20-30 National History
History of Redwood Empire #1029
The Active 20-30 Organization of the United
States and Canada provides young adults with an opportunity for personal
growth, friendship and leadership development while improving the quality of
life for disadvantaged children in their community.
In February 1990, the Active 20-30 Club of the Redwood Empire was founded by a group of local businesswomen. It is comprised both of single and married women in their 20's and 30's who want to make a difference in their local community.
Redwood Empire 20-30 has a rich history
of involvement in the Sonoma County community as a non-profit service
organization. The club holds fundraisers, participates in hands-on events,
donates funds to local organizations, and holds socials in addition to
entertaining general meetings.
National History Realizing The Need
Active 20-30 International had its
beginnings in 1922 when young men in two widely separated communities of the
United States saw the need for a service club for young men. They found that
established service clubs were dominated by older men, run by older men, and
whose officers were invariably much older men.
This realization led those groups of ambitious young men to stray away from existing groups and organized a club of their own. These clubs shared the ideal that young men would have a chance to engage actively in service to their communities; where young ideas, backed by enthusiasm and the energy of youth, could share in civic responsibilities on an equal basis with clubs composed of older men.
These pioneers of young men's service clubs simultaneously created two virtually identical clubs: the Active International, located in Aberdeen, Washington, and 20-30 International formed in Sacramento, California.
Both the International and Active
International Associations were charter members of the World Council of Young
Men's Service Clubs (WOCO). John Armenia, Joe Crowe and Arnie Scheldt of Active
and Dr. James Vernetti, Henry Heyl and Ray Fletcher of 20-30 were among those
who fostered the World Council movement up to its formal beginning in 1945 (See
WOCO information).
Merging Ideas & Resources
In 1959, President Norm Morrison of
20-30 and President Ken Helling of Active, exchanged a letter renewing the long
standing proposal that these two identical young men's service clubs should
merge.
Between 1959 and 1960, meetings were held between the two groups, culminating in the proposed Constitution and Resolution to be presented to the 1960 Conventions of each organization. In addition to Morrison and Helling, Jack Kummert, Doug Martin and Clint McClure of 20-30, and Victory W. "Bill" Smith, Owen Barnes and Jim Robertson of Active participated in the early negotiations.
In 1960, the 20-30 International
Convention was held in Santa Cruz, California. The delegates unanimously
adopted the merger proposal and the Constitution. One month later, the delegates
at the Active International Convention in Calgary, Alberta, also unanimously
adopted the propositions. Therefore, on August 1, 1960, Active International
and 20-30 International became the Active 20-30 International.
While International Projects selected for the new organization were Keys in the
Car, Aid to Scouting, Public Speaking and Rheumatic Fever. During the 1975
Convention in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the new International Charity
Foundation was adopted to replace Rheumatic Fever.
The major International Projects selected for the new organization were Keys in
the Car, Aid to Scouting, Public Speaking and Rheumatic Fever. During the 1975
Convention in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the new International Charity
Foundation was adopted to replace Rheumatic Fever.
The Creation of Active 20-30 US & Canada
In 1981, a proposal was put forth to the membership to allow for National
Associations in Active 20-30 International. In 1982, the Active 20-30 United
States and Canada, Inc., was formed with its National office in the building
owned by Active 20-30 US & Canada on 1915 I Street, Sacramento, California.
Arnie Krogh of Sacramento served as its first National President. In 1996,
the National Office was moved over to 915 L Street in Sacramento, California,
where Nossaman
LLP, a professional association management team, is currently
serving Active 20-30 US & Canada.
International Affiliations
Active 20-30 US & Canada is also a member of Activo 20-30 International and the World
Council of Service Organizations (WOCO).
Gavel, Banner and Bell
Every club in Active 20-30 is issued a "club banner", a brass
bell and a president's gavel. These are standard items that each club must
maintain as an Active 20-30 club and must be used at all official club
meetings. However, a tradition among many of the clubs is to make sure
that no one "steals" these items from the meeting. Any member
may attempt to steal one of these items during the meeting and then it
is returned in some most unusual ways. Even members visiting from area
clubs may attempt to steal one of these items.
