Welcome to the Capital City Kiwanis Club. You are now a part of a service club with a tradition of fun and service to the Tallahassee Community. We, the officers and members of the Capital City Club want your association with us to be a very pleasurable and fulfilling experience. We want you to feel at home with us in as short a time as possible. With that in mind, we have prepared this overview of what Kiwanis International, and especially the Capital City Club of Kiwanis, is all about. Please use this as a reference not only as you go through your orientation phase but throughout your association with us. Please feel free to ask any questions you have about Kiwanis or the Capital City Club of any officer or board member.

The Officers and Members of the Capital City Kiwanis Club

The following paragraphs introduce you, the new member, to the Capital City Kiwanis Club and outline our expectations of you.

We meet each Monday at 12:00 noon at the Olive Garden Restaurant at 1103 Apalachee Parkway.

You should be met at the meeting room by a volunteer "greeter." You will be asked to work with them immediately after your induction to help you get acquainted with the members of the club. This is a very important part of getting to meet the membership as well as making other visitors feel welcome. Have fun with this as long as you like.

Register your attendance as you enter the meeting room on the sign-in sheet provided. Pick up your name badge from the badge case. Don't forget to put it back at the end of the meeting.

The meeting and meal expense is included in your dues, so you will not need to pay for them when you attend the meeting.

The meal service is self-service. Drinks are obtained from the waitress stand to the left of the room and the salad and entree are served buffet style.

The club president generally presides over the meeting.

A typical agenda:

Opening -- striking of the bell to bring the meeting to order.

Pledge of Allegiance, Patriotic Song, and Invocation -- Each is led by a volunteer member. You can help start our meetings in a positive frame of mind from time-to-time by volunteering to lead one or more of this activities.

Greeting of Guests and Visitors -- The House Committee Representative who, along with the greeter, attends to the "sign-in table" will announce the guests and visitors, or in the alternative, will ask a sponsor of a guest or visitor to introduce their guest or visitor. As each is introduced, it is customary for the audience to say, "Hello (first name of guest or visitor).

Important Announcements -- Announcements are made by the President or the President may call upon one or more members to make announcements.

50/50 Drawing -- Each week there is a split the pot drawing. As members and guest arrive, they may purchase tickets to the drawing for $1. A ticket is drawn by the Guest Speaker and the winning ticket gets one-half the cash. The balance goes into the club's administrative account.

K-Kicker -- The K-Kicker is a member that provides special recognition to members for memorable events. Usually, the K-Kicker is prompted by a newspaper article. If a member appears in the newspaper, it typically represents some memorable event. The member is asked to provide details about the event. The K-Kicker then assesses the member a token amount ($.25 to $1.00). This is done in fun and good sportsmanship. The money collected goes into the club's administrative account.

The Program -- Each week a guest speaker will bring a topic of general interest, community related services, education benefit, member interest or concern, current events, et cetera. The program committee is made up of the Chairperson and twelve committee persons. Each person is responsible for one month of programs. If you have a topic you would like to see presented or would like to present yourself, see the person responsible for the next month's programs. Next year, you should volunteer to serve on the program committee for one month.

President's Final Message

Reminder for the following week and the next week's meeting.

Adjournment -- striking of the bell to conclude the meeting and dismiss the members.

Timeliness.

Please try to be on time. Most members arrive by 12 or shortly thereafter, to give themselves time to eat and be ready for the meeting activities. Arriving early provides an opportunity to share in the fellowship our club is proud to provide. This is also important in getting the meeting started on time.

If you need to leave the meeting early for any reason, do not hesitate to do so. We would rather that you spend a little of your time with us than not be in attendance at all.

Feel free to spend time after the meeting. Again, this is a time to share in fellowship with the other members of the club.

Weekly meetings at first might seem to be a very big commitment of your time. We understand this and thank you for joining us even with this time constraint. You will, we trust, discover that this is not the burden it first may appear to be. As a matter of fact, if you are like most of us, you will find yourself looking forward to the next meeting -- the fellowship, the education from the guest speaker, and the next service project. I know. I didn't believe it myself.

Kiwanis encourages you to attend as many meetings as possible. The club is measured on attendance. "Perfect Attendance" awards are presented to members who meet Kiwanis "perfect attendance" criteria. Attending every meeting is impossible for most of us. So what is "perfect attendance?" Perfect attendance is the term used but really means continued participation. It means that you like your relationship with Kiwanis enough to help in a club service project - that you are interested enough in learning more about Kiwanis so that you attend another club's meeting either locally or wherever you might be visiting. It means that you and fellow members get together to see how another club operates by visiting friends in those clubs (inter-club meetings). If we, as officer and board members are doing our job correctly you will have no problem being the kind of Kiwanian that can sustain "continued participation" forever. Perfect attendance is really a measurement of how healthy a club environment we have at Capital City Kiwanis.

Attendance credit is given for:

Attending a regular weekly meeting of any Kiwanis club.

Attendance of a round table meeting of any club (generally a modified meeting called to provide the opportunity to meet when a regular meeting cannot be held, such as on a holiday).

