kiwanis blog

Kiwanis One Day 2012

Kiwanis — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:33:48 GMT

By Jo Lynn Garing, Kiwanis International Public Relations Manager

Kiwanis clubs serve their communities throughout the year, but this week during the United State’s National Volunteer Week, clubs all over the world will come together by completing a service project on one day, Saturday, April 21. It’s called Kiwanis One Day, and it’s about getting together and making a difference.

From Massachusetts to Oregon, Panama to Australia, Belgium to Malaysia, Kiwanis clubs everywhere will be working to improve their communities.

Here’s a sampling of what’s planned this Saturday.

Kiwanis members in Chantilly, Virginia, will cleanup Clemyjontri Park, which is fully-accessible to children of all abilities.
Waterloo, Ontario, Kiwanis Club members are cleaning up a section of the Grand Valley Trail.
Members in San Jose, California, are painting kid-friendly murals in nearly 50 pediatric exam rooms at a medical center.
The Waupun Kiwanis Club in Wisconsin is working with its Key Club to collect supplies for an animal shelter.
Kiwanis members in Jamaica will plant a vegetable garden at the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf.
The Jesuit High School Key Club is working with the Kiwanis Club of Tampa, Florida, to renovate and paint the home of a low-income family.
Cedartown, Georgia, Kiwanis members are hosting a health fair for all fifth-graders in the county school system.
Members in San Diego, California, will be working with the Ocean Discovery Institute to restore a canyon/watershed by removing invasive plants, planting native plants, trail building and adding interpretive art.
Martin, Tennessee, Kiwanis members will work a food bank to prepare kid-friendly foods for children in need.
Members in Brighton, Australia, will host a Teddy Bear Picnic for families to enjoy.
Kiwanis club members in the Las Vegas, Nevada, area will partner with three Circle K clubs and nearly 30 Key Clubs to clean a shoreline, harbor and roadway at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Clubs in the Philippines will work together to complete several service projects, as well as give community presentations on drug abuse and environmental protection.

If all Kiwanis and Kiwanis-family members contribute at least two hours of community service on April 21, Kiwanis will give the world more than 1 million hours of volunteer service in just one day: Kiwanis One Day!

Will you be participating? Join the event online. Share you photos, videos and stories on Twitter and Facebook.

Follow the events on Twitter using the hashtag #K1Day2012.
Post your photos on Kiwanis International’s Facebook page.

See y'all in New Orleans

Kiwanis — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:40:18 GMT

Things are heating up and plans are under way for the 2012 Kiwanis International Convention in New Orleans. Don't miss out!

Of course we have what you'd expect from a convention: entertainment, governance, workshops and fellowship. But we have a lot of things you might not have heard about.

Did you know this is the year we celebrate 25 years of women in Kiwanis? Well it is, and we have a whole lineup of things planned to recognize this milestone. From workshops and forums to a welcome reception, we will honor women during this year's convention.

Music is at the heart of New Orleans, so of course we plan to jazz things up. Don't miss the special ticketed concert with local legends Aaron Neville and Branford Marsalis. And we'll kick things off at opening session with a New Orleans-themed party that will have you tapping your toes and clapping your hands.

This is a special year in that Circle K International will hold its annual convention at the same time as Kiwanis and in the same city, so we're lucky to have the students in New Orleans for their Large Scale Service Project and convention. Aktion Club also joins us in the Big Easy for the second-annual Training and Leadership Conference. Key Club and CKI alumni are invited to some special events in the city as well. It's going to be a true Kiwanis-family event!

And of course, there are many tours in and around New Orleans that you'll want to check out, and also make sure to check in with your district leaders to learn about any special outings or dinners that are planned.

This is just a little of what you can expect in New Orleans this summer as we celebrate another year of service and 25 years of women in Kiwanis.

Convention registration gets you all of this and more. So don't miss out! Register today, and we'll see y'all in New Orleans.

Read Across America Day - March 2

Kiwanis — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:22:59 GMT

National Education Association's Read Across America Day takes place each year on or near March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries and community centers participate by bringing together kids, teens and books—and you can, too!

The theme is green for a very special 2012 Read Across America celebration. NEA's Read Across America campaign will showcase the Lorax book, as well as NBC/Universal's “The Lorax”. Whether it's planting a Truffala tree forest, reading garden or having the Lorax lead your reading parade, don't forget to share your plans for celebrating NEA's Read Across America on the Read Across America pledge site.

This is a great opportunity for literacy service and service-learning projects. Sign up today!

