Circle K (Kiwanis)
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the Circle K service organization affiliated with Kiwanis. For the convenience store, see Circle K
Circle K is an international collegiate service organization associated with Kiwanis International. It promotes service, leadership and fellowship.
Although each Circle K club is sponsored by a Kiwanis club, college and university students govern the organization on all levels. A board of officers on the district level, and an International Board of Trustees comprise the leadership teams.
Both Circle K and Key Club (Kiwanis sponsored organization for High Schools) elect their own officers who lead the organization.
Circle K aims to develop "college and university students into responsible citizens and leaders with a lifelong commitment to serving the children of the world." Pledging "I pledge to uphold the Objects of Circle K International, to foster compassion and goodwill toward others through service and leadership, to develop my abilities and the abilities of all people, and to dedicate myself to the realization of mankind’s potential."
History
In 1936, the “Circle K House” at Washington State College was established by the Kiwanis Club of Pullman, Washington. The house, organized as a fraternity, served men who needed financial aid to attend college. In 1947, Circle K changed from a fraternity to a service organization. Also, the first Circle K club was chartered at Carthage College in Carthage, Illinois. In 1949, two clubs were added, abd by 1955 there were 147 clubs, when Circle K got official endorsement from Kiwanis International. As of 2005 membership comprises 12,288 college students on 507 campuses in 15 nations.
Mission
Circle K International is a service organization. The major initiative "Focusing on the Future: Children" aims to help children 6-13. Circle K also collaborates with the The Kiwanis Worldwide Service Project which works with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to reduce or eliminate global incidence of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).
External links
- Circle K Service Organization (http://www.circlek.org)
