CKI Pledge
I pledge to uphold the objects of Circle K International,
To foster compassion and goodwill Toward others through
service And leadership, to develop my abilities And
the abilities of all people, and To dedicate myself
to the realization of Mankind's potential.
About
CKI
Circle K International is the world's largest collegiate
organization dedicated to service and leadership development
with more than 500 clubs worldwide in nine countries.
It is not the size of the organization, however, which
gives it its identity or provides it with its primary
source of pride and satisfaction. Rather, it's the
mission and the objects of the organization that set
CKI apart from other student organizations.
CKI is a service organization through which college
students can find a means of responsible student action
in their communities and a more active involvement
in the life of their campus. As clubs learn about
the needs of their campuses and communities, they
develop hands-on activities to address these problems.
College is more than a pursuit for a scholastic degree
-- it offers good times, getting to know others, personal
development, and meaningful contributions to the world.
CKI provides a unique opportunity to make a difference
now -- CKI is the total college experience.
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About
CKI Cont.
Circle K International began as a Kiwanis club service
project to provide opportunities for capable, ambitious,
and worthy young men to acquire a college education
by assisting them, where necessary, with their financial
problems; by means of a scholarship fund, if available,
or securing part-time employment. Additionally, affording
its members a useful training in the social graces
and the development of a well-rounded personality
were focus areas for CKI. Soon after the concept of
Circle K was recognized and accepted, the element
of community service was introduced, thus creating
and appealing outlet for collegians around the globe.
Today, as the largest collegiate service organization,
CKI boasts a membership of more than 12,000 collegians
on nearly 550 campuses worldwide. CKI is a student
led organization with and International Board of Trustees
elected by the membership each year. Embodied by its
tenets of leadership, fellowship, and service at the
club, district and international levels, CKI continues
to grow through service to the world's campuses and
communities.
In 1936, CKI was instituted as a fraternity at Washington
State University by the Kiwanis Club of Pullman, Washington.
The idea started with Jay N. Emerson, who was later
elected Kiwanis International President. His interest
led to the building of the first CKI club in 1947
at Carthage College, Illinois.
Other Kiwanians became interested, and during the
next eight years 168 CKI clubs were started in the
United States and Canada. In October 1955 representatives
from these clubs met in Philadelphia and voted to
form an international organization under the sponsorship
of Kiwanis. In 1956, a special department was created
in the Kiwanis International Office to serve as the
International Headquarters for CKI.
Mission
and Purpose
The mission of CKI is to involve college students
in campus and community service while developing quality
leaders and citizens. CKI inspires people to better
our world.
Our mission is a statement of what CKI wants to become
and for whom: Circle K International is college and
university students who are responsible citizens and
leaders with a lifelong commitment to community service
worldwide. CKI inspires people to better our world.
Its motto, the same as Kiwanis International's, is
"We Build." CKI provides constructive opportunities
for students to become involved on their campuses
and communities through service work to others in
need. CKI members have the chance to work with fellow
students, children in the community, and other adults
in need of special programs.
Our
Vision
CKI holds
the promise of today's college student becoming tomorrow's
leader. It exists to meet the personal needs of the
individual collegian through the qualities of leadership,
the rewards of service, and the unique spirit of friendship.
CKI's potential lies in its ability to positively influence
those in our society who are facing ultimate personal
decisions and those who will one day create a vision
of mankind for generations to come. CKI is the embodiment
of those qualities necessary to shape the future, realized
in the colleges and universities of today.
- CKI is an expanding service and
leadership force on college and university campuses
around the world.
- CKI is a respected and valued
member of the Kiwanis Family.
- CKI is recognized as the service
learning solution on college and university campuses
around the world.
- CKI has a growing number of
members seeking to participate as leaders throughout
the
organization.
- CKI has a diversified funding
base.
- CKI operates with state-of-the-art
information and communication technology.
Objects
of CKI
- To emphasize the advantages
of the democratic way of life;
- To provide the opportunity
for leadership training in service;
- To serve on the campus and
in the community;
- To cooperate with the administrative
officers of the educational institutions of which
the clubs
are a part;
- To encourage participation
in group activities;
- To promote good fellowship
and high scholarship;
- To develop aggressive citizenship
and the spirit of service for improvement of all human
relationships;
- To afford useful training in
the social graces and personality development; and
- To encourage and promote the
following ideals:
- To give primacy to the human
and spiritual rather than to the material values of
life;
- To encourage the daily living
of the Golden Rule in all human relationships;
- To promote the adoption and
the application of high social, business and professional
standards;
- To develop, by precept and
example, a more intelligent, aggressive and serviceable
citizenship;
- To provide through CKI clubs
a practical means to form enduring friendships, to
render
altruistic service, and
to build better communities;
- To cooperate in creating and
maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism
which
makes possible the increase
of righteousness, justice, patriotism and goodwill.
Tenets
of CKI
Service
As one of the three tenets, service is a fundamental
element of CKI. Collectively, CKI members perform
hundreds of thousands of 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.
CKI is not bound to any one particular service activity.
Each club is encouraged to analyze its local situation
and determine how its environment can be served most
effectively. Every two years a new Service Initiative
is designed by the Circle K International Board. Members
and clubs are encouraged to perform service activities
that fall within the parameters of this program.
Service Initiative: The Service Initiative is designed
to unify the service efforts of CKI members around
the world. This Service Initiative, Focusing on the
Future: Children, was designed to educate all CKI
members about the problems and issues that face children
ages 6-13 worldwide. Through personal interaction
and public awareness, CKI members will enable children
to develop the skills and ideals that are necessary
to be successful. this year's initiative is Open a
Book: Show them the World, which focuses on literacy.
Fellowship
If there is one thing that CKI members know best,
it is fellowship. Whether they are planning a carwash,
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
lifelong 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 member
is developing social skills, meeting new people and
strengthening relationships.
Leadership
Through the mission and vision of the organization,
CKI is dedicated to the realization of mankind's potential.
CKI offers its members the potential to develop themselves
through the many leadership opportunities available.
These opportunities provide CKI members with the tools
needed to become active and successful citizens. Members
can assume leadership responsibilities at all levels
of the organization and through various experiential
training conferences.
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