02
OCTOBER 2012
table of contents
MRP?
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opening messages service leadership fellowship district events sunny’s spotlights contact
pledge of circle k international I pledge to uphold the objects of Circle K International, to foster compassion and goodwill toward others through service and leadership, to develop my abilities and the abilities of all people, and to dedicate myself to the realization of mankind’s potential.
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calendar: october & november Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
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• October Weekend in Paradise • CKI South @ Stanton Park
• Awards Committee Meeting
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
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• FiFun Committee Meeting
• FiFun • District Committee Board Meeting Meeting
Fall Training Conference 4
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• Awards Committee Meeting
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• Club MRFs due!
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• Club MRFs due!
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• FiFun Committee Meeting
• FiFun Committee Meeting
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• UCSD’s Masquerade Ball
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04
OCTOBER 2012
opening messages
Governor's Blurb Hey Cal-Nev-Ha!
Have you met the Indiana Circle K Governor Kelsey Gower? She’s awesome!
I hope everyone had an awesome-ness summer vacation that was super fun, relaxing, rejuvenating, and service-filled. So summer is over, but that doesn’t mean the fun times are gone because the fun don’t stop in sunny Cal-Nev-Ha! Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in the activities of the District Summer Service Social in Santa Clara, CA! Special kudos to the District Service Committee for hosting such an amazing weekend filled with interactive workshops, memorable service, jumpin’ socials, and lots of bread! Thank you to everyone who made this event possible: workshop hosts, advisors, and many more. Congratulations to all of the Cal-Nev-Ha members who were selected to be a part of the International committees! You are truly fulfilling my goals of bridging the gap between CNH and international. Keep up the great work in your committees and show them why CNH is the best! Fall is known for its changing leaves, pumpkin spiced coffee drinks, and the busiest season for our organization. During this time, clubs undergo a super-charged power up in membership, service, and much more. With new members and returning members hitting the Circle K scene this fall, there are so many memories to be made so enjoy it as it happens! Also, don’t just have these moments with just your home club. Get out there and interclub with the clubs in your division by having service projects, socials, and much more together, just so you can have fellowship grow within your division! Make some new friends and don’t be afraid to showcase YOU! It’s YOU that makes this organization amazing. Although we are in the dead middle of the Fall season, let’s look back at all of the wonderful activities during the summer that we did as a District and what members were up to back at their respective clubs. Check out and love this latest issue of the Sunburst, made by Publications Editor Jennifer Lai! Great job Jenn! See you later! :] Jonathan Cao-Nguyen
Editor's Notes Hellooooo CNH! I hope your autumn has been going swell, without too much stress from classes and/or allergies from the ridiculous weather! As your District Publications Editor, it is my honor to present to you the second issue of the SUNBURST! :) Just as J-Cao mentioned above, plenty has happened since the first issue dropped back in August! From DSSS to CKI Welcome Weeks, it’s definitely been a busy two months! We’ve got PLENTY to cover for the third issue, though, but before we get to that, do enjoy this second installment of the Sunburst! It was made with plenty of love~ :) I want to thank all the writers and photographers behind this issue! It really would not be possible without you - Thank you! Big shoutout to District Board for the support (especially my co Truong!!), UCLA for the love, and my mentee for the little pillow in my picture to the right :) Love y’all! ‘Til the next issue! Hope to see y’all at FTC! Jennifer Lai
district updates Stay Socially Connected! Official Website: http://cnhcirclek.org International Website: http://circlek.org jCloud: http://www.cnhcirclek.org/JCloud/index.html Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnhcki Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnhcki YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/cnhSUNBOX
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District Totals
! C T F @ t u o
(as of August)
Total Service Hours: 33,242.6 Total Kiwanis Family Events: 679 Total Interclub Events: 784 Total Members: 2582
find
Keep up the great work, CNH CKI!
