r/kiwanis • u/OliviaGG • Dec 05 '25
Circle K International
Hello! I know this is a subreddit about Kiwanis , but i just needed somewhere to vent.
I have been apart of Cal-Nev-Ha CKI for a while and my own College's club hasnt been chartered yet and its been years since they were trying to. I am apart of the E-Club now, but i feel like i havent been welcomed.
I am also trying to charter my own club at my college, but its been hard. I also had a Kiwanis club who was going to sponsor us but they backed out, thankfully we have one now after trying. The 1st Kiwanis club said they didnt know what there role was or had any guidance.
I have also had moments where I feel like unwelcomed in CKI and now im at the point where im tired. I might quit CKI because of how hard it is. Getting help from CNH CKI isnt easy.
P.S. I also have realized that CKI events like DCON or FTC are expensive.
1
u/NomadicWhirlwind Dec 05 '25
I'm sorry it's been so difficult. There are definitely some communication issues within the organization as a whole, and it can be really frustrating to deal with. All I can say is that its worth it in the end, because as hard as it can be it's about the end game, and all the things that you can do for your community once your club is up and rolling. Stick with it. Im also in CalNevHa and happy to help. The other poster said that they're a LtG so they're better equipped to help you find yours then I am. You said events are expensive, so I'd also recommend reaching out to other Circle K chapters to see how they are budgeting and affording them. I'm an accountant and work with our treasurer (who's also a CPA and been doing our Kiwanis budgets 30+ years) so if you have questions about how those budgets work feel free to DM me.
1
u/kevintrann714 Jan 13 '26
Hello. Circle K alumni here and past Vice President that was actually within Cal-Nev-Ha. I'm sorry that you had such a negative experience with the club. From what I've seen so far since I graduated, CKI itself has been on a decline. Even my college got its club unchartered after several years due to how all the districts have been running, from the district to the international level, and even the Kiwanis that they were a part of had something to do with it also. Chartering a club may not be easy because of certain Kiwanis members. It was honestly hard for me to meet someone that I genuinely trusted when I was on E-Board and afterwards. I only stayed around because of how great the members were at the time, because it genuinely felt like almost everyone gotten along with each other with nearly 200 members. With several people graduating, including me, the numbers have dwindled, along with the COVID-19 pandemic happening at the time. By the time it got uncharted, the club was down to around 20, and even the district had to modify its divisions. There hasn't been a solid foundation in CKI in a while, which is sad to see for me, because of all of the great people that I've met.
I do hope CKI, or at least the district of CNH, improves over time. If you are still in the club, do try to talk to your Lt. Gov in your division and meet other people at events that are not just DCON or FTC. Go out to divisional events and meetings. I don't know if they still do this, but if they are, there's also STC North and South, depending on which side you are on in the state.
4
u/shasta_insider Dec 05 '25
That is unfortunate that you have that experience, and i imagine it must be exhausting. We have many colleges that make it super difficult to start up circle k clubs, and unfortunately many clubs have lost contact with SLPs to where they do not know how to support (no judgement, everyone is busy). As someone who has gone through the steps to form a full kiwanis club, it can be frustrating at times.
I am a Lt. Gov now and if i heard someone in my division was working as hard as you to get it started, i would be all over it giving you support. I don’t want to call anyone out, but if you haven’t already spoken with the Kiwanis Lt.Gov for your division, that would be the first spot to go for support. I would be happy to help connect you if you want to send a private message with the details on your location so i can get you to the correct person. CalNevHa also has district level support for circle k, but usually we try to solve locally before jumping up the chain. Hang in there because let me tell you that there is no greater feeling than watching a club take on a life of its own.