Kiwanis Terms

Active Membership – the basic membership classification for Kiwanians.

Annual Club Report – a report of the club’s activities for an administrative year.

Bell of Life – a Kiwanis fund raising activity on behalf of the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Unit at the Albany Medical Center.

Board of Directors – the club officers and the elected directors.  This is the group who are responsible for the management of the club. 

Brick programs – fund raising programs using engraved “bricks” displayed at Kamp Kiwanis® or the International office which honor Kiwanians.

Builders Club – a Kiwanis sponsored youth service club at the middle school level.

Charter – the official franchise by which Kiwanis International grants membership to a club.

Charter Member – a member of a Kiwanis Club at the time that the club’s charter is issued.

Charter Night – the time (usually a celebration) at which the charter of a Kiwanis Club is presented.

Charter Suspended Status – a club whose charter has been suspended because of violations.

Circle K – the Kiwanis sponsored youth service club at the college level.

Club in Good Standing – a Kiwanis Club, which is maintaining the requirements of Kiwanis International and/or the NY District of minimum membership, payment of financial obligations and the like.  A club not in good standing may not function as a Kiwanis Club.

Club Roster – a listing of basic club information as well as the members of the club, their spouse’s/partner’s name, mailing address, telephone numbers, employment, date of induction and e-mail address.  This is updated approximately twice a year.

COT – Club Officer Training – a training meeting organized by the Lt. Governor and conducted by certified trainers primarily for club presidents & secretaries but open to any member.

Designate (as in “President Designate”) an officer or director during the period after being elected to office but before being installed.

Diamond Level Hixson Fellow – a Hixson Fellow for whom an additional donation(s) has been made.  The level or number of diamonds indicates the amount of the donation (i.e. a Diamond Level of 2 indicates a total donation of $3000).

Distinguished Club – a club that meets the high standards of membership growth and administrative excellence established by Kiwanis International and the district for a given year – fewer than 1 in 15 clubs meets this honor. The Sand Lake Kiwanis Club has received this recognition in 11 of the last 29 years.

Distinguished Kiwanian – one who meets the requirements established by the governor and district board in a given year.  Usually recognized with a certificate and/or a unique lapel pin.

Distinguished Past Lt. Governor (DPLG) – a Past Lt. Governor who met high administrative standards established by Kiwanis International.  Approximately 20% of the Lt. Governors worldwide achieve this designation. The Sand Lake Kiwanis Club has 5 active members who are DPLGs.

Distinguished Past President (DPP) or Secretary (DPS) – the officers of a distinguished club.

District – a large grouping of clubs – there are 45 districts in Kiwanis International – the New York District is made-up of the clubs within the state of NY- the New England District is made up of the clubs in Mass, Vt., NH, Maine, Conn., RI and Bermuda.

District Chairman – the chair of one of the standing committees of the NY District appointed by the Governor.

District Convention – the annual meeting of the clubs of the NY District.  Each club is entitled to 3 delegates.  This convention is normally held in August.  The next will be held at the Nevelle Hotel/Resort August14-17, 2003.

Division – groupings of clubs in a similar geographic area.  There are 28 divisions in the NY District. The Sand Lake Kiwanis Club is in the Van Rensselaer Division.

Division Council Meeting - a meeting of the officers and members of the clubs of the division presided over by the Lt. Governor. These meeting offer the clubs the opportunity to address issues of common concern; share ideas and successes; evaluate progress in achieving club, division, and district goals; resolve minor club problems before they become serious; track report fillings; promote division, district and international programs; and coordinate the implementation of division-wide projects and events.

Empire State Kiwanian – the official newsletter of the New York District.

Foundation – Kiwanis International Foundation (KIF) or New York District Foundation (NYDF) – the charitable arms of Kiwanis International and the NY District respectively. They raise and distribute the money for the service projects of Kiwanis International and the District. Members of all Kiwanis Clubs are members of the respective foundations.  An elected or appointed board of directors manages each foundation.

Governor – the elected chief officer of a district – must be a Past Lt. Governor.

Governor’s official visit – a meeting of a division for the purpose of the annual visit of the District   Governor as required by the NY District.

Hixson Fellowship - This is one of the highest honors in Kiwanis International.  Created in 1983 by the Kiwanis International Foundation Board of Trustees, it is named in honor of the first Kiwanis International President George F. Hixson, a member of the Rochester, NY club. An individual, a club, a division or a district may initiate this honor by making a contribution in the recipient’s name to the Kiwanis International Foundation.  Seven members of the Sand Lake Kiwanis Club have been honored as Hixson Fellows.

HOBY – the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Conference, a leadership training conference of high school sophomores of high potential chosen by their schools – Kiwanis has officially supported this project for many years.

Honor Club – A club in each of 4 groupings (based on membership size) receiving the Kiwanis International single or multiple service awards in a given year (the Sand Lake Kiwanis Club was so recognized in 1997-98).

International Convention – the annual meeting of the clubs of Kiwanis International.  Each club in    good standing is entitled to 2 delegates.  The convention is normally held in late June or early July. The next convention is to be held June 20-24, 2003 in Indianapolis, IN.

