LLetter etter
Hello Michigan Key Clubbers!
As we approach fall, I hope you're excited for yet another year of service and fellowship. This season offers so many opportunities for your club to make a real impact, from serving with our Key Club International partners and contributing to our new Governor’s Project: Key Club Serves Seniors, to volunteering right in your local schools and communities. The year ahead is full of potential, and I can't wait to see the incredible work we'll do together!
Sophia Liu Sophia Liu
LLetter etter
Lana Ibrahim Lana Ibrahim
IINT.TRUSTEE NT.TRUSTEE
IZZYMALY IZZYMALY
ADMINISTRATOR ADMINISTRATOR
JORDANDELACRUZ JORDANDELACRUZ
GOVERNOR GOVERNOR
SOPHIA LIU SOPHIALIU
SECRETARY SECRETARY
JUHI BATT JUHIBATT
TTREASURER REASURER
JOEY BERRY JOEYBERRY
LANA IBRAHIM LANAIBRAHIM
WEBMASTER WEBMASTER
LEEA EUN LEEAEUN
LLTGCHAIR TGCHAIR
FATME KHALIL FATMEKHALIL
MEET
CHAIRS MEET THE CHAIRS MEET THE CHAIRS
FAM! FAM! DBOARD DBOARD
SPRING BOARD SPRING BOARD RECAP RECAP RECAP
Spring Board 2025 was a weekend to Spring Board 2025 was a weekend to remember! Once the district board had remember! Once the district board had been appointed, we headed to the been appointed, we headed to the Faholo Conference Center in Grass Lake Faholo Conference Center in Grass Lake for our trainings. We spent time learning for our trainings. We spent time learning how to step into our roles with how to step into our roles with confidence, while also laying the confidence, while also laying the groundwork for the 2025–2026 service groundwork for the 2025–2026 service year. Whether it was bonding over year. Whether it was bonding over volleyball, making a candy salad to learn volleyball, making a candy salad to learn parliamentary procedure, or roasting parliamentary procedure, or roasting s’mores by the fire, we all had a blast s’mores by the fire, we all had a blast getting to know more about each other getting to know more about each other and our tasks for this upcoming year! and our tasks for this upcoming year!
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION@ @
This summer, the mighty Michigan District headed to This summer, the mighty Michigan District headed to Orlando, Florida for the International Convention! Orlando, Florida for the International Convention!
From pin trading and late-night dancing to exploring
From pin trading and late-night dancing to exploring Orlando and playing games, ICON 2025 was filled with Orlando and playing games, ICON 2025 was filled with nonstop fun. Members shared laughs, stories, and nonstop fun. Members shared laughs, stories, and moments they’ll never forget. The Michigan District had moments they’ll never forget. The Michigan District had a blast getting to know Key Clubbers from around the a blast getting to know Key Clubbers from around the world. world.
Aside from winning the District Spirit Key at the
Aside from winning the District Spirit Key at the recognition ceremony, we are especially proud of two recognition ceremony, we are especially proud of two amazing Michiganders, Luna Alaowad and McCarty amazing Michiganders, Luna Alaowad and McCarty Liang, for winning International Vice President and Liang, for winning International Vice President and Trustee! You both bring our district immense pride. Trustee! You both bring our district immense pride.
This truly was a week full of service, leadership, This truly was a week full of service, leadership, friendship, memories, and much more. We can't wait for friendship, memories, and much more. We can't wait for
ICON 2026 IN DALLAS, TEXAS!! ICON 2026 IN DALLAS, TEXAS!!
INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL UPDATES UPDATES
Michigan Key Clubbers, I am incredibly proud and Michigan Key Clubbers, I am incredibly proud and excited to officially announce our Governor's Project excited to officially announce our Governor's Project for the 2025-2026 service year: for the 2025-2026 service year: KEY CLUB SERVES SENIORS! KEY CLUB SERVES SENIORS!
This year, our collective mission is to shine a light on This year, our collective mission is to shine a light on the loneliness epidemic affecting senior citizens across the loneliness epidemic affecting senior citizens across America and combat it, one act of service at a time. America and combat it, one act of service at a time.
From letter writing, hands-on volunteering at senior From letter writing, hands-on volunteering at senior living facilities, and fundraising for mission-related living facilities, and fundraising for mission-related charities that support the elderly, the opportunities to charities that support the elderly, the opportunities to create change are endless! create change are endless!
