With over 9,000 members participating worldwide, Aktion Club is making its mark as the only service club for adults with disabilities. Aktion Club became an official Service Leadership program of Kiwanis International in October of 2000 on a mission to provide adults living with disabilities an opportunity to develop initiative, leadership skills and to serve their communities.
Four core values make up the foundation of this Kiwanis-family organization: character building, leadership, inclusiveness and caring.
Supported at the district level and by the Kiwanis International Office in Indianapolis, Aktion Clubs provide literature and opportunities to relate to individuals with disabilities from countries worldwide.
Starting an Aktion Club in your community is a great way to give back and promote service and understanding. All of the necessary materials, such as advisor manuals and club bylaws, are available on the Kiwanis website. There are three steps to take in order to become a sponsor of an Aktion Club.
• Find: Find advisors, members and a place to meet.
• Lead: Get organized, file paperwork, train club leaders and build enthusiasm.
• Serve: Reach out to the community and make a difference through meaningful service projects.
Find
• Your home base/meeting place can be at a community center or other facility. A Kiwanis club will sponsor your club, offering both financial support and guidance. (A CKI or Key Club can co-sponsor) It takes two individuals to run the club smoothly—an advisor from your site and an advisor from your local Kiwanis club.
• Once your location is determined, start searching for worth while community projects for your club to join or create your own
• Tools such as brochures and posters will help spread the word about the new club and help to recruit a group of volunteers that will create a sustainable and functioning club
• For more information about how to recruit a core group of volunteers, click here.
Lead
• Once you’ve laid the groundwork, it is time to get organized, file papers, train the club leaders and build some team morale.
• Get together with new members to create bylaws, elect officers and determine a meeting schedule.
• For more information about how to draft a charter or create bylaws, click here.
Serve
• Now, it’s time to get out there and work!
• Remember that service is where community needs and club members interests meet.
• Explore the possibilities, do not be afraid to be creative, make sure you educate yourself on how to work with individuals with disabilities.
If you want to join an existing Aktion group, be sure to check out aktionclub.org to see groups near you. There are many benefits to becoming a member of a nationally recognized club, you get to make new friends, give back to your community and have an opportunity to learn about daily life with a disability. According to the Aktion Club, development has no disability, so go get dirty and encourage others to come along!