Egg-citing events

Kiwanis — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:01:00 GMT

The Easter Bunny shows up to delight guests and Kiwanians at the annual Kiwanis Club of Tempe egg hunt.

by Jack Brockley

The month of April is almost here. That means Kiwanians are donning bunny ears as they host community Easter egg hunts. Does your club need something fun to do this spring? Kiwanis magazine can help.

Grab your baskets and consider these tips from egg hunt chairmen Kerry Fetherston of the Tempe, Arizona, club and Susan Lankisch of the St. Andrews, New Brunswick, club.

Widely advertise. The Tempe Kiwanis club publicizes its egg hunt through a newsletter distributed with the city water bill so it reaches every household.

Group by age. Keeping the youngest children in their own area or using a staggered start time gives the smaller kids less chance of being outpaced or toppled by the faster, more-seasoned zealous hunters.

Have a back-up plan. The Easter season’s weather is unpredictable.

Keep extra baskets around. There’s always a basket that loses a handle or gets left at home.

Be safety-minded. Hide the eggs within reach so little ones aren’t climbing up. And select a venue away from traffic.

Hold back some eggstra eggs. The St. Andrews Kiwanis Club saves 500 eggs for special circumstances. When children are seen clutching empty baskets, helpers quietly drop some new eggs in their vicinity.

Ask for help. Other organizations would be happy to assemble and donate a couple hundred eggs for your hunt.

Stay clear of candy. Because of dental and health concerns about sweets, as well as melting problems, consider prizes and stickers as fun alternative egg-fillings.

Add MNT to your Mother’s Day

Kiwanis — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:00:00 GMT

East Maitland, Australia, Kiwanians prepare to deliver flowers for its annual Mother’s Day fundraiser.

by Jack Brockley

Mother’s Day is a very busy time of year for Kiwanis clubs as they celebrate the enriching relationship between children and their moms. The Eliminate Project also honors that bond by saving and protecting women and their babies.

So combining Mother’s Day with Eliminate Project activities is a natural fit. Consider these Mother’s Day project ideas from Kiwanis magazine, and think of ways to adapt them so they raise funds and awareness for Kiwanis’ global campaign to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus.

Australia: The Kiwanis Club of East Maitland sells Mother’s Day flowers.

California: An annual Mother’s Day race raises funds for the Kiwanis Club of Greater Madera.

Malaysia: The Kiwanis Club of Taman Tun Dr Ismail organizes a gala affair to pay tribute to mothers of children with special needs.

Arizona: For nearly 60 years, the Kiwanis Club of Bisbee has been serving a Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast.

Ontario: For CDN$25, children and spouses can order Mother’s Day roses from the Kiwanis Club of Orléans.

Trinidad and Tobago: The Kiwanis Clubs of St. Augustine and Valspring unite to serve a Mother’s Day Tea Party and Fashion Show.

Missouri: The Independence Kiwanis Club collects baby wipes, shampoo, diapers, toddler snacks, pacifiers, outlet plugs and other “wish list” items for a Mom’s Day Baby Shower.

Virginia: Grundy Kiwanians make arrangements to honor mothers in local churches.

California: The San Diego Kiwanis Club’s Mother’s Day Concert in Balboa Park features the 150-voice Aztec Concert Choir from the San Diego State University School of Music and Dance.

Illinois: The local newspaper declared the Lincoln Kiwanis Club’s Mother’s Day buffet “the place to be on mom’s special day.”

What does your club do on Mother’s Day? And how do you include an Eliminate Project message or fundraiser in your Mother’s Day activities?

Learn more by picking up The Eliminate Project’s “Honoring Mothers” toolkit.

Be our guests

Kiwanis — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:02:56 GMT

by Fabienne April, global project administrator

“They’re here! I just saw the first Kiwanians!” An excited staff member exclaims with a big smile.

We are in Geneva, the Kiwanis International convention registration desk will open in a few hours, and already Kiwanians are exploring the convention center.

It takes several years for staff and volunteers to plan a convention, and you, Kiwanians, are always at the center of our thoughts throughout the planning stages. So when you first arrive and we meet you on site, it’s emotional. You are our guests, so when we see you smile and enjoy the Kiwanis fellowship, when you participate actively during workshops, when you clap during sessions, when you are captivated by a candidate’s speech, we, the Kiwanis International staff, are beaming.

We watch and take notes for the next year’s convention. We make sure you have all you need. We write down your name and information so when we return home to 3636 Woodview Trace in Indianapolis, we can follow up with answers to your questions or requests for help.

