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What is Circle K? Circle K International (CKI) is a collegiate service organization that also concentrates in the areas of leadership and personal development. CKI is sponsored by Kiwanis International, and is therefore part of the Kiwanis Family, which includes other branches such as Key Club, Builders Club, K-Kids, and Aktion Club. Circle Kers are committed to serving their campuses and communities, and also focus much of their attention on children. Circle Kers as a whole perform more than 1 million hours of service annually, truly making a difference by bringing to the forefront an amazing amount of attention to important issues in the world today through their own personal involvement. Circle Kers also are dedicated to the realization of mankind’s potential through the mission and pledge of the organization, as well as through their own individual interaction with those whom they serve. Through the leadership opportunities that Circle Kers envelope into their lives, they learn the essential tools for becoming active citizens. This organization offers its members the possibility to serve in leadership roles on the club, division, district, and international levels. In the midst of these service and leadership opportunities, Circle Kers are constantly developing relationships and strengthening their social skills. Life-long friendships result from a Circle Ker’s personal investment in others that they serve, as well as those they serve alongside. By offering copious amounts of events and projects in which to be involved, Circle Kers have the ability to build connections with their fellow Circle Kers, other members of the Kiwanis Family, advisors, many leaders in their communities, as well as those people whom they serve. We hope that you will join us in learning about CKI and becoming an integral part of this extraordinary organization! History In 1936 Jay N. Emerson, a member of the Pullman Washington Kiwanis Club, presented a plan to his club proposing that the Pullman Kiwanis Club purchase a house that could be rented to young men in need of assistance to attend the local college. The plan became a reality as the Kiwanians established the "Circle K House" at Washington State College. For ten years the "Circle K House" became affiliated with a Greek letter organization, although it continued to be sponsored by the Pullman Kiwanis Club. Eleven years later in 1947, Donald T. Forsythe, Trustee of Kiwanis International, aided in transitioning Circle K from a fraternity to a service-oriented organization. That year, during September, the first Circle K club similar to our present day organization, was chartered at Carthage College in Carthage, Illinois. In 1955 Circle K officially became an international organization and by 1964 CKI had become the largest collegiate service organization on American and Canadian college campuses. Currently there are over 12,000 members in 30 different districts across the globe. The Ohio District was chartered in 1958 as the 5th district in Circle K International. Vision and Mission of CKI Vision: Circle K holds the promise of today’s college student becoming tomorrow’s leader. It exists to meet the personal needs of the individual collegian through the qualities of leadership, the rewards of service, and the unique spirit of friendship. Circle K’s potential lies in its ability to positively influence those in our society who are facing ultimate personal decisions and those who will one day create the vision of mankind for generations to come. Circle K is the embodiment of those qualities necessary to shape the future, realized in the colleges and universities of today. The Vision of Circle K International is dedicated to the realization of mankind’s potential. Mission: Circle K International is college and university students who are responsible citizens and leaders with a lifelong commitment to community service worldwide. Acronyms used in CKI and the Ohio District
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© April 2006
Circle K Club of Kent State University
circlek@kent.edu
Center For Student Involvement, Box 13
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio 44242