The Kiwanis Story

Our club was founded October 25, 1916, a year after Kiwanis became a reality.  The late Wilbur Creighton (member) proudly tells us three members of his family, R. T. Creighton and R. M. Dudley (grandfathers) and W. F. Creighton (father), were charter members and our club met first at the Commercial Club on Union Street way back then.  The first Kiwanian was a merchant tailor named Joseph Prance.  The original name was "The Benevolent Order of Brothers," and its purpose was the mutual exchange of preferred treatment in professional and business dealings.

Within a year, the name had been changed to "Kiwanis," taken from an Indian term "Nun Keewanis," which roughly means 'self expression.'  It had also become obvious that the original purpose lacked the power to attract and retain members.  The purpose of the organization thus became 'community service,' a concept from which Kiwanis has never deviated.  A little later, Kiwanis 'bought itself' from organizer Allen Browne, 'incorporated itself,' and began following a steady growth pattern which continues today.

In 1916, Kiwanis entered Canada (Hamilton, Ontario), thus becoming international.  Kiwanis moved into Mexico in 1962, breaking its long-standing tradition of serving only in the U.S. and Canada.  International extension has continued since then, and today Kiwanis serves the needs of over 79 countries around the world via 8,900 clubs and over 330,000 members.

Our club is the 2^nd largest in our Kentucky-Tennessee district and is one of 16 clubs sporting the Kiwanis emblem in Middle Tennessee.