Club Key Numbes are Unique
by John Fox, Cap. Dist. Historian
Every Kiwanis club has a unique Key Number. The number is associated with the club's organization date. Kiwanis International provides the number to a new club once all the paperwork and funds have been processed.
If a club changes its name the Key (K) number stays constant. For example, South Norfolk K01698 organized in 1927 changed its name in 1935 to Southside Norfolk, in 1963 the name changed to Chesapeake. A correction to last month's topic "Birthdays" Chesapeake is 82 this year, not 25. Great Bridge-Chesapeake is 25 this year.
If two clubs merge, the younger club will relinquish their key number. For example, Blacksburg K02811 in 1979 sponsored Montgomery County K09496. In 1997, Montgomery County-Blacksburg was formed when the two merged with the Key number 02811.
Communities have seen several Kiwanis clubs, organized at different times, each having a different Key number. For example, St. Mary's County K11239 from 1984 to 1986; K12525 1988 to 1998; and now K15857 from 2000 to present. There are other communities within the Capital District like St. Mary's County found in the District History web site. Click on "Clubs" to explore more.
Ever wonder what clubs were formed next to your club? On the first page of the District History, select "KI Clubs". From there you can view all Kiwanis International clubs from 1915 to 2005. Capital District clubs are in bold and link to that club's history web page. For example, Portsmouth organized Jan 11, 1920 is K00195. Lynchburg organized Jan 14, 1920, is K00196. Virginia Beach K04356 and Annandale K04360 are close. They organized two days apart and are separated by Baldwin, PA Kiwanis club.
Last month's question - why does Baltimore, Norfolk, and Richmond have a lower key number than the first District club Washington? Past District Historian and Governor Fred Terrell discovered the answer while at Kiwanis International. He found that all the early clubs were first alphabetized, then given a Key number.
Question for next month - what year did the District split out the divisions into North-South, East-West, A-B?
Learn more about your Capital District from the District History site, found under Kiwanis Links on the Capital District web page.
