The Beaver Tree 2019-2020 | December/January Edition | Issue 8

brooklyn tech the beaver tree

december/january 2019-2020

EDITOR'S NOTE HEY KEY CLUBBERS! Thank you for taking the time to read the newsletter and submitting things for me to include here! I really appreciate it.

Time for the next issue of the newsletter!

lot about it, so stay tuned! There's also

Please remember to send pictures you've

information about LTC on our website i f

taken from events or articles for points.

you want to get a head start. If you need

It'd be greatly appreciated!

anything, you can email me any time at editor.thetechkey@gmail.com.

If you didn't know, the Key Club service year starts and ends at our Leadership Training

Conference

(LTC),

which

is

in

March. LTC is so close!! We'll be talking a

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YOURS IN SERVICE, ELLEN SETO BULLETIN EDITOR 2019-2020

KEY CLUB

GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY

for you to get hands on with your community and lend a hand to those in need, and you start to realize how much one person can change the world.

e. zhang '22

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 6 7

3

reminders follow us executive board

9 11 13

cabinet board executive remark our events

39

division news

41

district news

43

international news

45

district board

s

47

special thanks

49

pledge

48

puzzle

50

club vips

4

reminders THINGS TO

REM EMBER Remember to check your emails and our social media to keep up with our events and updates! Otherwise, you'll miss out on great events and activities.

We have a bunch of events, so get your cameras out!

You can submit your photos to be featured in the newsletter via our Google photo album. Start submitting articles, too!

Watch our member representative videos! Our reps and Visual Media work hard on filming and editing, so please watch them for quick and entertaining updates.

5

FOLLOW US

on social media We are a community that focuses on service and volunteer work so

thetechkey Brooklyn Tech Key Club

we can help others and the place we live in.

BTHS KC

Here, we give everyone opportunities to character,

build

thetechkey.club

leadership

and have a place to feel included.

We're here to make a difference.

and

make

change our own way.

Follow us on our

service journey 6

TH E

D R A O B E V I T U C E EX AYAN RAHMAN

president pres.thetechkey@gmail.com @ayan.rahman

YOUSSEF EL MOSALAMI vice president vp.thetechkey@gmail.com @youssefelmosalami 7

ABIGAIL ISAKOV treasurer treas.thetechkey@gmail.com @abyiskv

ELLEN SETO bulletin editor editor.thetechkey@gmail.com @ellnsto

SIMRUN KOTHARI co-secretary sec.thetechkey@gmail.com @simrunkothari

RICKY KE executive assistant executiveassistant.thetechk ey@gmail.com @rickyke03

MARIYA MELEGANICH co-secretary sec.thetechkey@gmail.com 8

8

SUZANA MORSHED advocacy committee head advocacy.thetechk ey@gmail.com @suxana.m

DORIS HONG

RICHARD ZHAO

TENZIN DOLKAR

member representative memberrep.thetechkey @gmail.com @dorishongg

member representative memberrep.thetechkey @gmail.com @richardzhaoo

single service director singleservice.thetechke y@gmail.com @word2tenzin

AUDREY WONG

CHENGTAO ZHENG

ERICA ZHANG

member representative memberrep.thetechkey @gmail.com @awdrizzy

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interclub coordinator interclub.thetechkey @gmail.com @ctxzheng

events coordinator eventscoordinator.thete chkey@gmail.com @ericazhng

THE

CABINET BOARD RAYMOND NG visual media co-head media.thetechkey@gma il.com @raymond_nx

BILLY ZHOU visual media co-head media.thetechkey@g mail.com @billyzh_

IRENE LIU scrapbook head scrapbooking.thetechke y@gmail.com @irenee_beanee

MEEZAB IFTIKHAR fundraising head fundraising.thetechkey @gmail.com @meezab_321

ANDREW ZHOU school services co-head schoolservices.thetech key@gmail.com @_andrewzhou_

JASON GAO school services co-head schoolservices.thetechk ey@gmail.com @itsjasons_

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8

EXECUTIVE REMARKS president & treasurer

HEY KEY CLUBBERS I

cannot

believe

that

we

are

nearing the end of the 2019-2020 service year. This journey has been utterly phenomenal— we’ve grown so much as a family, fundraised beyond our goal, and hosted so many

meaningful

service

opportunities.

