Official Newsletter of the Capital District of CKI
VOLUME 52 ISSUE 2 July 2013
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Table of Contents Gubernatorial Greetings……..3 District Secretary Treasurer Report…...4
Getting to know your LTG…..5-11 International Board and Kiwanis Family….12-15 ICON……..16-20 ELIMINATE Spotlight…...22 NJ Kiwanis Family Picnic…….21
Capital News………...23-25 Committee Chairs……..26 Club Officer Spotlight…...27
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Gubernatorial Greetings Hey everyone! It's hard to believe that summer is almost over-- only a few weeks ago I was in Vancouver, BC at CKI's International Convention! The convention was a fantastic chance to get to know CKI members and Kiwanians from all over the world, and really made attendees feel like a part of the entire organization and Kiwanis Family. A quick shout out to UVA and Virginia Tech for receiving awards at ICON, District Editor Sancho Jacinto for placing in the Oratorical competition, and last but certainly not least, our amazing administrator, Jen Wolff, for receiving the Outstanding CKI Alumni Award! I could go into more detail about how wonderful my ICON 2013 experience was, but I will leave that to the other articles in this edition of the courier, and only say that you've got to experience ICON for yourself, so consider attending ICON 2014 in close by Nashville, TN! As for other things to update you on: the District Board held its summer board meeting, and we're actively planning our Fall Membership Rally, which is themed after Super Mario Party. We're also in the process of revamping the club awards program, chartering new clubs, and overall we're planning for a fantastic fall semester. We could not do all this work without our fantastic committee chairs, who have been hard at work all summer doing a ton of different things. If you're interested in joining a district committee, please let me know-- the application to be a district committee member will be re-released around the time of FMR. Thus, while summer has been quite, we've been hard at work preparing for the fall semester. I hope everyone is super excited! As always feel free to contact me with anything you need. In service,
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Ben at the Big Ben!!! Any questions? Email Governor Durham: governor@cdcki.org
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Secretary Treasurer Report Secretary Treasurer Ben Romano Hello Capital!
Hopefully the summer months are treating you well! As a district, we have been keeping busy and on track with the district goals. We have raised $526.75 for The Eliminate Project, or close to 10% of our goal. As your club raises money for The Eliminate Project, keep in note that there are recognition levels that you can use to recognize either your whole club, or an individual member. Check them out at http:// sites.kiwanis.org/Kiwanis/en/theELIMINATEproject/ SLP/SLPRecognition.aspx. Even if you get discouraged because what your club is raising doesn’t seem like much in comparison to the $110 million goal, just remember that $1.80 can completely change someone’s life. Our district membership total is currently at 867 members, across 24 paid clubs. We are already at 86% of our goal of 1,000 members for next year. If you ever need recruitment and retention advice, feel free to talk to your district board for help! We have plenty of resources available for you to use! In terms of our service hour goal, we currently have 3040 total hours, or about 30% of our goal, which is amazing for only being a few months into the CKI year, and most of those months being summer months. One of the things that is going to be happening in the next month or so before school starts up is I’m going to be sending out a new template for keeping track of club service hours to help your club secretaries. This will ensure that you are getting all of the credit you deserve for your service hours.
I look forward to working with and meeting as many of you as I can. You guys are doing a fantastic job, and keep up the good work in all that you do! Ben Romano Capital District Secretary Treasurer
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Getting knowHERE your LTG! HEADER HEREto . HEADER . HEADER Del-Mar LTG Richard Gallo Name: Richard Gallo Position: Del-Mar LTG
Home Club: University of Delaw are Year in College: Class of 2016 Favorite Service Project: Elkton Kiwanis lemonade stand at the Cecil County Fair Why Did You Join Circle K? I was a member of Key Club in high school, fell in love with it and wanted to continue in the Kiwanis family. Service has always been a big part of my life and my older sister was actually Key Club president when she was in high school so that influenced me to do it more. I enjoyed my time as club secretary, LTG and district treasurer as a Key Club member and look forward to my time on the CKI district board. What is Your Favorite CKI memory? M y favorite memory so far w ould have to be my first meeting I attended because everyone was so welcoming and I felt right at home. How long have you been with CKI? I joined February 2013. What are you looking forward to most for the 2013-2014 Service Year? I look forward to reaching out more with my club and hopefully building my division so we can all travel out to district events together and show everyone what we've been up to! What's your message to all of Capital District? You have no idea the impact the Kiwanis family will end up having on your life, it's an embrace that will make you want to stick around for a long time! There's no better feeling than serving your community with others of all ages who want nothing more than to do the same. Favorite Quote: "Grow up, but don't give up." - Katy Perry Fun Fact: I have seen Demi Lovato in concert three times and got to ask her a question at her soundcheck, she's my favorite artist!