1 1. .Letter Writing: Write and send letters to seniors through Letter Writing: Write and send letters to seniors through organizations like Love For Our Elders and Letters Against organizations like Love For Our Elders and Letters Against IIsolation. solation.
2. Volunteer at local senior homes: offer your time and 2. Volunteer at local senior homes: offer your time and presence. presence.
Plan interactive events with seniors such as:
Plan interactive events with seniors such as:
Arts and crafts
Arts and crafts
Music and performance
Music and performance
Game nights / social hours
Game nights / social hours
Tech tutoring Tech tutoring
Special Events: help organize holiday parties or fun
Special Events: help organize holiday parties or fun themed nights like "senior prom". themed nights like "senior prom".
3. Donate to charities: support non-profits working to address
3. Donate to charities: support non-profits working to address social isolation through fundraising, such as Volunteers of social isolation through fundraising, such as Volunteers of America and Meals on Wheels. America and Meals on Wheels.
Walk-a-thons
Walk-a-thons
Restaurant fundraisers
Restaurant fundraisers
Bake sales
Bake sales
Penny wars
Penny wars
YOURS IN SERVICE,
Sophia Liu Sophia Liu DISTRICT GOVERNOR
Hall of Fame Hall of Fame
CLUB CLOWN
Hann h Cabal
BESTDR
ED BESTDR ED
MOSTSPIRITED Nick Koncelik MOST RELIABLE Juhi Batt CLUB CLOWN CLUB CLOWN MOST RELIABLE
Leea Eun MOSTSPIRITED
STLIKELY EPTHROU HAMEETING
MOSTLIKELYTO MOSTLIKELYTO SLEEPTHROUGH SLEEPTHROUGH AMEETING
DYNAMIC DUO
Dana Kassoumeh
FUTURE KIW
MEMBERFUTURE KIWANIS KIWANISMEMBER
OSTLIKELY MOSTTALKATIVE DYNAMIC DUO by & Tife OSTLIKELYENDUP INJAILENDUP INJAIL ENDU
Joey Berry
MOSTATHLETIC
YaalRP . MOSTTALKATIVE
Aikem Gill
Ashley Flores
Matthew Langen
TRADER ULTIMATEPIN ULTIMATEPIN TRADER
ULMATEPN
Sereen Kassoumeh
PUBLIC SPEAKING PUBLIC SPEAKING
Public speaking is no joke. It can be super overwhelming, standing in front of a group of people
Public speaking is no joke It can be super overwhelming, standing in front of a group of people you may you may or may not know and talking for what seems like hours when it's only a few minutes It's actually one of the or may not know and talking for what seems like hours when it's only a few minutes. It's actually one of the top rated fears! Don’t worry, we’ll be going over some tips and tricks to improve your speaking and nerves! top rated fears! Don’t worry, we’ll be going over some tips and tricks to improve your speaking and nerves!
1. SPEAK SLOWLY
FROM OU FROM OU
When you talk too fast, your brain can’t keep up with you, which
When you talk too fast, your brain can’t keep up with you, which causes you to jumble up your words into incoherent sentences. causes you to jumble up your words into incoherent sentences
When speaking, try to pace yourself by overly annunciating Your
When speaking, try to pace yourself by overly annunciating Your words Also make sure to have meaningful pauses, as this can words. Also make sure to pauses, as this can add depth to your speech, help you recollect your thoughts, add depth to your speech, help you recollect your thoughts, and maintain your rate of speech Some parts of your speech and maintain your rate of speech Some parts of your speech can be faster than others to create a good dynamic to keep can be faster than others to create a good dynamic to your listeners engaged, but going too fast won’t let them really your listeners engaged, but going too fast won’t let them really understand what you’re saying understand what you’re saying
Facial expr Facial expression, movement, and hand gestures can add a lot to your ession, movement, and hand gestures can add a lot to your presentation When you stay still or seldom walk around, your listeners presentation When you stay still or seldom walk around, your listeners can focus on your words instead of where you’re going. When you can focus on your words instead of where you’re going When you sway back and forth or pace around the area, it takes away your sway back and forth or pace around the area, it takes away your listener’s focus onto your movements Meaningful hand gestures also listener’s focus onto your movements Meaningful hand gestures also add emphasis to your speech, like if you are talking about moving add emphasis to your speech, like if you are about moving something, you make the gesture to place something down Don’t flail something, you make the gesture to place something down. Don’t flail your arms around though, it will also distract your listeners Facial your arms around though, it will also distract your listeners. Facial expressions like smiling can give yourself confidence while being expressions like smiling can give yourself confidence while being pleasant to your audience. Remember, there is always a goldilocks pleasant to your audience Remember, there is always a goldilocks zone with non-verbal communication! zone with non-verbal communication!
