Old Salem Sertoma Club :: About :: Sertoma International

Sertoma

Old Salem Sertoma Club is affiliated with Sertoma, a 501(c)(4) not-for-profit organization with headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. There are more than 650 Sertoma clubs in the United States, Canada, and Mexico with over 20,000 members combined.

The primary international sponsorship is communicative disorders (i.e., hearing disorders, hearing loss and speech impairments). Clubs help those with communicative disorders and support agencies that serve this population. Other areas of emphasis include youth, freedom and democracy, and community needs.

Sertoma is a derivative of Service to Mankind (SERvice TO MAnkind). "Making Life Worthwhile" is the organization's motto.

WISE EARS!^®
Sertoma Mission
Sertoma Firsts
Sertoma Foundation

WISE EARS!^®

Sertoma is a coalition member organization of the Wise Ears!^® national campaign. The objective of the campaign is to prevent noise-induced hearing loss by increasing awareness of its causes and motivating people to take action.

Sertoma Mission

"Sertoma exists for the high and noble purpose of Service To Mankind by communication of thoughts, ideas and concepts to accelerate human progress in health, education, freedom, and democracy."

Sertoma Firsts

First meeting was held on April 11 at the Coates House Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri	1912
First convention was held in Kansas City with 32 delegates from 6 clubs	1921
First club in Canada was chartered	1946
First use of the Sertoma name began (The organization was originally named Co-Operative Clubs but selected the Sertoma name-SERvice TO MAnkind as suggested by Noble Hiatt, President of the North Indianapolis Club; the new name provided a distinct identity for the service organization, which had been confused with consumer cooperatives	1948
First international sponsorship (YES-Youth Employment Service) named	1949
First club in Mexico was chartered	1956
First International Convention held in Mexico (first outside of the United States)	1964
First club in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was chartered	1965
First non-US citizen, Plutarco Guzman of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, was elected President of Sertoma	1972
First Serteen Club (comprised of teen members) and first Collegiate Sertoma Club (comprised of college students) were chartered	1970's
First female members were inducted into Sertoma Clubs	1985
First all-female club was chartered	1985
First city-wide service project performed as a part of the International Convention in Tampa, Florida	2000
First female, Diana Caine-Helwig, was elected President of Sertoma	2001
First female, Carolyn High, named International Sertoman of the Year	2004

Sertoma Foundation

The Sertoma Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is Sertoma's charity or fund-raising arm.

Clubs and club members may purchase annual memberships to the Sertoma Foundation by making donations of $175 and $25 respectively. Gifts may be designated to the Annual Fund or the Endowment. Funds given to the Endowment are invested and a percentage of the earnings are distributed annually. Funds are distributed primarily in the form of grants to clubs in support of local service projects and scholarships to students for the pursuit of higher education in the field of communicative disorders.