Circling the
Empire
IN THIS ISSUE
Who:
You,
the
awesome
What:
52nd Annual New York District Convention
When:
March
Where:
Hotel
Why:
Get prepared for the New Year, meet great people, and save the princess!
How:
Register event by
14-16
Rich
2014
Albany,
Albany,
before
Contacting Hall
at
Richard.Hall @verizon.net
member!
the
NY CKI
THE DCON ISSUE What to expect at DCON How to prepare for the big weekend Voting and House of Delegates Scholarships See
Fundraising: Tips and Strategies Page 6
Upcoming Events…………………2 Governor’s Note…………………..4 Letter from the Editor…………….5 Club Spotlights……………………14 Member Spotlights……………….15 International Service Spotlight…16
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Happy Convention Season NYCKI!
Kelly made it to every division in her year as Governor! Congratulations, Kelly!
It seems like just yesterday I was finalizing plans for my divisional project as Lieutenant Governor. With this said, it’s hard to believe that we are nearly at the end of the service year. I would like to thank everyone for your hospitality and for allowing me to get a taste of what the New York District is really all about. Whether it was running a 5K, scooping peaches, raking leaves, attending meetings, or working with kids, each visit is something that I will always remember. I hope each of you have your own memories that you will always remember. Use what you’ve experienced this year in Circle K as your everyday motivation and continue to be the servantleaders you are. I know that we’re all busy with planning for the upcoming year in our academics and also in Circle K; however, I’d like to remind everyone that even during our busiest days, we have the power to change lives. There are plenty of smartphone applications that have sponsors pledging to donate funds towards various charities. If you’re a big health nut and supporter of our District Project, NYCKI Health Initiatives: Get Happy, Get Healthy, ‘CharityMiles’ will donate each time you go for a run, walk, or bike ride. If you need to set aside time to study, simply putting your phone down will give a child water for a day through UNICEF’s Tap Project. By becoming aware of the small things that we could easily do, you are showing that you care, and you are making a big difference. Lastly, I want you to think about how you can take things to the next level. Are you interested in bringing your ideas to the table by holding a position within Circle K? As always, I am always available to chat so please feel free to reach out to me and if I don’t see you beforehand, I hope to see you all at District Convention.
Yours in service, leadership and fellowship, Kelly Chan 2013-2014 New York District Governor
Christine Retta
By: District Treasurer, Kristina Cotroneo Fundraisers can be as complex or simple as possible. Either way it is important that you break up everything up into smaller steps. First start with brainstorming ideas on the type of fundraiser you want to create. Is it a small or large scale event? It can be anywhere from a bake sale to a car wash to a dinner fundraiser. Next, think about the many factors that contribute to the fundraiser, including: the time of day, day of the week, location, who is invited, and the organization you are fundraising for. Creating a large event can be costly; look for sponsors that can contribute funds for food and supplies. If you can’t get sponsors, see if you can get anything donated for the event. Don’t forget to budget how much you can spend so that you are making a profit. Use different forms of advertisements to publicize your event. Use social media, posters, and word of mouth to get as many attendees as possible. With all these steps, it is essential that you allow plenty of time to get everything done. It takes time to book a space, get approval from your school, create decorations, and get supplies. No need to get worried! Remember that the more help you have the easier it gets. Don’t feel like all the responsibility is on you. A good leader is one that can delegate responsibilities to others based upon their strengths. Follow these guidelines and you will be on your way to a successful fundraiser!
This March, all of the clubs in the New York District will get together to undergo leadership training, brainstorm for the new service year, and elect our new district officers. Every DCON, a new theme is picked, making each year a unique experience. This year, members will be encouraged to participate in our NYCKTENDO theme! This convention is all about Nintendo! How awesome is that?! Further, DCON is a chance for all members to experience one of Circle K’s tenets at its best: leadership. You will get to demonstrate your Circle K pride with colors, outfits, cheers and chants at Friday night’s dinner roll call. Saturday, expect an awesome chance to meet new people through a wide array of workshops that help promote both personal and club growth as you learn more about CKI. Service is the name of the game Saturday afternoon when we unwind with new friends as we do what Circle K is all about. Get excited to show off your creativity throughout the weekend, but especially at Saturday night’s Nycktendo themed dance. It is a real Mario Party! Maybe we’ll see a Mario and Luigi dance off…Princess Peach vs. Bowser, who knows? Don’t forget, Sunday morning brunch is where we will hand out awards and bid a fond farewell to our 2013-2014 District Board, as well as welcome the newly elected officers for the 2014-2015 year. Who will be our next set of officers and what will our district project for the new year be? Only one way to know for sure, see you there!
