ABOUT
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Our members at the Greater Randolph Area Kiwanis (GRAK) help feed the hungry, mentor youth, and help care for the disabled and disadvantaged. We develop youth as leaders, raise funds for scholarships and more. Working together, members achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone. When you give a child a chance to learn, experience, dream and succeed, great things happen!
ABOUT KIWANIS
Kiwanis has two functions. First is to serve the children of the world, one child at a time. Second is to serve the children of the club’s community. We serve children through a variety of individual programs that include mentoring, individual support and helping to improve the quality of life for those that have little, if anything.
WHAT WE DO
Our Kiwanis club sponsors and provides guidance to three student leadership programs. We support a middle school group called "The Builders Club," and two high school groups called "The Key Club." It is our responsibility to instill a desire to provide service to their community through our leadership and as role models.
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Randolph Area also serves the community through civic projects and providing services that improve the area as a whole. At the same time we ask the community to support us through our fund raising efforts. Find out more about our projects here.
The work "Kiwanis" comes from an American Indian expression meaning "we share our talents." This is something we can all do. Some of us do the hands-on work of supporting the children. Others help provide the means for that support. Each is necessary and important, and one cannot survive without the other.
THE GLOBAL NETWORK
As a Kiwanian you part of a global network of service leaders. Kiwanis International is a global community of clubs, members and partners dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time. Today, Kiwanis has more than 600,000 members from K-Kids to Key Club to Kiwanis and many ages in between in more than 80 countries. Each community has different needs, and Kiwanis empowers members to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of children through local service projects and fundraising.
The word "Kiwanis" comes from an American Indian expression meaning "we share our talents." This is something we can all do. Some of us do the hands-on work of supporting the children. Others help provide the means for that support. Each is necessary and important, and one cannot survive without the other.
Kiwanis Structure
CLUB LEVEL
It all starts with members in a club. Every club has a few things in common. For example, clubs have a president, vice president(s), secretary and treasurer. Clubs may also have other leadership positions, such as committee chairs.
DIVISION LEVEL
Each club is clustered together with clubs in the area to form a division. Divisions are overseen by a lieutenant governor, who is a representative of the district board (see “District” category below). The number of divisions and lieutenant governors varies by district.
DISTRICT LEVEL
A district is made up of several divisions. There are currently 49 districts and provisional districts within Kiwanis International. Some include only one state (ex: Kansas District) or country (ex: Malaysia District), while others are made up of multiple states (ex: Texas-Oklahoma) or countries (ex: Switzerland-Liechtenstein District). The rest are made up of geographical regions (ex: Pacific Northwest District).
Each district is led by a governor who is elected with the rest of the executive board at the district’s annual convention. The district’s executive board includes a governor, secretary and treasurer (or combined secretary-treasurer). Other board positions include the lieutenant governors and district chairs.
Our district is the Texas Oklahoma District. Visit their website here!
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
All 49 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.
Each year, delegates at the Kiwanis International convention elect members and officers of the Kiwanis International Board, which includes a president, president-elect, vice president, past president and 15 trustees. The trustees work with the districts, similar to how lieutenant governors work with divisions.