The Sunshine Source, Volume 16 | Issue 4

THE SUNSHINE SOURCE

Volume 16 | Issue 4 | January-February 2021

Table of Contents p1

What Key Club Means to Me

p12

CKI Pen Pal Program

p2

Contact Information

p13

Club Newsletters

p3

Executive Committee Messages

p14

DCON Information

p8

Keys for Kids Service Spotlight

p15

Board Testimonials

p9

ELIMINATE Project

p17

Awards and Contests

p10

Quarantine Service Ideas

p20

Scholarships

p11

Cayman Islands Spotlight

p21

DCON Service Fair

What Key Club Means to Me I began volunteering with Key Club when I was nine years old. My older cousin was President of the Hialeah Gardens High School Key Club and would take me to most of the service projects she attended. I remember falling in love with volunteering and knowing that I wanted to be a part of this organization when I began high school. Thanks to this spark, I began my journey as a Key Club member during my freshman year and was quickly promoted to Class Director. In my first year of Key Club, I attended DCON 2018 and was captivated by the sight of so many other people who loved Key Club just as much as I did. This experience pushed me to do more, and the following year I became Club Treasurer. The officers and I worked very hard to give back to the community, and it paid off. At DCON 2019, the Key Club of Hialeah Gardens High School was awarded KEY CLUB OF THE YEAR, along with many other awards. Due to this achievement, we were able to attend ICON 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland - a trip I will never forget. Connecting with so many people made me want to do more on a greater level. At this point, I decided to run for Division 25A Lieutenant Governor. After running against eight other candidates, I was blessed to be chosen for this position which would start one of my greatest journeys. Thanks to Key Club, I have grown as a person and servant leader of my community. If it was not for Key Club, I do not know where I would be today.

Angelina Granda Division 25A Lt. Governor

Contact Information EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Joey Chen

Mia Ginsberg

District Governor

District Editor

governorjoey@floridakeyclub.org

editor@floridakeyclub.org

Angela Nguyen

Alexander Garcia

District Secretary

District Webmaster

secretary@floridakeyclub.org

webmaster@floridakeyclub.org

Murtaza Hussain

Arianna Longo

District Treasurer

Executive Assistant

treasurer@floridakeyclub.org

executiveassistant@floridakeyclub.org

ADMINISTRATORS Donna Parton

Sam Kerce

District Administrator

Assistant District Administrator

admindonna@floridakeyclub.org

adasam@floridakeyclub.org

Bob Parton

Heather Locke

Financial Administrator

Administrator of Conferences

adminbob@floridakeyclub.org

heather@floridakeyclub.org

Executive Committee Messages

Joey Chen GOVERNOR Leaders of The Florida District, Happy new year! I hope you all had a relaxing holiday season and are finishing up your first semester of school on a good note. 2020 definitely had its fair share of ups and downs, but I am incredibly proud of the perseverance of all our fantastic Florida District Key Clubs, despite it all. I encourage you all to continue in this manner and take these first few months of 2021 as an opportunity to set a positive tone for the incoming 2021-2022 service year. Also, I know it may be hard to believe, but we are nearing the end of our terms! As we move closer to DCON 2021, there are many things to look forward to, including...

Spring Zone Rally! Your Zone may have already held their SZR, but if not, definitely plan on attending. Spring Zone Rally is one of the most important events of the year—and I will be personally speaking at every single one! Besides the amazing educational workshops, the rally will also include speeches from candidates running for district and international office and Lieutenant Governor elections. If you are considering running for a higher office (which I absolutely encourage on all levels), be sure to contact the current holder of your desired position about the demands and duties of their role. Remember, paperwork is due one week before the SZR you wish to campaign at (and undoubtedly due before DCON). The campaigning process will be slightly different this year, so reference the link below for more information!

Link to Candidate Forms: https://floridakeyclub.org/district-officer-positions/ Additionally, please be sure to hold your officer elections before your Spring Zone Rally, and most definitely before DCON (April 8th-11th). According to club bylaws, the election of new officers should take place in February. Invite your Lieutenant Governor as well! Side note: If you have any questions about DCON 2021 and how it will be conducted this year, given COVID-19, please feel free to contact dcon@floridakeyclub.org.

I also have a few hodge-podge pieces of information that I believe you all should be aware of: First, our district has modified our service goals, so they are more attainable given the circumstances of COVID-19. They are as follows: 150,000 Total Service Hours 30,000 Governor's Project Hours 8 New Clubs (both newly chartered and reactivated, and other K-Family branches) Membership Retainment As many dues ON-TIME as possible!