With District Convention (DCON) rapidly approaching, I wanted to provide you with a few pieces of information to help you prepare for the event. First and foremost, make sure that you’re registered, transportation has been arranged, and your hotel accommodations have been made. If you’ve done all this, you should expect to receive a confirmation packet shortly (if you have not already). Once you’ve got all the logistics taken care of, visit our Facebook page to keep yourself updated and to get pumped for our theme—Nycktendo! For those of you who are not too familiar with Nintendo, we’ve created a “Nintendo 101” guide that can be found on our official DCON website. We invite you to get creative and incorporate some Nintendo themed swag with your outfits for the weekend. Think of all the great photos you’ll get! For those of you who are most looking forward to the leadership aspect of DCON, please consider being a delegate for your club. Being a delegate means that you will have the chance to vote on the two bylaws that have been proposed and for the 2014-2015 Executive Board of Officers. Both the delegate certification form and the House of Delegates book are available on the website. Lastly, this year we will be helping the Humane Society by sorting bottles and cans and we need your help! How many empty bottles and cans can you and your club bring? With all this said, I hope you’re excited for a weekend FILLED with service, leadership, and fellowship.
“The Don Forsyth “Circle K” Scholarship Fund was established in 1995 in loving memory of Mr. Forsyth by his family in honor of his passion for Circle K. Mr. Forsyth believed in the goals of Circle K and worked diligently to expand membership of the organization. To him, his reward was to see fine, young Circle K members enhance society by giving of themselves - helping those who need help. To honor Mr. Forsyth’s generous involvement in Circle K, the Don Forsyth “Circle K” Scholarship Fund makes scholarship award each year to provide recognition and financial assistance to individual members of Circle K clubs who have demonstrated exceptional community service. The recipients must be in good academic standing and entering their sophomore, junior or senior year at a two-year or four-year college or university in New York State. Awards are based on eligibility criteria described in the application material. Financial need is not a factor in this award. Application forms are available at Circle K clubs or by calling the Community Foundation at (518) 446-9638.” –Taken directly from application
If you are an individual who is passionate about serving their community and being a part of Circle K, then this scholarship is an amazing opportunity for you! Because this is such a high honor, only one award will be granted, so be sure to put a lot of time, effort, and thought into your application. The winner of this scholarship will receive $4,700 paid to their college or university to cover academic, living, or instructional expenses.
Spring 2014 is here, which means CKI club election time is coming upon us! Unlike other organizations, Circle K International transitions to a new administrative year on April 1st, so elections are typically held between February and March. Holding a club officer position is a great way to gain leadership skills, learn more about CKI, boost up your resume and experience an extracurricular activity in a whole new light! Not only are you able to employ professional skills in service to your home club, but you also learn tons about being a servant leader to your fellow members and your community! Club elections are typically held during a club meeting and can last for anywhere between one and two hours. Often, a club will elect a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and editor (in that order). Any paid member of CKI is eligible to run for a club office. Candidates for each position are often designated a certain amount of time to make a speech, often one or two minutes, and a certain amount of time to answer questions, often four to five minutes. After each candidate for that office has spoken, clubs have the opportunity to vote for that office. Some clubs like to hold a short discussion section about the candidates, but this is not necessarily an obligation. Individuals who are not voted into an office have the opportunity to then drop down to another position (e.g.: If a person runs for the office of president and loses, he or she can run for the office of secretary). However, a candidate may only drop down once (e.g.: A person cannot drop down to vice president, secretary and treasurer). As I mentioned previously, club office is a great way to expand your love for CKI and to learn more about yourself as a servant leader and as a CKI member. If you have any questions at all about club elections, talk to a current club officer or the lieutenant governor of your division for more information! Trust me, it’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss! Below are some examples of caucus questions to ask at a club election: 1) What specific plans do you have to improve our club? 2) Where do you see our club 5 years from now? 3) What unique skills do you have that you can bring to a club board? 4) Why do you want to be a club officer? 5) How will you encourage other people to join CKI? 6) If elected, how will you balance your time as an officer and as a student?