THESE NEXT FEW MONTHS...

Look out for the Visual Media and Public scouting

you

out

members at

events

to

will be dedicated to finishing the

interview you for our social media;

year

our

off

strong

and

getting

as

Scrapbooking

committee

many of us as possible to our end

working tirelessly on our beautiful

of

scrapbook

year

conference:

LTC

(Leadership Training Conference).

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Relations

to

recount

all

memories this year; the Events

our

the most empowering, communal, and overall exciting ones of all.

And dare I forget that the most exciting part of these

remaining

months

(at

least

in

my

opinion) is picking who will be leading you all in the 2020-2021 service year. That’s right,, elections are coming up on February 10th so michael potash be there to make history.

So yeah, we’re doing some pretty amazing things (I mean we always have been :P), so stick with us until the very end and see just how much we accomplish in this amazing organization that we call our club.

YOURS IN CARE AND SERVICE, AYAN RAHMAN BTHS KEY CLUB PRESIDENT 2019-2020

HEY KEY CLUBBERS committee meaningful

members service

creating all

FUNdraisers coming up. Come and have some

around the city for you guys to

fun with us and make some friends before

participate

school

in;

the

projects

Hey everyone! We have a number of amazing

Advocacy

starts!

Also

keep

long

Patients campaign. If you have any questions,

awareness

feel

really ramping it up for this last

treas.thetechkey@gmail.com

stride. We have so much coming

YOURS IN CARE AND SERVICE, ABIGAIL ISAKOV BTHS KEY CLUB TREASURER 2019-2020

these last remaining months to be

to

email

Pennies

initiative— my point being we are

for you all and I’m so excited for

free

our

to

collecting

health

for

forget

Committee finishing up on our year mental

donations

don’t

me

for at

12

brooklyn tech key club

OUR EVENTS september - october 2019

13

yoga fundraiser

NOVEMBER 17

nysom thanksgiving palooza

DECEMBER 8

gingerbread decorating workshop and party

17

december divisional

19

holiday party

JANUARY 11

it's my park at owl's head park

18

d9 womens march

19

nycs books through bars

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NYSOM THANKS-

GIVING PALOOZA I

15

had a really great timeÂ

our efforts were going to a great

at the NYSoM Thanksgiving Palooza

cause. Kids and parents were there

event. NYSoM (New York State of

spending quality time together and

Mind) is a multi-service community

enjoying themselves, so it felt really

organization dedicated to improving

great to help out at this event.

the lives of individuals and families

The best part, however, running into

living in the communities. Some

my middle school friends. We caught

members were in costumes while

up after a LONG time and all went

other were handling booths. I got to

out to lunch together afterwards.

interact with a lot of members and

This made me realize how powerful

meet so many new people. It was an

Key Club, and volunteering overall, is

amazing event where we knew that

in connecting people with one

another. Because we are all working

towards

a

common goal, we are able to relate to each other and make

connections.

By

volunteering, I was able to meet friends who I hadn’t met in years. Even with my involvement with Key Club officially, I have met a whole new family who I can rely now on for everything.

EVEN WITH MY INVOLVEMENT WITH KEY CLUB OFFICIALLY,

I HAVE MET A WHOLE NEW FAMILY WHO I CAN RELY NOW ON FOR EVERYTHING.

Key Club has provided me with a great way to make more friends and learn how to serve my home, school, and community., and I'm so glad

I'm

part

of

this

amazing family.

SIMRUN KOTHARI '21 16

GINGERBREAD DECORATING WORKSHOP & PARTY!

hristmas is one of

C

wonderful times of the

It’s the season of giving and a with

your

Gingerbread

loved

ones.