Incorporate Leadership within our projects, events, and promotions Raise $37,271.15 for the ELIMINATE Project Please make sure your club works diligently towards these goals!

Key Club's Major Emphasis and Preferred Charities are Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, UNICEF, and March of Dimes. The Service and Major Emphasis Committee has completed and uploaded the Service and Major Emphasis Directory that contains information regarding all of these. Link to Service Directory: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i4kVdaWsw8dNLCh0YEB28oSZWOTtp8pS/view?usp=sharing Key Club International's Vision Partners are Landscape Structures Inc., Nickelodeon, and The US Army. Find more information at these links respectively: Playlsi.com Nick.com/world-wide-day-of-play GoArmy.com/Officership You must be well informed on all of our partnerships and preferred charities, so please take some time to look over the above information!

Lastly, I wanted to thank you all for an EXTRAORDINARY Keys For Kids Governor's Project week this past month (January 11th-16th, 2021)! I was on the Florida Key Club Instagram 24/7 reposting all of your fantastic service initiatives, and I could not be more proud. Definitely continue working towards "unlocking a better future" these last few months. I know the impact the Florida District is making through Keys For Kids will leave a lasting impact for years to come. Once again, I wish you all a great new year, and I can't wait to see you all at your SZRs and DCON 2021! If you have any questions, you can always contact me on Instagram @joeychenr or through email at governorjoey@floridakeyclub.org. Much love <3 Yours in Service, Leadership, and Love, Joey Chen 2020-2021 Florida District Governor

Angela Nguyen Hello Leaders,

SECRETARY

I hope that you all are healthy and have had a great winter break and New Year. We are halfway done with this service year and please always remember to delegate your time well to balance your academic and Key Club responsibilities. In addition, please take time for yourself to relax (especially seniors with college applications)!

Club Officer Elections As this service year ends, time will fly, and the end of the school year will arrive soon (especially with exams). Because of this, it is crucial that your club completes its club officer elections sooner rather than later. I recommend that you start promoting officer elections now, and here are some of my tips for successful elections: Encourage club members to run for club officer positions through posters, emails, and promotions on social media.

Hold officer elections in February/March.

Refer to â&#x20AC;&#x153;How to Host Virtual Electionsâ&#x20AC;&#x153; Youtube video by the Legal, Elections, and Credentials Committee.

Plan and prepare for your club election so that the process is conducted efficiently and correctly.

Complete the 2021-2022 Officer information Form (OIF), which will open in the weeks prior to DCON. Reminders for DCON Registration & DCON Awards DCON Registration: The DCON registration system will open within the next following weeks, so please visit the link below for more information about DCON. DCON Information Link: https://floridakeyclub.org/dcon/# DCON Awards: The DCON Awards Google Form applications are not yet open, but the deadlines and PDFs of the applications are now available on the Florida Key Club website. Due to this, please prepare for the awards applications by visiting the link below for more information!

DCON Awards Link: https://floridakeyclub.org/awards-and-contests/

Scholarships All of you have given a great deal to your schools, communities, and Key Club. Now, it's time for us to give back to you! The Florida District of Key Club offers a ton of scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000. All of the official Key Club senior members who joined Key Club by their junior year are eligible to apply. Visit our website to apply! https://floridakeyclub.org/scholarships/.

The January Club Secretary Newsletter The January Club Secretary Newsletter was published on January 4th. Please click the newsletter's link for important club secretary updates!

Link to the January Newsletter: https://conta.cc/34VmLgL Online Pride Reports (OPRs) Please remember to complete the OPRs. If your club has not held at least one service project per month, please plan to offer opportunities for your members. This will not only help the District accomplish our service goals but also help your club stay active under the COVID-19 circumstances.

Final Remarks Thank you for reading the January-February edition of The Sunshine Source. Please let me know if you have any questions, and I am looking forward to seeing the rest of this service year filled with service and growth!

Murtaza Hussain TREASURER

Happy New Year Key Clubbers!

I hope you are all doing well and had a wonderful holiday break! I wanted to relay a couple reminders as we are halfway into the 2020-2021 Key Club year. First and foremost, you can still pay dues! While the Regular Dues deadline is February 1st, 2021, it is imperative that you and your club members pay dues as soon as possible in order for your club to be considered in good standing. Doing so will allow you to attend DCON, vote in upcoming District Office elections, apply for awards and scholarships, and many more! If you are confused about the dues process, please be sure to email your division’s Lieutenant Governor or me directly! More information about dues can also be found on floridakeyclub.org/dues/.

Moreover, I hope you are tuning into my newly launched Key Club Workshop Series on financial literacy and professional development, “Keys to Your Future!” We have already had a couple workshops and I am super thankful for the attendance and amazing feedback thus far. New workshops occur every 1-2 months so keep an eye on your emails and our Florida Key Club social media accounts to receive updates!

