What It Is!
Taken from CNH Website
Circle K is the largest collegiate community service, leadership development, and friendship organization in the world. Circle K clubs are organized and sponsored by a Kiwanis club on a college or university campus. It is a self-governing organization and elects its own officers, conducts its own meetings, and determines its own service activities.
Circle K is an international community service organization with over 12,000 members worldwide in over 7 countries. Circle K blends community service and leadership training with the opportunity to meet many other college students at service projects, conferences, and conventions.
Each club works closely with their school and local community in planning and implementing projects that best serve the needs of that particular area. Clubs within the same basic geographic area (divisions), also work together on larger projects. On the district level, clubs within the boundaries of California, Nevada, and Hawaii also work to achieve common goals and service initiatives, and come together at conferences, conventions, and large scale projects (see "events" page). This gives members the opportunity to work closely with and get to know many different people, not just those at their own school.
We live for Serivce, Fellowship, and Leadership
SERVICE
As one of the three tenets, service is a fundamental element of Circle K International. Collectively, Circle K members perform more than 1 million hours of service on their campuses and in their communities annually. Without service, Circle K International would be just another campus activity. Through service, college students are making the world a better place.
As a sponsored program of Kiwanis International, Circle K International shares the focus of serving the children of the world. In support of this effort, the Circle K International service initiative is Focusing on the Future: Children. This initiative encourages members to address the issues facing children ages 6-13 and to find solutions through service for addressing these issues.
LEADERSHIP
Through the mission and vision of the organization, Circle K International is dedicated to the realization of mankind�s potential. The potential of Circle K International lies in its ability to positively influence members of society who are facing ultimate personal decisions and those who will one day create the vision of mankind for generations to come. Leadership opportunities afford Circle K members the resources and tools needed to become active citizens. Circle K�ers can assume leadership responsibilities at all levels of the organization and through various experiential training conferences.
FELLOWSHIP
If there is one thing that Circle K�ers know best, it is fellowship. Whether they are planning a car wash, visiting shut-ins, reading to three-year-olds or conducting business, Circle K members across the globe take time to meet and welcome new people. With each element and aspect of Circle K International, members experience fellowship and develop life-long relationships with fellow collegians, advisors, Kiwanians and citizens in their communities. Whether a Circle K�er is mentoring a child, networking with a businessman, or bowling with members, that Circle K�er is developing social skills, meeting new people and strengthening relationships.
The Circle K International Objects
The objects of Circle K International shall be:
* To emphasize the advantages of the democratic way of life;
* To provide the opportunity for leadership training in service;
* To serve on the campus and in the community;
* To cooperate with the administrative officers of the educational institutions of which the clubs are a part;
* To encourage participation in group activities;
* To promote good fellowship and high scholarship;
* To develop aggressive citizenship and the spirit of service for improvement of all human relationships;
* To afford useful training in the social graces and personality development; and
* To encourage and promote the following ideals:
o To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life;
o To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships;
o To promote the adoption and the application of high social, business and professional standards;
o To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship;
o To provide through Circle K clubs a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities; and
o To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which makes possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism and goodwill.
The History
And so it began.. In 1936 Jay N. Emerson, a member of the Pullman Washington Kiwanis Club, presented a plan to his club proposing that the Pullman Kiwanis Club purchase a house that could be rented to young men in need of assistance to attend the local college. The plan became a reality as the Kiwanians established the "Circle K House" at Washington State College. For ten years the "Circle K House" became affiliated with the Greek letter organization Kappa Iota Phi, although it continued to be sponsored by the Pullman Kiwanis Club.
Eleven years later in 1947, Donald T. Forsythe, Trustee
of Kiwanis International, aided in transitioning Kappa Iota
Phi from a fraternity to a service-oriented organization.
That year, during September, the first Circle K club similar
to our present day organization, was chartered at Carthage
College in Carthage, Illinois.
For two years, the Carthage College Circle K Club existed alone. But on March 26, 1949, the University of Western Ontario became the second Circle K Club to charter. Carthage College and the University of Western Ontario were soon joined by the Louisiana Polytechnic Institute on May 13, 1949. Circle K gained momentum and grew rapidly throughout the United States; sixteen more clubs chartered in 1950.
