The Kiwanian NE-IA KIWANIS DISTRICT NEWSLETTER June, 2018

IN THIS ISSUE District Convention All-Star Games Camp OK Healthy Baby Showers Key Club Scholarship Recipients SAVE THE DATE KI Convention World Series District Convention QUICK LINKS NE-IA District Website NE-IA District Facebook

Greetings! Welcome to The Kiwanian, the newsletter for the Nebraska-Iowa Kiwanis District. The Kiwanian is published the 1st week of every month. The next Kiwanian will be published in July. Article submissions are due to our District Secretary by the 15th of every month. Please feel free to share this issue with potential new members. Thank you to this month's content contributors Jan Burch, Jane Erickson, Mary Langdon, Diana Sickles, and Andrew Smithson. Click HERE to print this issue of The Kiwanian, June 2018

TAKE ME OUT TO THE DISTRICT CONVENTION BALLGAME! We have a stellar line-up planned for the NE-IA Kiwanis 2018 World Series District Convention. One event I'm particularly excited about is the Kiwanis Miracle League All-Star Games taking place Friday, August 10 at 5:00 PM. Join us to experience the 2017 Kiwanis International Signature Project Contest Winner, The Kiwanis Miracle League at Principal Park. The Kiwanis Miracle League allows all children, regardless of mental and/or physical disabilities, to experience the joy of America's favorite pastime by providing a rubberized turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and other assistive devices. Come watch two All-Star Games and even participate as a "buddy." There's no better way to spend a summer evening than at a ballgame, especially a Kiwanis Miracle League Game. Free parking, no admission charge to attend, and concession food (yes, hot dogs and walking tacos!) as well as Des Moines' newest sensation: food trucks available! Cash and credit/debit cards accepted. This opportunity is just one of many exciting and inspiring events taking place at District Convention 2018. Register now to make sure you don't miss a thing and secure your spot at the World Series District Convention! Early bird registration available through June 15. First 100 to register receive free copy of Roger Thurow's book,  First 1,000 Days  (one of our keynote speakers). Jan Burch, Governor, 2017-18 REGISTER NOW

CAMP OK Camp OK is a week-long summer camp for 5th and 6th graders in the NE-IA Kiwanis District with the local Kiwanis clubs sponsoring the campers. Local Kiwanis members search their community for a student in 5th or 6th grade that has potential but is struggling in some way and needs that extra boost. We have a huge range of kids that come to camp. Kids who are shy, quiet, and not the most socially adept, to kids who are full of energy, light up a room, and seem to be everyone's friend. One thing that all the kids have in common, though, is that they are experiencing some type of life struggle. The issues vary from child to child, challenges like family financial issues, divorce, absentee parents, etc. What makes this camp so amazing is that all the kids come to camp on a level playing field, allowing each to connect with one another unaware of each other’s background and without judgment. One story that has stayed with me from working at camp for the past nine years was a kid who came to me and asked me what the date was. I told him it was June 5 th and asked why? He told me that he forgot to pay the water bill and it was due today. That broke my heart to see a kid who was in fifth grade saying that he needs to call home to tell his mom that he forgot to pay the water bill. The water bill! I told him that I would take care of it and he gave me a hug and ran off to his group. I called his mother and let her know and we got the issue taken care of, but this is the type of kids that we have at camp. Our camping experience is a week where kids come to enjoy the outdoors, new friends, good food, etc. And they don't have to worry about the issues at home. In other words, they can just be kids.  Camp is run completely on volunteers and donations for the week! We pride ourselves on getting people who are in this for the kids and not for getting paid. Our staff is what makes camp what it is. There is support for the kids as well as just being there to listen. We push the kids all week to get out of their shells and to push themselves to be better. While only a week, it is an amazing week. The lives of so many kids and staff members are changed every year because of this camp. We want to see that continue for years to come!  Our Camp OK chant is " Camp OK--How do you feel? We feel good! OOoo, we feel so good!!!” Our 2018 camp is from June 3-8. Is your Kiwanis Club sponsoring a camper this year? If not, consider doing so next year. Please put Camp OK in your 2018-19 budget and help reach more deserving NE-IA youth by making this experience available. You’ll be singing the Camp OK chant, too! Andrew Smithson, Camp OK Director, Ankeny Kiwanis Club

HEALTHY BABY SHOWERS TEACH IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION FOR BABY'S BRAIN DEVELOPMENT In alignment with Young Children, Priority One and in support of healthy brain development in utero, the NE-IA Kiwanis held educational baby showers focusing on nutrition for moms-to-be. Some 19 pregnant women and their husbands, partners, children and interpreters attended the events on April 28 (13 English speakers or had own interpreter) and May 5 (6 Spanish speakers). Bi-lingual Mary Krisco, human sciences specialist in nutrition and wellness for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, presented information on making healthy choices, nutritious foods needed, foods to avoid, and healthy weight gain for moms. Attendees received a “Healthy Baby” backpack created by NE-IA Kiwanis that contained a digital baby thermometer, diapers, swaddling gown, food containers, baby bottle, cloth doll, and discount coupons for baby items. During the baby shower the women worked with and completed the easy- to-follow instructional materials found in their take home packets. Later they could choose from some 20 language-appropriate brochures on various aspects of pregnancy available at a resource table. Each also could pick from an assortment of books available for reading to children. Krisco and the committee that put together the baby showers at the Forest Avenue Library in Des Moines served healthy salads and proteins and a create-your-own parfait bar featuring yogurt, granola, and nuts. Additional showers are planned by NE-IA Kiwanis. None of the attendees has heard of Kiwanis before, and all would recommend the showers to others. Diana Sickles, Chair, District Service Committee

CONGRATULATION TO NE-IA DISTRICT KEY CLUB SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS!