Lastly, the Florida Opportunity Fund (FLOF) application is open! If you need funding for your potential service projects, FLOF is the solution for you! Please be sure to visit our website at floridakeyclub.org/flof/ for more information on how to apply and the application requirements.

As always, please feel free to contact me at treasurer@floridakeyclub.org if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you, stay safe, and remember to #BeTheKey!

Mia Ginsberg Hello Key Clubbers!

EDITOR

I hope your 2021 has been off to a great start! With many schools returning to physical school at the beginning of the new semester, I wish you all safety and good health. This January-February issue of The Sunshine Source contains many informational pieces regarding aspects of our District.

Numerous service projects from Florida District clubs have been spotlighted throughout this publication. I encourage you to read through them; you may find inspiration for your club’s next project. If you have any questions regarding Key Club or this newsletter, feel free to reach out to me!

Keys For Kids Service Spotlight

January 11th-16th was Governor's Project Week, dedicated to service for Governor Joey's project: Keys For Kids. Take a look at what clubs around the Florida District did to participate in Governor's Project Week!

ELIMINATE Project

The International Relations and Partners Committee and the Florida District Board would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to every single person who donated to UNICEF's ELIMINATE Project! With your help, we

have

raised

enough

for

thousands

of

vaccines

against

Maternal/Neonatal Tetanus.

We appreciate your club efforts more than can be put into words, and we hope you will continue to save lives by fundraising for this worthy cause year round.

Donate funds through the Q-Giv as a company donation with your club name to be counted!

Link to Q-Giv: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/tep

DIVISION 25A

Quarantine Service Ideas

During the holiday season, Division 25A made a special tribute to the Generations Project, an endeavor to bring joy and happiness to the elderly by connecting Key Clubbers to homes and completing different service projects with them. Especially during these tough times, it is very important for us to make holiday letters for the elderly. These letters were hand-made by some of our Key Clubbers and sent to a specific home to be distributed.

This was a great and safe project that brought a smile to everyone's face. This is a great project for any club!

Recently, Zone F helped raise rice for families in need through their Freerice Frenzy. The project took place produce rice from ad revenue. This website is run through the United Nation's World Food Programme. In just 2.5 hours, the volunteers of Zone F were able to raise over 150,000 grains of rice, which equates to over 50 meals!

This is a fun virtual project that supports a great cause. For even more fun, compete to see who can collect the most rice.

ZONE F

through freerice.com which provides simple quizzes that

Cayman Islands Spotlight The Florida District of Key Club International is comprised of Florida, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks & Caicos. The Cayman Islands consists of five Key Clubs:

Triple C School

Cayman Prep & High School

St. Ignatius Catholic School

John Gray High School

Clifton Hunter High School

JOHN GRAY DIVISION 26D A Key Clubber organized a car wash project. The funds raised went towards a child with a sickness.

For the holidays, gifts for the Girls and Boys Home were collected by members.

In

addition

to

the

gifts,

Key

Clubbers made decorative holiday cards. The cards were sold at their school to raise funds for toiletries for the Girls and Boys Home.

CKI Pen Pal Program

Join our Key Club and CKI Pen Pal Program for assistance with the college application and transition process!

Circle K International (CKI) is the collegiate branch of the Kiwanis Family.

Pen pals will discuss various topics during the program including college readiness, service ideas, and whatever else they may see fit. We are aiming to pair Key Club members with a CKI member from their top choice Florida college or with a CKI member in their intended field of study.

If you are interested in participating in this Pen Pal Program, we ask that you please fill out the sign up form by Sunday, February 7th. If you have any questions, please email Kiwanis Family Relations Committee Chair Madison Burt at kiwanisrelations@floridakeyclub.org.

Link to sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxUFENbqEhnXbEmQd_box pSadEV4xjBEHHFlIz1lXhFot3SQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

HIALEAH GARDENS CYPRESS BAY

Club Newsletters

DCON Information

The 2021 District Education and Leadership Conference (DCON) at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort and Spa located in Orlando, Florida will be held from April 8th-11th!

This year, our conference will look a bit different as we work to implement new safety measures.

Each club in good standing throughout the district will be able to register two students and one adult chaperone to attend the conference.

Current 2020-2021 Florida District Board members, incoming 2021-2022 Board Members, and candidates will also be permitted to attend in person and will not count toward their schools two student maximum.

All students will be limited to two per room and chaperones can choose to stay either with another chaperone or in a room by themselves.

A school will be permitted to room one student with another student from a different school to ensure the same gender in each room.