Mailing Lists & Sunburst Submissions Subscribe to our Member Bi-Monthly Mailing List: http://bit.ly/mbmml Sunburst Submissions: http://bit.ly/sunburstform Stay connected with one another through these Mailing Lists! Presidents: https://groups.google.com/d/forum/cnhcki-presidents1213 Vice Presidents: https://groups.google.com/d/forum/cnhcki-vicepresidents1213 Secretaries: https://groups.google.com/d/forum/cnhcki-secretaries1213 Treasurers: https://groups.google.com/d/forum/ cnhcki-treasurers1213
Regional Advisors' Contact Division
Name
Capital
Dan Germain
dan.germain@yahoo.com
Central Coast
Patrick Ballecer
patrickcki@gmail.com
Desert Oasis
Linda Marx
lmpgh54@yahoo.com
Foothill
Camille Goulet
administrator@cnhcirclek.org
Golden Gate
Phuoc Khong
advisor.phuoc@gmail.com
Magic Kingdom
Armando Velazquez
mondo80@gmail.com
Metro
Tom Ramirez
tramireztom@aol.com
Paradise
Boyd Sauter
boydsauter@hotmail.com
Sunset
Phuoc Khong
advisor.phuoc@gmail.com
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OCTOBER 2012
service
Beat the Heat at the Beach: Bolsa Chica Beach Clean-Up
John Tran CSU Fullerton It was 99 degrees as the sun transcended upon all our faces on the shores of Bolsa Chica, radiating a bright yellow glow that would remain there through the seemingly short hours of our journey. At first I was filled with a sense of apprehension and dread reminiscing on the distant yet unforgettable past experiences I have had on similar yet equally sandy shores, and yet these fears were overcome by the hospitality and company soon exhibited before me. We all soon met up with our fellow Circle K’ers by the junction between Towers 21 and 22, sunglasses on our heads, smiles on our faces, and our hearts eager and ready to give. Stephanie, the ambassador, introduced herself to all of us as well as a bubbly man named Skip, the one in charge of La Mirada’s Kiwanis. We soon found ourselves laboriously carrying various objects and supplies from his car to the destination of the pits situated before us. In the short time as we were awaiting everyone else’s arrival we got the chance to socialize with our fellow peers, building a strong sense of camaraderie between one another. Skip and Stephanie soon divided us into various groups, as we roamed the shores from one spot to another looking for various pieces of trash. One person in each group was given the fundamental task of logging each item found – these ranged from traditional items such as
Styrofoam, plastics, bottle caps, and cigarette butts, to some rather unique ones such as floss, toy parts, and balloons. As we walked through the beach inspecting for distinctive pieces of trash, we worked together, dipped our feet into the water whenever our feet became overburdened with sweat, conversed with one another, and made a significant difference. By the end of two hours, our trash bags were full, and our hearts content. As the morning hours departed and the afternoon raged on, we were provided hot dogs, chips, and drinks by Skip with a smile on his face, proud of what we had just accomplished. Then, free time came as we all faced the shores of the beach, dipped our feet into the water, and bonded over the radiating sunlight before us. For the first time in years, I felt a sense of satisfaction I hadn’t felt before at the beach, surrounded by people destined for greatness in this world. The echoes of Thomas Jefferson rang in my head, “But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine. “ With the sunshine before me, and friends all around, it was a day that where I fulfilled my civic duties, while simultaneously attaining spiritual and social gratification.
What is the Tomorrow Fund?
Do you know about the Tomorrow Fund? The Tomorrow Fund is all about “utilizing the interest earned and helping CKI clubs and districts serve the world through grants for service opportunities.” You know, like a sort of scholarship/grant to support CKI clubs and their service projects.
An Update with Our International Service Partners
Did you participate in Trick-or-Treat with UNICEF during this month of October? We sure hope so! Throughout this Hallowfilled month, participants were encouraged to collect donations for UNICEF in little boxes by going trick-or-treating (or some other way!). All the money raised would help UNICEF provide clean water, nutrition, education and more to millions of kids in need around the world.
