Cal-Nev-Ha KIWIN’S The 32nd District of Key Club International
The Big K: KIWIN’S in the K-Family
WHO WE ARE Our Mission Statement
KIWIN’S, the 32nd District of Key Club
International, is a student-led organization that enthusiastically promotes the development of character and leadership through community service within the Kiwanis Family.
THE STORY The History of KIWIN’S Between 1973 and 1974, the daughters of past Kiwanis District Governor Sid Smith wanted to join a service organization. At that time, Key Club was the only organization offered to young adults, more specifically, males. Smith envisioned another club that would provide his daughters and other females the same opportunities as males; thus, he created Keyettes. Later, the name was changed to “Keywanettes” because of a women’s organization on the East Coast had already gotten the rights to that name. Through the tireless efforts of the California-Nevada-Hawaii district Kiwanis sponsored youth advisors and high school principals, the dream of having a service organization for young women came true. Today, both Key Club and KIWIN’S are co-educational. When Keywanettes was first became active, it expanded rapidly and became one of the fastest-growing high school organizations in America. There were originally four districts: Texas, the Carolinas, Virginia, and California-Nevada-Hawaii. However as time progressed, Keywanettes slowly declined. The Texas district merged with its state’s Key Club, the Carolinas were left with only one club, and the Virginia district eventually disbanded. Keywanettes was finally left with a sole district, California-Nevada-Hawaii. At the 1995 District Convention in Woodland Hills, CA, it was decided upon the House of Delegates that Keywanettes would be renamed to KIWIN’S in order to eliminate specific gender connotations and promote membership growth. This name comes from the Otchipew language, meaning “people, men and women, working together in service.” In 2001, it also came to the decision that KIWIN’S would now operate under Key Club International as its own district. Within the last decade, KIWIN’S has become a growing force in the Kiwanis Family. With over 50 clubs and 2,500 members and growing, we hope to expand our horizons as a service organization through the dedication and support of our members.
The Kiwanis Family
The Kiwanis Family Founded in 1915, Kiwanis International is a global organization dedicated towards serving the children of the world. Consisting of more than 600,000 members across the globe, Kiwanis International serves more than 18 million service hours and donates over $100 million annually. Members consistently plan and assist in various service projects that strengthen their community while also raising funds for special causes. Throughout the years, Kiwanis has made progressive efforts to dedicate itself towards serving the children of the world. Along with joint organization UNICEF, Kiwanis is currently participating in a worldwide campaign called The Eliminate Project, which aims to save millions of lives and eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus off the face of Earth.
Kiwanis Kids is the youngest branch of Kiwanis. It is an international club of over 36,000 members that strives to develops strong character, leadership, and teamwork through service projects. Members primarily serve their schools, assist the community through various tasks, and organize donation drives. K-Kids fosters young children to thrive as strong leaders in their communities at a young age. Currently, K-Kids are making efforts to raise funds for the Eliminate Project.
Builders Club creates and builds adolescent leaders through service. Founded in 1975, this organization teaches students in middle schools how to work collectively and become leaders by following its core values of character building, leadership, inclusiveness, and caring. The club is also partnered with UNICEF and March of Dimes, providing help and service for toddlers and children around the world. Builders Club has over 45,000 members globally.
The Kiwanis Family Key Club International is the world’s largest and oldest student-led organization. With more than 260,000 members and 5,000 clubs in thirty counties, Key Club educates the youth about leadership and character development. As members build their schools and communities, they gradually build themselves by becoming compassionate leaders who take initiative to make a difference wherever they are. Through countless hours of service projects and fundraisers, Key Clubbers become part of a solution to engage future generations in good citizenship and service.
Circle K International is a preeminent collegiate service organization that aims to make a difference in the world in every single way possible. Where community service, leadership development, and friendship all meet, Circle K has more than 12,600 members in seventeen different nations all around the world. Like Key Club International, Circle K is selfgoverned, electing its own officers and participating in its own service projects. Circle K members are committed towards making a positive impact on their community in countless ways, from community service to fundraisers. Circle K International provides special projects such as the Six Cents Initiative in order to make a difference in the world.
Atkion Club is the club “where development has no disability�, a community service club for adults with disabilities. Its core values are character building and individuality, leadership, inclusiveness, and care and concern. Atkion was founded in Florida in 1987 and became a Service Leadership Program of Kiwanis in 2000. It is currently made up of 11,000 members from around the world. Atkion continues to provide adults with disabilities the opportunity to develop leadership and initiative, and to serve their communities.
What We Do How Are We Unique?
2013-2014
District Project & Governor’s Project
Saving a life starts at $1.80. KIWIN’S is proud to continue the fight against maternal and neonatal tetanus in a joint effort by the Kiwanis Foundation & UNICEF. Project ELIMINATE will serve as the District Project as well as the Governor’s Project for 2013-2014. Neonatal tetanus is a disease that kills one baby every 9 minutes, about 60,000 newborns per year. Consequently, mothers are also affected by maternal tetanus. It only costs $1.80 for a vaccination that could save the lives of mothers and infants everywhere. With both your help and the dedication of the Kiwanis Family, we will be able to provide vaccines, syringes, safe storage, and thousands of skilled workers in the medical field to save 129 million people around the world.
For more information, visit: www.TheEliminateProject.org
Major Emphasis
Example services:
Book drive
Library volunteer (reading to children)
Tutoring services
Arts and crafts sessions
Create your own service program!
Minor Emphasis
Example services:
Fundraisers (car wash, bake sale, etc.)
Health and safety presentations
Helmet drives
First Aid Kit distribution
Create your own!
OHANA one family. one mission. one word.
Though we all come from different places, what truly unites KIWIN’S is the power of ohana. We are not just an organization. From our passion for service to our bonds with one another, we are the foundation of a strong family that strives to serve our community and world in countless ways. ______________________________________ California-Nevada-Hawaii KIWIN’S
2013-2014 Kiwanis Family & International Relations Committee
Co-Chairs Elaine Cheng kiwinsawards1314@gmail.com
Jack Wang kiwinssecretary1314@gmail.com
Members Kenneth Gucyski kgucyski@yahoo.com
Jennifer Ngo kiwinstechnology1314@gmail.com
Allen Pham lqkiwinstreasurer@gmail.com