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Getting to know your LTG! Acting Battlefield LTG Mandi Feinberg
Name: Mandi Feinberg Position: Acting Battlefield Lieutenant Governor Home Club: Virginia Commonwealth University Year in College: Graduating Junior! Favorite Service Project: Every year CKI @ VCU throws three different holiday parties-- Halloween, Winter Holiday, and Valentines Day, for an after school program that we help out with at a local elementary school for underprivileged kids. My first big thing as a CKIer was to plan the Halloween party and I have been lending a hand ever since! It is amazing to see the kids faces light up when they walk into the room and see all the crafts/activities that we have for them, see the all the candy and treats we brought, and when we bring out our Santa for the holiday party! The kids are the sweetest you will ever meet and brighten your day every time you visit! Why Did You Join Circle K? I was an active Key Clubber all through High School so it seemed obvious for me to check out CKI! I went to a few events during our "recruitment week" and feel in love with all the opportunities and projects that CKI had to offer but mostly feel in love with all the people who would eventually become a family away from home to me!
What is Your Favorite CKI memory? I always love helping our sponsoring Kiwanis Club at the water stations for the Richmond (Half) Marathon and 10K weekends-- I will never forget the times that I can spot someone who looks like they are struggling and shout words of encouragement directly at them (the names on the bibs help a ton here!-- they get this smile and renewed energy to continue on. Its times like these that remind me that it doesn't have to be something extravagant, its sometimes the simple acts that make the greatest difference in the world. How long have you been with CKI? This will be my third year as a CKI member!! (But my 7th as a part of the incredible Kiwanis Family :) ) What are you looking forward to most for the 2013-2014 Service Year? Getting to know and work with all the Battlefield CKI Members! What's your message to all of Capital District? Always remember why you serve and take time every week to do something! It not only helps others but it also helps to rekindle your spirit! Favorite Quote: "Use your smile to change the world, but don't let the world change your smile." Fun Fact: I've slept on the floor of the Grand Canyon under the most incredible starry sky 4 nights in a row as I camped/raftered down the Colorado River!
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Getting to. HEADER knowHERE your LTG! HEADER HERE . HEADER Acting Potomac LTG Rachel Villarroel Name: Rachel Villarroel Position: Acting Potomac Lieutenant Governor
Home Club: VCU Year in College: Junior Favorite Service Project: Volunteering at a local senior center Why Did You Join Circle K? I loved volunteering w hen I w as in middle school and high school, then a friend introduced me to CKI and I immediately fell in love with the organization, the members and the incredible service projects!! What is Your Favorite CKI memory? One year w e had DLSSP and one of our projects was to clean stables. One of our club members was afraid of horses so we were assigned to pick up poop pretty much all day, it was hilarious and we definitely bonded and it’s always an interesting story to tell :) How long have you been with CKI? 3 ½ years!! What are you looking forward to most for the 2013-2014 Service Year? Watching all the clubs grow and the impact that we’ll make as a district!! What's your message to all of Capital District? Attend Fall Membership Rally (FMR) in September!! It’s an amazing weekend away with a bunch of strangers who become your best friends by the time you leave. You’ll learn more about yourself and CKI at the same time! Do it! You know you want to! Favorite Quote: Who You Are Makes A Difference Fun Fact: I love penguins, Popeyes fried chicken and making new friends!!
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Getting to know your LTG! NoVA LTG Kelly Griffith Name: Kelly Griffith Position: N oVA LTG Home Club: University of M ary W ashington Year in College: Senior Favorite Service Project: Rappahannock River Cleanup
lege which is why I found CKI!
Why Did You Join Circle K? I joined the National Honor Society in high school and fell in love with serving the community. I decided that I wanted to continue serving in col-
What is Your Favorite CKI memory? My favorite memory is making great friends in CKI. I met some of my best friends in CKI. How long have you been with CKI? I joined CKI in my freshman year of college. What are you looking forward to most for the 2013-2014 Service Year? I am looking forward to connecting with the different clubs in my division and participating in more than just my home club's events. What's your message to all of Capital District? Enjoy your time in CKI. I have had some of my best experiences at college while in CKI. We all may seem a little weird in the Capital District, but I promise we are nice (and we don't bite!). Favorite Quote: Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. -Emerson
Fun Fact: I have lived in the same town my entire life.
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Getting to. HEADER knowHERE your LTG! HEADER HERE . HEADER Presidential LTG Caitlin Francis Name: Caitlin Francis Position: Presidential Division LTG Home Club: James Madison University Year in College: Senior Favorite Service Project: Working with our local Kiwanians at the Rockingham County Fair Why Did You Join Circle K?: I am a firm believer in giving back to your community and doing that with like minded individuals makes it all the more fun. What is Your Favorite CKI memory?: This past year, I had the opportunity to present to our local Kiwanians on our club's experience at DCON. They were so excited to see what we had done and that we had put their donation to good use. They were also extremely proud and impressed by all of the awards our club had won which was really exciting. How long have you been with CKI?: 3 years What are you looking forward to most for the 2013-2014 Service Year?: I'm most looking forward to the opportunity to get to know more members both within my division and throughout the district. What's your message to all of Capital District?: Be open to new opportunities to get involved within your club, your division, and especially in your district. It opens so many doors and it makes service even more fun! Favorite Quote: "I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference." Fun Fact: I studied abroad in Rome this summer and got to travel throughout Italy for a month. I worked in an International School as a Student Teacher during the week and made weekend trips to Venice, Siena, Florence, and Pompei. I also got to see the Pope!!! It was a truly amazing experience.
