Nick Montaño might be the owner of Los Toros Restaurant, a Chatsworth Mexican restaurant that's been a family favorite for almost 50 years. But equally as important to him is his involvement in Kiwanis.
In between preparing for his new role as Secretary for the 7PM Tuesday Kiwanis meeting (and finishing up agenda items with his wife, Lucia, for the upcoming Chatsworth Holiday Parade) Nick gave a quick interview on just how important Kiwanis is to him.
What are some things you do for the club on a monthly basis, including hosting the meetings at your restaurant each Tuesday at 7PM?
I water trees for Chatsworth, attend neighborhood council meetings, go to Chamber of Commerce meetings and participate in many of the weekend events we volunteer at (including cooking!).
Talk a bit about the Chatsworth Train Station Mural Event
Well, the mural was created back in the 90's with the help of Lawrence Middle School, Chaminade and Sierra Canyon. One day while jogging I saw graffiti and thought, "We need to help." Luckily Cindy Medlin of the Chatsworth Arts Council agreed, along with Ziggy Campos and the support of CD12 (Mitch Englander). The day it was completed was a very happy day. The way the community pitched in... that's what it's all about.
You seem really proud of the Key Clubbers.What's the source of your pride?
The Key Clubbers show up week after week, not just to our meetings on Tuesday but at our events. Without them, there is no way we would be so successful as a club.
You've mentioned that Kiwanis is not just for business networking. Explain a bit more.
The truth is, many of our members join our group to get business referrals. There's nothing wrong with that, but what often happens is that they network in a way they didn't really expect. By giving of their time, they end up totally fulfilled. Plus, in showing up consistently, they end up tightly linked with the Kiwanis family. It's when they give of themselves, not just get, that people start to know them. And then, well, business happens anyway.
Talk to the adult who has thought about joining Kiwanis but hasn't taken the plunge.
There's no big pressure. I invite them to stop by on a Tuesday at 7PM and join us for dinner. Right now we're in the middle of a big drive for Chatsworth Holiday Parade (which my wife is running like a pro) so it's a great time to jump in, loan us some hands and learn what we're all about.
Talk to the high schooler who is considering joining Key Club
Key Club is a great opportunity to build leadership and communication skills. Not only will you grow as a person, but it's a huge benefit for college entrance applications.
How can people find out more about Kiwanis.
