| 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 Sigurđsson of Iceland was the 1995-96 International
President, and Juan F. Torres Jr., MD, of the Philippines,
was president in 2002-03. |
Home
About
Our Club
Our Members
Join Our Club
Events Calendar
Photo Album
Bulletin
Kiwanis International