About us
The Kiwanis Story
Kiwanis was founded in Detroit Michigan, on January 21, 1915. The First Kiwanian was a merchant tailor named Joseph Prance. The original name was Benevolent Order of Brothers, and its purpose was the mutual exchange of preferred treatment in professional and business dealings.
Within a year, the name had been changed to "Kiwanis," taken from a native American term "Nun Keewanis," which roughly means "Self Expression". It had 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 "bought itself" from organizer Allen Browne, and began a growth pattern that continues today.
In 1916, Kiwanis entered Canada (Hamilton, Ontario), thus becoming "international." Kiwanis moved into Mexico in 1962, breaking with a long-standing tradition of serving only in the United States and Canada. International extension has continued since that time.
Kiwanis now has well over 300,000 members in 8,571 clubs in 122 countries. We hope to have a million members worldwide by 2015!
Kiwanis Organizational Breakdown
- Kiwanis International -- International President
- Cal-Nev-Ha District -- District Governor
- Division 12 -- Lt. Governor
- Almaden Valley Club -- Officers (president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer) and Board of Directors
- Club Membership
Other Division 12 Kiwanis Clubs
- Cambrian Park
- Campbell
- East San Jose
- Fremont
- Los Gatos
- Milpitas
- Morgan Hill
- Pueblo de San Jose
- San Jose
- Santa Clara
- South San Jose
- West Metro San Jose
- West San Jose
- Willow Glen
Almaden Valley Kiwanis Club
Our club was founded on October 1, 1988. We are one of over 650 Kiwanis clubs in our district (CA, NV, HA). This western district has the largest membership of all Kiwanis districts worldwide.
Membership Fee and Dues
We have annual club dues to cover membership costs at the internationl, district, and division levels. As of the 2007-08 year, the dues are $130/year, but that cost fluxuates whenever the external dues change. Very little of the annual dues goes to our local club -- we have fundraisers specifically so that being in our club is not a financial burden.
Meeting Times and Dates
We meet from 7:30 am to 8:30 am every Thursday, with the first Thursday of every month dedicated as a Board of Directors meeting. Our meetings open with the pledge of allegiance, and then we have breakfast while we hear announcements, reports on committee activities, introduction of guests, and (typically) a program of general interest the last half hour of the regular meeting.
As a custom, when you arrive at the meeting, we encourage you to greet each and every one of the members. This custom helps develop fellowship, club involvement and club spirit. It also helps you to learn everyone's names.
Sometimes there will be a designated "Mystery Greeter" appointed by the president or meeting leader. Members must shake hands with the secret "Mystery Greeter" or be shot later in the meeting.
Happy/Sad Dollars
This is your time to get on your soapbox to inform the group of events, happenings, dates, or whatever you want to bring the group up to date on. Common items are vacations, Yankees winning the World Series (happy), car repair (sad), new babies (could be happy or sad!), golf, taxes, sickness, wellness, or whatever! This is a time for fun, participation, and camraderie.
The Bell
The Kiwanis bell calls for the attention of those present. At the beginning of the meeting, the bell calls the meeting to order; at the end, it closes the meeting. It can also be struck repeatedly to try to regain control over a particularly rowdy crowd, though in practice that generally just adds to the din.
There is a long, storied history of members attempting to steal the bell and/or gavel from an unwary president. That is why the bell is now tied to the Kiwanis satchel, and why the gavel has been worn in the president's pants. (Ew.)
The Chair
The leadership of a Kiwanis meeting is vested in the president or designee. It is contrary to meeting guidelines (and impolite) to be rude, noisy, or inattentive when the meeting is in session. There will be a time for fellowship as announced by the meeting leader. This time will generally be during the meal or when no one (announcers, a speaker) is presiding over the meeting.
Pin and Badge
Members are expected to wear their pin (the "K") when they attend Kiwanis functions, especially at meetings. At regular meetings, failure to wear either your pin or your name badge will result in being shot.
In order to help orient, new members are expected to attend regular meetings, attend at least one board meeting, and obtain signatures of the other Kiwanians on the official apron.
