Realizing the Need

Active 20-30 International had its beginnings in 1922 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.

These pioneers of young men's service clubs simultaneously created two virtually identical clubs: the Active International, located in Aberdeen , Washington , and 20-30 International formed in Sacramento , California .

Both the International and Active International Associations were charter members of the World Council of Young Men's 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 (See WOCO information).

The Creation of the Active 20-30 United States & Canada

In 1981, a proposal was put forth to the membership to allow for National Associations in Active 20-30 International. In 1982, the Active 20-30 United States and Canada, Inc. was formed with its National office in the building owned by Active 20-30 US & Canada on 1915 I Street, Sacramento , California . Arnie Krogh of Sacramento served as its first National President. In 1996, the National Office was moved over to 915 L Street in Sacramento , California , where the Nossaman, Guthner, Knox and Elliott, a professional association management team, is currently serving Active 20-30 United States & Canada .