The Early Years: Kiwanis, International Status, and the
Growth of Circle K
With the formation of Circle K clubs, Kiwanis International
established a Special Committee on Circle K Clubs in 1952.
Andy Hodges of Carthage, Illinois, was appointed chairman
of the committee.
By 1953, Circle K clubs were located at 57 different (upper level) institutions with a total membership of 1,425. During this time, discussion over the possible formation of an International Circle K organization began to increase. Chairman Hodges was able to arrange a meeting at the 1953 Kiwanis International Convention to discuss the formation of an International organization and to elect temporary officers for Circle K International.
Twenty-five Circle K members, representing fifteen clubs, along with several Kiwanis International Board members met June 22-24, 1953. At the end of the meeting, Kenneth B. Creasy from Ohio Wesleyan University emerged as the first President of Circle K. A full board, consisting of a Vice President, Executive Secretary/Treasurer, and eleven Trustees, was also elected to serve as the temporary officers of Circle K.
Although Circle K was moving closer to attaining International status, Circle K primarily remained a local Kiwanis activity at the urging of J. Frank McCabe, the Director of Key Club International. McCabe also handled the Circle K procedures a the Chicago General Office of Kiwanis International. His conservative stance allowed Circle K to develop a definite sense of direction and contributed greatly to a strong base of support from Kiwanis before becoming an International organization.
At the Kiwanis International Convention, held during May of 1954, an attempt was made by the Kiwanis Special Committee on Circle K Clubs to help Circle K gain recognition as an International organization. The attempt failed. However, a temporary Circle K organization was established as Circle K members prepared themselves for their first annual convention which was held October 17-19, 1954, at Carthage College.
One-hundred and fourteen members, representing 35 Circle K Clubs, attended the convention. After the elections, Eugene C. Alford, Jr., from Georgia Institute of Technology, was elected the second President of Circle K.
Under President Alford, Circle K had the first meeting of an International Board. In addition, Circle K experienced unbelievable growth under Alford's leadership. Three days after his election, President Alford sent the following resolution to the Kiwanis International Board as he attempted to establish Circle K International: The Board of Trustees of Kiwanis International recognizes the fact that a group of Circle K men met together at the Kiwanis International Convention in New York in June, 1953 and under the guidance of the Special International Committee on Circle K Clubs drew up a Constitution and Bylaws and set up an International organization. We further acknowledge that this organization is still working under the supervision of the Special International Committee on Circle K Clubs toward the goal of setting up a permanent organization in conjunction with the headquarters of Kiwanis and Key Club. It is the expectation of the Board that at such time as Circle K International becomes financially independent through the organization of more clubs and the strengthening of the present clubs that they will be granted official recognition by the Board of Trustees of Kiwanis International.
Kiwanis was still concerned that the organization could not stand on its own and desired a better definition of Circle K - Kiwanis relations. For these reasons, President Alford's resolution failed.
About this time, Kiwanis Trustee Richard B. Forde began to play an important role in Circle K's eventual International standing. In February of 1955, with Trustee Forde's assistance, Circle K President Alford met with the President of Kiwanis International, Donald E. Engdahl. The result of this meeting became public March 9, 1955.
At a recent meeting of the International Board of Trustees, held in Washington, D.C., on February 18th and 19th, the following recommendation of the Board Committee on Kiwanis Youth Organizations was unanimously accepted: Voted: That the present organization of Circle K Clubs receive International recognition and a charter from Kiwanis International at the Cleveland Convention, June of 1955, provided the International dues be $4.00 per member per year, and that a Constitution and Bylaws which have the approval of Kiwanis International be adopted.
Soon after the second annual Circle K Convention, held
at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, ballots were sent
to the 140 Circle K Clubs of the United States and Canada.
The ballots were to be used by the clubs in making a decision
as to whether to accept or reject the proposed Constitution,
Bylaws, and a membership dues to be paid to the International
organization. The result of the ballots were as follows:
52 voted "yes", 27 voted "no", and 61
clubs abstained. With these results, the Board of Trustees
of Kiwanis International voted to grant official international
recognition to Circle K, October 23, 1955. The dream --
Circle K International -- had finally come true.
