HR0792 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0792 LRB099 14330 GRL 38416 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the members of Kiwanis International on the occasion of the organization's 100th anniversary in 2015; and

WHEREAS, Kiwanis International originated in August of 1914 in Detroit, Michigan from a conversation between Allen S. Browne and Joseph G. Prance; Browne's idea was to solicit business and professional men asking them if they would be interested in organizing a fraternal organization with a health benefit feature; Browne and Prance set out and recruited enough members to apply to the state for a non-profit status; the State of Michigan approved the application on January 21, 1915 and the Supreme Lodge Benevolent Order Brothers was formed; the organization's name was changed to Kiwanis a year later; by 1927, the organization had more than 100,000 members; and

WHEREAS, Kiwanis International is a volunteer-led organization based in 7 regions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Canada and Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States and Pacific Canada; there are nearly 600,000 members in Kiwanis and the organization annually raises more than $100 million, sponsors nearly 150,000 service projects, and reports over 18 million volunteer hours to strengthen communities and serve children; Kiwanis also sponsors about 7,000 youth service clubs with nearly 320,000 youth members; and

WHEREAS, Kiwanis International's original motto was "We Trade"; a new motto of "We Build" was adopted during the 1920 International Convention and represented Kiwanis for more than 80 years; the current motto, adopted in 2005, is "Serving the Children of the World"; and

WHEREAS, Women constitute about 26% of total members in Kiwanis International; at the 2013 International Convention, Sue Petrisin was elected to serve as the organization's first female international vice president; and

WHEREAS, Kiwanis International is the founder and major supporter of Key Club International, which was started in Sacramento, California in 1925; Key Club is the oldest and largest service program for high school students in the world; as of 2010, Key Club had 250,000 members in 5,000 clubs in 30 nations; and

WHEREAS, The members of Kiwanis International serve as models of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the members of Kiwanis International on the occasion of the organization's 100th anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Kiwanis International as a symbol of our esteem and respect.