NEW
MEMBER ORIENTATION INFORMATION
AND HISTORY OF THE
KILLEARN KIWANIS CLUB
Updated May 2, 2007
What is Kiwanis? An international organization of service
clubs with the objectives of helping people and worthwhile causes, of building
better communities, and of improving international relations.
Who Can Join? By invitation, anyone 18 years of age or older. We are blind to gender, race, and creed. Membership is approved by the club Board of Directors, based upon the recommendation of two members and occurs through an induction ceremony.
Each club selects its members from the surrounding community. Kiwanis clubs look for persons who are interested in their community and other people, and they seek members who can contribute four to six hours a month for club activities and projects. Classes of membership available to our club are active, senior (10 years membership and unable to meet attendance requirements), and honorary (for 1 year—outstanding public service). Classification of members is by profession he/she actively pursues or is retired from. We seek classifications of our members to be representative of the community.
KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL
History. The seed of Kiwanis was planted in a Detroit tailor shop on December 7, 1914, when Allen Simpson Browne offered its proprietor, Joseph G. Prance, a membership in “The Supreme Benevolent Order Brothers” (BOB). Several members of another unsuccessful club joined the BOB club, attracted by its emphasis on fellowship and fraternity.
Unhappy with the organization’s name, the members adopted Detroit historian Clarence Burton’s suggestion of phrase, “Nunc Kee-wanis” from the Otchipew Indian language. Its various interpretations include, “We have a good time," "We make a noise,” “We trade,” and “We advertise.” It was shortened to “Kiwanis.”
On January 21, 1915, Michigan approved the formal charter of the first Kiwanis Club. Despite its “We trade” emphasis, the club soon focused members’ talents and resources on serving children and youth, adopting a five-year-old boy, giving him the name Walter Kiwanis, and providing for his needs until his mother could take over his custody again.
From Detroit, Browne moved to Cleveland, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; and Rochester, NY. Within two years, thirty-one clubs had been formed, including Canada’s first at Hamilton, Ontario. In less than ten years, the new Kiwanians refined their clubs into the organization it essentially remains today. From the floor of the 1918 Birmingham, AL convention, attendees contributed $17,500 to “buy” Kiwanis from Browne. At the 1924 convention in Denver, CO, delegates adopted the six “Objects,” which permanently established service—over mutual business interest—as the organization’s primary purpose. In 1925 Key Club was born, and Kiwanis had begun its “Kiwanis family.”
By 1926, Kiwanis membership neared 100,000. The Great Depression caused a membership decline by 1933 to 79,589. It subsequently grew to 132,000 by 1944 and added 15,000 in 1946. Circle K was established in 1947. In 1962, expansion beyond the first two nations commenced with a club in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Within 12 months there were clubs in the Bahamas, Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium. By the late 1970’s membership approached 300,000. Women were first admitted to membership in 1987. Builders clubs commenced in 1975, Kiwajuniors in 1982, and K-kids in 1998, and aKtion Clubs in 1999 [aKtion Clubs originated in Florida in 1987. Our aKtion Club was one of the early ones. Prior to 1999, aKtion Clubs were Kiwanis Division “Projects.”]
As of August, 2005, worldwide, Kiwanis has 8,400 clubs, with 270, 535 members. Circle K, Key, Builder, K-Kids, aKtion Clubs, and Kiwajuniors (in Europe) total an additional 318,791 Total family membership in 96 nations and geographical areas is 589,326.
Kiwanis Motto: "Serving the Children of the World"
Kiwanis’ Six Objects:
1. To give primacy to the human and spiritual, rather than to the material values of life.
2. To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.
3. To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business, and professional standards
4. To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship
5. To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities.
6. To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and goodwill.
INTERNATIONAL OFFICE
Responsibilities: Provides leadership-training materials; publishes Kiwanis magazine, maintains club and membership records for all clubs; provides information and guidance for all clubs and districts; creates and provides administrative supplies, committee support materials, recognition awards recognition gift items, and assists volunteers in promoting Kiwanis-sponsored activities.
