The Kiwanian - NE-IA Kiwanis District Newsletter

June 2022 District Newsletter

Greetings!

Welcome to The Kiwanian, the newsletter for the Nebraska-Iowa Kiwanis District. Please feel free to share this issue with potential new members or make a copy for those who don't have email. An online link to this newsletter will be made available on the District Website.

QUICK LINKS

Nebraska-Iowa District Website

Nebraska-Iowa District Facebook

Nebraska-Iowa District Foundation

Kiwanis International Member Resources

Live the Vision

Kiwanis International (KI) and all local clubs have had a rock-solid mission for over one hundred years. And yes, most of us have it memorized! “Improving the world, one community and one child at a time.”

Kiwanians have delivered spectacularly! A few years ago, KI added a more descriptive vision that outlines specifically how we should “improve the world.” Our vision is, “…so that one day, all children will wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them and provide the support they need to thrive.”

I recently had the pleasure to pitch a few games for the Kiwanis Miracle League in Marion, Iowa. It was so fun watching one young man, using his bat as an “air guitar” play to the crowd before each at bat. Yes, complete with his favorite song booming over the loudspeakers! And to see one little guy, complete with uniform, new batting gloves, bright blue baseball shoes, and sport glasses, pound the plate with his bat and then point to where he wanted me to pitch the ball and where he was going to hit the ball. (Some of you may remember the Babe Ruth story of the same form!)

The crowds were so supportive and enthusiastic. The Kiwanians and volunteer buddies were so inviting and encouraging. The athletes were so excited, and the smiles, giggles and laughs were very rewarding. These athletes felt supported and loved. These are the “Kiwanian Moments” I have so often written about. To all the clubs in Nebraska and Iowa who support Miracle Leagues, thank you! We are living our mission and vision!

I ask that each Kiwanian and each club find ways to live the vision of Kiwanis, and to create these “Kiwanian Moments for our members and for potential members! That is why we are Kiwanians. And yes, in today’s world, Kids need Kiwanis!

If your club needs assistance, in any form, in finding ways to do this, please contact us. We have over 85, specially trained Kiwanians just waiting to assist. Also, please make every effort to attend our District Convention in Lincoln, Nebraska on Aug. 5 and 6, 2022. The registration and details can be found on the Nebraska-Iowa website and in this newsletter. Participants will have ample opportunities to learn what other clubs are doing, how your club can accomplish more, and help you find ways to have more “Kiwanis Moments.” I am looking forward to seeing you there!

Gov. Don

Don Fritz, District Governor, 2021-2022

Early Bird Registration:

$130 both Friday and Saturday - $105 Saturday only

Registration After July 12:

$145 both Friday and Saturday - $120 Saturday Only

Cornhusker Marriott Hotel Rooms:

$119 per night, plus tax

CONVENTION SCHEDULE

CONVENTION SPONSORS NEEDED

The District Convention Committee is again looking for individuals,

clubs, organizations and businesses to be a part of the convention

by being a program sponsor. Dollars raised through

the sponsor program help to offset convention costs.

Sponsors get their names/logo in the program booklet handed out at convention and, depending on the level of sponsorship, also listed here in The Kiwanian.

The deadline to sponsor is June 17.

For more details and sponsorship levels, CLICK HERE.

CLUB LEADERSHIP EDUCATION

The new Kiwanis year is only four months away and club secretaries were asked to report newly elected club officers by June 1. The next step is training for the 2022-2023 officers.

The Nebraska-Iowa District has four virtual Club Leadership Education sessions in June, July and August. Pre-registration for all sessions is open. Club presidents, secretaries, treasurers and membership chairs are asked to sign up for CLE, but all Kiwanians are welcome to attend virtual sessions.

Kiwanis International is also planning Virtual CLE sessions: Aug, 1, Presidents; Aug. 2, Secretaries; Aug. 3, Treasurers; Aug. 4, Membership. More details will be made available by Kiwanis International at a later time.

NEBRASKA-IOWA DISTRICT VIRTUAL CLE

Tuesday, June 14 • 7 p.m.

Pre-register - Click Here

Saturday, July 16 • 9 a.m.

Pre-register - Click Here

Monday, July 25 • 7 p.m.

Pre-register - Click Here

Wed., Aug. 24 • 7 p.m.

Pre-register - Click Here

Share CLE Schedule

The new Leadership Guides were mailed to club secretaries in May for distribution to incoming officers. It has come to our attention that there were some issues encountered during delivery and guides were lost in the mail. A PDF of the guide is located on the District Website on the education/training page.

GRANT DOLLARS STILL AVAILABLE

HEY K-KIDS, BUILDERS CLUBS AND AKTION CLUBS - APPLY!!!