SIERRA BROWN 1,000 Scholarship Recipient Award presented by Jan Burch, District Governor Sierra graduated from Dallas Center-Grimes HS, Grimes, IA Sierra will be attending Iowa State University and plans to be a lawyer

KATHLEEN KENNEY 1,000 Scholarship Recipient Award presented by Joe Schmall, Past Lt. Governor Kathleen graduated from Xavier HS, Cedar Rapids, IA

SHAE JENSEN 1,000 Scholarship Recipient Award presented by Larry Struck, Lt. Governor Shae graduated from Denison HS, Denison, IA Shae will be attending Western Iowa Tech, Council Bluffs and majoring in elementary education

VICTORIA OSTENDORF 1,000 Scholarship Recipient Award presented by Jan Burch, District Governor Victoria graduated from Ames HS, Ames, IA Victoria will be attending Des Moines Area Community College, and majoring in business

ELIZABETH WESSELS 1,000 Scholarship Recipient Award presented by Jody Melcher, Past District Governor Elizabeth graduated from Nevada HS, Nevada, IA Elizabeth will be attending University of Northern Iowa

CLUB KUDOS

WHAT'S YOUR CLUB DOING? SEND YOUR CLUB'S KUDOS TO AMBER PATTERSON TO BE FEATURED IN THE NEXT KIWANIAN

TRAVEL ADVENTURES BY MARY

Reykjavik, Iceland Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland. It is located on the south shore of the Faxafloi Bay. With a population of about 120,000 (and over 200,000 in the Greater Reykjavik area), it is the heart of Iceland’s economic and governmental activity. Reykjavik is believed to be the first permanent settlement in Iceland established around 1870. Until 1870, there was no urban development in the city location. The city was founded in 1786 as an official trading town and grew steadily over the next decades, as it transformed into a regional, and later a national center of commerce, population and government activities. The Blue Lagoon was formed in 1976 following the operation of the Sudurnes Heating Corporation in the Svartsengi geothermal area. The Blue Lagoon is one of the most unique and popular attractions of Iceland. The lagoon is popular for skin care. The temperatures range from 80 to 115 degrees. You must move around the lagoon to find the right temperature for yourself. The lagoon is man-made. It is believed trolls become volcanic rocks if they stay out too late at night. If you look at the volcanic rocks surrounding the lagoon, they do have faces! Mary Langdon, KI Found. Trustee, 2010-13

LIFESTYLE TIPS BY JANE

To Be, or Not To Be, Third Edition Every minute of every day we have a choice; to be, or not to be the positive leader, the leader whose behaviors others wish to emulate. Here are some “leader be’s” to work on this month. Be authentic; be the whole you. Sometimes life gets too busy, too crammed full of responsibilities, activities, meetings and appointments that we barely have time to breathe. We become someone other than who we really are. We become cranky and unpleasant to be around. Is that you? Perhaps it’s time to sit down (even for a minute), take a break, and find the real authentic you again. Here are some helpful ways to relax, destress, and give yourself a chance to rediscover the real you again. Take one or two of these energizers and adjust the whole you, your day, and your life! Help a child. Smile! Establish a good support system and network. Think about people at home, at church, at work (boss and co-workers, clients), at your volunteer groups, at your clubs, and your friends. Identify people who drain your energy and those that help energize you. Learn to make better choices around people who drain your energy and definitely hang around the energizers as much as possible! Exercise aerobically at least 3-5 times per week. Take time for yourself. Build downtime into your daily schedule (even if it’s only a few minutes). Stretch. Hug someone. Hug at least four times per day. Hug yourself, hug your kids, hug your partner, hug your pet, hug the mailman! Finish a project. Play! Change your worries to concerns. Forgive. Practice having and keeping a Positive Mental Attitude. If your self-talk is negative, improve it! Listen more, talk less. Don’t try to control the universe unless you have an MTU Degree (Master of the Universe).  Play hopscotch with a child. Work in your yard or garden. Sing. If you sing well, sing with a group. If not, sing in the shower. Unplug your phone. Laugh! Laugh at least 15X per day. Count them—I’m serious! Do something to make a child’s life better. Do something completely different—get a coloring book and crayons and enjoy ten minutes of creativity. Maybe your children and grandchildren will even help you! Take an entire meeting time and color. Trust me; your attitude will improve. Say no. You don’t have to do everything! Keep your mouth shut. Yup, this is a definite. Some things are better left unsaid. Change the scene—walk away. Laugh some more.  Get up earlier. Apologize to someone you’ve wronged. Read to a child. Let the child in you out. Go do something fun. Smile and enjoy life. Eat healthy foods. Be appreciative. Say thank you. Send a thank you card today. Do something nice for someone.  Play some more. Don’t take yourself so seriously. Talk with your kids. If they’re not available, talk with someone else’s kids. Talk with a good friend. Help a child. Smile from the inside out as though you have a very fun, private secret and make people wonder what you’re up to. Enjoy life! So from this moment on be authentic , be YOU….to be, or not to be. The choice is yours. Jane Erickson, KI President, 2016-17

WORLD SERIES DISTRICT CONVENTION NE-IA Kiwanis District Convention Des Moines, IA August 10-11 Holiday Inn Airport/Conf Center Register Here

K I CONVENTION Kiwanis International Convention Las Vegas June 28-July 1, Paris & Bally's Hotels Regi st ration Available Onsite

NE-IA KIWANIS DISTRICT 402-430-9647 nikiwanisdistrict@gmail.com www.ne-ia.kiwanisone.org/

Connect with us ‌