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Getting to know your LTG! Metro-Richmond LTG Sana Vohra Name: Sana Vohra
Position: Lieutenant Governor of Metro-Richmond Home Club: Virginia Commonw ealth University Year in College: Junior Favorite Service Project: X-Out Homelessness, Eliminate and March of Dimes Why did you join CKI? My passion for service brought me to the doorsteps of this beautiful organiza-
tion.
What is your Favorite CKI memory? Every moment spent in this organization is a wonderful moment but two that I will never forget are: a Christmas service project at the Childrens Hospital with the Kiwanians and the Children's Museum of Richmond where I dressed as their mascot CMoR the dinosaur. How long have you been in CKI? 2 1/2 years spent in CKI went by so quickly with many great memories. It still feels like it was yesterday that CKI welcomed me into their world. What are you looking forward to most for the 2013-2014 Service Year? For this 2013-2014 service year, of course I look forward to being an awesome resource but also to make every person aware of the Eliminate Project and how important it is for us to Eliminate MNT forever from the face of Earth.
Favorite Quote: “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” ― Mark Twain Fun Fact: The sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." uses every letter in the alphabet. This is so cool I didn't know it haha.
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Getting knowHERE your LTG! HEADER HEREto . HEADER . HEADER Foothills LTG Matthew Johnson Name: Matthew W. Johnson Position: Foothills Lt. Gov.
Home Club: Virginia Tech Year in College: Sophomore Favorite Service Project: Relay For Life Why Did You Join Circle K? I was in Key Club in High School, so it was a logical evolution. What is Your Favorite CKI memory? District Officer Training (DOTC), especially the drive. How long have you been with CKI? Since last year. What are you looking forward to most for the 2013-2014 Service Year? Fall Membership Rally (FMR). Be there! What's your message to all of Capital District? We Ballin' Yooooooooo!!!!! Favorite Quote: “I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.” -Bill Gates Laziness = Efficiency
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New International Board!
International President Daniel Tsang Dear Members of the Capital District of Circle K International, My name is Daniel Tsang and I am your 2013-2014 International President. I just wanted to first start off by saying how much I look forward to learning more about the Capital Circle K District and getting the opportunity to work with your clubs and district. For those who I didn’t get the privilege of meeting at International Convention this past June, I am a recent graduate from Loyola University of Chicago with a bachelor in biology. In the fall, I’ll be taking post-baccalaureate classes. Prior to being elected to this position, I was International Representative for Subregion C and International Vice President. Being an individual who was born and raised in Chicago, I would classify myself as an urban individual. Majority of the time, nature and I don’t get along. I spend a lot of my time indoors, usually in front of a computer, so if you ever have any questions, concerns, or criticisms, please feel free to send it my way.
Going into my term, I had a few goals in mind. These goals were providing support to all members of Circle K International, presiding over executive tasks at hand, incorporate unison amongst all levels of our organization, and most importantly educating the Circle K membership. At the end of the day, the International Board wouldn’t be possible without the dedicate members like the Circle K members of Capital. As the president of the International Board, I also seek feedback and ideas from you to help our International Board develop benefits that you want and provide resources that your clubs need to grow and flourish. Please feel free to email me at ip@circlek.org about anything. Serving one day at a time,
International President Circle K International
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Sub Region F Trustee Danielle Sammut Greetings Capital Crabs! I am greatly humbled and privileged to formally introduce myself as your 20132014 Subregion F Trustee. Just a few weeks ago, at the 58th Annual Circle K International Convention in Vancouver, BC, the delegates of Subregion F elected me into this position with the faith that I would serve you to the best of my ability. Serving you is not just a part of my job description for the next 11 months; it is an esteemed and deeply pleasing part of my life. And for those of you who don’t know, Circle K International is structured into Subregions A-G. We are located in Subregion F which is comprised of the districts of Eastern Canada, New England and Bermuda, New York, New Jersey, and Capital. I am proud to represent all of our subregion's great districts. By way of introduction, here is some background on me. I am currently finishing up my undergraduate studies at The College of New Jersey where I study English and Secondary Education. Next semester I will be student teaching at Fischer Middle School, which is a part of the Ewing Township Public School System. I have been a member of Circle K International for 4 years, and over the course of those years I served as a Club Webmaster, Club President, Seabreeze Division Lieutenant Governor, CKI March of Dimes Ambassador, NJ District Governor, CKI Aktion Club Ambassador, and now as your Subregion F Trustee. Serving the community is always a priority and that is why I dedicated over 600 hours to a Trenton after-school program during my time in college. My favorite service projects are mentoring children from oppressed communities and serving meals at my local soup kitchen because I enjoy interacting with community members and learning from others as much as they may learn from me. Looking into the future, Capital district, I imagine a stronger, more united subregion. By the end of the service year, I want you to believe that F is for Family in Subregion F because we are a family. I want us all to walk into opening session at the 59th Annual Circle K International Convention in Nashville, Tennessee with pride, vivacity and a re-energized spirit. I want us to have new and improved cheers and an understanding of how each of our districts impacted the world this