Officers: President: Stephen K. “Steve” Siemens,
Des Moines, Iowa.
Other Officers: President-Elect, Past President, Vice Presidents
(2), Treasurer, Executive Director, Trustees (13).
Contact: Kiwanis International, 3636 Woodview Trace, Indianapolis,
IN 46268-3196; 1-(317)-875-8755; 1-(800)-KIWANIS, FAX: 1-(317)-879-0204;
<kiwanismail@kiwanis.org>
Principal Worldwide Projects:
Young Children
Priority One (YCP1): A variety of efforts to help young children,
pre-natal to age 5. (e.g. our Nesting Room at TMH, Starter Kits for Newborn
Intensive Care Infants).
FLORIDA DISTRICT
Officers: District Governor: Donna Batelaan.
Secretary: George F. Langguth (extension 12) Email: george@floridakiwanis.com
Others: Governor-Elect, Immediate Past Governor, Past Governor (2), Treasurer; Board of Trustees: The 26 Lt. Governors of the Florida District.
Contact: 5545 Benchmark Lane, Sanford, FL 32773-8116 1-(407)-324-9800;
FAX 1-(407)-324-9900;
Responsibilities: The purpose of the District is primarily educational and promotional, not legislative but cooperative.. The District Board of Trustees has full administrative responsibility, the District Governor is the chief executive officer, and the District Secretary is the chief administrative officer.
Objectives: To promote participation of District clubs in the general objectives, programs, and policies of the District and of Kiwanis International; to increase the fellowship and cooperative efforts of District clubs, and to help build new clubs and to strengthen existing clubs.
The District sponsors annual competitions in cogent areas, generally reflecting the club committees. For these competitions, clubs are divided into groups according to number or members. Winners are determined mostly by monthly reports submitted to the District Office by Club Secretaries, and he/she obtains report data from committee chairpersons. Timely submission of club reports counts in the competitions. So do the content of club committee chairpersons’ reports.
DIVISIONS OF THE FLORIDA DISTRICT
The twenty-six divisions of the Florida District are administrative arms of the District. The Lt. Governors, elected annually from division clubs (alphabetically rotated) are also Trustees of the Florida Division. The Division Council consists of the President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Interclub Chairperson of each club in the Division—plus the Lt. Governor, Lt. Governor-Elect, and Division Secretary/Treasurer.
The Killearn Kiwanis Club is in Florida Division Three (3)... Past Lt. Governor’s from our club are Charles Nuzum, Robert Bull, and Ben Fuller. Also, a deceased past member of our club, Frank Stephenson, had been a Lt. Governor of a South Florida Division before joining us. Our current (2005-2006) Division 3 Lt. Governor is Brenda Sorensen of the Monticello Club... Other clubs in our Division are Capital City, Greensboro, Havana, Lake Jackson, Madison, Monticello, Perry, Quincy, Tallahassee, Tallahassee-Killearn, and Tallahassee-Northside. These comprise the clubs in the following counties: Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Leon, Jefferson, Taylor, and Madison.
Past Division Projects have included “World’s Largest Baby Shower,” “Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD),” “Diaper Drop,” and Southern Scholarship Foundation.
KILLEARN KIWANIS CLUB
Meeting: Time/Place: 7:00 - 8:00 AM, 19th Hole, Killearn CC & Inn
Pre-Meeting: Sign in on sheet on table to left of 19th Hole rear door.
Breakfast serving commences at about 6:45 AM. Committee meetings sometimes held before (or after) meeting.
Meeting Badge: Kept in numbered slot in black carrying case on table at front door. Be sure to wear badges. (Some of our members have “senior moments” concerning memory of names, etc.)
Basic Meeting Agenda: (7:15-8:00) Pledge, Song, Prayer, Visitors, Committee Reports, Announcements, Speaker, Drawing. We ALWAYS adjourn a regular meeting by 8:00 A.M.
Weekly Drawing: Voluntary. $1 for one ticket (on table at front door). Winner gets half; Administrative Fund, half. Speaker draws at end of program.
Early Departure: Permissible. Try to mention it to speaker before meeting starts. Leave by the rear door.
