Circle K International

This article is about the Circle K service organization affiliated with Kiwanis. For the convenience store, see Circle K

Circle K International is an international collegiate service organization associated with Kiwanis International. It promotes service, leadership and fellowship. With over 13,500 members, it is the largest collegiate service organization of its kind in the world.

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Circle K International

Mission

Circle K International is a service organization. The major initiative "Focusing on the Future: Children" aims to help children of ages 6 through 13. Circle K also participates in the Kiwanis Worldwide Service Project which works with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) with the goal to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), the leading preventable cause of mental retardation.

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."

Pledge

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. (See Controversy)

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. Kiwanians also wanted to provide collegiate students leadership opportunities for their future careers and work service projects to better their communities while having a sense of fellowship. In 1947, Circle K changed from a fraternity to a service organization. That year, the first Circle K club was chartered at Carthage College in Carthage, Illinois. In 1949, two more clubs were added, and by 1955 there were 147 clubs, at which point Circle K received official endorsement from Kiwanis International. Circle K International adopted the Kiwanians beliefs by establishing the three tenets of Service, Leadership, and Fellowship to bring a sense of purpose to the organization.

One of the most dramatic episodes in the history of Circle K came in 1971, when the delegates at the International Convention voted to allow women into the organization. The move was initially met with resistance by Kiwanis, which must approve all changes to the Circle K governing documents. After nearly two years of debate, the Kiwanis International Board of Trustees approved the change on February 6th, 1973 and Circle K became the first co-ed organization in the Kiwanis Family. In 1984, Susan E. McClernon was elected the first female International President of Circle K International.

In 1975, Gregory Faulkner was elected to the position of International President. Faulkner was the first African-American International President. Faulkner's election and the admission of female members was symbolic of the new level of maturity and responsibility Circle K International had assumed over 20 years of service, growth and development.

At the International Convention in 1987, the delegates approved the use of the initials CKI as an official name of the organization. That same year, Kiwanis International voted to allow women into Kiwanis clubs. Key Club had gone co-ed in 1977.

As of the end of 2005, membership was comprised of over 13,500 college students in 17 nations around the world. Most of the Circle K membership currently resides in North America, in 30 Districts recognized by Kiwanis International. Twenty-seven districts are entirely within the United States, while three districts are international representing Canada and the Caribbean. These three Districts are the Pacific Northwest (made up of Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and the Yukon), Western Canada (Alberta and Manitoba), and Eastern Canada and the Caribbean. Districts-in-Formation exist in Eastern Canada, Central and South America, Australia, and the Pacific Rim.

Circle K International celebrated its 50th anniversary at the 2005 International Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina. The International Convention's theme was, "CKI's 50th Anniversary: 50 Never Looked So Good".

Governance

CKI operates on a three-tiered system similar to its Kiwanis family counterparts. The International Board oversees organizational policy, growth and international expansion. The International Board is elected at the International Convention held in a different city each summer. The Board is composed of an International President, Vice-President, and nine Trustees who serve as liaisons to one or more of the districts. The Trustees were added in 1987. The International Board meets four times a year. For the clubs who are not in established districts, the International Board serves as their primary point of contact.

The 2006-2007 International Board:

International President: Alec Macaulay (Carolinas District)

International Vice-President: Nadine Muschette (Eastern Canada & Caribbean District)

International Trustees:
Jose Arteaga (Texas-Oklahoma District)
Paula Chrin (Capital District)
Ralph Johnson (Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee District)
Christopher Laubenthal (Ohio District)
Joshua Pettis (Nebraska-Iowa District)
Monica Price (Capital District)
Mike Silveira (California-Nevada-Hawaii District)
Chad Taylor (Kentucky-Tennessee District)
Jessilyn Thiboult (Florida District)

District Boards provide support and guidance to the Circle K clubs within their geographical area. All districts are headed by a Governor, who oversees the District Board members that usually consist of a District Secretary, District Treasurer, District Bulletin Editor, and Lt. Govenrors. Several Districts combine two District positions into a District Secretary/Treasurer. District Conventions are held every year (in February or March depending on the District) for member education, club officer training, and election of the District Board. Districts are charged with implementing International policies within their represented clubs. All District Boards are responsible for club building, Kiwanis Family relations, laws and regulations, membership retention/education, and planning District events for the membership (e.g. District Convention).

Club Boards (also known as club officers or club Executive Boards) are an important aspect of CKI, second only to the club members, as they are the elected leaders who work within their community. Club Boards work with their District Boards on membership recruitment strategies, Kiwanis Family projects, membership retention and education, and social events. Also, Club Boards plan community service projects and social events for their members. CKI recommends all clubs to elect their new Club Boards before their District Convention.

Controversy

There has been some concern about the inherent gender bias in the member pledge. In 2003, during the Circle K International Convention (ICON) in Indianapolis, IN an amendment to insert gender neutral language and better reflect the organization's current membership by changing the wording "mankind" to "humankind" failed. [1]

Concern has also arisen due to proposed restructuring changes presented as "The Case for Change" by the 2005-2006 Structure Task Force. In 2006, during ICON in Boston, discussion of the proposed regionalization plans and other structure changes led the delegates to the longest house of delegates session in the history of the organization. "Phase II" amendments regarding restructuring, proposing the elimination of districts is slated for the 52nd International Convention in Portland, Oregon. [2]

See also

University of Michigan Circle K

External links and References

• Circle K International Official Site
• History of Circle K
• Meet the International Board
• Cal-Nev-Ha District Website
• Pacific Northwest District Website
• Michigan District Website
• University of Michigan Circle K Website