Comprised of active community volunteers between the ages of 19 and 45, the Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs of Canada are the largest all-Canadian service organization in Canada. The impetus behind the creation of the association was Harold Allin Rogers' desire to enjoy the companionship of other young adults in Hamilton, Ontario after his return from World War I. Born in London, Ontario, Rogers had moved to Hamilton with his family only months before joining the army. Following his rejection by the Rotary club - the Rotary Club at that time only allowed one member per occupation and there already existed a member in Hal's occupation - his father Charles encouraged him to get together a few men his own age and to form a club. As a result Rogers, along with Harold Phillips, Trevor Thompson, and Link Brace formed the Kinsmen Club of Hamilton on February 20, 1920. Originally called the Association of Young Business Men's Club, the name was changed on March 30, 1920 again at the suggestion of Charles Rogers, after he read an article in the "Saturday Evening Post" about Mark Twain's stay at a literary club in New York City called the Kinsmen Club. The spread of the organization, especially during its early years, was achieved through the movement of its memebers. As individual memebers moved to new cities, they established new Kinsmen clubs. As of 2001, there were approximately 12,000 members in the Kinsmen organization and 720 clubs stretching from coast to coast. The National Headquarters of the Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs of Canada, established in 1935, is located in Cambridge, Ontario. The chief administrative officer is the Executive Director. Decisions involving the future of the Association, such as the election of officers or general concerns, are made by both the Kinsmen and Kinette clubs, however the organization encourages the autonomy of its clubs. Each club determines how it will raise funds and how those funds will be spent in the community. Generally, separate meetings are held during the Kin year, although joint meetings do occur at the club, Zone, District and National levels. The Association of Kinsmen Clubs also recognizes a number of auxillary clubs: the Kinette clubs, the K-40 clubs and the K-ette clubs. The name Kinettes, which refers to the all-female version of the Kinsmen club, evolved from the "Kinsmen Wives," "Kinsmen Ladies Club," and "Kinsmenettes" and was formally adopted in 1942. In 1994 the Kin Club, comprised of both male and female members, was introduced at the National Convention in Regina. The K-40 and K-ettes are primarily social clubs for former Kinsmen and Kinettes. In addition, a number of Kin Kids Clubs also exist.