Our History
Local History
Our journey of supporting children in the Sacramento community began in the 1930s as an auxiliary to the Active 20-30 Sacramento #1 Club (the “men’s club”). Originally known as the “20-30-ettes of Sacramento No. 1”, our members – who were required to be married to a member of the men’s club - met to play bridge and enjoy each other’s company while their husbands participated in Active 20-30 events. The ladies held luncheons, fundraisers, and projects to help the children of Sacramento. Our members also assisted in projects hosted by the men’s Club.
In 1985, paperwork was filed to change our name to “Sacramento Active 20-30 Women’s Club”. In 1988, the National organization voted in favor of allowing women to join. On December 11, 1990, we formally chartered as part of Active 20-30 Club. On January 4, 1991, we filed to change our name one final time to how we are now known today, “Active 20-30 Club of Greater Sacramento No. 1032”.
Our club has hosted different events over the years like Chili Cook-off, Taste of the City, Monte Carlo, Carnivale, Footgolf, Sactown Urban Dash, and our Annual Crab Feed to raise funds. We welcome women that want grow, make friends, and develop leadership skills while improving the quality of life for the underserved children in the Sacramento community.
National and International History
In 1922, two organizations were formed - the Active International in Aberdeen, Washington and the 20-30 Club in Sacramento, California 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.
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 the mechanics of the merger were being formulated, each organization maintained its separate administrative structure, officers and National Office through its convention year. In October 1960, the first combined magazine, Active 20-30 made its appearance. The first convention of Active 20-30 International was held in Tucson, Arizona, July 10-14, 1961, where the Constitution and bylaws were officially adopted.
Active 20-30 International has grown to include clubs in Canada, Columbia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatamala, Mexico, Panama and the United States. 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.
Both the International and Active International Associations were charter members of the World Council of Young 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. - World Council of Young Service Clubs. Our involvement with WOCO provides our members with excellent opportunities to travel around the world and form lasting friendships with other young adults from organization such as Round Table International, APEX International, JECC and CREST. Our organization also has strong ties to Kin Clubs of Canada. All these organizations have similar operational principles.