Interclub – 4 or more members of a Kiwanis club attending the regular meeting of another club.

K or Kiwanis Family – the combined memberships of Kiwanis, Key Club, Circle K, Builders Club & K Kids, currently over 613,887.

K Kids – the Kiwanis sponsored youth service club in an elementary school.

Kamp Kiwanis® – a children’s summer camp in Utica, NY, run by the NY District Foundation

Kaiser Program – a NY District program similar to the Hixson Fellowship.

Key Club – the Kiwanis sponsored youth service club at the high school level.

Kiwanian of the Year – from time to time the president and Board of Directors may choose to recognize a member for exceptional dedication during an administrative year.

Kiwanis Liability Insurance – a  policy covering the basic activities of local clubs and their members when engaged in Kiwanis activities.

Kiwanis Magazine – the official news magazine of Kiwanis International published 10 times a year.

Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Unit at Albany Medical Center (KPTU) – one of 3 pediatric units statewide funded through the efforts of the local Kiwanis Clubs.  This is a major commitment of the clubs of the Capital, Mohawk and Van Rensselaer Divisions.

Leave of Absence – an approved absence from club meetings and activities for a period between 30 days and 6 months – a member on a leave of absence is still responsible for his/her financial obligations to the club.

Legion of Honor – Kiwanis International recognition of members with 25 or more years of service.  Special lapel pins and certificates are awarded on the 25^th, 30^th, 35^th etc. anniversary.

Legion of Merit – NY District recognition of 5, 10,15 & 20 years of service.

Lieutenant Governor – the elected chief officer of a division – to be elected a Lt. Governor one must be a past club president.

Life Member – a Kiwanian may be honored with Life Membership status and is no longer required to pay the International dues portion of their annual membership dues.

Membership Pin – a golden lapel pin given to each member indicating membership in a Kiwanis Club. The pins may indicate current or past office. Silver colored pins indicate an honor (Distinguished President or the like).

Merit Club – similar to a Distinguished Club but with slightly less stringent requirements.

Mid Winter Training Conference – the major weekend training conference held in February or March each year.

Multiple Service Award – an award based upon the annual report reporting on 5 service projects.

New Club Development Manager – a full time staff member of Kiwanis International who aids in the creation of new clubs.  In the past this was the Kiwanis Field Service Representative.

New York District Directory – a listing the District’s clubs (their officers & meeting information), the Lt. Governors, the District Officers, the District Committee Chairs and the NY District Foundation Board of Directors.  The secretary maintains the club’s copy.

Pediatric Trauma Fellow - similar to the Kaiser and Hixson Fellows - honored for contributions to the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Unit at the Albany Medical Center.

Perfect Attendance Tabs – tabs worn behind the member lapel pin indicating the number of years of perfect attendance

Presidential Advisor – a member chosen by the president to give advice and council during the year.

Privileged Member – a classification of membership discontinued in 1963 (there are still members in some clubs who were elected tot this classification before 1963). There are no attendance requirements for this classification.

Ring of Honor – an award to a sponsor who has met minimum requirements to familiarize a new member to the club and Kiwanis in general.

Round Robin – a cycle of interclubs to all the other clubs of a division.

Round Table – a Kiwanis term for an informal meeting held at the time and place of a regular meeting which had been canceled or changed.  In the past one had to sign an attendance sheet; now, all member receive a credit for attendance.

Ruby K – a membership growth award.  This distinctive lapel pin is given to members who have recruited 5 or more members into Kiwanis.

Sand Paper – an affectionate nickname for the award wining Sand Lake Kiwanis Club bulletin the Sandpiper.

Sandpiper – the weekly newsletter of the club.

Senior Member – a membership classification, granted by the Board of Directors, for members with more than 10 years membership and who cannot maintain regular attendance.

Single Service Award – a NY District or International award based upon the annual club report reporting on 1 service project.

Special Board Meeting: a meeting of the Board of Directors to consider an item of a timely nature. This is basically an emergency meeting of the Board. Attendance at these meetings does not qualify for an attendance make up credit.

Sponsored Youth – any of the Kiwanis sponsored organizations for the youth of our communities – K-Kids, Builders Club, Key Club or Circle K.

SummerFest – the largest, most labor intensive service/fund raising project of the Sand Lake Kiwanis Club.

Tablet of Honor – a method of honoring an individual or group for accomplishments.  With a specified contribution to the Kiwanis International Foundation an engraved plaque specifying the reason for the honor is presented to the recipient and recorded at the International headquarters.

Tri-K weekend – a meeting of the boards of directors of the NY District of Kiwanis, NY District of Circle K and NY District of Key Club.

Trustee Councilor – a member of the International Board of Trustees assigned to a given district to give advice and assistance to the officers and Lt. Governors.

Webpiper - club nickname for the edition of the Sandpiper posted on the World Wide Web (internet).

WSP/IDD – the Worldwide Service Project of Kiwanis International Foundation to virtually eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorders by iodizing salt.  IDD is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation in children worldwide.

Young Children Priority One (YCP1) – a multi year service theme which allows the local club to develop service projects for children prenatal thru the age of five within their communities.  For many years Kiwanis International would have an international service theme that would change year to year.