International Status: The District Formation Challenge
Begins
At the end of the Kiwanis International administrative year
in 1955, there were 156 Circle K clubs, with a membership
of about 3,000. The first club to officially affiliate with
Circle K International was Emory University in Atlanta,
Georgia, on November 14, 1955. By May 31, 1956, Circle K
International consisted of 77 clubs throughout the United
States and Canada. In addition to forming new clubs, Circle
K International began publishing the official magazine of
the organization...THE BULLETIN. To ensure a smooth-running
organization, Kiwanis International appointed Fay H. McDonald
to be the Director of Circle K International.
As Circle K International began to award charters to individual clubs, plans to form Circle K Districts began. By the summer of 1956 there were four unofficial Circle K Districts: California-Nevada-Hawaii, Michigan, Texas-Oklahoma, and Missouri-Arkansas. With the development of the unofficial Circle K Districts, the International Board was faced with another challenge which would eventually cause the International Board of Officers to clearly define their responsibilities as International Officers, since the Districts began to initiate their own programs for service, thus reducing the amount of direct contact between individual clubs and the International Board.
The Kiwanis International Board of Trustees accepted a proposal to allow the establishment of Circle K Districts on February 22, 1957. The very first Circle K District to be officially recognized was the Texas-Oklahoma District. The second Circle K District was Kentucky-Tennessee which was closely followed by Michigan. Four more Districts were added in the 1957-58 administrative year: Missouri-Arkansas, California-Nevada-Hawaii, Ohio, and Alabama.
By February, 1959, Circle K International had a total of 217 clubs with a combined membership of 4,413. Growth was also reflected in the addition of the New England District of Circle K International and the Ontario-Quebec-Maritime Circle K District which eventually became known as the Eastern Canada and the Caribbean District. One year later, the Circle K Districts of Georgia, Florida, Illinois-Eastern Iowa, and West Virginia were established. By 1960, Circle K International had grown to 264 clubs with a total membership of 5,316.
Growth continued at a slow, steady pace until 1961, at which time there was a "New Club Rush" and 75 clubs were issued new charters. The Districts of New York, Capital, Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee, Utah-Idaho, Minnesota-Dakotas, and Indiana were petitioned and approved during the 1960-61 administration. The rapid rate of expansion continued through the 1962 administrative year as 88 new clubs were built and the Districts of Carolinas, Nebraska-Iowa, Southwest, Rocky Mountain, Pennsylvania, and Pacific Northwest became part of Circle K International. By May of 1962, Circle K had a membership of 7,700 and 402 clubs throughout the United States and Canada.
By 1964, Circle K had become the largest collegiate service organization on American and Canadian college campuses. Membership had topped the 10,000 member mark. Another milestone in Circle K history was also reached as Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, became home to the 500th Circle K Club to be chartered by Circle K International. In addition to being the largest collegiate service organization, Circle K became the fastest growing collegiate service organization on the North American continent with a membership of over 12,000 in 600 clubs during the 1964-65 administrative year.
The Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District was officially established during the 1963 administrative year and was followed in 1964 by the New Jersey District. Montana became an official Circle K District in 1965. By 1965, the tremendous growth that Circle K had experienced during the first ten years began to slow. The 60's on American college campuses were symbolic of unrest. Despite the campus unrest, 30 Circle K Districts were established and still exist today. Unfortunately, by the end of December, 1965, 178 charters of the 954 charters issued had been revoked over the years and many more would soon meet the same fate.
The Formation of California-Nevada-Hawaii
On December 12, 1957 the California-Nevada-Hawaii District
formed.
For more complete and indepth look at CKI History, Click Here.
The Structure
How to Understand the "Hierarchy"
Circle K, like many large organizations, possesses a structural hierarchy. The basic levels and purpose are outlined below.
International
This level is comprised of all 30 districts non-districted clubs of Circle K International. At the International Convention, a president and vice-president are elected to serve on the international board with 9 other elected trustees, who serve as counselors to the districts. Expansion efforts of International are underway in South America, Philippines, and Korea.