“Round Table”: Held whenever we do not hold the Thursday A.M. meeting. (E.g., when holiday is on a Thursday.) It enables “make-ups” for our and other club members. It is normally held at a different location than the “Nineteenth Hole” which is always announced in advance.
Meeting Attendance: 100% is encouraged. “Make-up” can occur within plus or minus 30 days. Attendance at Club Board meetings, round tables, Division Council meetings, other Kiwanis club regular meetings, regular meetings of AKtion Club, Circle K, Key Club, Builders Club, or Golden K clubs, or participation in scheduled club projects. Member notifies Club Secretary when a make-up is accomplished.
OUR CLUB HISTORY.
Founded August 26, 1982, by the Tallahassee Kiwanis Club. Official name: “Kiwanis Club of Tallahassee-Killearn.” Has met in the Oakview Room or 19th Hole except for a few months in 1985 (19th hole rebuilt) and in 1997 (pricing). Membership has varied from 15 to 36. As of 9/30/06 (the end of the Kiwanis year) we had 29 members.
Individual Awards
--Nine (9) Hixson Fellowships [Core (deceased), Walter, Bull, Fuller, Luebkemann, Jim Thomas, Higgins (deceased), Sweat, Bufton (Deceased)
--One (1) “Distinguished Lt. Governor” [Bull] out of 3
--One (1) “Exceptional Lt. Governor” [Fuller] out of 3
--One (1) “Distinguished Florida Foundation Trustee” (Colmery) out of 1.
--Fourteen (14) “Distinguished Club President” [Host (1984), Robbins (85), Nuzum (87), Bull (88), Hinton (Deceased) (89), Walter (91), Banks (93), Colmery (94), Fuller (98) Luebkemann (99), Jim Thomas (00), Bufton (Deceased) (01), Parker (Deceased) (02), Ryor (05)] out of 24 total.
--A “Distinguished Club.” Fourteen (14) years out of 24 ending 2006.
--Four (4) “Distinguished Club Secretary” [Core (4 times), Easterbrook (4)] Kerwin (5), Eppinger (1)] out of 5 total. Same years as Distinguished President.]
--Twelve (12) “Distinguished Kiwanian” (Colmery (2), Bull, Fuller, Kerwin, Luebkemann (2), Nuzum, Walter, Johnson, Downing, Sweat)
--Two (2) “Legion of Honor" (25-year service award) (Stephenson, Allard).
--Five (5) “Ruby K” Award (Host, Walter, Colmery, Orcillo, Nuzum)
--Eight (8) Ring of Honor (Robbins, Johnson, Kerwin, Nuzum, Luebkemann (2), Bull, Sweat)
--One (1) FL District Service Award: (Bob Bull (99)).
--One (1) FL District Outstanding Committee Chair (Bull)
--One (1) 21st Century Heritage Society (Fuller)
Kiwanis International Club Awards
--Young Children Priority One (YCP1)--1993, 94, 95, 98, 99
--New Club Sponsor—Wakulla (94), Tallahassee-Leon (98)
--Key Club Sponsor--2000
--Kiwanis Int. Foundation—1984, 85, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07.
--Diamond Growth—94, 99
--Multiple Service—91
--Worldwide IDD—97, 98, 99
Florida District Awards.
--Administration—97, 98, 99
--Winner, Young Children Priority One—92
--Honorable Mention, Outstanding Club Bulletin--98 & 2004-2005.
--Wilbur Gold Outstanding Club Bulletin—01, 02.
--First Place, Club Bulletin—01, 02, 06
--Major Emphasis Achievement, Multiple Services—84 Single Services--87
--Youth Services—85.
--Special Olympics—94
--Florida Kiwanis Foundation—82, 84, 86, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06
--100% Interclub Participation—91, 98, 99, 05, 06
--Interclub Relations—98, 99, 2004-2005
--Interclub, First Place—01-02, 06
--New AKtion Club Sponsor—91
--Membership Growth—98, 99
--Community Service (Honorable Mention)—98, 01, 06
--Service—98
--Outstanding Public Relations--02
--Frank S. Wright Public Relations Award - Honorable mention 2006
--aKtion Club, second Place, Florida District—99
--aKtion Club, Co-winner, Florida District -- 00
--aKtion Club, Community Recognition and Publicity -- 01
--aKtion Club, Publicity -- 03
--aKtion Club, Co-Runner-up, Florida District – 05.
