service club

service club
1. any of several organizations dedicated to the growth and general welfare of its members and the community.
2. a recreational center for members of the armed forces.
[1925-30]

* * *

      an organization, usually composed of business and professional men or women, that promotes fellowship among its members and is devoted to the principle of volunteer community service. The idea of the service club originated in the United States and has had its greatest popularity there, though service clubs now exist in many other countries and are often linked in international associations.

      All service clubs have high-principled mottoes and creeds, such as Rotary International's (Rotary International) “Service Above Self.” About half of these clubs are in semirural communities and have memberships of less than 50. Most hold a luncheon or dinner meeting each week. The larger service organizations publish magazines that report their activities and also carry articles of general interest. Many of the service organizations have clubs in more than one country.

      The idea of creating a civilian service club originated in 1905 with Paul P. Harris, a young attorney in Chicago. His plan of organization envisioned all the essential features of the present-day service club and included the classification principle that restricts membership in a given club to a quota from each business or profession. Because meetings were to be held in rotation in members' offices, Harris proposed the name Rotary. Growth was rapid. With the formation of clubs in Winnipeg, Man., Dublin, and London, the name International Association of Rotary Clubs was adopted but was replaced in 1922 by the name Rotary International. By the late 20th century, there were more than 28,000 Rotary clubs in 158 countries, with a total membership nearing 1.2 million.

      Other clubs of somewhat similar design followed in rapid succession. In 1915 Kiwanis (Kiwanis International) (International) was organized in Detroit, the name being derived from Indian lore suggesting self-expression. Kiwanis clubs may select two members from each business or profession. The International Association of Lions Clubs (Lions Clubs, International Association of) was organized in Dallas, Texas, in 1917. Lions clubs adopted more lenient rules for admission and did not follow the classification principle rigidly. As a result, their membership increased rapidly, and the Lions soon became one of the largest of the service-club organizations.

      Other large service clubs include Sertoma (International), 1912; Gyro (International), 1912; National Exchange Club, 1917; Optimist (International), 1919; Civitan (International), 1920; Ruritan (National), 1928; and Cosmopolitan (International), 1933. Major women's service clubs include Altrusa (International), 1917; Quota (International), 1919; Zonta (International), 1919; Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. (International), 1921; Soroptimist (International), 1921; and Pilot Club, 1921.

      It is estimated that each year service clubs carry on several hundred thousand local community projects, ranging in complexity from sponsoring bazaars to building and equipping hospitals or summer camps for underprivileged children.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • service club — service .club n AmE a national organization made of smaller local groups in which members do things to help their ↑community …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • service club — service ,club noun count AMERICAN an organization whose members organize work or activities intended to improve their local community …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • service club — ☆ service club n. 1. any of various clubs, as Rotary, Kiwanis, etc., organized to provide certain services for its members and to promote the community welfare 2. an armed services recreation center …   English World dictionary

  • Service-Club — Ein Service Club (vom englischen Begriff Service Club, im Deutschen auch Serviceclub oder Wohltätigkeitsclub) ist eine formal organisierte Gruppe von Menschen, die auf der Grundlage gemeinsamer Werte freundschaftliche Beziehungen innerhalb des… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Service Club — Ein Service Club (vom englischen Begriff Service Club, im Deutschen auch Serviceclub oder Wohltätigkeitsclub) ist eine formal organisierte Gruppe von Menschen, die auf der Grundlage gemeinsamer Werte freundschaftliche Beziehungen innerhalb des… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Service club — 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… …   Wikipedia

  • service club — noun 1. a club of professional or business people organized for their coordination and active in public services • Hypernyms: ↑club, ↑social club, ↑society, ↑guild, ↑gild, ↑lodge, ↑order • Hyponyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • service club — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms service club : singular service club plural service clubs American an organization whose members organize work or activities intended to improve their local community …   English dictionary

  • service club — club that performs services for the general public …   English contemporary dictionary

  • service club — noun Date: 1926 1. a club of business or professional men or women organized for their common benefit and active in community service 2. a recreation center for enlisted personnel provided by one of the armed services …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”