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1914
Allen S. Browne, a professional organizer for fraternal groups, has an idea for a
new kind of club and begins recruiting business and professional men in Detroit, Michigan.
Joe Prance, a merchant tailor, is the first to sign up and becomes "the first
Kiwanian." Browne's proposed name for the group, the Benevolent Order Brothers, is
rejected, however. As one member commented, "Who wants to belong to an organization
called BOB?" A committee consults with a local historian, who tells them about a
phrase in the local American Indian language: Nunc Kee-wanis, which means, approximately,
"We get together" or "We trade." The club adopts an abbreviated
version of this phrase, Kiwanis. |
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1915
January 21 becomes the official birthday of Kiwanis when the Detroit group receives a
corporate charter from the State of Michigan. Membership in the Detroit #1 club quickly
grows to more than 200. A second club is organized in Cleveland. Both the Detroit and
Cleveland Kiwanians sponsor projects to benefit disadvantaged children -- a service slant
that will become an enduring theme of Kiwanis. |
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1916
Thanks to Allen Browne's energetic organizing and member contacts in other cities, Kiwanis
grows to 32 clubs -- including the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton, Ontario, "the club that
made Kiwanis international." The Cleveland club calls a convention. A basic
constitution is adopted and George F. Hixson, Rochester, New York, is elected as the first
International President. |
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1917
Many more clubs are organized. The second annual convention is held in Detroit, and George
Hixson is elected to a second term -- the only International President to serve more than
one year. A "K" with the words "Kiwanis Club" enclosed in a double
circle becomes the official symbol. The first rumblings of discord are heard from two
contending groups: those who support Allen Browne's concept of an organization that
provides mutual business benefits for members, and those who believe that Kiwanis'
long-term success depends on a higher ideal, community service. |
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1918
Membership reaches 10,000. The first Kiwanis headquarters, a two-room office, is opened in
Chicago, Illinois, with O. Sam Cummings serving as the first International Secretary. The
convention is held in Providence, Rhode Island. Perry S. Patterson of Chicago is elected
President. |
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1919
The debate over the organization's purpose, personal business advantage or community
service, reaches a climax at the convention in Birmingham, Alabama. As a professional
organizer, Browne owns rights in the organization. The anti-Browne majority offers to buy
him out and Browne names his price: $17,500. Members and clubs quickly subscribe the sum
on the convention floor. Kiwanis "buys itself" and service triumphs over mutual
back-scratching. Henry J. Elliott, Montreal, Quebec, is the first Canadian President. |
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1920
A record year for growth ends with 265 clubs and 28,500 members. The Kiwanis Motto,
"We Build," is proposed by Kiwanis Magazine editor Roe Fulkerson and adopted.
Portland, Oregon, hosts the International Convention. J. Mercer Barnett, Birmingham,
Alabama, is elected President. |
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1921
Kiwanis officially adopts policies that emphasize community service in the areas of
urban-rural cooperation, public affairs, and underprivileged children. O. Sam Cummings is
succeeded by Fred C. W. Parker as International Secretary. The convention is in Cleveland,
Ohio. Harry E. Karr, Baltimore, Maryland, is elected President. |
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1922
Administrative policies are adopted to guide clubs in their activities. In later years,
these will evolve into annual Themes and Objectives. Kiwanis observes US-Canada Day for
the first time, which will later become Canada-US Goodwill Week, the oldest continuing
Kiwanis observance. The first Kiwanis districts are formed. The convention is held in
Toronto, and George H. Ross, Toronto, Ontario, is elected President. |
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1923
Kiwanians donate $44,500 to finance a memorial to US President Warren G. Harding, a
charter member of the Marion, Ohio, club. The convention is in Atlanta, Georgia. Edmund F.
Arras, Columbus, Ohio, is elected President. |
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1924
A constitutional convention is held in Denver, Colorado. A more detailed constitution is
adopted, which creates the International Council (composed of the International Board
members and District Governors) and defines the functions of major committees. The six
Permanent Objects of Kiwanis are adopted, Kiwanis International becomes the official name.
Victor M. Johnson, Rockford, Illinois, is elected President. |
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1925
The Kiwanis Club of Sacramento sponsors a club for "key boys" in the local high
school. This first Key Club will eventually grow into the world's largest service club for
high school students, but for the next decade the Key Club idea will spread slowly, at
first in California and then other states (see 1939, 1946). The International Council
meets for the first time and the new District Governors jointly plan their Kiwanis year.
The Harding International Goodwill Memorial is dedicated in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The convention is held in St. Paul, Minnesota. John H. Moss, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is
elected President. |
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1926
Membership nears 100,000. The Montreal convention is the largest to date, with 5,248
members from 1,546 clubs. Ralph A. Amerman, Scranton, Pennsylvania, is elected President. |
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1927
Kiwanis service achievements become increasingly important, with youth work, public
affairs, and rural-urban cooperation stressed. US Kiwanians join with Canadian members in
celebrating the Dominion of Canada's Diamond Jubilee. The International Board authorizes
field service contacts to assess the problems and opportunities faced by local clubs. The
convention is held in Memphis, Tennessee. Henry C. Heinz, Atlanta, Georgia, is elected
President. |
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