September 2024

Hello Lisa,

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

As I have traveled for you throughout the year, I have seen Nebraska-Iowa Kiwanians working toward that vision. 

KEY LEADER REGISTRATION OPEN!

Nebraska-Iowa

Key Leader 2024

November 1-3, 2024



Sunstream Retreat Center, Ogden IA

Key Leader is an interactive leadership program for high school students. Students who could especially benefit from this skill-building program are freshmen and sophomores. Its mission is to provide a life-changing experience that inspires young people to achieve their personal best through service leadership and helping others succeed. 

Clubs are encouraged to:

1) Share Key Leader information with their Key Club members and area high school students;

2) Recruit participants; and

3) Provide scholarships to pay for the registration and travel to the camp. 

Please recruit students to participate in this exciting opportunity! 

The cost is $300 per student and $200 per student facilitator.

Chartered van(s) will leave from Lincoln, NE at 1 pm on Friday, with a pick-up in West Omaha, and return Sunday afternoon. The cost is $100 per rider.

CLUB LEADERSHIP CHATS

The District will again kick off the new Kiwanis year with its signature Club Leadership Chats series. These will be on Zoom and all members are welcome to join.

October - Welcome to a new Kiwanis Year!

Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. (Central Time)

Topics: 2024-2025 District Calendar, Club Membership Plans, Award Deadlines & Club Idea Sharing

Pre-Register HERE to receive October meeting link

---

November - Club Secretaries

Monday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. (Central Time)

Topics: 2024-2025 District Calendar, Kiwanis Connect, Monthly Reporting, Q&A and resource sharing/networking

Pre-Register HERE to receive November meeting link

DISTRICT AWARDS

With less than a month to go in the current Kiwanis year, clubs are reminded the deadlines to submit 2023-2024 award applications are right around the corner too.

Submissions for the Governor's Distinguished Awards -- member, club and division -- will be accepted Oct. 1 through Nov. 1. These awards are the “gold standard” for clubs, members and lt. governors to achieve.

Criteria for these awards was announced earlier this year and application forms are available on the district website, https://k16.site.kiwanis.org/distinguished-awards-2023-2024/

Submissions for the 2023-2024 Leadership Achievement Awards (formerly known as Mid-Year Awards) will be accepted Oct. 1 through Dec. 1. Criteria for these awards has not changed this year. More information and the award forms will be available on the District website by the end of this month.

CELEBRATE COMMUNITY WEEK

Kiwanis International participates every year in Celebrate Community — a weeklong initiative that promotes collaboration between Kiwanis International, Lions Clubs International, Optimist International and Rotary International. 

The event happens the second week of each September. Celebrate Community will take place this year Sept. 8-14.

While Kiwanis One Day is still commemorated by many clubs, we encourage clubs to broaden their reach by partnering with other organizations’ service clubs. Service projects can focus on the environment, food insecurity and hunger, health and wellness and education and literacy.

Learn more about Celebrate Community Week by watching the video or visiting the Kiwanis International page, https://www.kiwanis.org/members/service-projects/celebrate-community/

CLUB BUILDING

District club openers have been growing Kiwanis recently in several Iowa communities. In August, a new club began forming in Orange City. It is expected that this new club will hold a charter celebration soon!

Later this month, the club opening team will move the effort to Oskaloosa. Preparation is already underway to build a new club in this community.

If you are interested in helping with the effort or know of a prospective member in either of these communities, contact current Membership Chair Brian Wells, or incoming Membership Chairs Michelle Musgrave or Tom Musgrave.

We are into the final month of our 2023-2024 Kiwanis year. Wow! Where has the year gone? I hope your clubs have all been successful in what you set out to accomplish for the kids in your communities.  

IT'S TIME TO RENEW

The new Kiwanis year begins Oct. 1. Clubs across the district are currently collecting renewal dues.

 Annual Dues and Fees Total:

$147 International and District

$107 International Dues and Fees:

$77 Kiwanis International Dues

$8 Publication Fee

$18 Liability Insurance

$4 Directors & Officers Insurance

 $40 District Dues

Clubs may have local club dues or fees.

The monthly proration for new member dues has not yet been tabulated but will be released soon.

YOUTH PROTECTION

Oct. 7-11

Protecting our youth is an important part of our service to community. Kiwanis International dedicates a week each year to youth protection. This coming Kiwanis year, that special week is Oct. 7-11.

Clubs are required each year to train members on youth protection policies and procedures. It does not have to be done during Youth Protection Week, but the ask is that it takes place at the start of the year, preferably in October.

This club training can be done by the president, secretary or any member of the club. There are education slides, a policy and procedure handout and other resources available. To receive credit, the club secretary must report the training on the online dashboard after completion. Every member needs to receive this training.

For more information, contact District Youth Protection Manager Linda Placzek, laplaczek@cox.net.

NEBRASKA-IOWA KIWANIS DISTRICT

402-430-9647

nikiwanisdistrict@gmail.com