Service club
Encyclopedia
A service club or service organization is a voluntary non-profit organization
where members meet regularly to perform charitable works
either by direct hands-on efforts or by raising money for other organizations. A service club is defined first by its service mission. Second its membership benefits, such as social occasions, networking, and personal growth opportunities encourage involvement.
A service organization is not necessarily exclusive of ideological motives, although organizations with such defined motives are more likely to identify themselves through their association. Much like the historical religious organizations formed the basis for many of societal institutions, such as hospital
s, service organizations perform many essential services for their community and other worthy causes
. In the United States, some of these clubs usually also have a component club organization that is a tax exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
.
Many of today's service clubs got their start as social clubs for business networking, but quickly evolved into organizations devoted more to service and less for networking, although networking is still a primary reason for many members to join.
Historically, most service clubs consist of community-based groups that share the same name, goals, membership requirements, and meeting structure. Many of these clubs meet weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly on a recurring established day and time, commonly at a mealtime. Most of these clubs started with a single club in a single city, but then replicated themselves by organizing similar clubs in other communities. Many of the service club organizations have become world-wide movements, and have obtained official recognition by the United Nations
and various governments as non-government organizations
Service clubs in this article do not refer to the term "service club" used in the United Kingdom
, Australia
, and some other Commonwealth countries, in which those groups consist of clubs for members of "the services", a common expression for the military or uniformed forces. In the western hemisphere, these types of clubs are commonly known as veterans' organizations or veterans' fraternal groups.
, Rotary
, Kiwanis
, Lions, Exchange
, Optimists
, Soroptimists, KIN Canada
and Zonta
. New generation of service clubs include HandsOn Network, BEAN
and DoSomething.org
.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
where members meet regularly to perform charitable works
Charity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
either by direct hands-on efforts or by raising money for other organizations. A service club is defined first by its service mission. Second its membership benefits, such as social occasions, networking, and personal growth opportunities encourage involvement.
A service organization is not necessarily exclusive of ideological motives, although organizations with such defined motives are more likely to identify themselves through their association. Much like the historical religious organizations formed the basis for many of societal institutions, such as hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s, service organizations perform many essential services for their community and other worthy causes
Causes
Causes, or causality, is the relationship between one event and another. It may also refer to:* Cause , a term used in law* Causes , an online company...
. In the United States, some of these clubs usually also have a component club organization that is a tax exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
.
Many of today's service clubs got their start as social clubs for business networking, but quickly evolved into organizations devoted more to service and less for networking, although networking is still a primary reason for many members to join.
Historically, most service clubs consist of community-based groups that share the same name, goals, membership requirements, and meeting structure. Many of these clubs meet weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly on a recurring established day and time, commonly at a mealtime. Most of these clubs started with a single club in a single city, but then replicated themselves by organizing similar clubs in other communities. Many of the service club organizations have become world-wide movements, and have obtained official recognition by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and various governments as non-government organizations
Service clubs in this article do not refer to the term "service club" used in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and some other Commonwealth countries, in which those groups consist of clubs for members of "the services", a common expression for the military or uniformed forces. In the western hemisphere, these types of clubs are commonly known as veterans' organizations or veterans' fraternal groups.
Examples
Many of these service clubs were started early in the 20th century, such as Altrusa International, SertomaSertoma
Sertoma Park is a park in Bismarck, North Dakota. Sertoma is on a three mile stretch of riverside plain on the Missouri River. The Lewis and Clark Riverboat docks at the park when it is not giving tours of the river where Lewis and Clark once were over 200 years ago...
, Rotary
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
, Kiwanis
Kiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
, Lions, Exchange
National Exchange Club
The National Exchange Club – a service organization with 700 clubs and more than 21,000 members throughout the United States and Puerto Rico – celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2011. The Exchange Club was officially started in 1911 as a national organization in Detroit, Michigan. Its second...
, Optimists
Optimist International
Optimist International is an international service club organization with 3,200 clubs and almost 100,000 members in more than 35 nations throughout the world. The international headquarters is located in St...
, Soroptimists, KIN Canada
Kin Canada
Kin Canada is a secular Canadian non-profit service organization that promotes service, fellowship, positive values, and national pride....
and Zonta
Zonta International
Zonta International is an international service organization founded in Buffalo, New York in 1919 with the mission of advancing the status of women.Currently, Zonta International is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois...
. New generation of service clubs include HandsOn Network, BEAN
BEAN (charity)
BEAN, a non-profit organization based in Seattle, Washington, USA, encourages volunteerism for young professionals and benefits local and international charitable organizations. BEAN was founded in 2002 by Howard Wu...
and DoSomething.org
Do Something
Do Something is a non-profit organization that motivates young people to take action around social changes through national campaigns and grants for projects that make an impact. The organization's CEO is Nancy Lublin, who founded Dress for Success in 1996.-History:The organization was co-founded...
.