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ABOUT THE T-O DISTRICT

KEY CLUB INTERNATIONAL:  EARLY BEGINNINGS

The first Key Club was established in Sacramento, California in May of 1925. The idea of a youth service organization came about while high school fraternities were in their prime and educators looked to replacing these groups with more wholesome activities. Two high school administrators, and members of the local Sacramento Kiwanis Club, approached the Kiwanis club with the idea of a junior service club in the high school, to be patterned after Kiwanis and to have its own classifications based on school interests and to hold luncheon meetings. Other Kiwanis clubs, around the country, heard of this new service group, and, consequently, Key Clubs were established in several other states. In 1939 Floridian Key Clubbers met, forming the first state association, and elected officers, pattering themselves after their sponsoring Kiwanis structure. Upon the adoption of the International Constitution and Bylaws, Florida became the first Key Club district. During 1949, the Kiwanis Club of McAllen chartered the Key Club of McAllen; from this initial charter, the Texas-Oklahoma District was formed and has grown immensely over the years.

TEXAS-OKLAHOMA DISTRICT:  MODERN TIMES

Today, over 16,500 members in more than 300 clubs comprise the 47 Divisions that make up the mighty Texas-Oklahoma District (the second largest District within Key Club International).  Recently, a major event transpired in the Texas-Oklahoma District at the fiftieth Annual T-O District Key Club Convention, themed "Putting the Pieces Together ... Together We Shine."  With over a thousand in attendance at the Arlington's Marriott Hotel, the Keywanettes (founded in 1974) officially joined Key Club International.  Since that convention, participation has steadily increased at district conventions.  T-O has emerged among the ranks of Key Club International to receive the Growth Award, Distinguished Officer Awards, and Ultimately the Distinguished District Award.  Texas-Oklahoma has a newly-found tradition of excellence, and its aim will be to continue to serve its members and those whom its members serve.  T-O has and will always do "whatever it takes!"

WHAT IS KEY CLUB

Key Club is a service organization for high school students, which operates under school regulations and draws its membership from the student body. Key Club differs from other organizations in many ways. Key Club is unique because it is sponsored by a local Kiwanis club, composed of the leading business and professional people of the community. Key Club's objective is the development of initiative, leadership ability, and good citizenship practices. Key Club is different because it functions not only on the local level, but on a district and international level. This highly developed structure provides programs, literature, and the opportunity to relate to teenagers from countries all around the world. Key Club is the largest high school service organization of its kind in the world!

MOTTO

KEY CLUB PLEDGE

I pledge on my honor to uphold the objects of Key Club International; To build my home, school, and community; To serve my nation and God; and to combat all forces which tend to undermine these institutions.

KEY CLUB COLORS

KEY

The KEY in Key Club stands for Kiwanis Educates Youth.

PURPOSE OF KEY CLUB

Through Key Club's work in the home, school, and community, Key Clubbers have learned that their organization is built around the concept of caring, and because of this, Key Club will continue to be an effective and contributing organization for years to come. In Key Club, members reach out in service and provide for those in need. Several ways exists in which Key Club is able to accomplish these objectives. One way is by service projects that provide for the community; such as a neighborhood clean-up, working with able and mentally challenged children, tutoring elementary school students, visiting convalescent homes, doing beach cleanups, having canned food drives, clothing drives, toy drives, "adopt a family," helping out in soup kitchens, aiding the homeless, doing a graffiti clean-up, and an infinite number of other activities. Key Club also assists in publicizing the importance of IDD (Iodine Deficiency Disorder), Vitamin A Deficiency, and more. By fund raising along, Key Club can be involved with world affairs. In addition to all of this, Key Club also acts as the medium by which individuals are strengthened by interactions with other throughout the Key Club year. However, the single most important thing one will carry away from them as a result of their Key Club membership is the acquisition of necessary skills needed for everyday life.

OBJECTS OF KEY CLUB INTERNATIONAL

To develop initiative and leadership.

To provide experience in living and working together.

To serve the school and community.

To cooperate with the school principal.

To prepare for useful citizenship.

To accept and promote the following ideals:

• To give primacy to the human and spiritual, rather than material, values of life.

• To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.

• To promote the adoption and application of higher standards in scholarship, sportsmanship, and social contacts.

• To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship.

• To provide a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render unselfish service, and to build better communities.

• To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and good will.

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