The Carolinas District is very proud of its active K-Family organizations and their accomplishments. K-Family consists of Kiwanis, Key Club, Circle K, Builders Clubs and K-Kids. These four youth groups afford opportunities for Kiwanians to have a major influence on the nurture and development of strong, capable, civic-minded young adults as we "serve children of the world."
The most opportune time to organize, develop and or strengthen one of these youth clubs is in the very beginning of the millennium year. The ground work with the staff and faculty ideally would already be in place.
The first Carolinas District Key (Kiwanis Education Youth) Club was established at Charleston High School, Charleston, SC in 1942.
Since then, the Carolinas has become the fourth largest district in Key Club International with 224 clubs. Several Key Club International presidents have been from the Carolinas District.
An excellent history of the Carolinas Key Club District, the Carolina Key is published yearly.
Key Clubbers are energetic and inspiring young people who need only the suggestion of Kiwanis involvement and leadership in order to demonstrate what can be accomplished.
Circle K, the post secondary youth organization, is open to students in vocational, technical, community and junior colleges plus all four year colleges. As with all other K-Family organizations, there must be a Kiwanis club to organize and maintain sponsorship and involvement with the youth group.
In early 1988, 22 Circle K Clubs with a membership of 517 were reported. There is a Circle K District Governor, Secretary, Treasurer and Editor along with six lieutenant governors. Appalachian State Circle K is very active and has a membership of 136. It is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Boone.
The Carolinas District Administrator of Circle K is a member of the Kiwanis International Committee on Circle K. (See section on KI Committees.)
The Builders Club program was adopted during the term of KI president Ted Osbourne 1975-76. This middle school program has been active in the Carolinas District since that time.
High Point's Ferndale Middle School of 700 students (classified as 78% poverty level by Federal guidelines) is the premier Builders Club in Kiwanis. Through the contribution of nickels these students have provided more than eight Tablets of Honor for the World Service Project of eradication of Iodine Deficiency Disorders! Dedicated Kiwanis leadership truly has an impact on youth and the future of our world.
These elementary school clubs became an official sponsored program of Kiwanis International during 1998-99.
K-Kids offers local Kiwanis Clubs opportunities to incorporate the existing programs of Bring Up Grades, Terrific Kids and Reading Is Fundamental in addition to introducing the young student to community service concepts and civic responsibility. It also can foster solid relationships between school staff, K-Kids' parents and the Kiwanis family.
Aktion Club became an official sponsored program of Kiwanis International on Oct. 1, 2000.
The first Carolinas District Aktion Club was formed in 1995 in Moore County, North Carolina and today there are seven clubs in North and South Carolina.
Aktion Club is a community-service club for adults who live with a disability. The mission of Aktion Club is: *