Circling the
Empire
IN THIS ISSUE
Find out more information on awesome conferences inside!
Who: You, the awesome member! What: 32nd Annual New York Speaking Conference
When: November 8th – 10th 2013 Where: Georgian Inn, Lake George, NY Why: New York Speaking is our Fellowship Conference, which focuses on getting to know the other members of NYCKI and making lasting friendships. How: Register before the event by contacting Rich Hall at Richard.hall@verizon.net
Miss a conference? Want to go to a District Event? Check out DLSSP and New York Speaking Page
Upcoming Events……………………2 Governor’s Note……………………..4 Letter from the Editor………………..5 Club Spotlights………………………..8 Member Spotlights…………………...9 International Service Spotlight……14
Happy Fall NYCKI! The school year is finally in full swing and I know that each club is off to an incredible start. After having the chance to visit nearly every division, I’ve come to a good understanding of each club’s unique means of recruitment, retention and project planning. Whether you’re implementing new ideas or carrying out old traditions, obstacles are inevitable. You will see that just because something worked last year, it may not work again. You will also realize that what works best for one club may not work for yours. This is absolutely okay and should be expected. As you’re brainstorming ways to recruit members throughout the year, you may be overwhelmed with thinking of the “perfect” plan. You may look at someone and think, “They’re not interested.” However, as Past Kiwanis Governor Bill Risbrook likes to say, “You never know until you ask.” Get to know your potential members and find out what they’re interested in. Circle K has so much to offer, there’s bound to be something that resonates. For majority of us, having a love for service is not something that comes naturally but is a realization we come to over time. I was never exposed to service until the end of my sophomore year of high school. I didn’t believe that donating money would do anything for the world, but the girl sitting behind me in history class saw me as a potential member. She was relentless and talked to me until I donated some change to the March of Dimes. Once I donated she told me that I had to join Key Club. While I didn’t join at that moment, I kept that thought in the back of my mind. After two other people had asked me to join Key Club, I did, and I fell in love with the organization and with service. If you want to hear more of my story, feel free to contact me via e-mail at kelly.chan@nycirclek.org or via cellphone at 718-757-5687. We still have another half of the service year to recruit new members and to form new memories as we serve our communities.
Yours in Service, Leadership, and Fellowship, Kelly Chan New York District Governor ’13-‘14
Hello Do-Gooders! Welcome to the second issue of Circling the Empire. This fall-themed volume is packed with preholiday goodies such as links to important resources, information on one of our International Service Partners, and some fun and simple fall-themed service projects. It is my hope that you and your club peruse this issue and find at least one thing that you’d like to implement, experiment with, or reflect on. Seeing the accounts of others, as well as the work of others, can oftentimes inspire you to try something new yourself. As a member of Circle K, I see inspiration for good everywhere I go: Whether it’s people being “Everyday Heroes” by doing a small act of kindness, extending a helping hand to a person in need, or planning a large-scale event that positively impacts the community, I constantly try to keep my eyes open for “the good” in the world. Recently, my school’s chapter of NRHH (the National Residence Hall Honorary) sponsored an event called “Pay It Forward Day.” The premise of the event is simple enough: You perform a kind action for one person (holding the door, paying for the person behind you in line at the coffee shop, saying “thank you” and meaning it, complimenting someone without expecting something in return, etc.) in hopes that they will go forth and perform a kind action for another person. At the end of the day, your goal is to have spread as much kindness as possible, in hopes of brightening someone else’s day. One small action, like smiling at the person behind the counter or engaging the quiet person who sits across the room in conversation, can change someone’s life for the better. While the main objective of “paying it forward” is to help others, you’ll soon find that the side-effects of the day’s positivity rub off on you. Soon, the waves of good karma rush over you and you realize that goodness exists everywhere—you just have to know where to find it. Remember that service, and dedication to bettering the world, starts with you. You have the power to change someone’s life for the better; thus, you have the power to change your life for the better. Never stop reaching for the stars and never stop trying to change the world. You can do it and all it could take is a smile. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” As always, if you ever have a question, or just want to talk, don’t hesitate to contact me by phone or text (516-974-2844), or by e-mail (christineretta.cki@gmail.com). Looking forward to hearing from you!
Yours in Service and Friendship,
Christine Retta Christine Retta District Editor, ’13-‘14
…We are part of a network that stretches beyond the scope of both your club and the organization as a whole.
…We are all unique clubs and, as such, are great in our own ways.
Guide to Kiwanis Family Relations CKI 101 Handbook Official (FREE) CKI Brochures Check out our official website here and see the “Resources” tab for even more help for your club!
Ever hear of STUFH? No? Well, our International Initiatives Chair, Sophia Conti, is here to STUFH you with information!
Have you ever hosted a food drive? Served dinner at a soup kitchen? Distributed food at a food pantry? Participated in a hunger feast? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then congratulations! You have already supported STUFH. What is STUFH, you ask? STUFH stands for Students Team Up to Fight Hunger. Its mission is to promote awareness of hunger and food insecurity issues in the United States. They focus on encouraging college students across the nation to host food drives to benefit more local organizations. Circle K International is a proud supporter of STUFH and its efforts, and many clubs across the country support STUFH already, sometimes without even knowing. Nearly every project that deals with food can be considered a part of STUFH. If you want to get involved in STUFH, but don’t know where to start, here’s a step-by-step list for hosting a food drive! Find a local food pantry that accepts donations. Find out what they need most. Call a local supermarket and ask if you can set up a table outside to collect donations. Make a small flyer (half sheet) to hand out at your food drive. Include your club name, the name of the food pantry, and a list of suggested items (which you’ve already gotten from the food pantry). If you’d like, you can use the store circular to indicate which suggested items are on sale. On the day of the food drive, set up a table with your CKI banner and hand out the flyers to incoming shoppers, explaining that these are suggested items for your local food pantry. Collect donations in shopping carts. It’s also a good idea to have a donations jar so people can just donate money if they prefer. Don’t forget to donate the food!
Mostly A’s: Your CKI Tenet is SERVICE. You love doing good deeds and probably joined CKI for a quick path to community service. When the time comes to sign up for an event, you’re usually first on the list and have the most recorded service hours in your club. You love doing hands-on service, educating people at fundraisers, and offering to help in any way possible.
Mostly B’s: Your CKI Tenet is LEADERSHIP. Improving your skills as a leader are so important to you. You know that by going to workshops and conferences, you’ll better yourself in order to continue to help others. You don’t mind wearing a suit and tie for important events and have flawlessly organized large-scale events for your club. You look forward to running for CKI Office at some point.
Mostly C’s: Your CKI Tenet is FELLOWSHIP. Let’s face it, about 75% of your Facebook friends are people you’ve met through CKI. You love going to events, meeting people, making them laugh, and forging a meaningful relationship with the people you serve. You probably joined Circle K because a friend brought you to the meeting one night and you fell in love. You come for the people, but stay for the service.