K-Kids and Builders Clubs across the district have been applying for the special grant dollars offered this year for club building and service projects. But, there are still more funds available.

The LaRue Service Leadership Program Grants provide opportunities for existing SLP clubs as well as the formation of new clubs. K-Kids, Builders Clubs and Aktion Clubs can apply for grants.

Sponsoring Kiwanis clubs need to apply for the grants on behalf of their SLPs. Click "doc" image for application form.

The LaRue Grants are named after James LaRue, a past governor of the Nebraska-Iowa District who passed away in 2019 and remembered the District in his estate. The District Board has dedicated the dollars for SLP club building and strengthening.

CALL FOR AWARD NOMINATIONS!

Awards will again be a part of the Nebraska-Iowa District Convention.

Everyday Hero Award
Everyday Organization Hero Award
Distinguished Service Leadership Program Award
Mark Holmer Lay Person Service Award

Nomination deadline is July 1. Criteria for each award can be found on the award nomination forms.

Nomination Forms

(You will need to scroll to bottom of webpage for convention award forms.)

CONVENTION DELEGATE FORMS BEING ACCEPTED

Kiwanis clubs can start submitting Delegate Certifications forms for the 2022 Nebraska-Iowa District House of Delegates. Each club is entitled to seat up to 3 delegates and have alternates.

The Annual House of Delegates meeting will take place on Saturday afternoon during District Convention in Lincoln, Nebraska. This year's agenda includes election of officers and financial report.

Delegate forms are available HERE. Delegate forms are requested by July 29.

CAMP NEEDS YOUR HELP

A letter from Nebraska-Iowa Kiwanis District Foundation President Jody Melcher

As you are probably aware by now, this year’s Camp OK was once again cancelled. Like many other programs, the pandemic has had an adverse effect on the camp over the last few years.

Governor-Elect Lynda Henningsen and I, as president of the District Foundation are joining forces to “Make Camp OK Okay Again.” To do this, we need the help of everyone in the Nebraska-Iowa District. In the coming weeks, we will make available videos that have information about Camp OK and what you can do to help us.

The Foundation has a contract with the Y-Camp in Boone, Iowa for camp beginning June 3, 2023. Our first need is to find three individuals to lead the camp. We have a deadline of Aug. 31, 2022 to have these people in place. After Aug. 31, we have to pay the full cost of camp if we cancel. That cost is about $37,000. The Foundation would rather pay that cost to host camp than lose it.

How can you help?

Contact either Lynda or myself with names and phone numbers of individuals who have camp experience that might be interested in helping to spend a week at camp with fifth and sixth graders who might otherwise not have a chance to attend camp. You will receive more information as the summer continues.

Another way you can help, if you are a donor member of the District Foundation, is to attend the annual meeting at District Convention on Aug. 5 at 2:30 p.m. to show your support and tell us how you will help revitalize this wonderful, long-standing program for Nebraska-Iowa students and “Make Camp OK Okay Again”.

Please feel free to contact me at 515-450-6765, peptuck@midiowa.net, or Lynda at 402-981-4321, lkhenningsen@cox.net

Thank you!

KIWANIS CHILDREN'S FUND

Hello Nebraska-Iowa Kiwanians! It’s a beautiful day to be a Kiwanian! I hope everything is going well for all of your clubs. I’m sure you are all busy with summer projects that help the children in your communities.

The April Club Giving reports aren’t available yet, so I can’t report on how the Nebraska-Iowa District is doing on it’s giving. I have received names of clubs that donated to the Children’s Fund recently and made those calls. I’m sure the Children’s Fund and Kiwanis International staffs have been busy getting ready for the International Convention.

The grant I would like to share with you this month comes to us from Auburn, Washington. The Kiwanis Club of Auburn celebrated its 100th anniversary by entering into an agreement with the city. For the next 10 years, the new outdoor stage and arts venue will be named Kiwanis Centennial Stage. Funds from the club and the Children’s Fund grant will provide free arts and recreational programs for youth and to also support the Auburn Youth Council. This Council provides leadership and service opportunities to youth throughout the year. What a great project that focuses on what Kiwanis stands for!

Thanks for everything you and your clubs do for the children in your communities. Thanks also to those clubs who support the children in other communities to enable clubs in other parts of the U.S. and world to receive grants for projects such as those I highlight each month. Your donations to the Children’s Fund make a huge impact!

Don’t forget to join me in saving “K” Dollars to donate to the Children’s Fund. I know of a few clubs that do that. It adds to your club donation or enables you to donate as an individual. I have collected over $100 in “K” Dollars so far this year. Some of that went to the Children’s Fund as part of my spring donation. I will use the rest to supplement my summer donation. Every dollar counts and makes a difference!

Thank you for reading this!

Submitted by Kiwanis Children's Fund Chair Jody Melcher