of community service isolated from the larger international body.

But that all changed with a charter presentation to the Sandys Kiwanis Club on Saturday.

Mr. Douglas Jinks, who is governor for the United States Kiwanis' Capital District that includes Maryland, Washington DC, Delaware and Virginia and Mr.

Jeffrey De Witt were on hand to welcome the new club into the international family.

Yesterday Mr. De Witt, who is director of field operations for Kiwanis International, said he was happy to invite the 41 new members from the Sandys Club into the larger body.

And he underscored his commitment to forging a closer relationship between the three Bermuda clubs and the International body based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Mr. Raymond Tannock, who is the President of the Hamilton Kiwanis Club, said a closer relationship is just what the Bermuda clubs needed.

"The Hamilton club was chartered 23 years ago, and during that time our relationship (with the international body) has not been that strong.

"I went to Nice in June last year and that trip showed me what we were missing.'' Soon after, Tannock and Mr. Geddes Clemendor began corresponding with Mr. De Witt and together they worked out the details for the new club.

Last week both Mr. De Witt and Mr. Jinks hosted workshops on leadership.

Kiwanis International was started in 1915 and since that time the organisation has grown to about 9,000 clubs in 80 nations including Canada, Colombia, Australia and China.

Their current project entitled "Young Children: Priority One,'' is intended to focus on projects that address the needs of children particularly five and under.