Kiwanis History:

The first Kiwanis club was organized in Detroit, Michigan. The group received a charter from the state of Michigan on January 21, 1915, and this is regarded as the birth date of Kiwanis.

The first clubs were organized to promote the exchange of business among the members. However, even before the Detroit club received its state charter, the members were distributing Christmas baskets to the poor. A lively debate ensued between those who supported community service as the Kiwanis mission and those who supported the exchange of business. By 1919, the service advocates won the debate.

Kiwanis became international with the organization of the Kiwanis club of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in 1916. Kiwanis limited its membership to the United States and Canada until 1962, when worldwide expansion was approved. Since then, Kiwanis has spread to all inhabited continents of the globe.

Kiwanis was defined as “an organization for men” in the constitution and adopted in 1924. In 1987, after several years of debate and growing support, women’s membership received overwhelming approval.

Six Canadians have served as Kiwanis International President. The first International President elected from outside the two founding nations of the US and Canada was Ian Perdriau AM from Australia, who served in 1994-95. Eyjólfur Sigurðsson of Iceland was the 1995-96 International President, and Juan F. Torres Jr., MD, of the Philippines, was president in 2002-03.

Stephenville Kiwanis Club History:

Analysts say that to understand the child you first must look at the parent. 

Our club is the sibling of the first Kiwanis Club which was organized in Detroit, Michigan, in 1915.  From this beginning, Kiwanis International has ballooned to 8,241 clubs with more than 600,000 Kiwanis family members in 96 countries. 

 As of September 30, 2006, the total membership for Kiwanis International is 260,701.  This represents an increase of 11,413 members and 124 clubs over the baseline numbers established the previous year, and is the first measurable progress towards the International goal of 1 million members by the 100^th anniversary in 2015. 

Where did this funny name – Kiwanis -- come from?  Kiwanis came from a language used by Indians in the Detroit area, Nunc Kee-wanis.  This expression means “we trade,” or “we have a good time.”  In our club we do both.

Kiwanis International sponsors several service clubs to help young people understand the importance of being involved in their civic community.  Circle K International is active on university and college campuses while Key Club International is in high schools.  Builders Clubs are in junior high and middle schools and K-Kids in elementary schools.  Young European adults can join Kiwanis Junior and Aktion Club is available to assist people with disabilities in community service activities.

Kiwanis’ continuing service emphasis worldwide is called “Young Children: Priority One.”  Our club has a committee which focuses on the special needs of children from prenatal development to age five in our community in support of the international mission.  In one year internationally, projects in support of young children involved $14.3 million and 1.3 million volunteer hours.