Key Club History
As the largest and oldest service program for high school students in the world, Key Club has a rich and proud history that spans many decades. In 1925, two members of the Sacramento Kiwanis Club came up with the idea of a junior service program for high school students, modeled after the Kiwanis clubs. The two Kiwanians, Albert C. Olney and Frank C. Vincent, decided that the club would be made up of the key boys at the high school; upstanding young men who had already decided their future occupations. After approval from the Board of Education, their first meeting was held in May 1925, and Key Club was born. The Sacramento Key Club is still in existence to this day.
Word spread about this junior service club, and other Kiwanis clubs wanted to enact similar programs in their area high schools. Clubs began to seek ways to organize and cooperate with one another, and Florida became the first established Key Club District in 1946. Florida also influenced the development of an international association of Key Clubs, beyond individual states. In 1943, the first International Convention was held in Sanford, Florida, and Malcolm Lewis was elected as the first International President.
Since these humble beginnings, Key Club has continued to grow and expand its scope and influence, while continuing to change millions of lives. By 1952, 1,000 clubs had been chartered. In 1967, the first Key Club outside of the United States and Canada was chartered, at Nassau, Bahamas. In a historic and defining moment for Key Club, female students were admitted into Key Club in 1977. Ironically, the majority of participants in Key Club nowadays are females.
Several benchmarks continued to happen as Key Club entered the 21st century. Michelle McMillen became the first International President in 1991, setting a precedent for the many female International Presidents that followed her. In 1997, Key Club began to modernize and launched its first website. As of August 2011, Key Club membership has surpassed 260,000, spread out in over 5,000 clubs in 30 countries worldwide. One thing, however, has not changed. Just as it was in the beginning, Key Club is dedicated to teaching the youth of the today to serve the children of the world. It has, and will continue, to change lives all over the world and make a difference in the lives of the youth of today.
Word spread about this junior service club, and other Kiwanis clubs wanted to enact similar programs in their area high schools. Clubs began to seek ways to organize and cooperate with one another, and Florida became the first established Key Club District in 1946. Florida also influenced the development of an international association of Key Clubs, beyond individual states. In 1943, the first International Convention was held in Sanford, Florida, and Malcolm Lewis was elected as the first International President.
Since these humble beginnings, Key Club has continued to grow and expand its scope and influence, while continuing to change millions of lives. By 1952, 1,000 clubs had been chartered. In 1967, the first Key Club outside of the United States and Canada was chartered, at Nassau, Bahamas. In a historic and defining moment for Key Club, female students were admitted into Key Club in 1977. Ironically, the majority of participants in Key Club nowadays are females.
Several benchmarks continued to happen as Key Club entered the 21st century. Michelle McMillen became the first International President in 1991, setting a precedent for the many female International Presidents that followed her. In 1997, Key Club began to modernize and launched its first website. As of August 2011, Key Club membership has surpassed 260,000, spread out in over 5,000 clubs in 30 countries worldwide. One thing, however, has not changed. Just as it was in the beginning, Key Club is dedicated to teaching the youth of the today to serve the children of the world. It has, and will continue, to change lives all over the world and make a difference in the lives of the youth of today.
Capital District History
The Capital District has a rich history and is a staple within Key Club International. Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Colombia comprise the district, accounting for the fourth largest district in all of Key Club International. The Capital District includes roughly 14,800 members and 247 clubs. Each of these clubs falls within one of the 32 divisions, in which each division is represented by a Lieutenant Governor.
Capital District’s first organized Key Club was Andrew Lewis High School in Roanoke Virginia, chartered on April 11th, 1946. However, the oldest active Key Club is Abingdon High School in Abingdon, Virginia. This club was chartered on October 19th, 1946 and has since been an active club in the district.
In February, 2011, the Capital District Board recently ratified the adoption of the crab as the district’s official mascot, better aligning itself with the Capital District Kiwanis Family.
Capital District’s first organized Key Club was Andrew Lewis High School in Roanoke Virginia, chartered on April 11th, 1946. However, the oldest active Key Club is Abingdon High School in Abingdon, Virginia. This club was chartered on October 19th, 1946 and has since been an active club in the district.
In February, 2011, the Capital District Board recently ratified the adoption of the crab as the district’s official mascot, better aligning itself with the Capital District Kiwanis Family.
|
|
