September Mon-Key Volume 2 Issue 1 2025-2026

Mon-Key 2025-2026

THE BUSINESS LEAD

Volume 2 Issue 1

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03

Letter from the Editor

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Governor’s Introduction Letter

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Beginner’s Guide to Key Club

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Important Deadlines

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Dues

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District Goals

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Global Leadership Certificate

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2025-2026 Governor’s Project

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District Committees

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Membership Recruitment

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What and Who is your LTG?

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LTG Divisional Goals and Tips

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Key Club Scholarships

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International Trustee and Updates

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Melvin’s Social Section

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Important Dates

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Contacts

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Resources

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

I hope you all had an amazing summer break and are feeling refreshed and ready for the 2025–2026 Key Club service year!

As your returning Bulletin Editor, I’m excited to bring back the Mon-Key better than ever. After learning and growing in this role last year, I’m ready to make this publication more engaging, informative, and useful for all your Key Club needs.

For those who are new or may need a refresher, the Mon-Key is our official district newsletter. It’s your go-to source for everything related to the Montana District of Key Club. Including important dates (like DCON), service ideas, leadership tips, and more. If you ever find yourself wondering what’s coming up or where to find answers, the Mon-Key is here to help.

While there are many ways to stay updated, I want this publication to be your one-stop shop for all things Key Club.

Let’s make this a great year, together!

Yours in service,

@mtkeyclubbulletineditor@gmail.com

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Governor

Orion Walker Hello, Montana Key Clubbers! I am Orion Walker, a Senior at Bozeman High School, and I am proud to serve as your 2024-2025 District Governor. This is my fourth year in Key Club, and I’m excited to work with all of you!

As we start the school year, I’d like to share a few of our District Board’s goals. We are focusing on increasing our membership as we are less than one hundred members away from reaching a thousand members! We are also trying to help clubs coordinate with each other to participate in larger-scale service projects.

Thank you for all the dedication, time, and energy you put into your clubs. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish as we go into this school 4 year!

The Beginners Guide to

Key Club

Mission Statement: Provide service, build character

Key Club Member Handbook

and develop leadership

International Division

District

Key Club is an international organization in the US, Canada, and 31 other countries.

The International Board includes a President, Vice President, and 11 Trustees.

Each Trustee represents 3 districts.

Key Club International has 33 districts.

We are the Montana District.

Over 1,000 members across 38+ clubs.

Districts are split into divisions.

Each division is led by a student Lieutenant Governor.

They enforce district policies and support clubs.

K-Family

Key Clubs are based in high schools or community settings.

Officers may include: President, VP(s), Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, and Class Directors.

Club Builders Club

Key Club

Kiwanis K-Kids

Aktion Club

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I‌mportant

D‌eadlines

Secretary Report form - 10th of every month (the secretary report is to be filled out each month by your club secretary about what service projects and volunteering your club has done for the past month, help the district keep up with the status of each club) Election Report form - No specific due date but needs to be turned in after electing new officers (so that the district board can contact club officers) Early bird date dues - Nov 1 Regular date dues - Dec 1 YOF Grant - Oct 15

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Key Club Dues How much do members pay?

Key Club members in Montana pay $16.50 total, $6.50 for district dues and $10 for international dues for the 2025-2026 year. Some clubs may choose to add a small local fee on top of this amount to help cover club shirts, service projects, or other expenses, so the exact total can vary slightly from school to school.

How to pay and report dues Club treasurers or advisors should log into Kiwanis Engage, update the club roster in the Membership Update Center, and then head to the Finance tab to generate an invoice. Dues can be paid online or by mailing a check.

Why dues matter Paying dues keeps clubs in good standing and makes members eligible for awards, scholarships, grants, leadership roles, and conventions. Dues also fund district projects and connect Montana clubs to international service efforts like UNICEF and other global partnerships.

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District Goals

Improve Communication & Social Media We’re standardizing communication and boosting our online presence to keep members informed and engaged.

Reach 1,000 Members Through recruitment and inclusion, we aim to grow our district to 1,000 active, passionate Key Clubbers.

Increase Inter-Club Activities More collaboration between clubs means stronger connections and greater impact through joint events and service.

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Global Leadership Certificate

Key Club International offers the Global Leadership Certificate, a self-paced program with nearly 40 courses covering leadership, inclusion, civic engagement, relationship-building, and more.

You’ll learn through videos, assessments, and hands-on activities while developing key skills like emotional intelligence, empathy, and resilience, all grounded in Key Club’s core values of fellowship, leadership, and service.

The program also includes optional opportunities such as the Master Class held during the Key Club International Convention.