Some of you have become dear friends over several conventions or through regular email communications. Your warm words of appreciation and fellowship carry us till the next convention.

At this moment, we have you in our minds as we plan conventions for New Orleans, Vancouver, Macau and Indianapolis. If you’ve never been to a convention, give it a try one year, and experience the uplifting atmosphere! And stop by and say hello.

10 reasons you should mentor a child

Kiwanis — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:18:17 GMT

by Kassie Barker, Communications Coordinator

Photo by arquera under CC BY 2.0.

As we continue celebrating January as (U.S.) National Mentoring Month, let’s reflect on the importance and benefits mentoring offers for both the mentee and you.

Mentoring doesn’t require a lot of special skills. You just need the ability to listen and offer friendship and encouragement to a young person. And you’ll be amazed by how much you’ll get out of the experience too. Here are 10 reasons you should mentor a child:

See the world through a child’s eyes. Children have some of the best and brightest ideas for changing their community and the world.
Learn what the needs are in your community.
Lead a better way for a child who may not have direction. Youth who meet regularly with their mentors are 46 percent less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 27 percent less likely to start drinking (Public/Private Ventures study of Big Brothers Big Sisters).
Support the education of our children. Mentors help keep students in school.
Lift a child’s self-esteem.
Strengthen a child’s communication skills.
The chance to offer a child a unique experience.
Help a young person set career goals and start taking steps to realize them.
Introduce a young people to professional resources and organizations they may not know about.
A young person will have the comfort of knowing that there’s someone who cares about them.

For more information about mentoring and National Mentoring Month, visit www.mentoring.org.

Do you already mentor a child? What should be added to this list?

Kiwanis One Day call for contest entries

Kiwanis — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:25:40 GMT

You may have exciting plans for Kiwanis One Day on April 21, but imagine how much more exciting that day will be with a video crew there recording your cause. Use the video to show your community and the Kiwanis community the impact your group was able to make in One Day. Enter the Kiwanis One Day contest and let everyone know what a winning One Day project looks like!

Learn more about Kiwanis One Day at www.KiwanisOne.org/oneday.

How to: make a service project meaningful for everyone

Kiwanis — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:48:24 GMT

Photo by chesbayprogram under CC BY 2.0.

By Lanton Lee

For service to have value and meaning, there are five critical elements that must be included in the design and direction of all community-service projects.

1. Community Voice

Community voice is essential if we are to build bridges, bring about change and solve problems. Every Kiwanis club should make sure that the voice and needs of the community are included in the development of its community-service projects. We can accomplish this by conducting a community analysis on an annual basis. Learn more about the community analysis.

2. Orientation & Training

Orientation and training are important first steps for any community-service experience. Information should be provided for Kiwanis members about the community, the issue and the agency or community group. This can be done by inviting a representative to present a program at a club meeting before the service project.

3. Meaningful Action

Meaningful action means that the service being done is necessary and valuable to the community itself. Meaningful action makes members feel like what they did made a difference in a measurable way and that their time was well used. Without this, members will not want to continue their service, no matter how well we do with the other four elements.

4. Reflection

Reflection is a crucial component of the community-service experience. Reflection should happen immediately after the experience to discuss reactions, share stories and explore feelings. Reflection is also a good time to present additional facts about the issues and thus dispel any stereotypes or an individual’s alienation from service. Reflection should place the experience into a broader context. This can be done at the club meeting following the service project.

5. Evaluation

Evaluation measures the impact of the member’s experience and the effectiveness of the service in the community. Members should evaluate their experience and agencies should evaluate the effectiveness of the members’ service. Evaluation gives direction for improvement, growth and change. Quality community service should challenge members to educate themselves about the issues surrounding their involvement, so they might better understand and work with communities. Each effort must be designed with the intent of creating long-term solutions, while ensuring independence, mutual education, dignity and respect for all.

Adapted from the Campus Outreach Opportunity League (COOL)

Child mentoring pays big dividends

Kiwanis — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:52:17 GMT

Photo by bujiie under CC BY 2.0.

by Pam Norman

Have you ever really thought about what it takes to be a child mentor? It only takes one person to make the difference in the life of a child. Kiwanis members around the world engage in child mentor programs every day. Following are five reasons for you to consider becoming a mentor:

Children need you. Children thrive on consistency. Be the one that consistently shows up for activities, the weekly conversation, to help with homework, to share an ice cream cone or just hang out.
Children are like sponges. Modeling best behaviors around children may inspire them to change theirs.
It takes a village. Children are influenced in many different ways by many different people. You might just be the person a child will click with today.
Children need to be challenged. I’ve always told my own children that I set high expectations because I know they are capable. Don’t shortchange a mentee by setting the bar too low. Ask questions, provoke thoughts and encourage them to reach their full potential.
Parents sometimes need help. Today’s typical family may not be the Ozzie and Harriet model of days past. Single parents, grandparents raising grandchildren, aunts and uncles with guardianship could all benefit from another perspective on raising successful children in today’s ever changing world. Consider how your mentor involvement could extend to the adults in your mentee’s life.