Attendance at a special Kiwanis club meeting or function (installation banquet, spouses night, charter night, annual banquet, et cetera).

Attendance at Kiwanis International meetings (or district functions that prevent attendance at your regular weekly meeting).

A visit to the Kiwanis International Office in Indianapolis, Indiana or the Kiwanis International Regional Office - Europe in Hnenberg, Switzerland.

Attendance at a Kiwanis district or divisional meeting.

For each 2 hours of service performed for a qualified club service project.

Please direct questions regarding your attendance status to the Club Secretary.

As a "Service Club" one of our main reasons for existence is to provide service to our community. Throughout the year you will be offered a wide variety of projects to help with. You will not be able to help with them all, but particularly in your first year with the club, you should do as many as you can. This helps acquaint you with the different types of projects and increases your knowledge of the Club and its members. Some of the projects are set up so that your name is placed on a rotating schedule. You will receive the date and time of your assignment. If you have a conflict with the date and time, it is your responsibility to find a member that is willing to switch date and time with you. When rotating assignments are made, the number of members needed to carry out the services is carefully planned so as to not have more or fewer members than needed. If a member simply does not show for the project, it burdens those that do. So please make the appropriate arrangements when you can not make a date and time assigned to you.

See Exhibit A for a checklist for new members.

Generally, Kiwanis provides services to the community by our personal effort, but some projects require an investment of cash. To provide that cash, the Capital City Kiwanis Club has fundraising projects. You will be expected to participate in one or more of these projects during the year. Like the service projects discussed above, some of the projects are set up so that your name is placed on a rotating schedule. You will receive the date and time of your assignment. If you have a conflict with the date and time, it is your responsibility to find a member that is willing to switch date and time with you.

See Exhibit A for a checklist for new members.

If you anticipate a long absence (extended vacation, work obligation, et cetera), you may apply for a leave of absence through the Club Secretary. Your club attendance record will be frozen. Dues and other obligations will remain active.

Published bi-weekly to keep the membership apprised of club activities. It is distributed at club meetings. It is mailed to those not in attendance at the meetings at which the bulletin is distributed.

The Capital City Kiwanis Club was chartered on October 19, 1959 by the Tallahassee Kiwanis Club, with Lt. Governor (and future Governor) Ralph Davis presiding at the Capital City Country Club. There were 58 charter members led by President Dr. J. David O'Dea, now a Counseling Psychologist in Dunedin. The roster included many prominent citizens such as State Treasurer Broward Williams, future college president Hugh Adams, contractor Carl Ferrell and Fred Turner, developer J. T. Williams, banker Tom Humphress, numerous attorneys, and businessman Hilmar Skagfield. Originally the club met in the evenings at the Old Cherokee Hotel, but moved to a noon location at the old Floridian Hotel in August, 1962. Other meeting places over the years included the University Holiday Inn, the Parkway Holiday Inn, the Brown Derby, the Western Sizzlin', the Sheraton, and Howard Johnsons. Since its inception, the Capital City Club has been working to make Tallahassee a better place to live and work by providing services which are beyond the scope of government. The Kiwanis Motto, "We Build," is best exemplified by a look at some of the many club projects throughout the club's existence.

For 65 years, a major emphasis of Kiwanis International has been the support of youth. The Capital City Club firmly believes this goal is one way to nurture better leaders for tomorrow. Over the years, the club has sponsored three high school Key Clubs, a Circle K at Tallahassee Community College, a Cub Scout Pack at Gretchen Everhart, youth baseball teams, youth soccer teams, a citywide Pet Show, a city wide Kite Contest, the "Terrific Kids" program at Reudiger Elementary School, and a "Special Kids" blood bank account for emergency transfusion needs of children. Club resources have supported drug abuse programs, an on-going student loan fund at Lively Vo-Tech Center, and the Kiwanis Scholarship House at FSU. Major emphasis also has been placed on early childhood intervention programs such as the World's Greatest Baby Shower, the Salvation Army Sharing Tree, the Healthy Start Coalition, and the Easter Seal Telethon. The longest running club project, a Christmas Party for handicapped children at Gretchen Everhart School, has been held continuously for 28 years. Truly, Capital City Kiwanis cares about youth.

Athletics also are special to this club. Not only has it supported the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, but it has sponsored numerous major sporting events in the City. The Kiwanis High School Track Meet has attracted over 15,000 competitors since 1968, including participants from eight southern states in 1993 and 1994. "The Kiwanis" has become a premier event in north Florida Track, with many participants going on to collegiate and national fame. Over the years, other sporting events have included the FSU-Florida freshman football game, a church softball tournament, the Governor's Cup Basketball Tournament, Special Olympics, and the AAU Junior Olympics. In a city where sports are a major attraction, Kiwanis seeks to provide opportunities in keeping with its objectives.

Even with these special emphases on youth and athletics, adults and other community services are not overlooked. The club has proudly supported the arts through LeMoyne Art Foundation and the FSU School of Music. Blood pressure testing, conservation projects, a Landscaping to Save Energy program, and the Adopt-A-Highway project all have benefited the general public. Capital City assists the homeless through meal service and financial support to ECHO, sponsored an Easter Sunrise Service eleven years, and published a Directory of all churches in the Tallahassee area. Senior citizens have been assisted through Meals on Wheels, entertainment programs, and landscaping at Georgia Bell Dickenson Apartments. The club's efforts to improve the quality of life reach all sectors of the community.

