The Kiwanis Story

 

FOUNDING: Kiwanis was founded in Detroit, Michigan, January 21, 1915. The first Kiwanian was a merchant tailor named Joseph Prance. The original name was “The Benevolent Order of Brothers”, and its purpose was the mutual

exchange of preferred treatment in professional and business dealings.

 

“SHAKING DOWN”: Within a year, the name had been changed to “Kiwanis”, taken from an Indian term “Nun Keewanis”, which roughly means ‘Self Expression”. It has also become obvious that the original purpose lacked the power to attract and hold members. The purpose of the organization thus became “community service”, a concept from which Kiwanis has never deviated. A little later, Kiwanis “brought itself” from organizer Allen Browne, “incorporated itself”, and began following a growth pattern that continues today.

 

ESTABLISHING ITSELF: In 1916, Kiwanis entered Canada (Hamilton, Ontario), thus becoming “international”. Kiwanis move into Mexico in 1962, breaking with its long-standing tradition of serving only in the US and Canada. International extension has continued since that time. And today, Kiwanis serves the needs of over 71 countries around the world.

 

REACHING MATURITY: Kiwanis is part of a twentieth century phenomenon. The “service club movement”, as it has been termed, is “one of North America’s most important contributions to the life of our times”. Today, the service club movement is bigger, better accepted, and more desired than ever before in its history.