The Adelphi Murder Mystery was an amazing event, filled with magic, drama, and curiosity. The night started out at the royal ball where the guests were entertained with a grand performance, setting up the crime. Guests were lead to evidence rooms both in and outside of the castle to search for clues to find the killer. They were also able to interview suspects. The killer and motives were revealed at a final showdown. Overall the event was a huge success, bringing in over $4,000 for the Eliminate Project. The Murder Mystery was created entirely by a core team of Adelphi Circle K’ers (and two alumni), who began working on the story back in August. They met every week to discuss not only plot, suspects, and evidence, but also marketing, pre-show fundraisers, costumes, and sets. Countless hours were put into the writing of the script and the creation of sets, props, evidence, and costumes. Three shows were held over the course of two days, with between 30 and 50 people at each show. Guests enjoyed being able to work in smaller groups and have a longer time in each room and with each suspect. New club members were very involved in the set-up and preparation of the event, especially during the last week. This event really gave members the chance to step up and learn what running a huge event like this is all about.
Caressa Hillick is a first year student studying Biology with a Minor in Anthropology at Queens College. She found out about Circle K at a Club fair and has been a member ever since. Circle k has become a huge part of Caressa's life and she really enjoys participating in all of the events and service opportunities. If you don't find Caressa at Queens College she may be at home, doing service in the greater area of Syracuse. On weekends if you don't catch Caressa studying you may find her hanging out with her girlfriend or eating sushi. Overall Caressa has gone above and beyond participating in events in Queens as well as in other divisions such as the Long Island Division and she cannot wait until the Queens Eliminate Show!
Congratulations to Caressa on a job well done! If you have any members you’d like to spotlight, please email District Editor Chrissy at christineretta.cki@gmail.com
Hunter College Circle K was only just re-chartered last year, but they have made amazing strides in the New York District and will be the host club for this year's District Convention. In just a short year, Hunter has become a role model to other clubs in the division with their dedication to service and relations with their sponsoring Kiwanis club. This club boasts a total of 1,364 service hours and has raised a total of $1,501. Right now, they hold the most hours and funds raised for the Liberty Division. Hunter's members have shown true dedication to service with over 500 service hours during the summer months and over 200 hours during the winter break. Hunter participates in regular service projects like the soup kitchen and tutoring, but they also collaborate with a lot of other clubs on campus to bring attention to Circle K. They have fostered great Kiwanis relations by attending a number of their meetings and attending Kiwanis and other KFamily events regularly. They attended the K-Family Picnic back in August, they stayed up late with their Kiwanis at the Annual Night Against Crime event, walked with their sponsoring Kiwanis at the Light up the Night event, joined fellow Circle K’ers in the Breast Cancer Walk in Central Park, and assisted in the Kiwanis Annual Holiday Auction. They are now currently in the process of planning their charter night which is sure to be another great success. If you want to learn more about Hunter and see the members that make all of this greatness happen, check out the Hunter College CKI club website here.
In addition to starring in Adelphi’s Murder Mystery for Eliminate, Sophia loves March of Dimes and doing the March for Babies!
At DCON, you might hear some unfamiliar acronyms. Feel free to print or tear out this page as your go-to guide for district lingo. CKI: Circle K International The collegiate version of Kiwanis International with a focus on service, leadership, and fellowship NYCKI: New York Circle K International Our home district! NYCKI has 33 clubs and approximately 1000 members SLP: Service Leadership Program In Kiwanis, any “SLP” is a branch of Kiwanis that is, typically, geared toward a younger audience, including CKI, Key Club , Builder’s Club, and K-Kids LTG: Lieutenant Governor The liaison between the District and the Division, which is comprised of at least two clubs DLSSP: District Large-Scale Service Project NYCKI’s annual service conference. Members get together and provide service to various locations in New York State NYS: New York Speaking New York Speaking is the annual fellowship conference held in Lake George, NY where members have the opportunity to meet and befriend one another DCON: District Convention DCON is the largest and, arguably, most important of the three conferences. DCON is where we elect district officers and train club officers DOTC: District Officer Training Conference Newly-elected members of the district board are invited to attend a separate training conference called DOTC where they will learn how to uphold their position within CKI and better help the members GATC: Governors and Administrators Training Conference GATC is a similar training to DOTC, but it’s for the District Governors and the District Administrators from all over the world LSSP: Large Scale Service Project Held in a different location every year, LSSP allows all members of Circle K, worldwide, to perform large-scale acts of community service in a selected location ICON: International Convention Also held in a different location every year, ICON is the international version of DCON, where the international officers are elected and members receive information about Circle K straight from the hub. Sub-F: Sub-Region F International divided Circle K into different sub-regions based on their location. Sub-F is comprised of New York, New Jersey, New England, Capital, and Eastern Canada.
Still have questions? Feel free to ask any district officer for help throughout the convention.