
History
The
first Kiwanis club was organized in Detroit, Michigan, USA
on January 21, 1915. A year later the Kiwanis Club of
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, was chartered, and Kiwanis
International grew rapidly into a leading service club in
these two founding nations. In 1962, worldwide expansion was
approved, and today Kiwanis clubs are active in every part
of the world.
Motto
"We
Build."
Number of clubs and members
There are more than 8,200 Kiwanis
clubs with nearly 300,000 members in more than 80
nations and geographic areas.
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Type of membership
Active or retired business and professional men and women.
The "average" Kiwanian
The average Kiwanis member is 55.1 years old, a college
graduate, married, and a homeowner. He or she is an owner or
manager of a firm in the $25 million or less range.
Women in Kiwanis
Membership was opened to women in 1987. There are now more
than 51,000 women members, and 1 in 7 club presidents is a
woman.
Kiwanis youth organizations
Kiwanis International sponsors several service clubs for
young people: Circle K International has 11,000 members on
570 university and college campuses; Key Club International
has 215,000 members in 4,600 high schools; and Builders
Clubs have been organized in 2,000 junior high and middle
schools. Other members of the Kiwanis family include K-Kids
in elementary schools, young European adults in Kiwanis
Junior, and Aktion Club, which involves persons with
disabilities in community-service activities.
In one
year, Kiwanis clubs sponsored 147,000 service projects. To
do so, Kiwanians raised and spent almost $70 million and
contributed 6.2 million hours of volunteer time.
Kiwanis service
Kiwanis' continuing service emphasis is called "Young
Children: Priority One," which focuses on the special needs
of children from prenatal development to age 5. Projects
conducted as part of the "Young Children: Priority One"
service emphasis involved $14.3 million and 1.3 million
volunteer hours.
In 1994, Kiwanis launched its first Worldwide Service
Project, a $75 million campaign in partnership with UNICEF
to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders by the year 2000.
Iodine deficiency is rare in areas where iodized salt is
used, but in other parts of the world, IDD is the leading
cause of preventable mental and physical retardation. As
many as 1.5 billion people are at risk, especially young
children.
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