What is CKI?
CKI is a proud member of the Kiwanis International Family, a family dedicated to community-service and bettering the world around them. CKI is the largest collegiate service organization in the world with more than 550 college and university campuses and 13,000 student members worldwide.
Behind every successful club is one or more local sponsoring Kiwanis clubs. The relationship between CKI clubs and their local Kiwanians is integral in the club’s life. This relationship provides students the opportunity to interact with professions in the community. Joint service projects, meeting, and other events are generally conducted each year, joining together the efforts of the community and campus leaders.
CKI is an association of clubs, and the strength of its clubs is the key to the success of the organization. The work of CKI occurs at the club level. Clubs devise, develop, organize, and implement service projects that benefit the campus and community. Clubs may undertake projects that best fit the need of that community and those members. An organization as complex and important as CKI requires administrative action to take place in each club. There are dues to be collected and paid, reports to be completed, correspondence to be written, and mail to be read. Each club must have leadership to function. Each year, elections are conducted and students are placed in leadership positions within the club.
The Three Tenets: Service, Leadership, and Fellowship
Service
As one of the three tenets, service is a fundamental element of CKI. Collectively, CKI members perform more than one million hours of service on their campuses and in their communities annually. Without service, CKI would be just another campus activity. Through service, college students are making the world a better place. Every year the Pennsylvania CKI district pursues a different mission to better the community as a District Service Project.
Leadership
Through the mission and vision of the organization, CKI is dedicated to the realization of mankind’s potential. The potential of CKI lies in its ability to positively influence members of society who are facing ultimate personal decisions and those who will one day create the vision of mankind for generations to come. Leadership opportunities afford CKI members the resources and tools needed to become active citizens. CKI members can assume leadership responsibilities at all levels of the organization and through various experiential training conferences.
Fellowship
If there is one thing that CKI members know best, it is fellowship. Whether they are planning a car wash, visiting shut-ins, reading to three-year-olds, or conducting business, CKI members across the globe take time to meet and welcome new people. With each element and aspect of CKI, members experience fellowship and develop life-long relationships with fellow collegians, advisors, Kiwanians, and citizens in their communities. Whether a CKI member is mentoring a child, networking with a businessman, or bowling with members, that CKI member is developing social skills, meeting new people, and strengthening relationships.
CKI Structure
The club level is the first and most important level of CKI. Without our clubs, there would be no need for the district and international levels. The club level is where the mission of CKI is realized, as clubs are the heart of CKI’s service. The other levels exist to provide consultation and develop program materials that will assist and support the club in attaining their service and leadership development objectives.
The two other critical levels within CKI are the District Level and the International Level.