Florida District Committee Chairs
--aKtion Club—Bull
--Administration—Fuller
--Fishing Village Project--Fuller
Civic Awards
--Nominated three (3) times, Tallahassee Volunteer of the Year
--aKtion Club was Leon County, Environmental Club of Year, 95
--aKtion Club was 2001“Tallahassee Democrat” Volunteer of the Year, Non-Profit Organization Category.
--Three (3) times, Volunteer of the Year, Leon Assoc. of Retarded Citizens.
--2003 “Tallahassee Democrat” Individual Volunteer of the Year (Fuller).
One of earliest service clubs to have a Web page on the Internet. Our address: <http://www.kiwanis.org/club/killearn/>
Current membership list is available.
MEMBER PRIVILEGES
Wearing of Kiwanis pin; displaying of member window/bumper stickers. Attendance at other Kiwanis club meetings. Personal involvement in club activities. Social interaction. Attendance at regular club board meetings. Participation in Inter-club visits. Voting for officers and directors. Participative management of board and committees. Opportunity to exercise leadership skills. Attendance at district and international conventions and conferences. Sponsorship of new members.
GOVERNANCE
Club By-Laws: Rules by which the club operates. Sets up the club organization, including officers and committees, and prescribes the duties, responsibilities, and authority of each. Sets forth the election procedures. Last revised in August, 1999
Officers and the Board: Officers are elected for one-year terms. The President, President-Elect, and Treasurer elected by a majority vote of the membership. The Immediate Past President serves in the year following his/her Presidency. The Secretary is nominated and selected annually by the Board. The Board consists of these five officers plus five directors elected by the membership for staggered two-year terms.
Procedures: In April, President appoints Nominations Committee of five, three of which are past presidents. By the second meeting in May, Committee presents a proposed slate of officers (less the Secretary) and board members. One week later, President requests nominations from the floor (Nominees must previously have agreed to serve). At the last meeting of May, the club members elect the new officers. (The current President-elect still is voted on for President.) After the officers and other board members have been elected, they elect a Secretary. Results are submitted to the Florida District Office in our May monthly report.
In the event of a vacancy during an electee’s term, the Board of Directors nominates a replacement for the remainder of the term. Membership may nominate from the floor. The members elect the replacement.
The newly elected officers and board members term runs for the Kiwanis year, October 1st to September 30th. The lead-time from May enables new officers to attend training sessions for individual positions. These sessions are held in different geographical areas and at the Annual Kiwanis District Convention in late August-early September.
Committee Structure. Our club has the following standing committees:
Membership Chiles Key Club
Administrative aKtion Club
Young Children—Priority One Fundraising/Golf Tourney
Children/Founders Club Community/Senior Services
In early- to mid-summer, the incoming President appoints the chairperson and members of each committee—considering the member’s wishes. In case of new members, the President requests the new member’s preference, which is desired no later than two weeks after induction.
CLUB PROGRAMS
Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
--Newborn Intensive Care Unit
--Nesting Room
--Starter Kits
--Post-Discharge Instruction Booklet
--Lactation Room
--Milwaukee Cribs (for twins)
--Isolette Covers
--Youth Intensive Care
--Medical equipment (tympanic thermometers)
--Recliners (for parents) by each bed.
--Special Kit-Kat clocks
--Room decorations
--Ambulances
--equipment for emergency care for infants and young children (We funded part; the Kiwanis Florida Foundation funded part with a grant
--Young Children’s Acute Care Psychiatric Unit --led effort which raised $11,000+ to establish this unit. Furnished beds, computers, decorations, padded rooms, and more.
4H Pet Partners 4-H Pet Partners is a community service club for
12 – 16 year olds. It is co-sponsored by our Leon County 4-h Club
and our Community Animal Shelter, and supported by Killearn Kiwanis.