Whether you're preparing for college, trade school, or the workforce, this program helps you grow as a capable and thoughtful leader.

Members can start right away if their personal emails are on their club’s roster. Courses are available through a link in Kiwanis Connect (kiwanis.org/login).

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A Home for Hope 2025-2026 Governor’s Project

It is with great pleasure that I announce the 2025-2026 Governor’s Project: A Home For Hope!

This project will focus on helping to provide two of the most vital resources for any community, access to shelter and food for those who need them. Regardless of where we come from, everyone deserves to have a safe place to rest and the ability to feed themselves.

Unfortunately, too many people in Montana still struggle with a lack of these resources.

Montana currently has 40 Emergency Shelters and over 100 food banks that all work tirelessly to serve people in need.

But while these organizations certainly do great jobs of helping those struggling in their communities, they still need support to be able to continue doing their work. Through A Home For Hope, our District will fundraise and volunteer with these organizations to help make sure each of them have the resources they need to continue their outreach.

Our goal as a District is to have 75% of our clubs commit 20 service hours towards this project. I have no doubt our District will rise to this opportunity with the same zeal it has used in years past. Thank you for your help and good luck this year!

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WAYS TO HELP The problem In 2024 Montana had the largest % increase of homelessness 30% of shelters are over capacity There are 50% more homeless seniors than in 2020 The average length of a stay at shelters has nearly doubled

Here’s how you can help Shelter & Rescue Missions Volunteer at local shelters Help at soup kitchens

Organize donation drives Volunteer to sort and organize donations Food Banks Assist with food distribution

Fundraising Ideas Bake sales Dollar drives Inter-club competitions

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DISTRICT COMMITTEES MT DISTRICT OF KEY CLUB BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Members: Orion, Lane, Raya Oversee district events, projects, membership, and outreach Host monthly office hours and support breakout sessions Update bylaws, policies, and propose amendments Promote transgender inclusivity at district events Increase club attendance at YC and DCON by 5+ clubs Manage district website and social media

MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & RECRUITMENT Members: Jasmine, Aspen, Paige, Aaron, Raya Promote Key Club through social media, posters, and school club fairs Engage middle schools and Builders Clubs to expand membership Share information on upcoming events and activities Utilize Key Club International recruitment kits Lead social media campaigns to boost awareness Develop promotional resources for clubs and district events

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DISTRICT COMMITTEES MT DISTRICT OF KEY CLUB BOARD DISTRICT EVENTS COMMITTEE Members: Jordyn, Lane, Ezra Plan and organize YC, DCON, Key Leader, and board meetings Promote events with social media blitzes Manage event details: dates, times, speakers, and workshops Develop and maintain a yearly theme Promote Key Leader program Track effectiveness of promotional materials

DISTRICT PROJECTS & PLANNING Members: Jasmine, Aaron, Raya Organize fundraising (lanyards, bags, raffles, stickers, Upcycles, restaurant events) Promote the Governor’s Project and fundraising competition Highlight clubs and LTGs involved in projects

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DISTRICT COMMITTEES MT DISTRICT OF KEY CLUB BOARD K-FAMILY RELATIONS

Members: Jasmine, Paige, Evie, Louis

Connect and collaborate with Builders Club, K-Kids, and other branches Organize joint events and presentations Promote K-Family awareness and participation incentives Develop 2 new K-Kids and Builders Clubs in Montana Create and share a directory of K-Family officers for better communication

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DISTRICT COMMITTEES MT DISTRICT OF KEY CLUB BOARD INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE

Members: Evie, Jordyn, Louis, Aspen, Lane

Plan future International Conventions (ICON) Improve communication with Key Club International (KCI) Create presentations and videos about international opportunities Promote scholarships and the Global Leadership Certificate Develop a student-friendly ICON guide covering scholarships, fundraising, travel, and costs Market ICON early at YC and DCON through workshops Support international programs like UNICEF Champion and Global Engagement Rally

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Key Club Recruitment 101 Personal Invitations: Current members personally invite classmates with a sincere note or text, sharing why they love Key Club and encouraging them to come to the next meeting.

Offer “Membership Perks”: Mention exclusive perks like leadership training, scholarship opportunities, fun events, and networking that come with being in Key Club.

Offer Incentives: Provide small incentives like snacks, giveaways, or raffles for attending the first meeting or signing up early.

Make Announcements in Class: Ask teachers or advisors if you can make quick announcements during class or homeroom about upcoming meetings or events.

Host a “Try-It-Out” Event: Invite students to a fun meeting or activity where they can experience the club without commitment, like a workshop, game night, or service project sampler.

