WHAT IS KIWANIS? Kiwanis is a world wide service organization for men and women desiring personal involvement in the leadership and improvement of their communities. As a group, they can achieve what individuals cannot alone.

These men and women belong to Kiwanis clubs located throughout the world. They attend regular meetings for fellowship and inspiration. They perform voluntary community service through committees and work groups.

Specifically; Kiwanis is a service organization, not a social club nor a secret or political society. It does not prescribe a way of life for others. It often does, however, act as a forum for diverse ideas.

WHAT DOES KIWANIS DO? Kiwanis performs community service beyond the capability of the individual by providing, among other things, assistance to the aging, the needy, and to youth, improvement of communities, and encouragement of international understanding.

THE NAME: "Kiwanis" stems from an Indian phrase which, roughly translated, means "to express one's self."

HISTORY: Founded in Detroit, Michigan on January 21, 1915. Kiwanis extended into Canada in 1916. Not until 1962 did it serve outside these two nations.

KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL: The worldwide association of Kiwanis Clubs. Currently, there are more than 8,000 clubs with over 300,000 members in 80 nations and geographic areas. Headquarters are in Indianapolis, Indiana.

MOTTO: "WE BUILD!"

THE OBJECTS OF KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL:

1. To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life.

2. To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.

3. To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business and professional standards.

4. To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship.

5. To provide, through Kiwanis Clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities.

6. To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and good will.

YOUNG CHILDREN, PRIORITY ONE: This ongoing Kiwanis International program addresses the needs of children, prenatal through age five. Every club is urged to support this International Priority by expanding its current projects to help young children. Each club is urged to create a partnership project for young children that involves other Kiwanis clubs and organizations that serve young children.

Local clubs should also support the worldwide service project by learning about Iodine Deficiency Disorders and financially contribute to the efforts to eliminate this problem from the world.

ORGANIZATION:

International - President Glen M. Bagnell, Nova Scotia, Canada

Pacific NW District - Governor Jerry St. George, Yakima, Washington

Division 42 - Lt. Governor Gregory Hannon, Cannon Beach, Oregon

The Kiwanis Club of St. Helens is in the Pacific Northwest District of Kiwanis International. The P.N.D. includes the following entities: Alaska, The Yukon, East Russia, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Northern California, and the Panhandle of Idaho. The St. Helens Club is in Division No. 42 of the District. Other clubs in our division are located in Astoria, Clatskanie, Ilwaco-Long Beach, Kelso, Longview, Scappoose, Manzawhelum and Seaside. There is also Kiwanis Daybreakers in St. Helens. Should you wish to attend a Kiwanis Club in our District, check with our club's Secretary for the day, time, and place.

THE KIWANIS CLUB OF ST. HELENS: Chartered, October 28, 1926, has a current membership of about 55. The club meets each Thursday, noon to 1:00 p.m., at the St. Helens Elks Lodge.

ATTENDANCE: Emphasis is placed upon attendance at meetings and participation in projects. Meetings missed can be made up by attending a meeting of another Kiwanis Club, or our club’s Board meeting. Your attendance at any of these meetings will count as a makeup meeting. Perfect attendance is awarded for attending 52 club meetings and make-ups in one year. To assure proper credit, ask the Secretary of the club you visit to give you an attendance slip to bring back to our Secretary.

If a member misses four consecutive meetings, this absence becomes a matter of concern to the Membership Committee. A consistent absent pattern may result in being dropped from the rolls. However, such action is usually taken only after there has been a conference with the club member. If you are on vacation or ill, tell the Secretary.

There are definite attendance and participation standards that are required to remain a member in good standing. Please read Responsibilities of Membership in the "Policy Statements" for an understanding of these standards.

CLUB BUSINESS: The business of Kiwanis is not, except in emergencies, conducted at the club meetings. The Board of Directors elected by the membership guides the destiny of the club for each year. The President, First and Second Vice Presidents, Immediate Past President, Secretary and Treasurer are also members of the Board. The Board of Directors meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:50 a.m. at the Warren Country Inn. There is an annual election held each year. Read the section in the "Policy Statements" concerning Officers and Board of Directors.

THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE: The success or failure of the club is determined by the quality of its committees. The committee structure is the means by which all of the club's activities are accomplished. See the section on Committees in the "Policy Statements" for a list of standing committees. These standing committees shall be composed of three or more members serving at the pleasure of the President for a term of one year, commencing October 1st. All committees are required to meet monthly, submit monthly reports to the Secretary and oral reports to the Board, and to maintain at least a brief written record of the details of their operation during the year. Each member will be notified as to their committee assignment at the beginning of each new President’s term. Newly appointed committee chairs should prepare a budget for the coming year and submit it to the incoming president.

SERVICE COMMITTEES: Service committees have the following duties and responsibilities in common:

1. Determine areas of need existing in the community.

2. Based on this determination of need, and suggestions contained in the Kiwanis Official Committee Program, select possible projects for the club and present them to the Board for approval. (To become an official club service, the project must first be sanctioned by the Board.)

3. Upon Board approval of a project, recruit the resources required to bring it to a successful conclusion.

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEES: Administrative Committees are those whose principle functions center on club operations. They are appointed and organized in the same general way as service committees, but their duties and responsibilities are individually assigned according to their purpose.

REPORTS: Other Kiwanians evaluate our club based on the club activity rating given monthly in the district bulletin. Credits are given only for activities reported by the Secretary in our monthly report. The Secretary can include an activity only if it is reported. Consequently, it is important for committee members to report all activities to their chairperson, in a timely manner and in the form prescribed. The club Secretary has reporting forms which chairpersons must use to report all committee activity.

CLUB ACTIVITIES: As a member of the Kiwanis Club of St. Helens, you will have an opportunity to participate in the following projects on a recurring or annual basis.

1. Bell Ringing, usually the first two weekends (or 2^nd and 3^rd , depending where Christmas falls) in December. The money is split with the Salvation Army and our share goes to the Sunshine Fund. This project requires full club participation.

2. Christmas Baskets, usually the Friday prior to Christmas, takes place at the National Guard Armory and requires full club participation.

3. Port O Fun Parade, usually the third Saturday in June, requires at least half of the membership.

4. Good Citizen Recognition at St. Helens Junior High School

5. We sponsor a cub scout pack.

6. We award scholarships to graduating seniors from St. Helens High School.

7. We sponsor a blood drive for the Red Cross

8. We participate in St. Helens Clean-up Day and provide litter patrol for a portion of Highway 30 in Deer Island.

9. We paint one house each year for a special-needs owner. This project is called, "Paint Your Heart Out".

10. We co-sponsor a Key Club at St. Helens High School and a Builders Club at St. Helens Junior High School with the Daybreakers Kiwanis Club.

CLUB PROTOCOL:

1. As a club member, you will be known only by your given name at our meetings. The use of the title "Mr.", Ms. or Mrs. will result in an appropriate fine which will be placed in the "Sunshine Fund". Other finable events are; having your picture appear in the newspaper, mention of your place of employment, not wearing your name badge or being judged "out-of-order" by either the President or the membership. If you need to leave the meeting early, you are also expected to pay a fine. Fines are not set at any particular amount. The fine is only what the member being fined is comfortable paying. All fines go to the Sunshine Fund.

2. You will be asked to pay $1.00 on or about your birthday every year. This dollar goes to Kiwanis International. At that time you will also be asked to say the birth date of your spouse or significant other. Answering incorrectly will result in having to pay another dollar.

3. As a new member you will be given a "new member" name badge to wear at noon meeting. Your name badge will be replaced with a regular member badge once you have; a) attended one Board meeting, b) performed the duties of greeter one time, c) worked on one club project, and d) attended one interclub.

4. When addressing the Chair at a meeting, it is best to say, "President" (given name) or "Acting President." The use of the word "ladies and gentlemen" is not appropriate because all Kiwanians are ladies or gentlemen. They need not be reminded. Not following this rule could also result in being fined.

5. Whenever the Governor, or the Lt. Governor, visits the club, be sure to stand when he or she is introduced. This is standard procedure in all Kiwanis Clubs.

6. When you bring a guest to a club meeting, be sure you sign the person's name in the guest log. You will then be recognized by the President to introduce your guest.

7. The Kiwanis year is divided into two parts, October 1^st to March 31^st, and April 1^st to September 30^th. Dues are $35.00 per six months and are payable within thirty days from receipt of invoice. There is a one time initiation fee of $25.00. Your first invoice for dues will include the initiation fee plus the first six months, pro-rated, depending upon when you were accepted for membership by the Board.

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Information Revised, December 7, 1997

WebPage Created March 23, 1999.  WebPage created and maintained by Stacy Garrett.