Take a chance. Move beyond your comfort level. Look at the world from a child’s perspective and then add a dose of love and kindness as you mentor the next generation.

For resources to find mentoring programs in your community visit www.mentoring.org.

A club for the ages (all ages)

Kiwanis — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:05:57 GMT

Photo by JasonDGreat under CC BY 2.0.

by John Shertzer

I’m the youngest member of my Kiwanis club. Like many of our clubs, most of the members are late in their careers, near retirement or retired completely. There are a few 30-somethings like me, but a visitor to the club would likely see us as outliers. Every once in a while, a friend of mine will ask me why I decided to join Kiwanis, instead of other organizations that are thought to be meant for younger people. For instance, most cities now have dozens of “young professional” organizations or social circles, at which someone like me is expected. Why hang out with older folks when I could instead be networking with my peers?

Here’s my take: If I want to advance in my career and learn more about life, Kiwanis is definitely the right place to be. While young professional groups can be fun and engaging, they can also deprive those new professionals from the opportunity to learn from the wisdom of those with more life experience. I spend my Kiwanis meetings captivated by the stories and reflections my fellow Kiwanians share. I see, in action, those qualities and skills that have made them successful. This includes their ability to build relationships, establish camaraderie and develop trusting partnerships.

It’s an observation of mine that our society is segmenting the generations more and more. The workplace still may have a wide variety of differences in age and experiences, but our civic and social activities are more often only with people of our own generation. The eagerness of the younger generations to accomplish big things may be preventing them from seeking out valuable lessons from their elders. I love my Kiwanis club because we have all of the generations represented.

My advice to young professionals is this: Seek out a service club like Kiwanis. You’ll find fellow young professionals like me, but you’ll also find men and women who have built a career, celebrated great success, faced down tough challenges and now see life and work in a much more holistic way. They are willing to offer you friendship and mentorship. You’ll see how quickly those things can change your life.

A life dedicated to maternal health

Kiwanis — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:51:45 GMT

by Jo Lynn Garing

During the 2011 convention in Geneva, Switzerland, Kiwanis magazine interviewed a physician whose devotion to the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus has earned him the nickname “Dr. Tetanus.” Now his cause is Kiwanis’ cause. Through The Eliminate Project, Kiwanis clubs and members worldwide aim to raise US$110 million to save and protect millions of mothers and their babies.

Dr. François Gasse has spent the past decades on the front lines of this battle—in the most impoverished, remote reaches of the world. In this interview, he talks about how he became involved in the fight against this “silent killer.”

Here is an excerpt from that conversation. For more of the interview, go to the December 2011 issue at www.kiwanismagazine.org.

Kiwanis Magazine: Tell us the story of Mado.

Gasse: The only way you can help countries in the field is by walking with them in the field and knowing what problems they face. Being on the front line is a feeling of experience that is unique. Because problems are not solved the same way in different cultures.

One story I love to talk about is Mado. It was in Burkino Faso in Africa. They made the most beautiful, detailed plan I had ever seen. You know, the communications, the radio, the posters, all the vaccinators were there, and only 1 percent of the women came to the post. In the office in the capital city, there was a cleaning woman. And an official in that office asked what’s going wrong, why the women don’t come. And this lady, the cleaner, said, “But have you talked to Mado?”

“Who is Mado?”

“Mado? You don’t know Mado?” And she said, “Mado is the most respected, oldest midwife of the city, and no woman will move until Mado says, ‘It is good for you. Go for it.’”

The official went to Mado, and Mado says, “Yeah, it is good for the women.” And the next day, everybody was there.

The lesson is that every community has a Mado. And in the family, in the household, who is the decision-maker there? Sometimes it is the mother or the father. Sometimes it is the oldest person in the household, but in every household you have a decision-maker. So when you do your communication, the one you convince may not be the wife or the woman you immunize, it is whoever will say you can.

Do you really know who your members are?