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Retention Plan

Hold fun, interactive meetings with guest speakers or activities Offer a variety of service projects to suit different interests Send monthly newsletters with updates, event reminders, and shout-outs Maintain active social media channels and group chats Conduct regular surveys to gather member opinions Use feedback to adjust meetings, events, and communication At the start of the year, explain member roles and benefits clearly

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what is an

LTG? A Lieutenant Governor (LTG) serves as the link between district leadership and individual Key Clubs in their division. They're responsible for communication, support, event coordination, and leadership development.

Communication & Support

Maintain regular contact with club presidents and advisors (calls, emails, visits).

Publish monthly newsletters with updates, reminders, and resources.

Provide clubs with training materials and help onboard new officers.

Event Promotion & Planning

Promote major events like District Convention (DCON), International Convention (ICON) Plan a Division Rally to build spirit and connect clubs.

Help clubs participate in district/international programs like UNICEF projects and Youth Opportunities Fund grants.

Leadership Development

Encourage members to take on leadership roles and run for district office.

Mentor club officers and guide them through elections and transitions.

Track clubs’ dues payment and reporting status.

Work to charter new clubs at schools without Key Club.

Ensure each club submits the Annual Achievement Report and attends DCON with voting delegates.

Club Growth

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DO you know who’s your

LTG?

1. LTG of Division 1 Ezra Graham (Frenchtown, Missoula Sentinel, Missoula Hellgate, Missoula Big Sky, Loyola-Sacred Heart, Florence, & Stevensville) 2. LTG of Division 3 Jasmine Tallon (Butte High, Butte Central, Anaconda, & Dillon) 3. LTG of Division 4 Paige Anderson (Billings Senior, Billings Skyview, Billings West, Columbus, Shepherd) 4. LTG of Division 5 Aaron Ward (Miles City, Glendive, Terry, Sidney) 5. LTG of Division 6 Evie Taylor (Bozeman, Gallatin, Belgrade, Lewistown, Harlowton) 6. LTG of Division 7 Aspen Probert (Havre, Malta, Glasgow, Shelby) 7. LTG of Division 8 Louis Schreiner (Polson, Eureka, Columbia Fals) 8. LTG of Division 9 Jordyn Winkler (East Helena High, Helena High, Helena Capital, Great Falls High, & CMR High) 19

LTG

DIVISIONAL GOALS & BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS DIVISION 1 EZRA GRAHAM Hi! I'm Ezra Graham, and I'm the Lieutenant Governor for Division 1. I ran for the vacant seat after the District Convention to ensure that the division has a voice in the board's agenda. Here are my goals for the year: 1. Increase awareness of Board operations in Division 1 2. Recruit candidates from Division 1 to run for next year's board 3. Educate schools without a Key Club about the steps to become chartered 4. Facilitate collaboration and communication between Division 1 schools 5. Increase membership in existing clubs As an at-large representative, I am not from the division. I hope to visit this year to encourage students from Missoula, Hamilton, Stevensville, Florence-Carlton, or Frenchtown to run for my position next year at the District Convention.

BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS 01

02

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Connect with the state board: Communicating with your lieutenant governor will allow you to engage with a network of Key Clubs throughout the state as well as state and national events available for students.

Engage with local nonprofits: In our role as servant leaders, Key Clubs should look for needs in their community. Emailing/calling nonprofits to volunteer can help combat hunger, homelessness, loneliness, littering, and other problems in the District.

Create materials for club meetings to provide structure. Accurately log hours, submit reports to the district on time, and read district communication to stay up to date and organized.

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LTG

DIVISIONAL GOALS & BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS DIVISION 3 JASMINE TALLON Goals: 1. Gain members(at least ten per area) 2. Discover projects everybody can do 3. Figure out what issues each division is struggling with and how to help said issues.

4. Be able to communicate with everyone Solutions: 1. Allow members to be able to contact each other. A group chat where each division has access to students under monitoring. Keeping up to date with the emails of the advisors as well to keep in contact.

2. Figure out if the issues to people not making the conferences is due to lack of members or if clubs are lacking knowledge.

3. Make posters and posts online to get people involved. Make Key Clubs known to people.

BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS

How to start the service year on the right foot!

Be helpful.

Be mindful of new ideas.

It's okay to have bad days, but don't let the bad days choose you.

Try to avoid procrastination.

Most importantly… Be YOU!

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LTG

DIVISIONAL GOALS & BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS DIVISION 4 PAIGE ANDERSON I ran for Lieutenant Governor because I have been involved with Key Club since freshman year and wanted to do more to help serve. I also thought it would be a good experience and help build my leadership skills. Since being on the board, I have noticed that not all the clubs tend to communicate with the board, so my goal for the year will be to try to get in touch with them as much as possible. I want to do this by sending emails, arranging online meets, and connecting with clubs at Youth Conference.

BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS I think it is important to go to the first meetings and get to know the new people, as those are the people you will be serving with the rest of the year. Make sure any new members feel welcome so they will want to come back and your club will grow.

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LTG

DIVISIONAL GOALS & BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS DIVISION 5 AARON WARD When I ran for office, I had two key visions for our division: to improve inter-club relations and build a truly supportive community. My hope was that by encouraging clubs to share their resources and knowledge, we could all better serve our communities. I also set a goal of opening a new Key Club in Forsyth to support the local school and community there. As my term has progressed, my vision has evolved. I've realized that my role isn't just about fostering communication between clubs; it's also about building stronger relationships with our general membership.

To achieve these goals, I plan to attend meetings and events personally, making face-to-face connections with everyone in our division. I want to be more accessible for questions and conversations. I'm also excited to share that my local Kiwanis club has committed to supporting the opening of the Forsyth club, and we will be working together to go through the necessary steps to charter it.

BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS Now that the school year is beginning, it's the perfect time for your club to start this service year on the right foot. I believe we should all see this year as a great opportunity—a chance to bring new ideas to life while honoring our beloved Key Club traditions. It's also an opportunity to welcome new faces and show them all the possibilities that Key Club offers. I encourage you to take this year as 23 a chance for your club, and for each of you personally, to grow.

LTG

DIVISIONAL GOALS & BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS DIVISION 6 EVIE TAYLOR Hey Key Clubbers! I am so excited for this school year to see what we have in store for all of Key Club as a whole, but especially for Division Six! I am proud to be representing this division. I ran to be LTG 6 because this position has a lot of potential in bringing people together for causes that help support the greater community. With pooled resources, I think it is possible to create not only a major impact, but one that can continue in future years to come. This year, I hope we can improve the communication channels throughout Division Six and get to know each other a lot better. I have noticed how difficult it is to get in touch with many advisors, and especially student leaders. I hope this year to create connections that will last, because in order to make the bare levels of change and to work on projects together, it is necessary to have a line of communication with one another.

BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS Reach out! Don’t hesitate to contact myself, or any member of the board if any questions arise or to get connected. I would like to shout out Fergus High School for reaching out and stating how they are working on improving their club and getting more involved this year!

Report what your club has been up to for each Mon-Key! Don't forget to send in photos of the activities your school Key Club has been up to.

Work out your own goals for what you individually and as a group want to 24 accomplish this Key Club year!

LTG

DIVISIONAL GOALS & BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS DIVISION 7 ASPEN PROBERT Hello, my name is Aspen Probert, and I am the new LTG of Division 7! My goal for Division 7 is to increase communication and to solidify plans to have our schools work together in service projects and fundraising! Since joining the board, I have realized that our clubs need to promote and invite others to join Key Club to help and serve others. I hope to accomplish these goals by working together using social media! I would love to be able to have an easy and quick way to contact the clubs and their members through Instagram, Facebook, text, or email! I would love for Division 7 to increase and grow our Key Clubs and community with posters, Invitations, and influence from us doing good in our communities.

BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS Start by creating posters to capture others' attention in our school, or consider holding a fun introductory meeting to get other members off to a strong start! If you are an officer, please make sure you're doing your reports and submit them.

I will totally help if you have any questions! When creating your first plan of the year for a fundraiser, please feel free to reach out and let me know the awesome goals so I can jot them down, so we can look back on all the progress, the amount fundraised, and where the proceeds were distributed! Please reach out 25 to me if anything. I love to be in contact with everyone!

LTG

DIVISIONAL GOALS & BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS DIVISION 8 LOUIS SCHREINER Hello my name is Louis Schreiner your LTG for Division 8 for the 25-26 school year. My goals this year are to start new Key Clubs in the flathead, focusing on Kalispell and Whitefish. I ran for LTG mainly because I wanted to be a bigger part of something that mattered and I just love helping people. Since I’ve been on the board I’ve noticed that I have one of the bigger divisions and not that many key clubs, which is why starting new clubs is my main goal. I’m going to get in contact with the schools in the flathead and if I’m able to get an advisor, I believe from the amount of kids at the school there would be more than enough kids that would want to join.

BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS To start off the service year on the right foot you need to get your dues paid and meet with your club as soon ASAP.

