HISTORY OF CIRCLE K - GROWING INTO THE LARGEST COLLEGIATE SERVICE ORGANIZATION |
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As Circle K International began to award charters to individual clubs, plans to form Circle K Districts began. By the summer of 1956 there were four unofficial Circle K Districts: California-Nevada-Hawaii, Michigan, Texas-Oklahoma, and Missouri-Arkansas. With the development of the unofficial Circle K Districts, the International Board was faced with another challenge which would eventually cause the International Board of Officers to clearly define their responsibilities as International Officers, since the Districts began to initiate their own programs for service, thus reducing the amount of direct contact between individual clubs and the International Board.
The Kiwanis International Board of Trustees accepted a proposal to allow the establishment of Circle K Districts on February 22, 1957. The very first Circle K District to be officially recognized was the Texas-Oklahoma District. The second Circle K District was Kentucky-Tennessee which was closely followed by Michigan. Four more Districts were added in the 1957-58 administrative year: Missouri-Arkansas, California-Nevada-Hawaii, Ohio, and Alabama. By February, 1959, Circle K International had a total of 217 clubs with a combined membership of 4,413. Growth was also reflected in the addition of the New England District of Circle K International and the Ontario-Quebec-Maritime Circle K District which eventually became known as the Eastern Canada and the Caribbean District. One year later, the Circle K Districts of Georgia, Florida, Illinois-Eastern Iowa, and West Virginia were established. By 1960, Circle K International had grown to 264 clubs with a total membership of 5,316. Growth continued at a slow, steady pace until 1961, at which time there was a "New Club Rush" and 75 clubs were issued new charters. The Districts of New York, Capital, Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee, Utah-Idaho, Minnesota-Dakotas, and Indiana were petitioned and approved during the 1960-61 administration. The rapid rate of expansion continued through the 1962 administrative year as 88 new clubs were built and the Districts of Carolinas, Nebraska-Iowa, Southwest, Rocky Mountain, Pennsylvania, and Pacific Northwest became part of Circle K International. By May of 1962, Circle K had a membership of 7,700 and 402 clubs throughout the United States and Canada. Circle K International continued to change and mature with the increasing membership. Once again, to adapt to these changes the objectives of Circle K International were revised to read: To emphasize the advantages of the American-Canadian way of life;
To provide an opportunity for leadership training in service;
To serve on the campus and in the community;
To cooperate with the administrative officers of the educational institutions of which the clubs are a part;
To encourage participation in group activities;
To promote good fellowship and high scholarship;
To develop aggressive citizenship and the spirit of service for improvement of all human relationships;
To afford useful training in the social graces and personality development.
Circle K International also continued to promote the original ideals of the organization as listed previously. By 1964, Circle K had become the largest collegiate service organization on American and Canadian college campuses. Membership had topped the 10,000 member mark. Another milestone in Circle K history was also reached as Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, became home to the 500th Circle K Club to be chartered by Circle K International. In addition to being the largest collegiate service organization, Circle K became the fastest growing collegiate service organization on the North American continent with a membership of over 12,000 in 600 clubs during the 1964-65 administrative year. The Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District was officially established during the 1963 administrative year and was followed in 1964 by the New Jersey District. Montana became an official Circle K District in 1965. By 1965, the tremendous growth that Circle K had experienced during the first ten years began to slow. The 60's on American college campuses were symbolic of unrest. Despite the campus unrest, 30 Circle K Districts were established and still exist today. Unfortunately, by the end of December, 1965, 178 charters of the 954 charters issued had been revoked over the years and many more would soon meet the same fate. |
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GROWING INTO THE LARGEST COLLEGIATE SERVICE ORGANIZATION | MILESTONES OF PROGRESS | SERVICE A LOOK AT INTERNATIONALIZATION | CONCLUSION | OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES CIRCLE K INTERNATIONAL THEME and EMPHASIS PROGRAMS | SERVICE INITIATIVE DISTRICT'S OFFICIAL CHARTER DATES CIRCLE OF SERVICE RECIPIENTS | CIRCLE K INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CITIES and THEMES |
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Copyright © 2003 THE WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY CIRCLE K CLUB PULLMAN, WASHINGTON Website Created by D. McInnes January 2003 |
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