About Kiwanis
Indianapolis Indiana
Kiwanis and where our Club fits in
Kids need adults who care. That’s why people join Kiwanis clubs. They’re local groups of like-minded volunteers who make a difference. Friends. Neighbors. Anyone who loves serving together to change children’s lives. In fact, Kiwanians are part of a global network of clubs and members who partner with each other and with organizations whose missions align with ours. All around the world — and in communities like yours — Kiwanis International is serving the kids who need us most.
The structure of Kiwanis International begins at the club level. Members join a particular Kiwanis club or clubs. Each club is clustered with other clubs in an area to form a division. A district is made up of several divisions. (The number of divisions varies by district.) There are currently 49 districts and provisional districts within Kiwanis International. All districts and provisional districts, as well as Kiwanis nations that don’t fit into any district, make up Kiwanis International. Currently, there are Kiwanis clubs in approximately 80 countries and geographic territories.
Our Club, the Kiwanis Club of Northwest Indianapolis belongs to the Indy Metro division, which in turn is part of the Indiana District.
Kiwanis International was founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. The organization was originally called the Supreme Lodge Benevolent Order of Brothers. A year later, the name changed to Kiwanis, which was selected by the organization’s founders based on their understanding that the word was translatable to “we build” from the Algonquian Native American language family. That same year, Kiwanis became an international organization with the founding of the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Initially focused on business networking, the organization changed its focus to service in 1919 — specifically service to children. Over the years, more clubs were created in the U.S. and Canada, and worldwide expansion was ultimately approved in the 1960s. Today, there are Kiwanis clubs in nearly 80 nations and geographic locations.
For more information on Kiwanis, please visit www.kiwanis.org.
The structure of Kiwanis International begins at the club level. Members join a particular Kiwanis club or clubs. Each club is clustered with other clubs in an area to form a division. A district is made up of several divisions. (The number of divisions varies by district.) There are currently 49 districts and provisional districts within Kiwanis International. All districts and provisional districts, as well as Kiwanis nations that don’t fit into any district, make up Kiwanis International. Currently, there are Kiwanis clubs in approximately 80 countries and geographic territories.
Our Club, the Kiwanis Club of Northwest Indianapolis belongs to the Indy Metro division, which in turn is part of the Indiana District.
Kiwanis International was founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. The organization was originally called the Supreme Lodge Benevolent Order of Brothers. A year later, the name changed to Kiwanis, which was selected by the organization’s founders based on their understanding that the word was translatable to “we build” from the Algonquian Native American language family. That same year, Kiwanis became an international organization with the founding of the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Initially focused on business networking, the organization changed its focus to service in 1919 — specifically service to children. Over the years, more clubs were created in the U.S. and Canada, and worldwide expansion was ultimately approved in the 1960s. Today, there are Kiwanis clubs in nearly 80 nations and geographic locations.
For more information on Kiwanis, please visit www.kiwanis.org.
Objects of Kiwanis
The six permanent Objects of Kiwanis International were approved by Kiwanis club delegates at the 1924 Convention in Denver, Colorado. Through the succeeding decades they have remained unchanged.
To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life.
To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.
To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business, and professional standards.
To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship.
To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities.
To cooperate in creating and maintaining the sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and goodwill.