service year. How will we turn this vision into a reality? Over the course of the service year, expect to learn more about the other districts in our subregion, as well as CKI as a whole. Embrace each other’s ideas and learn about how your clubs can organize projects to benefit The Eliminate Project or become more involved with your Kiwanis Club. Through a recognition program I am launching, that puts a focus on the activities of clubs around our subregion, members across Subregion F will visually see all of the great happenings of your districts and can dare to be inspired. Another one of my major roles as your trustee is to be your voice on the International Board. I pledge to actively seek the views and opinions of your districts before each international board meeting in order to put the needs of our subregion first. Please, if you ever have a comment, question or concern about an issue that is important to you, do not hesitate to contact me. I am your resource and confidant as you embark on the 20132014 service year. And if you haven’t joined yet, become a member of the Subregion F Facebook group to get the latest info! Again, it is an honor to serve you, the members of our great Subregion F. As you continue to get your hands dirty doing service and/or get busy filling out CKI paperwork in the midst of intense school schedules, always remember that you are a significant part of what makes Circle K International the world’s leading service organization for college students. You give hope to families in need. You inspire others in your community to do more for others. Never lose sight of your mission and never forget the impact that your actions have on others. I wish you nothing but the best this year and I sincerely look forward to meeting each of you at an upcoming event! Yours in service and smiles, Danielle Sammut 3 13
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International Vice President Amelia Ahnert Greetings Capital District! My name is Amelia Ahnert and I have the privilege of serving as your 2013-2014 International Vice President. I am looking forward to working with all of you to make this year a success. At International Convention, I had to the chance to meet with CKI members from all over and serve alongside them during LSSP. I continue to be inspired by the members I volunteered with through the cold and rain those couple days. Even more inspiring than their actions were the stories the shared about their home clubs and districts. I hope that I’ll have the opportunity to collect and share many of these inspirations with you throughout the year. If you ever need assistance or just want to share your story, please feel free to contact me. Live to Serve. Love to Serve. Amelia Ahnert Email: ahnert.cki@gmail.com Dear Capital CKI members: I am excited to see a new school year approaching and want to introduce myself. My name is Carolyn Richar and I am the current Kiwanis district governor. My real claim to fame is that I am CKI alum who found my way in life through CKI! I am a member of the Fairfax Kiwanis club where I have two favorite project EliMiNaTe and Meals for Young Minds. If you are curious about either, feel free to email me at carolynsrichar@hotmail.com. In late June and early July, I had the fantastic adventure of attending all three K Family International Conventions with great memories of the CKI opening session and celebrating the Outstanding Alumnae Award presented to District Administrator Jenn Wolf. This summer I am looking forward to getting our 1 year old German Shepherd, Jordan, better trained, some bicycling and baking - as well as watching Under the Dome and finishing the new Dan Brown and James Rollins books! I hope you have a great summer and look forward to seeing you at the Kiwanis DCON or later this fall. Yours in Service, Carolyn Richar Governor, Capital District Kiwanis
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Kiwanians and CKI Members Enjoy Vancouver By Jennifer Wolff, CDCKI Administrator Kiwanis International Convention was held in conjunction with the CKI International Convention in Vancouver. Like CKI, Kiwanians gathered to exchange ideas and resources, attend educational workshops, and conduct business such as amending the bylaws and electing new leaders. CKI members were encouraged to attend the main session and take advantage of the exhibit hall. Speakers included Paralympic athlete Rick Hansen and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Carlyn Stern. Canadian Singer Sarah McLachlan received Kiwanis’ World Service Medal, and entertained the attendees with a few of her songs. CKI and Kiwanis joined together in the middle of the week to participate in a walk for the Eliminate Project. Kiwanians are looking forward to our next Convention, which will be in Japan! However, will miss hanging out with our CKI friends, who will be holding their convention in Nashville! District Administrator honored with Outstanding CKI Alumnus Award Our very own Jennifer Wolff was given the Outstanding CKI Alumnus award at this year’s International Convention in Vancouver. Each year this award is given to one past member of CKI that has greatly benefited the organization after their membership. Jen has served on the Capital District CKI Adult Committee for eight years, and has been our Administrator for three. Her work within our District, as well as her impact on members in other Districts and on the International level inspired the CKI International Board to select her as the 2013 CKI Outstanding Alumnus. Jen was very surprised by the award and was touched. Congrats, Jen!
New Key Club International President: Raeford Penny Hey Capital CKI! As many of you may remember I was one of the Key Clubbers who attended your fabulous 2013 DCON. There, I saw a great group of motivated, passionate, and dedicated members of an organization who are the catalyst in changing the world.
A few things about me, I am a Northern Virginia native with roots both in sweet home Alabama and Hong Kong. I’m currently a rising senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria VA, and an avid member of the track and field team! If at home, you can usually find me on the coach watching a movie or an episode of NCIS. I cannot wait to work alongside my fellow CKI counterparts across the globe and in the mighty Capital District! If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me at raefordpenny@gmail.com.
