Service-Club

A service club ( from the term Service Club, in German also service club or charity Club ) is a formally organized group of people who maintain on the basis of shared values ​​friendly relations within the club and be used simultaneously together for the good of others; This application relates to humanitarian, social, medical, cultural or educational purposes. Service clubs are bound neither religious nor political; they are across the nation and emphasize the value and importance of international friendship.

Structure and objectives

The traditional service clubs, there are many, the biggest in almost all countries of the world. The individual clubs in each case belong to an umbrella organization, the common structures and standards managed and provides a platform for international matches is larger and in turn, not organized by individual clubs to supporting humanitarian initiatives. The individual club member but never heard of this international organization, but in each case the individual local club.

Depending on the size of each organization, there are other levels of the hierarchy between the individual and the respective Club World Association; often there are so-called districts whose size is often between one of the German federal state and several major European countries; but they rarely correspond to political or administrative areas.

Important Features at a club - like the president - in the district (which is headed by a governor) or the umbrella organization - and this sits a president before - are determined by choice, are an honorary basis and in the period - usually one year - limited.

The best known service clubs are the original all-male clubs Rotary, Lions Club and Kiwanis, which still exclusively female club Zonta, Soroptimist and Ladies Circle and Round Table with exclusively male members under 40.

Usually can not apply for membership in a service club is located; each club chooses, usually within the catchment area of the club, its members; that comes from in most cases from the proposal of a member; only with the consent of all other members of the candidate can actually enter the club. Requirement for membership is on the one hand the professional activities: The Club shall consist of representatives of as many professionals as possible and thereby reflect all important in the catchment area of ​​professions; this scattering provides each Club Member interesting conversation partners from other professions. On the other hand, personal conditions are mentioned, in particular personal and professional ethics, tolerance and willingness to cooperate and Service - services - for the neighbor. A particularly high income or wealth, which allowed greater monetary donations, as opposed to a common prejudice is not a criterion; education higher layers are, however, represented a far above average in the clubs.

Regular meetings - Rotary once a week, with some service clubs also rare - are intended to supply the considered as an essential element of club life friendship among its members; they are also an opportunity for cultural activities; these are often to presentations by members, but also by external lecturers. For in many cases organized as a joint meeting was also eating the club and in particular questions relating to the service activities of the club are discussed. Attendance at the meeting is in principle binding; it is controlled and called for depending on the club more or less. At least theoretically, is a dismissal of membership impossible due to poor attendance.

Service actions are based in most cases on the individual club; more actions are also worn in the district or even by the world governing body. In addition to humanitarian and medical aid in poor countries are also non-profit social, cultural, and educational and enlightening actions in their own country, often realized in their own city. The performance of the service clubs range from the basic idea of the organization activity, gathering financial resources within the club and the raising of funds from third parties, in particular by companies and entrepreneurs - with the good reputation of a service club is often critical to the willingness to donate - to the practical work, even and especially by professionally competent members such as doctors or engineers. Well-known examples are Brunnenbauten and vaccination programs in developing countries. Often known only locally are social projects for children and young people or the rescue of historical buildings or other works of art.

History

The history of the service clubs begins on February 23, 1905 in Chicago. The young lawyer Paul Percy Harris held with three friends from the first meeting of the association, which was later called little Rotary Club; to the intended social contact among people of different professions came the outwardly charitable purpose little later. Within a few years emerged Rotary clubs in other cities in the U.S. and other countries. The ideal of service, the service to the community, Harris should have adopted belonging among other things, of the women's movement clubs in the second half of the 19th century.

By 1920, then more service clubs were founded.

The best known service clubs

• Rotary International ( founded in 1905, 1.2 million members)
• Kiwanis International ( founded in 1915, 550,000 members)
• Civitan International ( founded in 1917, 50,000 members)
• Lions Club ( founded in 1917, 1.351 million members)
• Zonta International ( founded in 1919, 33,000 members)
• Soroptimist International ( founded in 1921, 93,000 members)
• Round Table International ( founded in 1927, 100,000 members)
• Ambassador Club International ( founded in 1956, 4200 members)
• FiftyOne International ( founded in 1966, first established on the European continent service club )

The first Inner Wheel Club founded in 1924 wives of Rotarians, he is so not a typical service club, not for the job is crucial for the membership; to International Inner Wheel now includes more than 100,000 women worldwide; close cooperation with Rotary persists.

Similarly, in 1945 Ladies' Circle was formed by wives of Round Table members; 17,500 women worldwide today constitute Ladies Circle International, the more closely cooperates with Round Table.

Youth organizations

In particular, the big clubs Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis have now become independent youth clubs. To this family belong Rotary Interact for young people between 14 and about 18 years and Rotaract (18 - 30 years); the Lions Club is the youth organization of the Leo Club and the Kiwanis Club, the youth organization Kiwanis Junior club.

While there is a regular exchange between the sponsor club and the presence of their youth clubs; but these are largely organized independently. The togetherness is felt and underlined; but there is no " automatic " transition, for example, from the Rotaract in a Rotary club.

Naturally, reached the amount of donations in the youth organizations are not the dimensions of the "adult" clubs; in many cases, youth clubs, however, are primarily active themselves. Thus, they maintain close relationships with nursing homes, day care centers, help centers or other social institutions and support them regularly in actions and in care.

As well as the actual service clubs also invite the junior club caters for those who listen to the lectures, to participate in social activities and get to know the climate and in particular the members of the club. In some cases they can develop a membership.