Th

House

Workshops are fundraisers for

music and arts school in Man

volunteers, we put on a fe cheerful

demeanor

while

sweets. This event has become

17

d

THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE

process. She was the bagger and

DECORATING WORKSHOP

I was the wrapper. Our most

IS OUR FAVORITE KEY CLUB

memorable moments was the frosting crisis of 2018. As my

EVENT, AND WE HOPE TO

friend was frantically making and

CONTINUE THIS TRADITION

scooping

INTO OUR SENIOR YEAR.

frosting,

the

spoon

seemed to have collapsed from the pressure of the children’s demand for their candy glue and it bend 180 degrees backwards.

for my friend and me, as it is our

However, my friend didn’t give in

second year helping out as candy

like the spoon; she continued

elves. It is extremely rewarding to

with her frosting scooping duty

see the joy in the children’s eyes as

and the children got their edible

the most

we walked by with different buckets

adhesive. ‘Til this day we still

year; It’s

of candy. Each workshop would be

laugh about about the unstable

time to be

filled with excitement and chaos:

frosting spoon. The Gingerbread

annual

there would be candy and frosting all

House Decorating workshop is

Decorating

over the floor and tables, and the

our favorite Key Club event, and

a nonprofit

weird demand for shark and frog

we hope to continue this tradition

nhattan. As

candy seemed to never end. After

into our senior year.

estive and

two years, I am proud to say my

distributing

friend and I have perfected the

ANONYMOUS

a tradition

gingerbread house wrapping

'21

he

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DECEMBER DIVISIONAL

Thank you guys for coming to the Divisional! I really appreciate eve taking their time to come to my fi divisional as lieutenant governor. went amazing thanks to you all.

Aurora Hom 19

December eryone rst It

20

KEY CLUB

21

HOLIDAY PARTY 22

KEY CLUB HOLIDAY PA The

games

charades, building

we and

played, the

competition

s

ginge were

and exciting. My friends and

fun, especially when we were

I HAD A WONDERF EXPERIEN THE PART

T

to

feel

Club!

he

Key

Club

holiday

party

was

an

amazing experience where I was able the

holiday

cheers

of

BTHS

and

Key

out how to decorate the ging The

female

Christmas

chorus

songs

group

were

ama

voices gave so much spirit to

of the party. Overall, the food

23

RTY

such

as

erbread very

limbo, house

enjoyable

d I had a lot of

e trying to figure

FUL NCE AT Y!

THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTEST! delicious,

gerbread house. that

azing

I

had

a

wonderful

experience at the party! We all had so

us

much fun, so hopefully, we can do this

their

next year again! I'd definitely come for

sang and

and

o the holiday joy

the next party.

d provided was

MAGGIE FENG '22 24

Santa

regular

harder

HOLIDAY PARTY

Belly

Limbo.

limbo,

but

because

It

it

we

was

was

had

like

made

to

put

plushies on our stomachs. it was

really

fun.

wonderful

Everyone

time

had

making

jokes,

being silly, and just enjoying the

party. There were many snacks to

fill us up as well, such as The Key Club Holiday Party was an

exciting event. It was so amazing to

gather

friends

around

and

activities.

with

many

participate

We

of

in

played

my

fun

many

Christmas themed games, such as

Santa Belly Limbo, group charades,

and

ended

gingerbread

the

party

houses.

It

making

was

really

funny seeing people trying to playÂ

25

a

buttery popcorn, hot pizza, and

chips. This holiday party

was wonderful, and I

definitely hope to do

something like this again.

RAYMOND WONG '22

26

27

28

GNO W M OT YB

IT'S MY PAR

AT OWL'S H

MY EXPERIENCE

at the

make sure that none are blow

event “My Park at Owl's Head Park” was

skate park. It was a tiring but

really

enjoyed working with the peop

positive.

We

were

tasked

with

sweeping up dead leaves and twigs to

29

different schools, and just gettin

RK

EAD them.