The cost for student registration will be $380 for a double.

The cost for a chaperone will be $380 for a double or $585 for a single room.

While we recognize that allowing only doubles will increase the cost, we are hopeful that having fewer attendees will allow club fundraising to stretch further along with support from your Kiwanis Clubs.

In addition, we are excited to announce that we will provide an in-depth virtual experience for those members who are not able to attend. This will allow our members to be right in the action while attending workshops, sessions, and other fun events.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact dcon@floridakeyclub.org or visit our website!

Board Testimonials Have you ever wondered what running for higher office offers a Key Club member?

Perhaps you need just a bit more encouragement and inspiration to run for a new position. Future leaders, please read through these testimonies from your 2020-2021 District Board to recognize all of the wonders that are waiting for you!

As an International Trustee, what has been your favorite experience so far?

- Emma (International Trustee) Serving on the International Board has been unlike anything I’ve done during my Key Club journey. As a past District Governor, I had a lot of experience working with the I-Board after serving on the I-Council and going into my senior year, it felt only natural to run for IT. By far, my favorite experience has been getting to know my governors and sistrict district boards! Although I haven’t had the chance to visit my districts, I love getting invited to speak at leadership conferences and making connections with the members I serve. Transitioning from the district to international level truly opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of leadership and the immeasurable impacts of service. I’ve loved every minute of working with leaders around the world and can’t wait to see all that Key Club accomplishes.

How has leadership in Key Club shaped your personal goals?

- Joey (Governor) Prior to high school, I was extremely shy and uninvolved in any activities outside of academics. My confidence was plagued by fear of judgment and the assumption that I wasn’t “fit” for leadership, causing me to step back in silence and suppress my urges to speak up for my passions. I always like to say that joining Key Club changed my entire life trajectory because frankly, it did. From barely being able to raise my hand in class to serving in my first ever leadership position as the head of the “Candy Cane Committee,” Key Club’s leadership opportunities opened my eyes to a world of possibilities that I had never considered before. Now, I aspire to uplift seemingly voiceless youth into positions of leadership, through initiatives like my Keys For Kids Governor’s Project, hoping to make the same impact on them that Key Club has on me. Through my leadership experiences in Key Club, I’ve learned that there is no such thing as “not being fit for leadership”; everyone can be a leader, no matter how shy, self-conscious, or incapable of raising your hand you are. All of our life experiences, big or small, shape us into the person we are today; for me, Key Club and pursuing higher office was a significant part of my journey in becoming a life-long leader.

What is the best part about being a District Board member?

- Sana (Division 10A Lt. Governor) Being a District Board member has allowed me to forge new, meaningful connections that couldn’t have come at a better time. As a junior, online high school is very stressful, and it’s been reassuring to have friends on the board who are going through the same things. I’ve become close friends with people I’ve never met before, and it’s been a blessing. Moreover, serving on the District Board has created connections with adults, including my wonderful committee advisor who has even offered guidance on college. The best part about being a District Board member is being able to work with amazing people who have similar passions for leadership and serving the community. For example, many awesome Lt. Governors and Adult Advisors got together to help the International Relations Committee pull off a 12 hour telethon to fundraise for tetanus vaccines through The ELIMINATE Project. We teamed up and played games, dyed our hair blue, jumped in pools, ate spicy food, decorated cakes, and more! That example of collaboration emphasizes the large-scale impact that we as District Board members have if we work together.

What have you learned from your current position?

- Haven (Division 15B Lt. Governor) When I was first appointed to the position of Lt. Governor in 2018, I felt like such a small piece of a much larger, and greater, picture. While the experiences I have had in my three terms in this position have not changed this view, they have most certainly made me reframe my mindset into a more positive one.

Whether it was through writing letters to residents under strict quarantine measures in nursing homes or wrapping presents for hundreds of underprivileged students at local elementary schools, I was able to see how each and every act of service had immeasurable worth and impact on the surrounding community. Over my past three terms as Lt. Governor, I have learned that, when we all work together, we are able to make such a greater difference in the lives of those around us.

What inspired you to run for your position?

- Ben (Division 21 Lt. Governor) I was inspired by a variety of things to run for my position. First and foremost among my reasons was the fact that I was running for a position in Key Club specifically. There are many leadership positions that you can run for but I knew that I wanted to do one that would directly enable me to help the community. At its core Key Club (and Kiwanis as a whole) is a service organization and I knew that I would be willing to give as much time as would be needed from me (and then some) if it helped the community. So far I have done a lot and most of it has ended up as something that benefited the community. Another reason that I ran was for the challenge that I would be presented with and the opportunity to learn. After my term started as Lt. Governor I quickly realized that it was as challenging as I was told and a little more, however overcoming the challenges presented to me allowed me to prove so much to myself. In hindsight the most valuable reason I had to run was the desire to learn more. Being a Lt. Governor has taught me so much about leading, people, and myself; this has made being a Lt. Governor a truly invaluable experience.