The fund is established through a portion of CKI member dues, direct donations, the donation of Carthage-Pullman Society memberships and the donation of Sapphire Circle honoraries. Clubs may request funding assistance from US$200 to US$2,000. Tomorrow Fund applications must be received to the Kiwanis International Office by December 1. Applications must be submitted to the Youth Funds Specialist at Kiwanis International, 3636 Woodview Trace, Indianapolis, IN 46268. For more information on the the Tomorrow Fund, including the application, you can go to www.circlek.org and search Tomorrow Fund. Good luck!
As a part of their 75th anniversary activities, March of Dimes is petitioning to Light the White House in Purple on January 3, 2013, as a symbol of hope for families whose children are born too soon. Their goal is to secure 25,000 signatures by November 16. Sign the petition today by visiting the following link: http://bit.ly/ marchofdimes75
Taste of Westminster: Delicious Way to Begin Samer Khan Irvine Valley College a Year of Service This past August, many Circle K members from UCI, CSUF, IVC, and other schools enthusiastically gathered at the Taste of Westminster festival for an evening of service and fun! Being a large group of volunteers, we were divided and assigned to various tasks. Some sold tickets, friends and I helped clean up garbage, and others tended to the needs of vendors throughout the evening. Since there was quite an abundance of volunteers at the event, we also got some time to explore the festival and actually get a taste of Westminster. IVC Secretary, Marlene Smith, and I tried samples
from local Italian, Mexican, Asian, and Indian restaurants, which was very enjoyable. In addition to the eating, I also got to meet Carol, a Westminster Kiwanian. While working the ticket booth with her, I learned that Carol lived in Westminster for forty years and has been a Kiwanian for most of that time. I was impressed by how well known she was by the locals and she seemed to thoroughly enjoy the event. It was also really inspiring for me to see how much others respected her, not only as a Kiwanian, but also as someone who has been so involved in her com-
munity for a long time. After my shift at the ticket booth, I joined the other Circle K members for photo booth pictures and more food! Then at the end of the night, we helped tear down the festival and clean up the booths. Overall, Taste of Westminster was a successful event. It was very memorable for me, because I got to spend much more time with Circle K members from other schools too. With such a great event to start off the year, I look forward to serving with other Circle K clubs and meeting unique individuals, like Carol, at other events!
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OCTOBER 2012
service Stephanie Yu UC Berkeley Soup kitchens are a harmonious safe haven for countless needy individuals to enjoy both a meal and the company of others, while being treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve. It is because of this altruistic mission that so many Circle Ks across the world choose to partner with these fantastic organizations; UC Berkeley Circle K is no exception. Among the soup kitchens that we regularly frequent are Street Meal, the Youth, Engagement, Advocacy and Housing (YEAH!) shelter, St. Mark’s Soup Kitchen and Loaves and Fishes. Each is unique, special, and meaningful in its own way. For example, at Street Meal, we as Circle K volunteers help every step of the way: in cooking for over 300 folks, setting up the silverware and tables, serving all of the soup kitchen’s guests, and cleaning up afterwards. On the other hand, at the YEAH! Shelter, we are entirely responsible for choosing the meal to cook, bringing all of the ingredients, and lastly cooking for homeless youth at the shelter. St. Mark’s, on the other hand, provides a peaceful atmosphere for homeless individuals to feel at home and dine while volunteers serve as their waiters and waitresses. Finally, Loaves and Fishes allows volunteers to actually dine with the guests and get to know them on a close and sociable level; furthermore, it provides numerous raffles and prize opportunities for its guests while entertaining them with life performances. Ultimately, it is our hope that through Circle K, both new and old members will encounter the wonderfully rich and rewarding experience of serving and befriending disadvantaged people, who are happy to have our company, through the soup kitchens we collaborate with.