Kiwanis — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:42:16 GMT

Photo by stephen_bolen under CC BY 2.0.

by Stephanie Ursini

Are you an avid reader, golfer, scuba diver, coin collector, geocasher, chess player, hiker, swimmer, dog or cat enthusiast?

Wouldn’t you like to know what you have in common with your other club members? You can if you use a Volunteer Interest Form. One is available on www.KiwanisOne.org. Just type “Volunteer Interest Form” in the search window or download the form directly.

If you have an idea for a different kind of form that might be shorter or more specific to your type of club, create your own. And find out what you have in common with your members. Better yet, discover how great this will be for new members to learn about you!

By the way, I love to read and I’m a coin collector. Anyone have that in common with me?

Convention: an opportunity of a lifetime

Kiwanis — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:04:00 GMT

by: Sophia Bird

Sophia Bird is the daughter of South Central Indiana Kiwanian Loni Dishong. After serving as president of the Jackson Creek Middle School Bloomington Builders Club, she moved on to high school and was elected president this year for the Bloomington, Indiana, Key Club. Here, she writes about attending the 2011 Kiwanis International Convention. Though she reflects on her experiences in Geneva, Switzerland, her remarks speak of the enlightening opportunities that await Kiwanis-family members of all ages at the 97th annual Kiwanis International Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 28–July 1, 2012.

I became involved in Kiwanis two years ago, as I was going into seventh grade. I was nervous, but my mom managed to coax me into attending the first Builders Club meeting of the year. They were holding their elections. Due to encouragement from my family, I agreed to run for president. I was excited by the idea of a new experience. And so, when the election results were in and I found myself the president of such an incredible club, I was both thrilled and honored to be a part of something so great.

I think it’s safe to say that I’m a Kiwanian by nature. I was brought up that way. My grandparents, Linda and Jerry Christiano, and my mother, Loni Dishong, are all involved in Kiwanis, and they have taught me to help others from the start. However, joining the Builders Club at my school would make me not only a Kiwanian in upbringing, but one in title as well.

This summer, my grandparents invited me to join them for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at the 2011 Kiwanis International Convention in Geneva, Switzerland. Of course, I jumped at the chance to travel overseas for the very first time. On the fourth of July, I found myself boarding an airplane for an experience I would never forget.

I had dealt with a few long trips before. I visit my grandparents every summer, and it’s a 10-hour drive one way. While that seemed long, it couldn’t prepare me for a plane ride overseas. Altogether, I spent 11 hours on a plane, an hour and a half in a car and at least four hours sitting in airports. Of course, it was fun to be experiencing something so new and different from anything I had seen before, but the sight of the hotel was a welcome relief.

The Starling Hotel in Geneva was big and beautiful, with lots of space and décor that was pretty to look at. I thought that the use of glass was very interesting. Where wood or metal would be used here in the United Sates, glass was often used in the hotel. For example, the railings of the staircases inside the hotel were partially constructed of glass, as was the door to the restroom inside our hotel room.

I was excited and impatient for the events to begin. At the opening session, I had the honor to see Jane Goodall. She discussed the Earth and how we might save it from the damage that has been done, such as deforestation. Listening to her experiences and accomplishments was a powerful start to an eye-opening week. She brought peace into the room with her and inspired us to leave the session with determination to save lives one community at a time.

I was in awe of the strength and conviction of each and every Kiwanian there that week. I met Kiwanians from Australia, Holland and many who lived in Geneva! I knew that these were the days of my life I would remember in each service project I participated in. I would be refueled by the mind-blowing will to succeed in helping those in need.

Throughout the week I attended enough luncheons, workshops and dinners to last me quite a long time. Each was an exciting new opportunity to learn. One of the workshops I attended focused on Kiwanis’ current campaign to change the world: The Eliminate Project. The Eliminate Project strives to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus from the face of the Earth by 2015. Kiwanis has pledged to raise US$110 million by that deadline. Partnered with UNICEF, The Eliminate Project will provide vaccines to women who have no access to medical services during their child-bearing years. The program will save and protect the lives of millions of women and newborn babies.

In honor of The Eliminate Project and the babies that will be saved and protected, Kiwanis has created a new award: the Walter Zeller Fellowship. I was impressed by the amount of people who received their Zellers and gave their own personal money towards such a noble cause. Is there anything that could speak of Kiwanis’ power more?

Everyone I had the pleasure to meet had something new to teach and something new to bring to the organization. I heard many accents and different languages spoken. Not everyone at the convention spoke English. A great number of Kiwanians who attended had to use headsets through which translator’s voices spoke to them in a language that was familiar.

