BearKats Monthly Issue 10, January ‘15
Happy Holidays, Loves!
Table of Contents 1. Editor’s Remarks 2. Governor’s Project 4. District Project 5. Eliminate Project 6. Spotlights 7. Upcoming Events 8. New Year, Same Me?
Whether you’re decorating the Christmas tree, lighting the Menorah, or simply sitting at home with a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, it’s winter vacation! We are all forgetting about the final we probably bombed and are focusing on the TV shows we need to binge watch #TheVampireDiaries. This is our first issue of the New Year, people! Even though we haven’t been able to volunteer as a club these last few weeks, hopefully you’ve been doing some good for your community. Our January Issue is dedicated to the three projects closest to NYCKI’s heart. Let’s continue to raise awareness!
-Kanye West
2014—2015 Executive Board President: Jerry Cimo Vice President: Amy Boglarski Secretary: Tina Lee
Treasurer: Kristy Wolfson Editor: Alyssa Famolari Webmaster: Tinali Amarasinghe
Written By
John Albergo
The Governor’s Project is dedicated to helping little kids. As the Governor’s Project Committee Chair, I am currently working with the youth center of Binghamton and we are brainstorming on an event for the spring semester. The youth center does events with YMCA and local children's schools, so we are most likely doing an event that involves one of those groups also.
…the event is going to be very successful and will benefit the young children so much.
The youth center wants the event to be massive and get a lot of people to help out and I think the event is going to be very successful and will benefit the young children so much. All of the fundraising will go to the “It's My Heart Foundation”, an organization dedicated to helping children with congenital heart disease and their families.
Written By
John Tirino
The District Project for New York Circle K this year is Operation Gratitude. Operation Gratitude is a great organization that sends over 150,000 care packages to the brave men and women serving our country over seas. With the help of Circle K, Operation Gratitude is able to make soldiers happy, and meet their needs for different products through the care packages that are sent to them. Some of the things that Operation Gratitude ask for and send to soldiers include personal letters, paracord bracelets, stuffed animals, and food such as Girl Scout cookies and popcorn.
…show those who protect our country that we appreciate them and we are truly grateful for what they do.
Our Circle K group is planning a service projects in which we would make paracord bracelets during a meeting and send them to Operation Gratitude so that they can provide them to soldiers over seas. Paracord bracelets are bracelets that are made by weaving military grade paracord together. The cord used in the bracelet can be undone and used in many different emergency situations.
This District Project is a great way to show those who protect our country that we appreciate them and we are truly grateful for what they do. I am looking forward to our service projects and giving back to those who serve.
Written By Nicole Radova
Every year, many women and almost 60,000 newborns in 24 nations worldwide die from maternal and neonatal tetanus. This is a painful bacterial infection characterized by unsteadiness of the motor and nervous systems. As such, people suffering from it experience sensitivity to light and touch as well as muscle spasms among other symptoms. Maternal and neonatal tetanus is often caused by unsanitary child delivery practices, during which bacterial spores – found in soil – come into contact with broken skin. The disease is deadly, but completely preventable through proper delivery and immunization practices. Unfortunately, impoverished and neglected women and children may not have access to such things.
This is why Kiwanis International and UNICEF have teamed up to create The Eliminate Project, which seeks to provide resources such as vaccines, transportation, and staff to eradicate maternal and neonatal tetanus around the world. Students like us are crucial to this process, as our collective efforts will help raise funds in order to save mothers and children everywhere. Come have fun at our fundraisers and help the cause – $1.80 of vaccines is all it takes to save the life of a mother and her child!
January’s Spotlight shines upon the brightest face of Binghamton’s Circle K Club. No, I’m not talking about myself. It’s all for our Based God, Mr. President, the one and only, Jerry Cimo! This is the brain behind our entire operation. He is the reason why our club is not in complete shambles. Not only is he our president, but he is also New York Circle K International’s (NYCKI) Technology Committee Chair. What does that mean? Well, my dear, this man has complete control over NYCKI’s website(s). I don’t know about you guys, but I think that’s a pretty big deal. He is somehow able to handle all of this responsibility, send out those lovely Mail Chimp e-mails, and still send the most pointless snapchats of all time. You, sir, are an inspiration and our club truly appreciates everything you have done and will do for us! #BasedGod
Let’s Volunteer!
Candy Gram Fundraiser February 6th 12:00 – 4:00 PM Marketplace
Valentine’s Day Bake Sale February 13th 12:00 – 4:00 PM Marketplace
District Convention March 20 – March 22 Albany, New York
Service Auction March 13th 5:00 – 8:00 PM Mandela Room
General Interest Meetings January 29th & February 5th 7:00 – 8:00 PM UU – 206
Committee Chairs
International Project Committee Chair Nicole Radova Service Project Committee Chair Melissa Levine Fundraising Committee Chair Amy Boglarski Fellowship Committee Chair Julia Dunnigan Bake Sale Committee Chair Angela Wu Historian Karandeep Singh Public Relations Committee Chair Jenna Spak Governor’s Project Committee Chair John Albergo District Project Committee Chair John Tirino If you’re interested in applying for awards for the 2014 – 2015 service year, please visit www.nycirclek.org/awards for more information! Also, if you want to learn more about Eliminate, visit http://sites.kiwanis.org/Kiwanis/en/theELIM INATEproject/home.aspx