It enables members to work under veterinarians, animal care staff, and
animal trainers, and to work hands-on with
animals. The variety of programs it helps include pet adoption,
proper animal care, spaying, and animal populat6ion control.
They also raise funds for local animal programs, and help with Killearn
Kiwanis Projects.
AKtion Club. For cognitively- and physically-challenged adults. We founded this community service club in March, 1991. There are 201 such clubs, worldwide, with 4212 members. These clubs are community service clubs similar to Kiwanis clubs. Our aKtion Club has twice-monthly meetings with meeting programs and regular service programs (adopt-a-road, car washes fund-raisers, dog washes, fund-raising for IDD, Christmas support of a Caring Connection family, Preschool Facility cleanup.) It also collects aluminum for Gretchen Everhart. Our club also sponsors picnics, attendance at FSU baseball and basketball games, banquets, and attendance at the Florida District AKtion Club Convention.
Key Club. For students, Lawton Chiles High School. We founded this Community
Service Club in 1999. It became an outstanding success, generating some 10,000
community service hours per year, winning top honors at the state Key Club Annual Convention and furnishing the state Key Club Lt. Governor.
Gretchen Everhart (Leon school for developmentally disabled)
--assist in annual Easter Egg Hunt, Christmas Party, Appreciation Banquet for teachers, fund-raisers.
--plant trees, shrubs,
--build picnic benches, swings; installed sidewalks for wheelchairs.
--collect Campbell Food and General Mills coupons.
Thanksgiving Baskets. Thanksgiving Dinner for the families (usually four members) of Gretchen Everhart students
Collections of Clothing, Toys, and Equipment: For Pregnancy Help and Information Center; for Pediatric Ward of TMC, for Refuge House, for Sheriff’s Dept. Youth Program; and aluminum tabs for Ronald MacDonald House. .
Quarterly “Adopt A Road” Timberlane Road Cleanup
Assistance in Fund-raising: For Salvation Army: Christmas Bell-ringing at Publix; for Big Bend Hospice: “Tree of Remembrance” project at Tallahassee Mall; for FSU TV: answering telephones for on-air fund-raisers
Kid’s Vote: Set-up, all-day manning, and disassembly of a precinct booth.
Ronald McDonald House: yard maintenance, go-cart race officiating.
Habitat for Humanity: home building
Annual Donations: Southern Scholarship Foundation , Ralph Davis Scholarship House (Kiwanis-sponsored FSU housing), Circle K International, Lighthouse Children’s Home (“Adopt A Teen” and operational funding), Florida Kiwanis Foundation, Kiwanis International Foundation, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
FINANCING
Membership Initiation Fee. One-time, $75.00. Of this, $50 goes to Kiwanis International and $25, to the Florida District...
Monthly Member Dues. $35.00, due first day of month. (The Treasurer wearing his hat at a meeting is a hint that dues are payable.) We pay $8/meal withi a guaranteed minimum of 20 meals. Unused meal costs go to our Administrative Fund. (See below).
Fund-raising. Club’s source of Project funds (See below) is its annual golf tournament at Killearn CC & Inn, usually in May. Fifteen years ago, we had little competition. Now, a plethora of charitable organizations and service clubs have golf tournament fund-raisers. We have met this competition by having a well-run tournament, offering every contestant a worthwhile door prize, valuable prizes for flight and overall winners, an excellent set of hole-in-one awards, and a fun day including a good lunch. Our funds derive from entry fees (usually less than those of other tournaments), tournament sponsorship, green and tee sponsorships and “mulligan tickets” ($5 each, maximum of 4). A tournament-within-a-tournament is a competition among Kiwanis Club teams for a trophy; we have won it several years...
Starting in December, we contact prior donors (businesses, professionals, individuals) to remind them to budget next-year’s funds to donate to our event. In about February we implement a plan to solicit, involving several successive steps. Typically, we net $6,000+ and use all of those funds for our service projects.