Meals with Love Made
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Game On! ‘A ha Pai‘ea Keiki Sports Challenge Francis Sakai-Kawada UH Hilo
On Saturday August 25, 2012, many university athletes and coaches, several K-family volunteers, and the Vulcan Athletic Club came together to put on the 2012 ‘Aha Pai‘ea Keiki Sports Challenge. This clinic drew in over 70 children from the ages of 7-12 to participate in a sevenhour event, where they would immerse themselves in a variety of sports. The day broke down into two halves. The first half consisted of a rotation of volleyball, basketball, and cross-country. The second half consisted of soccer, tennis, softball, and baseball. The keiki learned the basics – from proper running form to dribbling a basketball to fielding grounders. Many smiles were brought out throughout the day, as these children worked hard and played harder. Many valuable lessons were taught beyond sports fundamentals such as, the importance of staying hydrated as well as developing proper work ethic in anything you want to excel in – whether it sports or academics. The children were not the only ones working hard throughout the event. Circle K members from the University of Hawaii at Hilo were dispersed as supervisors to each group and were given the task of assisting their group in any way. Tasks included keeping the group hydrated, fetching stray balls for the athletes, demonstrating proper form in many of the sports, and much more. Although this event was very strenuous to say the least, it was also very rewarding to teach the benefits of living healthy and living life. Ke Ola Pono!
Cheer to the Finish Line: Alive & Runing 5K
Jannette Alvarez El Camino College On the early morning of September 23, El Camino College woke up ready to serve. We volunteered at an event call Alive and Running, a 5k walk for awareness and prevention of suicide. We were all excited for this event, because we lie to cheer and keep the walkers motivated, especially for this event. At the event, we helped out with registration and got to meet many of the groups that come out for this walk. Many of the groups were formed by people who knew someone that committed suicide and walked in their memory; other groups were formed by people who deal with people trying to commit suicide like the SWAT team and Fire Fighters. After registration, we went to cheer for the walkers. We outcheered the cheerleaders that
went. ^_^ It was very moving to see so many people come out and walk for this event. There were many parents that came with their children and many people that came with their dogs. The most moving part was when the walkers got to share their stories, and the reasons why they walked. It was a bittersweet event because there were a lot of shared stories, but it was a fun event. We even got the chance to take pictures with the firemen and a member of the SWAT team. We ended the event with a big WE ARE PROUD OF YOU to the event coordinator for all their great work. It was a great event, and even though we had to wake up at 5am, we were all very glad to have participated in it.
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OCTOBER 2012
leadership
meet your Kevin Goble Desert Oasis
FionaCapital Cheng Major: English / Spanish (double major); Gender Studies (minor) Favorite Meme: High Expectations Asian Father and Socially Awkward Penguin Who (or what) inspires you and why?: Dreams, because everything begins with and is inspired by a dream.
Kevin Gordy Central Coast
Major: Mass Communications & Journalism Advertising (major); Art (minor) Favorite Animal: Dachshunds! Who (or what) inspires you and why?: A lot of inspiration actually comes from fellow Circle K members. I know we all get burnt out with school, work, and life but I am always shocked at how much spirit I see around me whenever I do anything with Circle K. It is definitely infectious and keeps my passion for service alive! :D
Major: Business Entrepreneurship and Engineering Computer Science Favorite Color: Bright Forest Green Who (or what) inspires you and why?: Derek Furukawa, because he’s busier than me, but still manages to be successful. He proves to me that a full-time career and Kiwanis involvement can be balanced. While still being true to the ideals of being a good person.
Chloe Shih Foothill Major: Undeclared science Favorite Movie: Dead Poet Society Who (or what) inspires you and why?: Since 8th grade, I’ve been a huge fan of Taiwanese idol Rainie Yang. She began as a hard-working singer, actress, and hostess who was known to be the princess of cute in Taiwan. Over time, she was able to break away from the belittling stereotypes of “cute” and establish her own strong and distinct presence. There was a quote she lived by during her earlier years, which was, “If you work hard, it doesn’t mean you’ll succeed. But if you don’t work hard, you definitely will not succeed.” What was inspiring was that she didn’t just sit around and mope, she took action. That’s the kind of motivation that keeps me going.
