What is Kiwanis ?
Kiwanis is an international service organization of individuals who want to improve their communities.
As a group they can achieve what they cannot do alone.
These men and women attend Kiwanis club meetings for fellowship and inspiration.
They perform voluntary community service.
Kiwanis is not strictly a social club, nor is it a secret or political society. It does not prescribe a way of life for others. It often does, however, act as a forum for diverse ideas.
Visit the District Home Page and Kiwanis International for links to much more information about the Kiwanis organization.
What does Kiwanis do ?
It performs service beyond the capability of the individual:
- assistance to the aging, the needy, and to youth.
- improvement of communities.
- encouragement of international understanding.
Who can Join ?
Individuals of good standing in the community — invited by the Kiwanis club itself. The cost is low, considering the tremendous satisfaction that Kiwanis membership provides.
What about the Golden K Kiwanis ?
We are a Service Club, chartered by Kiwanis International. Members are predominantly retired men and women.
We meet at the VFW post 1215, at 2775 43rd Street NW, Rochester, MN. on Wednesdays from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
We do some fund-raising for charitable causes, but because we are mostly retired, emphasis is on volunteer activities. Our highest priority is working in partnership with child serving organizations in the community. We spend an average of 2800 hours per year on charitable projects.
Examples of some of our volunteer activities are:
- We have a group who works at the Channel One Food Bank. We meet at Channel One on the first Tuesday of the month from 9:00 to 11:00 AM.
- A group goes to a local Nursing Home once each month and conducts a Bingo Game for the residents, and provides $10.00 in quarters for prizes.
- Some members volunteer as Mayo Clinic Volunteers, and with our own Young Children Priority One Programs including the Reasons to Write pen pals program.
- Each year Christmas Anonymous sets up a “store” at Christ United Methodist Church to help meet the needs for gifts and food for the needy. We join with other clubs in a three part effort to help them Move in, Move out, and Clean up afterwards.
- Other annual activities include participation in Rochesterfest, the Elks Clothing drive for the Hastings Veterans Home, a full day of bell ringing for the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Drive, and our own Peanut Days fund raiser.
- There are other annual projects where all the Rochester Kiwanis Clubs and Key Clubs join together for common projects such as the Kiwanis Hockey Festival.
Perhaps some of these projects interest you, but you want more information before you make a commitment. Visit our Activities & Projects page for a list of the contact persons for each of our projects.