Mondays, 12:30 pm
St. Paul's Episcopal Church Parish Hall

History

KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL

On a hot August morning in 1914, an intense young man, Allen S. Browne, approached a young Detroit tailor about becoming a member of a fraternal organization of business and professional men. And when Joseph G. Prance agreed to be the first member, Kiwanis got its start.

Browne, a professional organizer, then sought out other members to join his organization, known then as the "Supreme Lodge Benevolent Order Brothers," nicknamed simply as BOB. The club grew tired of their name and sought out assistance from the Detroit Historian who suggested the Indian phrase "Nunc Kee-wanis" which meant "we make noise." 

The membership accepted the suggestion, shortened it to Kiwanis, and filed for a charter with the State of Michigan in early January, 1915. The Official Charter was returned on January 21, 1915, now recognized as the birth date of Kiwanis.

Brown eventually moved into Canada and created Kiwanis International when he formed his 26th club at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on November 1, 1916. Kiwanis held its first convention in 1916, electing the first President, George F. Hixson, of Rochester, N.Y.

The Constitution, as we know it now, was adopted at the Denver Convention in 1924. The first club off the North American continent was organized in Vienna, Austria,  on February 25, 1963.

GEORGIA DISTRICT

The Georgia District of Kiwanis was established in the Fall of 1918 when there was only one club in the state--The Kiwanis Club of Atlanta with 50 members. In 1919, R.S. Wessels of the Atlanta Club was selected as the District's first Governor. He remained in office through 1921. In 1921 a District Treasurer, Miller S. Bell of the Milledgeville club was elected. Lt. Governors in 1921, Georgia's first, were H.E. Kelly, Rome; L.M. Rossingol, Macon and E.A. Curtis of Savannah.

The first ten clubs in Georgia were: