Walter M. Williams High School - Service Clubs

Service Clubs

Throughout the school's history, major service clubs have included the Key Club (and the former Keywannettes (known as the Keyettes prior to being chartered at Williams as the Keywannettes in 1977), a female counterpart to Key Club prior to the 1976 international vote to admit female students, and the Junior Civitans (and the former Civanettes for female students). Both organizations were represented among the school's co-curricular offerings when the school initially opened.

According to Kiwanis International, the organization date of the Key Club is May 26, 1947, which would indicate that the club's charter was carried over from the former Burlington High School, which would indicate that the club is one of few students organizations to actually predate the opening of the present facility (E-mail from Nikki Reynolds, KI Member Services Representative, August 14, 2008). Over the course of the Key Club's history, several district and international officers have come from Williams, including two district secretaries, two district governors, and four international trustees (Carolina Key, 2008). During the 1970s, the Key Club members at Williams were informally referred to as "the Keys" in the student newspaper. Additionally, during the 1970s the service clubs saw a fraternity/sorority like "rush" process of new member recruitment which including formal teas, visitations, and "pledging."

Interact (sponsored by Rotary International, is currently inactive at Williams), as is fourth group, the school's Junior Exchange Club, now known as Excel Clubs.