Administrative and Project Accounts. Kiwanis requires its clubs to maintain separate accounts: Administrative and Project. Administrative pays for routine stationery, postage, and the like; membership pins and such awards; members’ and guests’ meals at club meetings; a small part of officers’ personal expenses, and the club’s division, district and international administrative expenses. The sources of administrative funds are members’ dues and the weekly drawing. When a member brings a potential member, the guest’s fees are paid by the club the first time.
Administrative funds may be transferred to Project Accounts, but not vice versa.
Project Account funds services which Killearn Kiwanis provides to the community.
OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE
“Service Club” – An organization donating funds, material, and/or manpower to accomplish its objectives. Incidentally, it provides the personal satisfaction of hands-on service, fellowship, networking, and opportunities to exercise leadership skills... Basically, we improve our community using our skills and efforts and funds raised from others.
Expected Member Involvement in Service: Projects normally are scheduled at times and places convenient to members. Members are expected to support club projects at the rate of about four man-hours/month. (Transportation time counts toward project hours.)
How Funds and Manpower are Used. Each year Administrative and Project annual budgets are prepared in August and September and approved by the Board of Directors in late September. They are guidelines for expenditures and are modified by the Board to meet specific project needs as the year unfolds.
Project Development Process.
--Individual members make a proposal to the appropriate Committee Chairperson, with as much detail as possible.
--Committee Chairperson assigns a committee member to work up as much detail as possible. Committee evaluates monetary and manpower requirements. If deemed feasible, committee recommends project to Board of Directors.
--Board of Directors makes the decision to adopt (or not) and passes it back to the committee. Normally, most projects are specified in the annual budget issued in October. Contingency funds are set aside for arising projects.
--Committee organizes, schedules, and implements the project.
--Members are encouraged to participate in all possible projects.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Activities Involving Spouses:
Spouse on the House: Members are encouraged to bring his/her spouse/significant other to a club meeting or project. The club pays for the spouse’s meal on a limited basis.
Club Dinner Event: In 1998 we reinstated our annual club social event with a dinner at the Killearn CC & Inn. In 1999 we hope to have two social events.
Governor’s Official Visit: The Florida Kiwanis Governor and his wife visited each Florida Kiwanis Region annually, and events included a banquet. These events are announced well in advance
Other Annual Events.
Joint Civic Club Luncheon: The Tallahassee Kiwanis Club annually sponsors a luncheon for all Tallahassee Civic Clubs (Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, etc.). Held at the Fairgrounds on the opening day of the North Florida Fair, with good speakers and good food, it replaces our regular meeting that week. Members’ meals are paid from our Administrative Fund.
KIWANIS FOUNDATIONS
Our Killearn Kiwanis Club has a non-profit, tax-exempt foundation through which project funds are received and disbursed, the Killearn Kiwanis Charities, Foundation, Inc. Member’s donations and personal expenses incurred on behalf of this foundation may be included in charitable contributions on federal income tax returns.
Two other non-profit, tax-free foundations of interest are the Kiwanis International Foundation and the Florida Kiwanis Foundation. Each funds portions of their respective administrative expenses for the “family” of sponsored clubs [(Circle K, Key, Builder, K-Kids, AKtion, and Kiwajuniors (Europe expenses, only)]. They also fund their respective service projects.
CONCLUSION
In summary, Killearn Kiwanis members donate personal talents, time, and effort to organize and carry out community service projects, and to raise funds to be donated to such worthy projects.
Member’s Obligations: Financial: initiation, $100.00; dues, $35.00/month.
Attendance at regular club breakfast meetings: 1 hour/week (Thursday holidays
excepted) Participation in monthly service projects: About 4 hours/month
The internal feelings of personal satisfaction and well-being in helping others can be extremely rewarding. There is also the fellowship among the members with whom strong bonds are made. The breakfast buffet is usually excellent, and the weekly meeting programs are interesting, timely, and entertaining.
Additional information about our club is given in our Web Page at <http://www.kiwanis.org/club/killearn>
We hope you will have a continuing interest in our club. We need members attracted by our “Six Objects” who can help with our service programs. We want members who like people and like to have fun.