The Kiwanis Club Of Sanford, Maine Is Almost As Old As Kiwanis Itself.

There Is No Question That The Organization Officially Began In 1915.  Other Details Are Less Clear, Such As The Name For Example.  One Source Says The Original Name Was "The Supreme Lodge Benevolent Order Brothers."  Another Source Says That The Founder, Allen Browne, Proposed The Name "Benevolent Order Brothers."  Let's See, Benevolent Order Brothers B, O, B.  That Just Would'nt Do.

So What Else Could Be Done But To Form -A Committee.  The Committee Came Across A Local Indian Phrase: Nunc Kee-Wanis, Which Means, Approximately, "We Get Together" Or "We Trade."  An Abbreviated Version Kiwanis Is Adopted.  The Meaning Of Kiwanis Is Also Listed As "To Express One's Self."

However, It's Important To Note That The Kiwanis Motto, "We Build," Isn't Adopted Until 1920.  Kiwanis Evolved Into A Community Service Organization And Did So Quickly.  Community Service Was Not The Original Concept.  The Original Idea Was For Fellowship And Fraternity.  Specifically, An Organization That Provided Mutual Business Benefits Effectively A Business Networking Organizattion.

However, As Early As 1915 Two Clubs Sponsored Projects To Benefit Disadvantaged Children.  By The Second International Convention In 1917 There Is Some Discord As A Group Of Kiwanians Promotes The Idea That Long-Term Success Depends On The Higher Ideal Of Community Service.  By 1919, The Founder Who Owned Rights To The Organization As A Professional Organizer-- Is Literally Bought Out By Kiwanis For $17,500 And Community Service Triumphs.  In 1921, Kiwanis Officially Adopts Policies That Emphasize Community Service In The Areas Of Urban-Rural Cooperation, Public Affairs, And Underprivileged Children.