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LTG

DIVISIONAL GOALS & BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS DIVISION 9 JORDYN WINKLER Hi! My name is Jordyn Winkler and I’m from Great Falls! I ran for this position because there was an opening that needed filled and I wanted to be able to be a part of Key Club on a higher level! I’ve been in my school’s club since I was a freshman and I’ve held a few positions over the past 4 years. My goals for this year are to really connect with the Helena and Great Falls schools and ensure that each club is operating smoothly! I also want my clubs to intermingle with each other in their towns! I think getting to know your fellow club members and working with each other to achieve a bigger goal is what Key Club is all about! I’m going to accomplish this by sending out recommendations on how to get to know other clubs, as well as checking in regularly!

BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS 01 Have your first meeting and make it fun! Try to bring in 5 new faces and introduce them to what we are all about here!

02 Set goals and plans to achieve said goals for the months and year ahead as officers in your club!

03 Set a schedule for the whole group and officer meetings and stick to it!

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Key Club Scholarship Overview

Recognizes Key Club members for academics, leadership, and service (not based on financial need).

Multiple scholarships awarded annually.

Apply at: kiwanisfoundationofmontana.org/keyclub-scholarships Reviewed by the District Administrator, then selected by a Kiwanis committee.

Funds paid directly to the college in two installments (August & January).

Renewable for up to 3 years if eligibility and deadlines are met.

Qualifications

DEADLINE: March 1

The applicant must: 1.Be a registered member of a registered Key Club within the Montana District 2.Be a college bound graduating high school senior 3.Have a GPA of B or higher (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) 4.Have at least 100 service hours while in Key Club over their high school career 5.Agree to participate in a Circle K Club at their chosen college, or if there is not one at the school, to www.reallygreatsite.com hello@reallygreatsite.com be involved in community service in other ways.

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International Trustee

& INTERNATIONAL UPDATES Montana District of Key Club’s 2025-2026 International Trustee: Salsabeel Eldeeb

TRICK OR TREAT FOR UNICEF Help build the Start Strong: Zambia project.

Start planning a fun club activity, whether it’s going door-to-door or hosting a Trunk or Treat. $20 provides four children with early childhood stimulation materials and toys, and $57 can provide three children with quality home-based early childhood development services.

YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND October is right around the corner, and so is the first Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) deadline! The YOF offers grants ranging from US$250 to US$2,000 to support Key Club projects that address community needs and enhance your service impact. Applications for the first cycle are due by October 15. https://www.keyclub.org/yout h-opportunities-fund/

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Melv

SOICAL S www.melvinluvskeyclub.org

Creative Corner‌ Corner‌ Submit your own doodle, meme, or comic featuring Melvin for a chance to get featured in the Mon-Key

(submit through the Bulletin Editor email address)

You can use this form to ask any questions you have about Key Club, or related, that you would like answered in the next Mon-Key (open to advisors)!

FAQ Corner‌ Corner‌

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vin’s‌

SECTION www.melvinluvskeyclub.org

Spotlight Corner‌ Corner‌

Spotlighting a service project, from a club, that’s dedicated to this years’ Governor’s project

(submit through the Bulletin Editor email address)

Highlighting impressive numbers from clubs: most hours served, meals packed, or donations raised.

Stats Corner‌ Corner‌

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Important Dates Youth Conference (YC): November 9-11 District Convention (DECON): March 29-31 (Tentative) International Convention (ICON): July 1-5 Global Engagement Rally: November 8 Kiwanis Youth Protection Week: October 6-10 Key Club Week: November 3-7 Trick or Treat for UNICEF funds due: December 31

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Contact the board

Montana Key Club

mtkeyclub406@gmail.com Governor Orion Walker mtkeyclubgov@gmail.com Secretary Lane Wicks mtkeyclubdistrictsecretary@gmail.com Webmaster mtkeyclubtechmaster@gmail.com Bulletin Editor Raya Lucas mtkeyclubbulletineditor@gmail.com LTG 1 Ezra Graham mtkeyclubltg1@gmail.com LTG 3 Jasmine Tsllon mtkeyclubltg03@gmail.com LTG 4 Paige Anderson mtkeyclubltg04@gmail.com LTG 5 Aaron Ward mtkeyclubltg5@gmail.com LTG 6 Evie Taylor mtkeyclubltg06@gmail.com LTG 7 Aspen Probert mtkeyclubltg7@gmail.com LTG 8 Louis Schreiner mtkeyclubltg8@gmail.com LTG 9 Jordyn WInkler mtkeyclubltg9@gmail.com

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Reso New Member Handbook click here MT district bylaws click here Key Club international guidebook click here Club president guide click here Club VP guide click here

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urces Club secretary guide click here Club treasurer guide click here Club adviser guide click here Secretary report form click here global leadership courses click here

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@montanadistrictofkeyclubinternational

@montanakeyclub

mtkeyclub.org

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