NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION? Want to get more fun out of life? Be more
purposeful? Make new friends? Network? Give something back to the
community? See the world? Show pride in America? Then consider joining a
service club in 2000! There are USA-only clubs as well as service clubs
that have members around the world.
Rotary is the first of the services clubs, founded in 1905 by Paul
Harris, a Chicago lawyer. Today, Rotary has 1.2 million members in 29,000
clubs in 159 countries around the world and is the leader in eliminating
polio as a disease as a childhood disease. Four local clubs provide for
breakfast, lunch or dinner meetings.
The first local Exchange Club was formed in Detroit in 1911 by Charles A.
Berkey and is now is made up of nearly 1,000 clubs and 33,000 members
throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Their major national thrust
is the prevention of child abuse, and there are two local noon time
clubs.
Allen Simpson Browne, a Moose lodge organizer and Joseph Prance, a
tailor, founded Kiwanis International in 1915. Today, Kiwanis membership
spans the globe with more than 300,000 members in 8,000 clubs in 82
countries. Their major worldwide project deals with iodine deficiency
found in children, which causes retardation. Three local clubs meet for
breakfast and lunch weekly.
Lions began in 1917 in Chicago, led by insurance man Melvin Jones. It has
grown to include more than 1.5 million members in 170 countries. Lions
are known worldwide for their work with the hard of hearing and
sightless. Three local Lion Clubs meet for dinner, while one meets for
breakfast.
Soroptimist International has almost 100,000 members in 119 countries
around the world. The first Soroptimist club was formed in 1921 by a
group of 80 women in Alameda County, California. They chose their name
from two Latin words meaning "best for women." They continue to focus on
women's opportunities today. The local club meets for lunch.
PUT A SERVICE CLUB IN YOUR FUTURE: If you made a New Year's resolution to
get involved in your community or the world, to expand your circle of
friends, to network then check out our local service clubs. Some clubs
meet weekly, while others meet twice a month. All provide a lot of fun,
fellowship and service opportunities. The cost of membership and
participation varies from club to club. Most are coed.
You are invited to visit the service club of your choice to check them
out while they check you out. Most will buy your first meal for you. They
