What is Circle K?

Circle K is a co-educational service, leadership development, and friendship organization, organized and sponsored by a Kiwanis club on a college or university campus. It is a self-governing organization and elects its own officers, conducts its own meetings, determines its own service activities, and establishes its own dues structure. Its Objects include the Objects of Kiwanis. Once organized, a Circle K club continues to be sponsored by a Kiwanis club. Although the ultimate responsibility for Circle is that of the Kiwanis Board of Directors, the sponsorship function is most directly carried out by the Kiwanis club Committee on Circle K Clubs, assisted by a faculty advisor (who may or may not be a Kiwanian) designated by the college or university administration.

District and International Conventions are held each year. At the International Convention, International officers are elected, the Constitution and Bylaws are amended, and Circle K members participate in a service project.

Mission

Developing college and university students into responsible citizens and leaders with a lifelong commitment to serving the children of the world.

Pledge

I pledge to uphold the Objects of Circle K International, to foster compassion and goodwill toward others through service and leadership, to develop my abilities and the abilities of all people, and to dedicate myself to the realization of mankind’s potential.

History

In 1936, the Kiwanis Club of Pullman, Washington, established “Circle K House” at Washington State College, which was rented to young men who needed assistance to attend 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, Circle K transitioned 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 1949, two more clubs were organized, including one in Canada, making Circle K international. There were 147 Circle K clubs in 1955, when Circle K was officially recognized as a sponsored organization of Kiwanis International.

Membership

Circle K International is an organization for college and university students who are responsible citizens and leaders with a lifelong commitment to community service. Current membership is 12,288 college students on 507 campuses in 15 nations in North and South America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and West Africa.

Service Mission

Above all else, Circle K International is a service organization whose members are dedicated to improving their schools and communities. Virtually any unanswered need is a potential opportunity for Circle K commitment and dedication.

The Circle K International Service Initiative, Focusing on the Future: Children, was designed to involve all Circle K members in projects that address the problems and issues that face children worldwide, ages 6-13. Through personal interaction and public awareness, Circle K members are enabling children to develop the skills and ideals necessary to be successful.

In addition, the program enables Circle K International to collaborate with its Kiwanis-family counterparts in the largest fund-raising campaign in the history of Kiwanis International—the Kiwanis Worldwide Service Project. The Kiwanis Worldwide Service Project joins the Kiwanis family of service organizations with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in a program to virtually eliminate iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) throughout the world. Circle K clubs have raised more than $523,000, which will protect about 2.5 million children from IDD, the leading preventable cause of mental retardation.

While the Kiwanis-family has reach its goal of US $75 million in cash and pledges, more than 41 million infants worldwide are born each year unprotected from the effects of IDD. Kiwanis is committed to the cause and will raise an additional US $3 million to virtually rid the world of IDD by the year 2005.

Interested in joining Circle K?

The club is the most important level of the Circle K organization. Each club is expected to maintain a membership of at least 20 students, which ensures the club will continue to exist year after year. There is no maximum limit to the size of the club.

These are the general requirements for Circle K membership: Willingness to serve, commitment to humankind, and dedication and adherence to the organization’s ideals.

To find Circle K clubs around the world one can search the CKI Club Locator found here. The Club Locator provides direct links to club web sites (if they exist) and direct links to our on-line membership interest form that carry the chosen club's information to that form. Access the on-line membership interest form directly to choose three or more prospective colleges in which to express interest.

Former Key Club members are invited to join Circle K and can accept the invitation (read the invitation) by completing the membership interest form.