Fe Feeling anxiety and stress about public speaking is common and eling anxiety and stress about speaking is common and normal, but finding ways to cope with it is very important. Anxiety can normal, but finding ways to cope with it is very important Anxiety can come out during your speech as nervous fidgeting or anxious impulses come out during your speech as nervous fidgeting or anxious impulses like hair combing. Before giving a speech or presentation, take a like hair combing Before giving a speech or presentation, take a minute to do breathing exercises to calm your nerves For example, minute to do breathing exercises to calm your nerves For example, you can do square breathing by breathing in for 4 seconds, holding you can square breathing by breathing in for 4 seconds, holding your breath for 4 seconds, exhaling for 4 seconds, and holding it for 4 your breath for 4 seconds, exhaling for 4 seconds, and holding it for 4 seconds Giving yourself positive affirmations like, “You’ll do great!” or seconds Giving yourself positive affirmations like, “You’ll do great!” or “You’re ready for this!”, can also really help calm your nerves. You can “You’re ready for this!”, can also really help calm your nerves You can also talk to your friends and family if you’re feeling very negatively also talk to your friends and family if you’re feeling very negatively about your speech or presentation Remember, there are about your speech or presentation Remember, there are m many ways you can help yourself! any ways you can help
IIn conclusion,
WRITTEN WRITTEN BY LTG OF BY LTG OF DIVISION 15, DIVISION 15, HANNAH HANNAH CABAL CABAL
UR BOARD UR BOARD
SERVICE EVENT
CRAFTING SERVICE EVENT
The idea for our Crafting Service Event began in December, aft The idea for our Crafting Service Event began in December, after one of us attended an Anchor Bay Key Club event. er one of us attended an Anchor Bay Key Club event There, we admired the way the Anchor Bay Key Club Board created an accessible event for its Key Club members and There, we admired the way the Anchor Bay Key Club Board created an accessible event for its Key Club members and how they provided food via donations. We began thinking about how we often don’t hold service events at our school, how they provided food via donations We began thinking about how we often don’t hold service events at our school, and how this would be a great way to not only provide a fun service-filled event for our Key Clubbers, but also for any and how this would be a great way to not only provide a fun service-filled event for our Key Clubbers, but also for any other students at our school, to emerge them into the Key Club community. Both of us have attended SLC 3 times, Fall Rally other students at our school, to emerge them into the Key Club community Both of us have attended SLC 3 times, Fall Rally 2024, and the 2025 Divisions 14, 15, and 16
Tri-Divisional Rally. One of our favorite things about these events were the 2024, and the 2025 Divisions 14, 15, and 16
Tri-Divisional Rally One of our favorite things about these events were the different workshops. Whether it was dog-toy making, birdhouse building, D-Board panels, or even Just Dance, each different workshops Whether it was dog-toy making, birdhouse building, D-Board panels, or even Just Dance, each workshop was an opportunity to socialize with other Key Clubbers, to let our creativity flourish, to serve others, and to have workshop was an opportunity to socialize with other Key Clubbers, to let our creativity flourish, to serve others, and to have fun. We wanted to bring a similar experience to those in our club, so we began to plan! We brought up the idea of a fun We wanted to bring a similar experience to those in our club, so we began to plan! We brought up the idea of a workshop-based event to each other in early February. For the convenience of members, we knew that we wanted it to workshop-based event to each other in early February For the convenience of members, we knew that we wanted it to take place at our school and directly after, so coordinating rides, especially for underclassmen, would be easier. We began take place at our school and directly after, so coordinating rides, especially for underclassmen, would be easier We began a proposal document to share with our Key Club and proposed the date of March 14th as it was a half day, so people a proposal document to share with our Key Club and proposed the date of March 14th as it was a half day, so people could stay for the afternoon. After getting approval from our school to reserve the Media Center, we began contacting could stay for the afternoon After getting approval from our school to reserve the Media Center, we began contacting organizations for collaboration. We already knew we wanted to do blanket making for homeless shelters, but we reached organizations for collaboration We already knew we wanted to do blanket making for homeless shelters, but we reached out to Rose Senior Living to donate handmade bracelets, McLaren Macomb to donate cards for hospital staff, and Linda- out to Rose Senior Living to donate handmade bracelets, McLaren