Capital City Kiwanis also has been a leader in the Florida Kiwanis District. Seven Lt. Governors have come from the club, and it has consistently been a leader in northwest Florida. The bulletin and inter-club work of Capital City have won state awards, and several members have served in statewide capacities. In 1971, the club inducted the first African-American members in Tallahassee (Herb Alexander, Jim Davis, and Ed Thorpe); in 1987, the first woman (Susan Babcock); and in 1989, the first couple (Red and Joan Messer).

On January 14, 1964, Capital City sponsored the sixth club outside of North America in Reykavik-Hekla, Iceland. This club charted with 52 members, and was the first of 45 clubs with 1,300 members now in the Iceland District. This new club occurred mainly through the efforts and connections of current Icelandic Counsel to Florida, Hilmar Skagfield, a charter and current member. In 1981, the Capital City Club held the first of many Icelandic Nights. At this event, the club received the Icelandic sheepskin which plays a part in the club's annual installation of officers. Many distinguished guests have visited Tallahassee for this event, including Past President Nick Swain, who was in office when Hekla was established. Additionally, Past President Leonidas Lipovetsky is an internationally famous concert pianist who has been an ambassador for Capital City Kiwanis on many tours around the world. Thus, the efforts of this Tallahassee club have extended for beyond city and country.

More than 325,000 individuals in 81 countries around the world proudly wear the "K" of Kiwanis because they have the desire to become personally involved in their communities. As a group, they achieve what individuals cannot do alone. Truly, this has been one of the prime objectives of the Capital City Kiwanis Club.

Organizational Structure of Kiwanis International

As can be seen on the chart on the next page, Kiwanis International is built upon a core of the local clubs. They number approximately 8,700 worldwide. It is within these clubs that community service takes place. It is within these clubs that life-long friendships are developed.

The other levels of the organization exist to support the clubs. These 8,700 clubs are divided, geographically, into more than 850 divisions. The Capital City Club is a member of Division 3. Division 3 is made up of 12 clubs in the big bend area. The clubs are:

The Capital City Club The Tallahassee Club Tallahassee Northside Tallahassee Killiarn The Lake Jackson Club (Tallahassee) The Havana Club The Quincy Club The Greensboro Club The Wakulla County Club The Monticello Club The Madison Club The Perry Club

The divisions are led by lieutenant governors. The lieutenant governors primary duty is to assist the clubs. To better acquaint you with the structure of the division, the Division 3 by-laws are included in this booklet.

The divisions are divided into 47 districts which are each led by a district governor. The Capital City Club and Division 3 are part of the Florida District. The District has an office in Sanford, Florida:

Florida District of Kiwanis Int'l 5545 Benchmark Lane Sanford, FL 32773-8116 407-324-9800

To set the policies and approve the Kiwanis International budget, there are 19 members of the International Board of Trustees. Eighteen of the trustees are elected by club delegates at the Kiwanis International convention held each June. The nineteenth trustee is the International Secretary who is an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees.

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 that sound public opinion and high idealism, which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and good will.

New Members are expected to accomplish certain services during the first year of membership to acquaint themselves with the activities of the club and to get to know the other members.

Serve as a Greeter for One Month. _________________ (dates)

Serve on House Committee and Sign Guest In. ______________ (dates)

Attend at Least Three Board Meetings. _________________ (dates)

Serve on Rotation for Civic Center Project. __________ (date)

Serve on Highway Beautification Project at least Once. Volunteer for other times as time allows. __________ (date)

Serve on Rotation for Echo Feed the Hungry Project. __________ (date)

Serve One Period on Sharing Tree Crew. ____________ (date)

Recruit One New Member to the Club. ___________ (new member)

Serve On at Least One Standing Committee. ____________ (Committee)

Contribute at Least One Article to the Club Bulletin. ___________ (date)

Attend One Division, District, or International Convention. _______ (date)

Participate in at Least One Inter-Club Visit. _________ (date)

Provide Feedback to the President After Three Months as a Member on Your Experience as A New Member and Any Suggestions for Improvement in the Orientation of New Members or Other Operations of the Club. __________ (date)

Have Fun!

Sponsors of new members are expected to work with the new member during the first year to orient the members, to motivate them to be active Kiwanians, to help them accomplish the tasks assigned to new members, and to be a mentor to them.

Help the new member complete the Check List for New Members (Exhibit A).

Serve as a greeter, with the new member for one month. ____________ (dates)

Attend at least three Board Meetings with the new member. _________________ (dates)

Serve on Highway Beautification Project with the new member at least once. __________ (date)

Attend one Division, District, or International Convention with the new member. _______ (date)

Participate in at least one Inter-Club visit. _________ (date)

Have Fun!

Provided by Bob Henderson, Kiwanis Club of Capital City

Copyright 2002, Florida District of Kiwanis International
Questions/Comments to webmaster@floridakiwanis.com