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lieutenant governors Mikael Miller Golden Gate
Major: Computer Engineering Favorite TV Show as a child: Pokemon Who (or what) inspires you and why?: People, because people seem to have the ability to be happen even in the most downtrodden of times.
Tony Wang Sunset
Major: Computer Science Favorite Animal: Turtle Who (or what) inspires you and why?: My father - because he works so hard to provide for his family, and I want to be like him when I grow up.
Sean Nguyen Metro
Major: Film Favorite Meme: It’s hard to pick just one, so it’s a tie among TROLLFACE, ME GUSTA, AWWW YEAH, and NYANCAT Who (or what) inspires you and why?: People who go above and beyond the call of duty.
Stephanie Nguyen Magic Kingdom Major: Psychology and Social Behavior Favorite Color: Purple, Teal, Royal Blue, Magenta Who (or what) inspires you and why?: People who stay optimistic and incredibly positive throughout even the toughest of circumstances. I know a good handful of people like this and they truly inspire me to keep pushing forward.
Azhar Deen Paradise
Major: General Biology/Bioinformation Favorite Movie: Pursuit of Happyness, Coach Carter Who (or what) inspires you and why?: My Parents, for their continued sacrifice. The rest of the Bamboo Crew who are all pursuing their dreams to the best of their ability. Bea, for teaching me to never be satisfied with myself.
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OCTOBER 2012
leadership
What is the Membership Recognition Program?
Requirements Dues Paid Service Hours Additional Requirements #Socials (SE) #MD&E Events (MD) # Fundraisers (FR) # Circle K Hosted Events (CK) # events with Kiwanis Family (KF) # Interclubs (IN) # Divisional Events (DV) # District Events (DE) # International Events (INT) # Articles Submitted # Webinars Attended Chair of an Event Host District Workshop or Webinar Club Committee Member District/Divisional Committee Member Club or Leadership Position
Schools with 45 members or less Bronze Silver Gold Platinum Yes 40 hours 8 of 12 3 2 2 2 1
Yes 80 hours 9 of 13 4 2 2 2 2
Yes 120 hours 10 of 16 5 4 4 4 3
Yes 160 hours 12 of 16 6 4 4 4 4
2 2 1
3 3 2
1 1 1
1 1 1 Yes
4 4 3 1 2 2 2 Yes
5 5 4 1 2 2 2 Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes Yes
Yes Yes
Yes
Yes
The Membership Recognition Program (MRP) recognizes members of CNH Circle K for their hard work and dedication towards the organization, as expressed through the three tenets of service, fellowship, and leadership. This year, our Membership Development & Education chair Lauren Kim has implemented a number of changes to the program, as outlined on these two pages. It has changed from last year’s program, so look through them closely! Stay tuned for more information on these MRP changes from our District MD&E Chair in the future. In the meantime, continue being awesome and reaching these four levels of awesomeness!
Schools with 46 members or more Requirements Bronze Silver Dues Paid Service Hours Additional Requirements #Socials (SE) #MD&E Events (MD) # Fundraisers (FR) # Circle K Hosted Events (CK) # events with Kiwanis Family (KF) # Interclubs (IN) # Divisional Events (DV) # District Events (DE) # International Events (INT) # Articles Submitted # Webinars Attended Chair of an Event Host District Workshop or Webinar Club Committee Member District/Divisional Committee Member Club or Leadership Position
Gold
Platinum
Yes 50 hours 8 of 12 4 2 2 2 2
Yes 100 hours 9 of 13 4 2 3 3 3
Yes 150 hours 10 of 16 5 4 4 4 4
Yes 200 hours 12 of 16 6 4 5 5 5
4 4 1
4 4 2
1 1 1
1 1 1 Yes
5 5 3 1 2 2 2 Yes
6 6 4 1 2 2 2 Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes Yes
Yes Yes
Yes
Yes
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OCTOBER 2012
fellowship
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The Interdivisional Hunger Games was an all-out free-for-all bloodbath that could not have been won without carefully planned strategies. Capital Division entered as the second underdog in this competition with only seven tributes (all of which were UC Davis exclusive) against ten tributes provided from both Sunset and Golden Gate division each. Central Coast Division was the true underdog of this game as they only had three tributes. As such, Capital Division formed a temporary alliance with Central Coast, but Central Coast was unable to endure the mayhem within the first crucial minutes of the game, returning Capital back to its initial unallied state. Fortunately, the vicinity of Sunset’s and Golden Gate’s forts had a greater proximity relative to Capital, so Sunset and Golden Gate would inevitably eliminate each other one by one, evening