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CIRCLE K INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION 16
ICON QUOTES Olivia - " I loved having the opportunity to attend I CON and experience the city of Vancouver, all while getting to experience CKI on the international level. It was exciting to be involved in caucusing and the selection of the international board, as well as voting on amendments in house of delegates. Seeing the three tenets of service, leadership, and fellowship come together for the convention was unforgettable and a ton of fun."
Natalie – “This was my fifth LSSP and ICON this year. I really enjoyed playing with the kids at the elementary school and building the playground during LSSP. The kids were so happy that we were there. Their smiles were wider than ever when we finished construction on the playground. They were so excited which in turn made me excited for them.” Giancarlo - "ICON in Vancouver was simply awesome. My favorite part was attending the House of Delegates. It is always interesting to hear the fruitful discussion concerning amendments to bylaws and taking part in electing our future I-Board leaders." Sancho- " I enjoyed I CON a lot, especially since I get to know more CKI members from around the world. Getting to see the people I met at New Orleans last year also made the experience more fun. The activities are awesome especially the caucusing and House of Delegates. The city of Vancouver was amazing as well as it has great ambiance, nice people, and it is in Canada, country of my beloved Ellen Page."
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Greetings from Texas-Oklahoma! Hello, Capital District! My name is Allison Prisco, and I have the distinct honor of serving as the district governor of the Mighty Texas-Oklahoma District! This year, I attended the 2013 Large Scale Service Project and International Convention in Vancouver, B.C. and got to meet and reconnect with several friends of mine from the Capital District! I’m here to give a little recap of what happened, and I hope this article, as well as first hand stories from those members you know that attended this year, will get you excited and ready to attend next year’s LSSP and ICON! Large Scale Service Project, known to most Circle K members as LSSP, is a three day event where CKI’ers goes out to different service projects and give back to the host city. In Vancouver, attendees participated in a variety of projects! The project that made the most impact, and was easily everyone’s favorite project, was building two brand new playgrounds from the ground up! The Sir Wilfred Laurier Elementary School and Annex received brand new playgrounds, thanks to Habitat Systems and Landscape Structures Inc., the new Kiwanis Vision Partner. LSSP was also a great time to bond with members all across CKI. In all, over 160 members of CKI participated in the event that produced over 2,400 total service hours over the course of three days. At ICON, CKI members browsed through the exhibit hall full of vendors, attended Kiwanis opening session and closing session, and heard from several well-known and inspirational speakers. Representatives from all across CKI voiced their opinions on several bylaw amendments and the voting of our new international board. Members also attended educational workshops and forums to learn more about CKI. The week gave us a chance to bond as districts and members, including special district dinners, walking back and forth between the convention center and the hotel, and several late -night hangouts and walks around Vancouver to enjoy the nightlife...or just to find a midnight snack. Overall, the attendees at LSSP and ICON this year had an amazing time enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of Vancouver, even if there was a little rain; our spirits weren’t dampened! With the excitement of LSSP and ICON behind us, CKI is well on its way to having an amazing and spectacular year! I hope to see you all next year in Nashville, Tennessee for the 59th Annual International Convention and the 14th Annual Large Scale Service Project, June 17-22, 2014! I hope to meet many of you next year in Nashville! Until then, I leave you all with warm wishes for a successful CKI year full of service, leadership, and fellowship! Your Friend, Allison Prisco 2013-2014 Texas-Oklahoma District Governor
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CIRCLE K INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION 18
Stephanie Munson Greetings Capital District! My name is Stephanie Munson and I’m from El Camino College in CNH! I currently serve on DCON Committee and am my club’s MD&E/PR Chair. A little fun fact about me is that I am in fact a triplet, but no one ever believes me! If you want to know about ICON, I can tell you it was such an amazing experience, getting to do service as well as learning more about fun opportunities with CKI and Kiwanis. This year was a lot more fun because I got more involved and was able to sing the American National anthem as well as co-host a workshop. But the most fun you can have is when you meet other people from around the world. I definitely would recommend you attend next year’s convention if you can! Greetings to the Capital District! My name is Alyssa Smalley, and I am the Governor of the Rocky Mountain District. I am about to begin my junior year of college as an Elementary Education major. I absolutely adore music; both listening to music and playing clarinet. For those of you that I had the privilege of meeting at ICON, I hope you enjoyed the Convention as much as I did! I love service and fellowship and being able to share that with so many other Circle K members was an experience I will never forget. I just want to encourage all of you to continue to serve with passion. As Booker T. Washington said, “Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” With that being said, be happy and continue to “Live to serve, love to serve.” Yours in Service, Alyssa Smalley Rocky Mountain District Governor Hi there, Capital District! My name is Dawn Kreder, and I’m the New Jersey District Secretary of Circle K International. The NJ District is in Subregion F just like Capital is. I go to The College of New Jersey and I’m sociology major. When I’m free, I like to play the flute! At ICON in Vancouver, I was able to experience a lot of firststhe first time I left the country, worked with a Ronald McDonald House, and I heard someone use “eh” in their everyday vocabulary! However, the most impactful moment of ICON for me was the realization that there are so many people that go out of their way each and every day to make our world just a little bit better. I genuinely look forward to working with the Capital District this service year after meeting a number of you at ICON!