District
This level is comprised of all divisions within a set geographic area, sometimes bounded by state lines within the United States. Our district, California-Nevada-Hawaii, is comprised of 8 divisions within the state boundaries that give our district its name. Districts hold annual conventions, training conferences, and large scale service projects. California-Nevada-Hawaii elects a governor, secretary, treasurer, and publications editor to serve on the district executive board. Each division elects a lieutenant governor to serve and act as a liaison between the division and the district. The Governor appoints district committee chairs to serve various functions for the district (such as technology chair). Only the executive board and lieutenant governors have voting power at district board meetings.
Division
This level is comprised of all clubs within a close geographic area, usually bounded by county lines within the California-Nevada-Hawaii District. Each division elects a Lt. Governor, who brings the clubs of the division together and assists each club with their individual needs. A Lt. Governor calls a Divisional Council Meeting once per month, where all clubs are required to attend, and divisional business is discussed. A Lt. Governor works closely with his or her Kiwanis regional advisor.
Club
This level is comprised of all members within a particular school or university (or qualifying associated school or university). Each club elects officers to run the operations of the club and report to their respective Lt. Governor. The club selects its projects from both the needs of the campus and community and the initiatives established by the division, district, and international. This level is where a majority of all community service hours originate from.
The Terms
Events
FTC - Fall Training Conference
DCON -- District Convention
CKI -- Crazy Kompetition for Infants
DLSSP -- District Large Scale Service Project
LSSP -- Large Scale Service Project (Int'l)
ICON -- International Convention
Administrative
LTG -- Lieutenant Governor
MRF -- Monthly Report Form
EBM -- Executive Board Meeting
DCM -- Divisional Council Meeting
PCM -- President's Council Meeting
MD&E -- Membership Development
and Education
IP -- Immediate Past
Programs & Other
DSI -- District Service Initiative
DFI -- District Fundraising Initiative
PTP -- Pediatric Trauma
CKI -- Circle K International
District Administrative
FICOM -- Finance Committee
TeCOM -- Technology Committee
SCOM -- Service Committee
CC -- Convention Committee
DOTC -- District Officer Training Conference
RA -- Regional Advisor
DA -- District Administrator
KDO -- Kiwanis District Office
Membership Benefits
Campus and
Community Service: Because of CKI's rich history of
helping others, members of CKI clubs share in the tradition of
serving their campuses and communities. CKI members, by planning
and participating in projects and activities, volunteer their
time, talents, ideas and skills for the purpose of making a
longlasting and far-reaching impact on their environment.
Leadership Development: Through the CKI
structure, every Circle K'er has the unique opportunity to
develop leadership skills by serving as an officer or committee
chair. Whether it be serving as a club project chair, district
officer or international officer, each member has the
opportunity to discover and develop talents and skills.
Professional Development: Involvement in Circle
K will allow college students to apply what they learn in the
classroom to everyday situations. The skills that are developed
and the opportunities experienced through involvement in Circle
K will increase a student's employability after college.
Furthermore, Circle K's connection to Kiwanis promotes career
networking between collegians and professionals.
Friendship: Because CKI is organized on more
than 500 college and university campuses in nine countries,
members have the unique opportunity to become friends with
collegians throughout North America. Attendance at divisional,
district, and international conferences and conventions provides
members the special chance to learn of diverse perspectives,
make new friends all over North America, share ideas and
concerns, and travel.
Scholarship Opportunities: Through the generous
efforts of the Kiwanis International Foundation and Kiwanians in
the thirty districts of CKI, up to thirty $1,000 scholarships
(one per district), are made available to CKI members. At the
International Convention, additional scholarships are presented
to Circle K'ers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership,
service, and scholarship.
Member Cards: Each member receives a membership
card showing membership in good standing in CKI.
Member Handbook: As part of CKI member education, each
new member receives a handbook which outlines the purpose,
history and structure of the organization.
Circle K Magazine: Each member receives five
issues of the Circle K magazine which features articles and
information pertaining to college life, organizational programs,
and Circle K activities.
Experienced Counseling: Every club has the
opportunity for selfimprovement by communicating and interacting
with district and International officers.
Club Mailings: Every member club receives
mailings from the district and International office containing
information on everything from club projects to International
Convention.
Education, Membership Recruitment, Public Relations,
Promotion and Training Information:
Every member club receives the latest program and public
relations information and materials developed by the
International Office. These materials are designed to assist in
club administration, growth and development. Upon publication,
these resources will be forwarded to clubs. They also are
available upon request.
