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HISTORY OF ANDALUSIA KIWANIS CLUB
The year 1921, Andalusia's population was 5,154.
First Kiwanis Club chartered September 22, 1921. The charter
membership was 50 members. Its first president was A.L. Rankin,
Sr. father of the late Albert Rankin, who was president of
the club in 1949. The first secretary was E. A. Cooper.
Due to the financial situation of this particular time, the
club had to cease being in 1937 and lost its charter.
Efforts were begun in March of 1938 by then Lt. Gov. Nyer
Blumberg of Dothan along with then President H.C. Holman,
Jr. of Ozark along with others continued their efforts through
1939 but were unsuccessful in reviving the club.
In December of 1947 beginning with 43 charter members the
present club was chartered.
First president of the present club was James S. (Doc) Herlong.
The present club has been very successful and has performed
many civic duties for the community.
5 or 6 Lt. Governors & 1 District Governor from Andalusia
Club.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF KIWANIS HISTORY
A drop in visit that Allen S. Brown made on Joseph Prance
a merchant tailor in Detroit in August of 1914 was actually
the beginning of Kiwanis.
Allen Brown (a lawyer by education but a professional organizer
for Loyal Order of Moose by desire) was interested in starting
a New Fraternal Club with a sick benefit feature. Over several
months this talk continued, until December 7,1914, when Joe
Prance became member #1 in the Supreme Lodge Benevolent Order
Brothers (BOB). It became apparent after others were signed
and several meetings were held that the name did not fit the
purpose of the group. Help was asked from the Detroit City
Historian and he suggested "Nun Kee Wan Nis" two Indian
words which have a broad meaning of we enjoy trading and we
find pleasure in sharing our talents. From this the word "Kiwanis"
was coined and adopted. Thus in the first week January
1915 the first Kiwanis Club held its first meeting and Donald
A. Johnson (an insurance man) was elected its first President.
At this meeting the idea of Fraternal and sick benefit organization
was dropped for the idea of service to community.
A charter was issued on January 21, 1915. Allen Brown owned
Kiwanis legally and under a plan deemed wise at the time he
was to issue one share of stock with each membership. In July
of 1915 problems arose over Allen Brown getting all the $10.00
initiation fee and shortly thereafter Brown departed for Cleveland
to organize the second Kiwanis Club, on October 19, 1915,
this Club was organized with 135 members.
The first convention was held in Cleveland in May 1916 and
George Hixson of New York was elected the first president.
On November 1, 1916, the first club was chartered in Canada
at Hamilton and Kiwanis became international. *President George
Hixson made this statement in 1917- "Let no Kiwanian be taxed
in any way that is bur-den-some, but let every member know
that he is not a true Kiwanian if he does not have a generous
heart." *By providing a minumum of $1000 donation to the Kiwanis
foundation a club may award the Hixsen fellowship to a deserving
member.
In 1918 because of the growing pains of Kiwanis with 93 clubs,
delegates at the Providence R.I. Convention voted in divide
Kiwanis into Districts the structure we have today.
Kiwanis was beginning to spread across the country and Kiwanians
did not like the idea of one man owning the organization.
At the International Convention in Birmingham, Alabama in
1919 an offer was made to buy all rights to Kiwanis from Allen
Brown. It was either sell or they would withdraw and form
another organization. Allen Brown made them an offer of $
17,500.00 but must be paid in 24 hours. The delegates raised
this in one hour.
The Motto "We Build" was adopted by Kiwanis on January
23, 1920. In May 1925, the First Key Club was organized at
Sacramento, California High School. The first Circle K. Club
was organized at Washington State College in 1936.
On April 17, 1962 the first club outside the U.S. and Canada
was chartered in Tejunna, Mexico. Alabama has played an important
part in Kiwanis history as the birth place of the Kiwanis
organization as we know it today. Alabama has also furnished
(two) international presidents; J. Mercer Barnett of Birmingham
in 1920-21 and Albert J. Tully of Mobile 1959-60. It's ironic
that the founder of Kiwanis Allen Brown, was never a Kiwanis
member after 1919.
The Kiwanis Emblem, its MOTTO WE BUILD: (We build character,
we build community pride, we build cooperative, we build self
confidence) and the objects of Kiwanis have had very little
change since the founding of Kiwanis.
Today Kiwanis is in 69 countries with over 8,000 clubs and
350,000 members.
Club History provided by Mr. Marvin E. Walker.
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