What is Circle K?
Circle K is a co-educational service, leadership development, and friendship organization, organized and sponsored by a Kiwanis club on a college or university campus. It is a self-governing organization and elects its own officers, conducts its own meetings, determines its own service activities, and establishes its own dues structure. Its Objects include the Objects of Kiwanis. Once organized, a Circle K club continues to be sponsored by a Kiwanis club. Although the ultimate responsibility for Circle is that of the Kiwanis Board of Directors, the sponsorship function is most directly carried out by the Kiwanis club Committee on Circle K Clubs, assisted by a faculty advisor (who may or may not be a Kiwanian) designated by the college or university administration.
District and International Conventions are held each year. At the International Convention, International officers are elected, the Constitution and Bylaws are amended, and Circle K members participate in a service project.
Service Mission~
Above all else, Circle K International is a service organization whose members are dedicated to improving their schools and communities. Virtually any unanswered need is a potential opportunity for Circle K commitment and dedication.
The Circle K International Service Initiative, Focusing on the Future: Children, was designed to involve all Circle K members in projects that address the problems and issues that face children worldwide, ages 6-13. Through personal interaction and public awareness, Circle K members are enabling children to develop the skills and ideals necessary to be successful.
In addition, the program enables Circle K International to collaborate with its Kiwanis-family counterparts in the largest fund-raising campaign in the history of Kiwanis International—the Kiwanis Worldwide Service Project. The Kiwanis Worldwide Service Project joins the Kiwanis family of service organizations with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in a program to virtually eliminate iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) throughout the world. Circle K clubs have raised more than $523,000, which will protect about 2.5 million children from IDD, the leading preventable cause of mental retardation.
While the Kiwanis-family has reach its goal of US $75 million in cash and pledges, more than 41 million infants worldwide are born each year unprotected from the effects of IDD. Kiwanis is committed to the cause and will raise an additional US $3 million to virtually rid the world of IDD by the year 2005.
Mission~
Developing 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.
Tenets~
Service
Service is the heart of CKI. Collectively, CKI members perform more than 1 million hours of service on their campuses and in their communities every year. Without service, CKI would be just another campus activity. Through service, college students are making the world a better place.
Leadership
The potential of CKI lies in its ability to positively influence members of society who are facing ultimate personal decisions and those who will one day create the vision of mankind for generations to come. Leadership opportunities afford CKI members the resources and tools needed to become active citizens. Members can assume leadership responsibilities at all levels of the organization and through various experiential training conferences.
Fellowship
CKI members experience fellowship and develop lifelong relationships with fellow collegians, advisors, Kiwanians, and citizens in their communities every single day. Whether a member is mentoring a child, networking with a businessman, or bowling with members, he or she is developing social skills, meeting new people, and strengthening relationships.
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