I have always had an appreciation for language. My mother is fluent in Spanish and can speak some French as well. It was easy to become lost in the beautiful trills of the French language spoken around us. Interacting with those who spoke little to no English was an awakening experience. After much laughter, illustrations and miming you could usually get your point across, but at times it was hopeless to try.

French was not the only thing that was different about the Swiss culture. In the town where I live, you see more people biking than in most cities in America. But in Switzerland, there were bikes everywhere. I believe there were more bikes than cars. Even when bikes weren’t present, more people seemed to use forms of public transportation such as buses and electric trolleys.

My grandmother and I spent some time in downtown Geneva. It’s a gorgeous city with old and beautiful buildings lining the streets. There are countless alleys which sport small cafés, where in the evening everyone comes out to relax and have a meal. Swiss meals have three courses. There first was a kind of salad or other starter dish, then a main course such as chicken or pork, and thirdly a delicious dessert, which commonly included Swiss chocolate. Guiltily, the dessert was my favorite, and I looked forward to it each time I sat down for a meal.

I can’t think of a better choice of location for the 96th Annual International Convention than Geneva. The atmosphere was peaceful, cheerful and sophisticated. The mountains surrounding the city are beautiful, and the temperature was mild and pleasant, which made walking fun rather than tiresome. I had been looking forward to this trip for a long time, and it certainly surpassed my expectations.

On Saturday, my trip had come to an end. It was hard to believe that my week in Switzerland had passed, but already it was time to attend the closing session and say goodbye to the people I’d met. However, I still had one more incredible event to look forward to. Jamie Lee Curtis was speaking at the closing session.

Ms. Curtis discussed her life, her children and how she has learned from them. She strives, just like all of us Kiwanians, to see children have better lives worldwide. She told us stories we could relate to, and she was just so real. You can understand her and take what she says and apply it to yourself.

She was presented with the World Service Medal and became a Kiwanian on the stage in front of everyone attending the convention. Afterwards, she said something to me personally that changed who I am and gave me courage and hope to continue in my service. She told me that I am someone who will make a difference. How mind-blowing is that, to recognize the potential in another and voice it. I can’t thank her enough for those kind words. She’s a beautiful person, and all through her fame and her life, she has still managed to be humble, kind and confident. In that one day, in her short speech she managed to become my greatest role model. And with just a few honest words she managed to change a life. It’s a lesson all of us can draw from.

I expected to have fun in Switzerland. I knew it would be a blast, but I didn’t know I would learn so much. The Kiwanis spirit is truly intoxicating. It takes you over and inspires you to do good in this world to the best of your abilities. We’re the movers and the shakers of the world. By attending the convention, I had a chance to see what my mother has been talking about all my life. There are thousands of beautiful places out there, amazing cultures and opportunities. It’s a big, big world we live in, and the possibilities are limitless. All we have to do is take the initiative and go!

For me, that’s what Kiwanis is about. Take the initiative, get out there and make a difference. If every person helps everyone they can, we’ll change the world in no time at all. Not only has Kiwanis provided me with the opportunity to see a new country and learn about a new culture, it has equipped me with skills I can take back to my Key Club to help change my hometown for the better. I can’t thank my Kiwanis family enough for teaching me a lesson that I hope every teenager gets to learn. Even I can make a difference.

Volunteering is not just for the holidays

Kiwanis — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:00:00 GMT

Photo by annalea hart under CC BY 2.0.

by Julie Stutzman

‘Tis the season to be jolly and serve others!

It’s that time of year again. The holiday season often sparks a cheerful spirit in us as we give gifts to family and friends, donate money to charities and spend time volunteering around our community. Kiwanis clubs around the globe have spent their holidays serving others, oftentimes the same ones each year.

I have a challenge for you this year.

While you and your club may have traditional service projects, make this year special by serving beyond the holiday season. During your holiday volunteering projects, start to cultivate a relationship with those you serve. While you’re on site ask the leaders of the organization what their needs are throughout the year. Plan a short project after the holidays to reconnect and serve.

Just like the true meaning of the holidays can get lost, the true meaning of volunteering can get lost. Volunteering is not just about putting in the hours to reach a quota. And it definitely is not just for the holidays. Volunteering is about the people we serve and the impact we have on their lives.

Make it a goal for your Kiwanis club to serve the same group numerous times throughout the year. By serving throughout the year you hopefully will see the true impact Kiwanis has had on the group.

Happy volunteering this season!