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San Clemente Kiwanis History |
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Kiwanis was founded in Detroit, Michigan on January 21,
1915. The original name was the Benevolent Order of Brothers.
Within a year the name was changed to Kiwanis, taken from an Indian term,
Nun Kewanis, referring to Self Expression. Although Kiwanis was
originally founded as a business organization, its primary purpose eventually
became community service--a tenet from which it has never deviated to this
day. Kiwanis is now in more than 90 countries, including Russia and other East
European nations, and has more than 300,000 members worldwide.
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The Kiwanis Club of San Clemente was chartered on December 3, 1953, under
the principles of Kiwanis International. Its membership works to improve
the quality of life for the citizens of San Clemente, our state, the nation,
and the world. The club installed it's first woman member in 1988, and
installed it's first woman president in 1994.
To serve the community better in terms of the first Object of Kiwanis("To give
primacy to the human and spiritual rather than the material values of life"),
the club has sponsored the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast annually, since
1981. This major community event consists of a catered breakfast, an address
by the mayor, and a keynote speech by a spiritual leader from the community.
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Kiwanis recognizes children as our future and has named Young Children:
Priority One as its continuing Major Emphasis theme. In support of this
concept, the San Clemente club has consistently nurtured the local Boys and
Girls Club, Key Club, Special Olympics, and Shots for Tots. The club chartered
the Division's first-ever Builder's Club at Bernice Ayer Middle School in 1998.
Our club member's most precious gift to the community is their time, a
priceless commodity, contributing some 1300 hours annually.
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