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Ilinois-Eastern Iowa and New Jersey! Greetings Capital District!! My name is Ashley Wolfe, and I am from the IllinoisEastern Iowa District. It was great to see so many of you at International Convention. I loved the enthusiasm that I saw in many of you. A little about myself: I am going to be a junior at Augustana College and I am studying English and Neuroscience. My favorite animal is a penguin, and I like to play the ukulele. It is so encouraging to know that even hundreds of miles away there are people that are dedicated to serving their communities, and it truly inspires me. I would like to take the time to personally invite you to our biggest district event, Holiday Embrace: Casting a Spell for a Cure (Yes, Harry Potter theme!), which will take place January 4, 2014 at the Chicago Marriott in Naperville, IL. This is a formal dinner and dance fundraiser. Last year we had representation from nine different CKI districts, and it would be great to see you at this event! If you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact me through Facebook or email me at governor@iicirclek.org or check out our district web site at www.iicirclek.org. In service, leadership, and fellowship, Ashley
"My ICON Experience: Bonding With Capital” ICON 2013 this year was definitely an interesting experience compared to years past. Because of the extremely far westcoast location of this year's Vancouver convention, those of us in Subregion-F were unfortunately cursed with smaller crowds of 5-10 members to accompany us this time around. While at first I thought this lack of membership would definitely put a damper on the week's mood…it actually turned out to be somewhat of an unforeseen! The small groups each district brought allowed for more space to "socialize" and bond together with fellow CKI districts we would otherwise never really interact with. I for one was blessed to have the opportunity to hang out with a myriad of Capital District Circle K members. It was great bonding over the duties of a District Governor with members like Mikail and Ben, and learning so much about the K-Kids SLP from District Editor Sancho. Did I mention we were also "wobbling" at one point ;)? We shared some great times both in and out of the convention's sessions, and by the end of the week, and I could not have been more pleased with the many new friends I made. Though next year's convention will be fairly close to Subregion-F (Nashville, TN), I would love to continue this tradition of socializing with new Districts like Capital, and hopefully meeting a giant lot of you phenomenal members! I promise you, New Jersey isn't half bad itself ;) Yours in Caring and Service, Shivam K. Patel New Jersey Circle K District Governor"
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CIRCLE K INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION 20
LSSP/ICON Recap By Mikail Clark LSSP and ICON from Vancouver, British Columbia was one to remember! At LSSP (June 23-26), over 160 CKI members teamed up with Habitat for Humanity volunteers to build two new playgrounds at a local elementary school and volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver. Divided into 16 groups, we were split in thirds and stationed at one of the three volunteer sites From digging water from holes and mini-trenches to installing slides to laying concrete, each attendee was put to work. With me fumbling around with a few power tools, there were a few laughs along the way as well. During and between our busy days, we all managed to play fun games and bond within and among our groups. I can truly say that I had a blast at my second LSSP! Immediately following LSSP was our 58th Annual International Convention. Between two interesting houses of delegates, humorous entertainment by magician Justin Willman, and educational workshops, I had a great time. As the trip marked my first time in Canada, I also was sure to tour Vancouver: my stops included Vancouver Lookout (a 360° mile-high panoramic view of the city), English Bay (a small beach on the banks of the Pacific Ocean), and a wide variety of restaurants that served poutine (a Canadian dish that consists of French fries drenched in gravy and covered with mushrooms—can you say “yummy?!?”). I loved being able to enjoy my fourth ICON with my friends from Capital and throughout CKI and I encourage you to attend next year’s ICON in Nashville (it’s only a few hours away from Capital)! I hope you all are having a wonderful summer break and I hope to see you soon. Until next time…
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NJ Kiwanis Family Picnic NJ K-family Picnic 2013 By Annabelle Fallarme Greetings Capital District! I’m Annabelle Fallarme, Garden Division Lieutenant Governor from the New Jersey District. I'm excited to inform you all that our District recently hosted a successful event that brought so much delight to our Kiwanis family. The NJ K-family Picnic had a great number of 104 attendees, all enjoying a piece of the Jersey Shore. Members throughout NJ’s very own Key Clubs, Circle K Clubs, and Kiwanis Clubs helped to celebrate a new year of service and fellowship. We were honored to also have members of the New York District of Circle K, as well as special attendance from the New York District Governor, Kelly Chan; the Pennsylvania District Governor, Katie Auwater; Subregion C Trustee, Jonathan Pevarnik; and our very own Subregion F Trustee, Danielle Sammut! It was an amazing day filled with fun games including a volleyball competition, sandcastle building event, and an intense water balloon fight! Everyone also enjoyed the day socializing, participating in service, and eating lots and lots of food! In addition, this year, our very own NJCKI Board Members were each auctioned off to be pied in the face by the highest bidders. It was messy, but a whole lot of entertainment! We hope to see members from the Capital District join us in more future events! Our hearts are always open to our fellow Subregion F family! Hopefully we’ll get to meet some of you on August 25th during New York’s Kiwanis Family Picnic to be held in Cunningham Park of Fresh Meadows, New York! We’re excited, are you?!