Macomb to donate cards for hospital staff, and LindaAnn Heldt for her plarning expertise. Once we had our workshops all in order, we began purchasing supplies, using our club Ann Heldt for her plarning expertise Once we had our workshops all in order, we began purchasing supplies, using our club funds to support the effort. We knew that providing food would add to the fun and be best due to it being a half day and funds to support the effort We knew that providing food would add to the fun and be best due to it being a half day and school lunch not being served. To conserve club funds, we reached out to local establishments to get food donated. After school lunch not being served To conserve club funds, we reached out to local establishments to get food donated After calling and visiting several food establishments, we were able to get a graciously donated lunch from Little Caesars, calling and visiting several food establishments, we were able to get a graciously donated lunch from Little Caesars, Crumbl, and Jimmy John’s. We created a sign-up genius with a limit of 50 people (due to space and supplies), advertising Crumbl, and Jimmy John’s We created a sign-up genius with a limit of 50 people (due to space and supplies), advertising to our Key Club, then to NHS members, and then to the rest of our school. All the spots filled up relatively quickly, and we to our Key Club, then to NHS members, and then to the rest of our school All the spots filled up relatively quickly, and we were ecstatic with the interest shown by not only Key Clubbers, but by students all over the school! When the day came, all were ecstatic with the interest shown by not only Key Clubbers, but by students all over the school! When the day came, all the volunteers came ready to serve! After giving them a little time to mingle we introduced each workshop and Linda-Ann. the volunteers came ready to serve! After giving a little time to mingle we introduced each workshop Linda-Ann. We gave volunteers the choice to choose their starting station and move to a new station from thereon out We set up We gave volunteers the to choose their starting station and move to a new station from thereon out. We set up each station to run for 35 minutes in order to ensure that there would be time to cleanup and for lunch afterwards Linda- station to run for 35 minutes in order to ensure there would be time to cleanup and for lunch afterwards. LindaAnn helped the volunteers at her station to make plarn chains and continue some of the mats she had started with other Ann helped volunteers her station to make plarn chains continue some of the she had started with other Key Clubs We made sure to check in on the blanket making workshop to help anyone who hadn’t done that project Key Clubs. We made sure to check in on blanket making workshop to help anyone who hadn’t done that project before and was confused After all the rotations were completed, we helped volunteers to clean up each station Since we before and was confused. After the were completed, we helped volunteers to clean up each station. Since we were able to reserve the Media Center for our event, we made sure to respect the space keeping it clean and orderly At were able to reserve the Media Center for our event, we made sure to respect the space keeping it clean and orderly. that time our club’s President and Webmaster helped us to pick up the food was donated We took some photos of the that time our club’s President Webmaster helped us to pick up the food was donated. We some photos of the groups and crafts, and then it was time to eat! By the end of our event, we were extremely happy that everything went groups and crafts, and then it was time to By end of our event, we were extremely happy everything according to plan and ran smoothly Without the donations from restaurants around us, volunteers signing up, and the help according to plan ran smoothly. Without the donations from restaurants us, volunteers signing up, and the help of our Key Club advisor, Elaine Jirkans, and Linda-Ann Heldt, this event would not have been possible Our planning process of our Key Club advisor, Elaine Jirkans, Linda-Ann Heldt, this event would have been possible. Our planning process exemplified the community that can be found in Key Club, with ours coming together to help serve In the end we ended exemplified the community can be found in Key Club, with ours coming together to help serve. In the end we ended up with around 20 blankets, 50 bracelets, and 40 cards to donate to our community And all the plarn that was made will with around 20 blankets, 50 bracelets, and 40 cards to to our community. And all the plarn that made will help contribute to many mats for the unhoused community The involvement from students at our school, Key Clubbers or help contribute to many mats for the unhoused community. The involvement from students at school, Key Clubbers or not, was gratifying and inspiring to see, and we hope to provide more opportunities like this for our club in the future not, was gratifying inspiring to see, we hope to provide more opportunities like this for our club in the future.