Awards and Contests

Attention All Key Club Members of the Florida District: The Awards and Contests Committee is happy to announce that our website has been updated and available for viewing. The PDFs of the Google Form Applications for this year’s awards

and

contests

are

found

on

the

Awards

and

Contests

website

at

floridakeyclub.org/awards-and-contests/. Please view these PDFs in preparation for completing the actual applications when submissions for them are opened on February 15, 2021. (Please note that the links to the applications will be posted on the website by then.)

Each PDF contains a visual of its respective award or contest application. When viewing them, you will notice that each has specific rules/criteria, required questions, and instructions for completing and submitting the applications. It is important to read through these sections thoroughly to familiarize yourself with them. This gives you and your club a chance to begin working towards the awards and contests’ requirements if you haven’t already, and prepare for submitting the applications in a timely manner.

When viewing the PDFs, you may notice a few changes to the award and contest applications in comparison to previous years. Here are a few highlights of the major changes made: Reduced service hours requirement by 60% due to the impact of COVID-19 safety restrictions.

Changed names of the Distinguished Club President and the G. H. Martin Outstanding Club President Award to G. H. Martin Outstanding Club President Award, and simplified the various criteria (now one name, one award).

Added paid members and category to club name selection.

If your club name is not listed, contact the Awards Committee Chair at awards@floridakeyclub.org.

Resubmissions of the applications will be allowed until the deadline.

2021 Oratory Topic: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This year, Key Club members have embraced adaptability and overcome great challenges.

Through it all, members of our organization have volunteered thousands of hours building our homes, schools and communities. How did you continue serving through these adverse challenges, and how did your volunteerism make a significant impact?â&#x20AC;?

With the current plan for how the 2021 Florida LKC District Conference will be run this year because of the impact of COVID-19 safety restrictions, there are a few changes here as well: The applications for the various DCON contests (display board, posters, scrapbook, and t-shirt) will now require uploading photo(s) of the entries for virtual judging prior to DCON. There will be no submissions for the Non-Traditional Scrapbook.

There will be no onsite auditions for the Talent or Oratory Contests. Winners will be selected from the pre-DCON auditions.

All judging of contests will be done virtually pre-DCON. The top 7 acts of the Talent Contest and 3 orators will be shown virtually during the Entertainment Assembly.

Only winners of selected awards will be on stage.

Dates to Remember: February 15, 2021 - Submissions for the Awards and Contests Applications Open March 5, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST - February Pride Report Deadline (Any updates to previously submitted reports from March 2020 also due) March 7, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST - Pre-District Conference Awards Submission Deadline March 21, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST - Online Talent and Oratory Contests Auditions Submission Deadline March 21, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST - District Conference Contests Submission Deadline March 31, 2021 - Notification of contestants who will be presented virtually at District Conference If you have any questions regarding the information above or about the awards and contests in general please reach out to the Awards and Contests Committee Chair at awards@floridakeyclub.org.

Scholarships

Seniors the time is here! For anyone looking to apply for Key Club Scholarships, make sure that you fit these requirements: You are in your last year of High School You have been involved with Key Club since at least 11th grade You have paid Dues and appear on Key Club International’s Member Report You are College, University, Technical, or Vocational school-bound You have a grade point average of at least a “B” or the equivalent of a 3.0 on a 4.0 school. (If you have below a 3.0, consider applying for the Perseverance Scholarship) You have an official high school transcript You have a document that explains the community service hours they have done through Key Club Then you are eligible to apply for any Key Club or Kiwanis Foundation Scholarship! View the steps above to apply for any scholarship.

Please feel free to reach out to your Lt. Governor or the Scholarship Committee at scholarships@floridakeyclub.org with any questions that you have.

All scholarships are due March 1st 11:59 EST

DCON Service Fair

The Service and Major Emphasis Committee have made some changes to the way Service Fair will be held this year, so please reference this graphic for the new instructions. We are in need of service projects to feature, and seeing that the Florida District has participated in so many meaningful projects, please consider participating.

Those who are selected to be featured at DCON will be able to present and answer questions about their project! The deadline to send in a video and fill out the Google Form is March 15th, so please sign up now!

Link to sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEy0IhEllSWFRjAseFUN8n19bx7jhczAXaF1WHfXuLZ5ueQ/viewform