Kiwanis << kih WAH nihs >> International is an organization of local clubs of business and professional men and women who are interested in community service. Hundreds of thousands of members form thousands of Kiwanis clubs worldwide.
Program.
Kiwanis serves a community in many ways. For example, the organization’s members support a variety of community projects, ranging from facilities for the young and elderly to alcohol and drug abuse programs. Kiwanis members also support conservation and take part in community drives, including safety and fund-raising campaigns. Kiwanis International sponsors three youth service organizations—Builders Club for junior high school students, Key Club International for high school students, and Circle K International for college students. Thousands of students belong to each of these organizations.
Most Kiwanis clubs hold a meeting every week. At a majority of these meetings, an invited speaker gives a talk to the club. Through these meetings, Kiwanis club members have an opportunity to enjoy fellowship and broaden their interests.
Organization.
Each Kiwanis club is independent of the others. However, district organizations unite the local clubs. The headquarters of Kiwanis International are in Indianapolis. An international convention is held every year. Kiwanis publishes Kiwanis magazine each month.
Kiwanis was founded in Detroit in 1915. The name Kiwanis comes from an old Indigenous (native) American term meaning We make ourselves known. The motto of Kiwanis International is We Build.