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Spotlight on ELIMINATE
ELIMINATE WALK AT ICON By Sancho Jacinto, NVCC-Alexandria Waking up early in the morning to volunteer for the ELIMINATE Project at the lovely city of Vancouver, Canada? Why not. Last year, I participated at the ELIMINATE Walk at New Orleans, Louisiana so this year I decided to volunteer and the experience was worth it. Asides from waking up earlier than the participants, I get to experience the Vancouver sunset which is a beauty to behold. This year, we get to a chance to be creative and write our own ELIMINATE phrase at the cardboards that we would be holding. Being a How I Met Your Mother Fan, I put “Saving Babies? Challenged Accepted!”. So as the group of Kiwanians and CKI walked around the Vancouver boardwalk, we cheered them up as we promoted the ELIMINATE Project. There were several Canadians who were jogging who thought what we were doing was a rally against the Canadian government. Fortunately, a Kiwanian approached them to explain the ELIMINATE Project. I’m not a morning person, I don’t like waking up early. However, for the ELIMINATE Project, I would wake up to volunteer and promote charity.
$5,400 District Goal: For the Capital District of CKI to raise $5,400 for the Kiwanis ELIMINATE Project, saving the lives of 7,000 mothers as well as their future babies, through district events and club donations by March 31, 2014.
Current District Total: $526.75 10% of our goal! 22
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SERVICE PROJECTS AROUND CAPITAL!
NVCC-ALEXANDRIA
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
ACE Summer Solstice and Cleanup Event By Fidelia Soria Linares, NVCC-Alexandria Membership Vice President
I like to volunteer every chance I get. That is why once I saw that there was a Clean-up day and Invasive plant removal event close to where I live, I decided that I would more be than happy to help out. I was invited by my fellow CKI friends for an ACE Summer Solstice and Cleanup Event which took place in Bluemont Park in Arlington, VA. It got my attention, since it was going to be an event at a park where I usually go for a run or a barbecue with my family. We were divided into two groups the recycling and the invasive plant removers. The people holding the event were passionate and excited to gets us all started. I helped out with removing the invasive plants along with Sancho and Giancarlo, whom were enthusiastic as much as I was. We were provided with tools and gloves to make our job easier. At first it was hard to tell which plants were invasive, but once we knew it became easier to tell them apart. Overall it was a great first experience to be part of something that could benefit the park as well as the plants. When it was time to pack up, I was sweaty but happy and confident that I, along with my CKI friends, did the best we could in helping out.
Kids against Hunger By Blair Allen and Victoria Daniels Howard University Circle K President and Vice President of Service The Howard University students have been on the move; from internships, taking classes, and even full-time jobs. However, the CKI-ers of Howard University still find time to add service to their schedules. We have volunteered with K.E.E.N (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) and have helped students stay active by swimming, along with a variety of indoor sports. As we try to increase and diversify our service projects we have also taken part in Zumba with the local Boys and Girls Club. They started Zumba at the George Ferris Branch Boys and Girls club to help increase health awareness amongst the students. This summer Howard University CKI members have been trying to help others lead a healthier lifestyle and in the process we have improved our own. It’s an amazing feeling to know that you have made a difference. Our Most recent event however was participating in the Kids Against Hunger community service event. This event opened our eyes to a lot.....
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EVENTS AROUND CAPITAL! Potomac Division
Howdy Capital! The Potomac division has been very active this summer. The George Washington University, Howard University and Kiwanis Club of Washington, D.C. met up on June 15th to discuss upcoming events, get to know each other better and come up with solutions to some common officer problems! It was the first time I met some of my officers in person; it was great to hear about their upcoming plans. The George Washington University has been actively recruiting this summer VIA their school’s club fairs. They have successfully recruited over 100 names and most of which were past key clubbers! Good job GWUCK!! Howard has also been very active this summer such as volunteering at their local Boys and Girls club and many other events! You’re amazing HU!! I hosted my first divisional on July 2nd where many Howard club officers and members attended to help pack for meals for the organization, Kids Against Hunger. Thank you for coming out! A future endeavor of ours is to aid the charter a CKI club at the University of District of Columbia with the Kiwanis Club of Washington, DC! If you know anyone who attends/will attend that university and might be interested in helping us, please email me at Potomac-ltg@cdcki.org. Thanks Potomac for your hard work and dedication, keep it up!! Sincerely, Rachel Villarroel, VCU
Key Club ICON at Capital! Key Club International ICON By Nicole Tardif, UMW Key Club International held the 2013 International Convention in Capital's own backyard of Washington D.C! Capital District CKI was well represented at one of the very first Key Club International Alumni Association event held on the Friday of ICON, including several previous Kiwanis Family Relations and Sister Districts Chairs (Samah McGona (2012-2013, Christina Horton 2011-2012, and Nicole Tardif 2013-2014). At Key Club ICON, Capital District of Key Club International won several distinguished district officer awards, and even elected former Capital LTGs to the offices of International President and International Trustee. Congratulations Raeford Penny on International President and and International Trustee Eric Yoon. We're so proud of our Kiwanis Family members in Key Club International.