OTES NELLE YB TOHS

wn into the

t fun job. I

The

supervisors

were

doing my part to help out the

really friendly, worked to clean

park, and I felt honored to be

up the park with us, and also

part

showed that they really cared

experience.

of

this

wonderful

I FELT GOOD THAT I WAS DOING MY PART TO HELP OUT THE PARK, AND I FELT HONORED TO BE PART OF THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. about

the

park

more

making

the

ple from all

experience

wholesome

ng to know

overall. I felt good that I was

TOM HUANG '21 30

ITS MY PARK AT OWL'S HEAD PARK 31

L

to completely fill a bag with the

at Owl’s Head Park. We

leaves). In addition to cleaning the

spent our time picking up leaves

park, I saw some friends I haven’t

and other organic matter around

seen in a long time and met some

the skate park. I was very excited to

new

sign up when I saw this volunteer

outside Tech. There were a lot

opportunity. Personally, helping at

more people than I thought there'd

this event meant a lot to me

be. It was nice to see so many other

because I have many memories of

people with the same mindset

being in Owl’s Head from when I

volunteer. Overall, I found the

was younger. It was extremely

experience rewarding and I am

fulfilling to give back to the one

glad I was able to partake in

place I used to visit so frequently

helping

(not to mention it was satisfying

aspect of the community.

people—both

maintain

from

an

and

CARINA WONG '21

This weekend I volunteered

important

when we were able

PERSONALLY, HELPING AT THIS EVENT MEANT A LOT TO ME BECAUSE I HAVE MANY MEMORIES OF BEING IN OWL’S HEAD FROM WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. 32

33

34

D9 WOMEN'S MARCH by amy huang

The

new

project captain and sign in, but the

experience. I have never been active in

march itself was pretty cool. People

the community before, so it was cool to

walked in packs with their dogs and

see all these people support a cause.

friends, carrying some of the weirdest

The people there seemed especially

signs you could ever read. Someone

easy to get along with, as they were

even gave a police officer a pair of

handing out pairs of pink underwear to

underwear which was funny. Near the

those around them to show their

beginning of the march, there was a

support. Finding the start of the march

small stage area with speakers where

was a bit confusing, since there was

the organizers, had people come up to

another event going on in the same area

give speeches and sing, which was

for Latinos. There were police barriers

pretty

around the path of the march, so my

specifically two chants that the crowd

friend and I had to walk a solid 5 blocks

yelled, “ This is what democracy looks

to get to the start, where we waited for

like” and another one that I can’t really

the march to start.

remember. We walked a long distance

The event wasn’t well coordinated

in the snow, but in the end, the march

(sorry) since it was hard to find the

was a cool experience.

35

Women’s

March

was

a

inspiring.

There

were

also

36

NYC BOOKS THROUGH BARS

T

off the shelves, and people whirling around The cold weather was a real pain on January 19th, the day of the

the heart of the store’s operation to donate

"NYC Books Through Bars” event. Eager to

books to incarcerated people, a post office

escape into a warm environment, a few

to receive any letters from imprisoned

other Key Club members and I walked into

groups

the FreeBird Books & Goods store: the

workplace for some Key Club members for

location for the event. Directed to the

three hours. Seeing us arrive, the organizer

basement, I saw a multitude of activities: letters flying off the desks, books rushing

37

to accomplish these tasks. This place was

of

the

requesting

operation

books,

welcomed

and

us

the

and

instructed us on our tasks; we were to read

Bars’ work and how it improves

OUR JOB WAS TO BECOME SECRET SANTAS FOR PRISONERS, FULFILLING THEIR WISHES FOR BOOKS EVEN AFTER CHRISTMAS. IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT IN OUR PRISON SYSTEM, PEOPLE ARE GATED FROM RECEIVING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT LIKE PELL GRANTS.

their lives.

In about three hours time, the fire of activity died down when Key Clubbers started to leave.

We were pacing nonstop all the while,

perusing

letters

and

delivering books in those three hours. However, when 5 o’clock struck, the last embers of the operation flickered and dimmed as I was left finishing up my last

letters from prisoners asking for books,

package with two other workers. Packing up the

search the library in the basement for any

comic books and graphic novels a prisoner wanted,

pieces that match their needs, and package

I started the last touches on the package; how

the books for delivery. Essentially, our job

ironic that I was injecting fantasy into the cell of one

was to become secret Santas for prisoners,

afflicted

fulfilling their wishes for books even after

Finishing up, I thanked the organizer for her time

Christmas. It’s hard to believe, but in our

and exited the bookstore, a cold, and quite frankly

prison system, people are gated from

windy, reality waiting outside; a dark reality that

receiving education and support like Pell

books can offer an escape from, even to those in

Grants. Books Through Bars is advocates

reality’s harshest grips.

with

reality’s

coldest

punishments.

for access to education and decent reading material. It seems trivial, but I know that many people appreciate Books Through

DAVID YEUNG '21 38

DIVISIO NE

39

FIRST DIVISIONAL Division 9 had its first divisional meeting on December 17, as you can see on page _!