the odds for Capital. Nevertheless, Capital was still under attack by the opposing divisions, but all the attacks were fended off. Eventually, all of Golden Gate’s tributes were eliminated. Sunset’s tributes had consequently diminished to fewer than Capital’s numbers, giving Capital the upper hand for the first time throughout the entire game. Also, Sunset’s ammunition had greatly depleted while Capital’s seems to have been untouched since Capital strategically waited patiently for the opposing forces to weaken, ultimately increasing Capital’s chances at victory. With very few tributes left in the game the outer boundaries of the playing field narrowed. Sunset division remained with only two tributes while Capital had an advantageous six (one tribute was lost due to his foolish decision to rush into the battlefield early in the game). It wasn’t long until Capital eliminated the last remaining tributes of Sunset, with the final blow given by me. Now came the final challenge; the game required a single winner, and I had used the last of my ammunition on the last Sunset tribute. Thus, I had to acquire some sort of weapon, so I dashed back to the Capital division base in des-
All hope of obtaining any kind of weapon immediately went out the door. My only option left was to literally run for my life, and so I did.
The Interdivisional Hunger Games James Hui UC Davis
15 perate need of any weapon. As I approached the base, a fellow teammate (now considered an enemy) standing guard of the weapons. All hope of obtaining any kind of weapon immediately went out the door. My only option left was to literally run for my life, and so I did. I was dodging water (the main source of ammunition) left and right, running around trees and any other obstructions I could find. I even miraculously escaped a few water balloons thrown at me from point blank. In the process of escaping death, I hurt my knee, but my adrenaline rush was an instant remedy for my pain. Finally, I had found myself in a relatively safe zone, and tried to create an alliance with one of the teammates who had possession of a weapon. At this point, I had no hope of winning anymore, so I bargained with him to take out everyone and finish me off last. Although he didn’t quite agree with me, I was far away enough from him to avoid any danger to myself from him. As such, I watched the rest of my former teammates eliminate each other as I maneuvered around the playing field to secure myself. A few moments later, I had discovered that everyone had been eliminated, and the last person (the one who I tried to ally with) had slipped and essentially eliminated himself, which resulted in me becoming the champion. I can’t say that it was the most glorious victory since I didn’t provide the final attack, but I did manage to dodge everything that was thrown at me, which I think is something worthy of a champion. In the end, it was a well played game, and as mentioned previously, it could not have been won without a well thought-out strategy. As the winner of the Hunger games, I was given the honor of donating all of my winnings to any charity of my choice. After long contemplation, the money was donated to the Eliminate Project, a suitable charity considering the relation of its name to the Hunger Games. Also, all of the canned food that was used as substitute entry fees was donated to a local charity in the city of Davis.
Are the Odds in Your Favor?
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OCTOBER 2012
fellowship
Exploring Paradise in Hawaii
Dennis Lin UH Hilo From September 21-23, the Paradise Divisional Board along with the District Governor paid a visit to Hilo, Hawaii to bond and check in with Circle K at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Throughout these 3 days, the group got to meet with many of the members of the club as well as the local Kiwanis Family. Activities included going to many local points of interest such as Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory, Kuhio Grille (Home of the 1-Pound Laulau) as well as a Kiwanis family service project at the local YMCA. The group also got a private lesson in the Hawaiian Language and the beautiful art of Hula. Towards the end of their visit, they attended a Disney and Development Social held by the Circle K at UH-Hilo. There they participated in skits, singing and group activities. The club greeted the Divisional Board with open arms and at the end of the visit, accepted them into our extended ‘Ohana (family). UH-Hilo hopes that many more visits will be made in the future and encourage members from other Circle K clubs to pay Hawaii a visit! Until next time, A hui hou!
