Wednesday, April 24th, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Peninsula High School Commons/Cafeteria (Enter through “Commons Door”, rather than front entrance)
Register Here
Interest Form
To learn more about getting involved with AKtion Club please complete and submit the Interest Form. AKtion Club Interest Formhttps://gigharborkiwanis.org/aktion-club
AKtion Club
Gig Harbor Kiwanis AKtion Club Q&AWhat is AKtion Club? AKtion Club is a service club for adults with developmental disabilities. The purpose of the club is to enable service-minded people to volunteer in projects that benefit the community. Its goal is to provide ways for people with developmental disabilities to achieve greater involvement in their communities and take a leadership role in providing community service. AKtion Club is the only international service club for adults with developmental disabilities, with more than 12,000 members worldwide.
Who is it for? AKtion Club is intended to be as inclusive as possible. Any adult age 18 or older with developmental disabilities is eligible to join. Membership is not limited based on the nature or severity of disability, unless there are behavior problems that would be overly disruptive or threatening to other participants. Participation is targeted at people living within the Peninsula School District boundaries, but the club will accept members from other areas who have an interest.
Is this a new club? The Gig Harbor AKtion Club is new, but AKtion Clubs are not new. AKtion Clubs are a well-established part of the Kiwanis International service organization. There are AKtion Clubs across the U.S., within Washington State, and around the globe in 14 countries. The Kiwanis Club of Gig Harbor is sponsoring the start of a new AKtion Club chapter for the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula community.
When will the club start up? We are planning to hold the first club meeting in May 2024. We will begin actively publicizing the new club in March to generate interest in the community. We will be making further announcements on this Gig Harbor AKtion Club webpage.
Will there be an in-person meeting where I can talk to people and learn more? Yes. We plan to hold an evening Introductory Meeting in late April (time and date TBD) where you can talk with club organizers to learn more about the program, ask questions, and sign up.
If I miss the Introductory Meeting, can I sign up later? Anyone who is interested can sign up to participate in the Gig Harbor AKtion Club at any time. If you cannot attend the Introductory Meeting, please use this AKtion Club Interest Form link to contact us. A member of the AKtion Club Collaborator Team will contact you. You do not need to wait until the Introductory meeting to contact someone about the club.
When are the meetings? As a brand-new club, the organizers are still working out some of the details. We envision meetings taking place in the early evenings on weekdays, mid-week.
How often does the club meet? Initially, once a month. However, as the program continues to develop and grow, we anticipate more frequent meetings. Once the club is formed the members will determine when and how frequently they will meet.
How long do meetings last? We are planning on meetings lasting no more than 90 minutes, but this may change as the club members determine their meeting agendas.
Where will AKtion Club meet? We are still evaluating a number of potential venues, as of February 2024. Our goal is to meet at a location that is central and reasonably convenient for people throughout Gig Harbor, including the Key Peninsula.
Will transportation to/from meetings be provided? No. Participants must arrange their own transportation to and from meetings. Carpooling might be an option for some participants.
Does a participant need a caregiver to be present at meetings? Yes. The club does not have the resources or qualified staff to provide personal care support for participants. Some members may be capable of participating independently, but this is subject to the approval of club sponsors on a case-by-case basis.
Does an attending caregiver need to be a member of Kiwanis or AKtion Club? No. Caregivers are not required to be members of either the Kiwanis Club of Gig Harbor or the AKtion Club and they are not expected to pay dues or fees.
Will facilities accommodate people with mobility issues? Yes. It is the organizers’ intent to ensure people with mobility issues be able to gain access to the meeting facility safely and without special assistance beyond what a caregiver provides. The meeting facility will be ADA compliant, and as convenient as possible.
How much does it cost? Charter membership in AKtion Club costs $15.00 per year. There are no additional participation fees to attend club meetings. The Kiwanis club is providing start-up operating funds, but the club will design and implement fund raising activities to support the club’s future operating expenses and service projects. Once established, the AKtion Club membership will develop its budget and plans for fund raising and service projects.
Will food and refreshments be provided at meetings? There are no plans for refreshments at meetings. The club membership will decide if refreshments are part of their meeting plans. This decision will impact the club budget and will be made by the club membership. The meeting facility, once selected, may also impact whether refreshments can be served.
How can I find out more? To learn more about AKtion Clubs in general, go to www.aktionclub.org/discover. For more information about the Gig Harbor Kiwanis AKtion Club use this link to contact us AKtion Club Interest Form. A member of the AKtion Club Collaboration Team will contact you.
What is the “AKtion Club Collaborator Team? Will they be in charge of the new AKtion Club? The Collaborator Team is made up of representatives of Gig Harbor organizations that are collaborating with the Kiwanis Club of Gig Harbor to create the AKtion Club. Collaborating organizations include PenMet Parks Specialized, Adaptive & Inclusion programs, the YMCA, and the Peninsula School District Special Education and Community Transitions Programs (CTP). These organizations currently have one or more programs that serve developmentally disabled individuals in Gig Harbor. They understand the need for a community service organization lead by individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Once the new AKtion Club is formed, the Collaborator Team will serve a supportive role. The Club Members will charter the club, form its Bylaws and budget and plan and implement programs to serve the Gig Harbor Community.