BENBAY ONAL ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY EWS. Thank you so much to everyone that attended the

Christmas Party!! Volunteers at the Italian Federation helped set up for the Annual Benbay Christmas Party. The members were also able to connect with their sponsors and get into the holiday spirit.

DIVISION NEWSLETTER Aurora's newsletter is out! If you have any feedback, feel free to message her. She's looking for ways to improve

DIVISION INSTAGRAM

since thisis her first newsletter! Give it some love!

Follow D9's official Instagram for updates!

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NEW YORK KEY CLUB. 41

13,000 members 248 schools 29 divisions 72 years established

NYDKC EMPIRE KEY Angelo's September/October issue of the Empire Key is out!

So is the November/December issue!

GOVERNOR'S BULLETIN Check out Camille's December bulletin!

2019-2020 AWARDS BOOKLET The awards booklet has been released!

NYDKC WEBSITE

42

KEY CLUB

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

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CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

Colonel Gray High School in Canada hosted an international coffeehouse last month in the school cafeteria. A night of food, fun and entertainment from around the world celebrated the school’s diversity and the grand unveiling of a Key Club flag project.

Many student volunteers helped make the night a huge success.

ICON 2020 THEME VOTE

Hey Key Clubbers! Help choose your next international convention theme for ICON 2020 in beautiful San Francisco, California. To vote, click here. Voting closes on December 28, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Happy voting!

KEY CLUB PINS

Key Club now has custom pins that you can put on your bag to show off your Key Club pride! You can buy them on the online store.

THIRSTY 30

February 3 is the launch of #Thirsty30, an annual fundraiser with Thirst Project to help give people clean water. Thirsty 30 is a campaign between Key Club and Thirst Project to help raise money to build water projects.

INTERNATIONAL BOARD PRESIDENT

K'lena Schnack • intro

VICE PRESIDENT TRUSTEES

Kaitlin Cerillo • intro

Caroline Bushnell, Alexander Drahos, Riley Feng, Alexis Henry,

Aminhan Lobster, Conrad Nguyen, Brandon Orick, Indigo Parlin, Hannah Povroznick, Irin Shim and Rachel Zang

OUR TRUSTEE Irin Shim • intro KEYCLUBINT KEY CLUB INTERNATIONAL 44

THE

DISTRICT B EXTERNAL E.A.

SECERETARY

Jaron Belmore

Linna Cheung

Norwood-Norfolk HS

High School for Math, Science & Engineering

45

EDITOR

INTERNAL E.A.

Angelo Lontok

Qianting Chen

High School for Math,

Brooklyn Technical High

Science & Engineering

School

caring; our way of life.

OARD. DISTRICT GOVERNOR Camille Brock

TREASURER

Candor Junior Senior High School

Anthony Lim Bronx Science High School

WEBMASTER Ramisa Azad LaGuardia High School

46

special thanks to Carina, Tom, Amy, David and you!

47

MAZE help bucky find his way out of the maze!

END

START Got the solution? Take a screenshot and send it to me!

get 10+ points for solving this puzzle! send a picture of your solution to me at editor.thetechkey@gmail.com. if you counted all the beavers, send me how many you found! if you found all of them, you'll get a bonus 5+ points. submitting articles about your experience at events (10+ points) and pictures (5+ points each) also get you points!

48

OUR ADVISORS MS. MCKINNON, MS. VISBAL, MR. BIGSBY AND MR. MORGAN

THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP TODAY IS INFLUENCE, NOT AUTHORITY.

KEN BLANCHARD

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THE KEY CLUB PLEDGE

I pledge, on my honor, to uphold the Objects of Key Club International; to build my home, school and community; to serve my nation and world; and combat all forces which tend to undermine these institutions.

50 22

caring; our way of life. the beaver tree