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Capital News March of Dimes By Kelsey McIntyre, VCU On the morning of May 5th, a group of VCU CKI members piled into my car & we drove out to Innsbrook’s Northshore Commons for the 75th Anniversary celebration of the March of Dimes at the Greater Richmond March for Babies! When we got there, we immediately started helping set up the main area tents before the walkers arrived. Sarah Perry and I were stationed at the Children’s Museum of Richmond tent, & throughout the walk we got to help the kids make arts & crafts. They also could play in a bounce house, hula-hoop, get their face painted, & get a balloon animal made just for them! Before the walkers started the 5k walk, some inspiration speeches were made from families who have been personally affected by premature birth. A brief energizing warm up was given to the walkers and then they were off to walk for a cause that they truly support! March of Dimes has been hosting these walks since 1970 & has raised a breathtaking $2 billion so far to help babies begin healthy lives. Seeing so many people come together on one day to raise funds & awareness for this incredible cause that they all feel so passionately about was an eye opening experience. This was the second March of Dimes walk I’ve attended & I cannot wait to volunteer at (or possibly participate in) the next one that comes to Richmond! College of William and Mary By Nola Liu, W&M At the College of William and Mary, our Circle K is involved in a wide range of service projects that connects our members with the College and community. This summer, we began participating in one of our newest service projects: Campus Kitchens. Campus Kitchens is an affiliate of DC Central Kitchens which is a non-profit involved in reducing hunger. As soon as we started volunteering, we were immediately amazed by this student-run organization. Campus Kitchens uses existing resources to serve nearly 200 food insecure residents each week totaling to 10,000 meals a year! What we enjoy most about volunteering with this organization is that we are also able to see the way this organizations runs in full circle from getting the food, to cooking, and to delivering the meals! Our club enjoys attending the cooking shifts the most where we can cook the meals ourselves. We discovered a variety of new ingredients we have never heard of and some new recipes we may try to recreate in College! Campus Kitchens is a perfect addition to our service projects because it not only educates us on the food insecurity in our local area, but it also creates a great bonding and teamwork experience to our members. We look forward to signing up for more shifts and introducing Campus Kitchens to the rest of our club once classes begin again!
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Committee Chairs!
Fall Membership Rally (FMR) By Chelsea Stallworth, VA Tech Hey hey Capital Crabs! I just want to thank y'all for those emailing me ideas for FMR and already joining the Facebook event! Friday September 27th to Saturday September 28th is booked for Super Mario Party themes Fall Membership Rally!! Stay on top of all the updates. My committee and I are working really hard to make this membership weekend a blast! Much love from the Con Con Committee!
MD&E CHAIR: RACHEL SLOTTER Greetings Capital District! As summer has progressed, the Membership Development & Education Committee has been hard at work looking for ways to best serve our great district. Our current project is revamping the Resources section of the CDCKI website. In the fall, be ready to check out all the changes from new and updated resources to a different organization to make the resources more accessible! If you have any suggestions, please feel free to email me at mde@cdcki.org. Enjoy the rest of your summers and get pumped for the start of the new school year! Thanks! Rachel, UVA Kiwanis Family Relations and Sister Districts Committee
Hello Capital District! My name is Nicole Tardif and I am the Chairwoman of the Kiwanis Family Relations and Sister Districts Committee in the Capital District for 2013-2014. I'm a junior at the University of Mary Washington in the NoVA Division and am a former Key Clubber/Key Club District board member in Capital. I look forward to helping improve relations between the other Kiwanis family branches within Capital.
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CLUB OFFICER SPOTLIGHT: Mehreen Khan By Mehreen Khan, NVCC Alexandria CKI President Hello to proud CKI members and fellows. I am Mehreen Khan, President of CKI of Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria. I am studying Sciences and Information Technology. I came to the United States a year and a half ago and I feel actually blessed to become a member of CKI Family in a short period of time. Becoming the president of the club is a huge honor with out any doubt; however, it brings you major responsibilities as well. Live to serve, love to serve, helping the community to grow better, service, leadership, fellowship, these wonderful combinations make CKI one in all. In a short period of time, I have made many good friends within CKI Family and I am proud that I am a part of an international organization over 20 countries helping others and my community to grow better in projects like eliminate project and many others. Circle K International, I love you.
Contact the 2013-2014 District Board Governor Ben Durham governor@cdcki.org
NoVa LTG Kelly Griffith nova-ltg@cdcki.org
Secretary-Treasurer Ben Romano Sec-treas@cdcki.org
Acting Potomac LTG Rachel Villarroel Potomac-ltg@cdcki.org
Editor SanchoJacinto editor@cdcki.org
Presidential LTG Caitlin Francis Presidential-ltg@cdcki.org
Acting Battlefield LTG Mandi Feinberg Battlefield-ltg@cdcki.org
Tidewater LTG (Vacant) Tidewater-ltg@cdcki.org
Del-Mar LTG Richard Gallo Delmar-ltg@cdcki.org
District Administrator Jennifer Wolff administrator@cdcki.org
Foothills LTG Matthew Johnson Foothills-ltg@cdcki.org
Assistant District Administrator Derek Dupuis Asst-administrator@cdcki.org
Metro-Richmond LTG Sana Vohra Metrorichmond-ltg@cdcki.org
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