April 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

McGEE NOMINATED FOR VICE GOVERNOR

The District’s Nominating Committee has announced Tim McGee of the Kiwanis Club of Chariton, Iowa is their nomination for 2024-2025 vice governor candidate.

The Nebraska-Iowa District Board accepted McGee’s nomination at its March 25 special meeting and endorsed him for vice governor candidate at the 2024 House of Delegates Meeting during convention on Aug. 3 in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Tim has been a member of Chariton Kiwanis since June of 1984. He has twice served as club president. A three time winner of his club’s “Kiwanian of the Year” Tim has also been the annual “Pancake Chair” for the past 20 years.

He served as Division 15 Lt. Governor in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. Tim helped to found the South Central Iowa Aktion Club. Recently, Tim is helping to rebuild/charter the club after COVID dormancy and has been the club leader since its inception.

Tim is currently a member of the Nebraska-Iowa District Foundation Board.

After 32 years as the Lucas County Assessor, Tim retired on Dec. 31, 2021.

He was a past president of the Iowa State Association of Assessors and also past president of the Institute of Iowa Certified Assessors. He had previously served six years as a member of the Chariton City Council. 

An avid sports nut, Tim has played and coached almost every sport that is played with a ball. He has been president of both Lucas County Little League and the Chariton Girls Softball League.

Tim and Natalie are the parents of three grown children and five young grandkids.

If you are looking for Tim and Natalie, you can find them either traveling, flipping houses, playing golf, or fishing one of many southern Iowa lakes.

KEEP YOUR CLUB SAFE IN CYBERSPACE

What are the threats when browsing internet and using emails?

What are phishing attackers and scammers looking for?

What files and activities make you and your club vulnerable?

What do you need to know to make yourself less vulnerable?

We are living in the digital age and an eye on cyber safety is very important.

The April Club Chat will focus on keeping yourself and your club safe in cyberspace.

The Kiwanis International IT Department has developed a training session called "Keep Your Club Safe In Cyberspace" and a KI IT staff member will be with us on Zoom April 22 to offer insights into cyber safety.

All members are invited to attend this special chat. Pre-registration is required. Once you register, you will receive the Zoom link.

Keep Your Club Safe In Cyberspace

Monday, April 22

7:30 p.m. (CT) via Zoom

Pre-Register Here

2022-2023 AWARDS ANNOUNCED

One of the highlights of the March 16 Leadership Day in Johnston, Iowa was the announcement of the 2022-2023 Governor's Distinguished Awards and the 2022-2023 Achievement Awards (formerly Mid-Year Awards).

Congratulations to all of the award recipients!!!

SIGNATURE PROJECT CONTEST ENTRIES ANNOUNCED

MARION METRO PROJECT NAMED TO TOP 10

The Signature Projects of Marion Metro Kiwanis and Lincoln Cornhusker Kiwanis were selected earlier this year to represent the Nebraska-Iowa District in the Kiwanis International Signature Project.

It was recently announced that Marion Metro's BBQ Rendezvous is a Top 10 Finalist in Group 1 for the International Contest! After many rounds of evaluation, the club's project was one of 10 selected from 525 contest entries. The top three winners will be announced at International Convention in Denver during a special breakfast on July 4.

Congratulations to Marion Metro club members!!! The Nebraska-Iowa delegation heading to Denver will be cheering you on for gold!

Eight Nebraska-Iowa Clubs submitted entries for the annual Signature Project Contest. There were three entries in Tier 1 (27 or fewer members) and five entries in Tier 2 (28 or more members). The District's Signature Project Committee used a ranking rubrics suggested by Kiwanis International to determine one project to represent the district in the worldwide contest.

There were some incredible projects submitted this year and congratulations to all eight clubs on your successful projects.

Kiwanis Club of Marion Metro

BBQ Rendezvous (Tier 1)

How many years: 12

Primary focus: Community festival to fund Miracle League

How many people positively impacted this past year: 4,000

About the project: The first 3 years we funded local park projects. Then, we heard about a local sports complex being built at the edge of town and pledged $300,000 to include a Miracle League field with our name on it. To date, we have paid $201,500. We invite our players to come to the BBQ and get introduced to the crowds during the music breaks.

Kiwanis Club of Lincoln-Cornhusker

Annual Holiday Diaper and Baby Wipe Drive (Tier 2)

How many years: 3

Primary focus: Clothing/basic needs outreach service project

How many people positively impacted this past year: 780

About the project: The Lincoln-Cornhusker Club purchased 2,666 diapers as well as many cases of baby wipes for this project. In addition to these family necessities, we were able to provide over 400 story books for each child attending this event.

GET REGISTERED NOW FOR ICON

April has arrived and July will be here before we know it. Register today for all the possibilities that will be available at this year's International Convention in Denver, July 3-6.

The district's assigned hotel is Hyatt House. This hotel is just two blocks away from the convention center. A direct link to Hyatt House reservations can be found on both the district or international websites, or click HERE.

FIRST TIME CONVENTION GOERS:

SIGN UP BY APRIL 30 FOR $500 DRAWING

If you are a first-time attendee at international convention, you have a chance to win one of five (5) $500 scholarships to help offset registration and other costs. On May 1, five names will be randomly selected to receive the scholarships from the LaRue Fund.

Scholarship Information & Entry Rules: 

1. Register to attend international convention and be a first-time attendee to an international convention. (As confirmed by registration records at Kiwanis International.)

2. Complete the “I want to go to ICon in Denver” entry form. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IwantogotoDENVER

3. On May 1, the District will announce the five names drawn as scholarship winners.

4. If you are a scholarship winner, you will be asked to provide receipts (registration, hotel, etc.) immediately following convention and, once those are received, the $500 scholarship check will be issued to attendee.

5. You may also be asked to share your convention experience at a district or division event in the coming year.

BE A CONVENTION SPONSOR

The Nebraska-Iowa District Convention Committee is asking for your help to make the Aug. 2 and 3 Convention a success. There are multiple ways for your club, business or other organization to help make it happen.

See the sponsor brochures at the links below. Sponsor commitment requested by is April 15.

GET READY FOR DISTRICT CONVENTION!

More information coming soon. Registration expected to open in May.

Great things are happening in Nebraska-Iowa! So far this Kiwanis year, 51 Nebraska-Iowa clubs have donated $16,069.27. Thank you so much! The next scheduled time that I will receive an update on Club Annual Gifts will be in May.  

NEW DISTRICT WEBSITE

The Nebraska-Iowa District has a new website and website address:

https://k16.site.kiwanis.org

REGIONAL ELECTIONS UPDATE

Clubs in Region 1 of the District have two candidates running for trustee this year. They are Rex Cross from North Platte Kiwanis and Keith Prettyman from Lincoln Center Kiwanis. A May 21 election by mail ballot will determine who will be elected for a three-year term beginning Oct. 1, 2024.

Click Here for additional Region 1 candidate information.

Region 4 also has a trustee seat on the district board up for election this year. There have been no candidate applications filed. The application link in this region remains open. The April 9 Regional Meeting that had been scheduled for Region 4 clubs has been cancelled.

NEBRASKA-IOWA KIWANIS DISTRICT

402-430-9647

nikiwanisdistrict@gmail.com