Late in the summer of 1914, Allen S. Browne, an organizer with Moose Club, had application forms printed up for a new organization to be based in Detroit, Michigan. It was called The Supreme Lodge of Benevolent Order of Brothers. It was to provide certain sick benefits and the members were to be called "Bobs." On December 7, 1914, Joseph Prance, a merchant tailor of Detroit, signed up as the first members of the club. Another early member was Donald A. Johnston, a well know Detroit insurance man, and the first president of the club. Browne, Prance and Johnston, along with other early members, agreed that the name of their club was awkward and sought a new one. An appointed name search committee consulted Clarence M. Burton, a Detroit historian who suggested a Chippewa Indiana phrase of four words, Nun Kee wan is, which was soon shortened to Kiwanis. Burton explained that the phrase meant "we trade," which rather well expressed he objectives of the first members who were mostly merchants and salesmen. Later it was discovered that the phrase more probably meant "we have a good time--we make a noise." With the new name Kiwanis Club, this organization of Detroit business men was chartered and fully organized on January 21, 1915. On August 17, 1916, the first Kiwanis Club in Indiana was organized in Indianapolis. It was the 18th Kiwanis Club in the nation. Three weeks later, September 6, a new club in Lafayette was completed (the 21st in the nation) and, on October 28, Indiana’s third club was organized in South Bend. On November 1, 1916, Kiwanis became international with the organization of the Hamilton, Ontario, Canada club. On June 17, 1920, the Bloomington Kiwanis Club was founded. On June 3, 1958, the Suburban Bloomington Kiwanis Club was organized. Earlier in 1920, on January 23, at a meeting in Chicago, Kiwanis International adopted the motto "We Build," which remains in place today. In 1987, the Kiwanis International constitution was amended to permit women to join. In the first two years after that, 696 women joined Kiwanis in Indiana alone. On August 29, 1995, it was announced that the Suburban Kiwanis Club would merge with Bloomington/Downtown Kiwanis Club. The strong point of Bloomington Kiwanis has always been faithfully following the motto of We Build. Whether it’s buying an automobile for the Public Health Nursing Association in 1921 or helping the Bloomington Boys & Girls Club in the 21st Century, Kiwanis Club of Bloomington members keep the building of a better future for the children and teenagers of Monroe County as the focus of their activities.