Summer’s Over?! End of the Summer Bonfire Lany Dao UC Irvine Four months of summer seems like a long time. As June, July, and August slowly creep by us, September rolls around almost as if out of nowhere, and we’re dreading the day our classes start. In order to make the good bye to summer a little less sad, we hosted an End of
Summer Bonfire! Ronnie and I camped out at Corona Del Mar at 10 AM in order to save a prime spot at the fire pits! As the sun grew higher and the day became hotter, it was proving to be a perfect day for the beach! There were plenty of old and new members that joined us at the beach, and everyone had a good time whether they were playing in the water, making sand alligators, playing Monopoly Deal, or even taking pictures at our outdoor photo
booth (courtesy of Alan Chung from OCC!) The best part was definitely that members from OCC, Chapman, and IVC came to celebrate the last Friday of summer with us! After the sun set, everyone sat around cooking hot dogs and s’mores, basking in the cool summer night, making new friends! The bonfire proved to be a successful event and I hope to see more members come out to our other socials as well!
Welcome to CKI - SFSU Edition! Robert Lin San Francisco State University While everyone was packing up their backpacks with school books, pencils, and their new schedules, I was packing up fliers, a laptop with a sign up document, and a strong will ready for rejections! I was all set for the first ever attempt of a welcome week for CKI SFSU. We had it all planned information nights, games, scavenger hunts, bonfires, and so much more I wanted to spread the word of CKI at SFSU as much as I can in hopes that the club grew. Each and every day for the first two weeks of school was tabling and then run to class, then back to tabling, then to the welcome week event! Oh gosh, just talking about again makes me miss the chaos and all the times I explained to others what Circle K International was. I was so happy with the lists and lists of names that we had after each day. Of course, there was much heartbreak as people looked down and ignored the calls of “Would you like to do community service with us?” After the first welcome week events, I was surprised how fast people came back to CKI! After a simple information night, there were already first years sitting with us at tabling eating, laughing, and acting like they were in the club for their whole life already! It was an amazing feeling, and it reassured me that CKI brings out the best in people. Sure enough, at the same time I knew that expanding our membership from the thirties is going to be a tough job.
Finally, it was the day of truth - the day of the first general meeting. I was nervous on the turn out, and had my doubts on the turn out. I started to group everyone that was in CKI and interested in CKI in the quad. At first, there were only about 20, then more
and more people came. As I led the group to our meeting, I had a huge grin on my face. I led them into the classroom, and my President looked at me with huge eyes and a dropped jaw. The whole room was packed and many had to sit on the floor. At the end of the day, I was ecstatic! There were over 50 people in our meeting, and most of them were of new faces! I can’t wait for the next general meeting (second general meeting) to come by. This turn out goes to show that depending on how much you put in to recruiting and making a welcoming environment will determine the outcome of new membership in your club. Keep spreading the happiness of CKI and keep recruiting!
“
After a simple information night, there were already first years sitting with us at tabling eating, laughing, and acting like they were in the club for their whole life already!
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“
OCTOBER 2012
district events
CKI really helped me bring out the leader and voice in myself. The entire environment surrounding CKI is just extraordinary. . . I really still can’t explain what had happened to me, and if I had to give a reason, the only reason I could give would be CKI.
district summer
Jerry Bao Diablo Valley College
Back in high school, I never even considered joining any club, let alone even join some sort of group, and even when I first started my college lifestyle, I never thought that I would take part in anything extracurricular in the college. But here I am now, a part of Circle K International (more specifically DVC’s CKI), something that really has changed my life. A year ago, my best friend Matt had been having discussions with me about CKI, and believe it or not, the entire time I had thought they were having meetings at the Circle K gas station. I thought, “What kind of bizarre club meets at a gas station and is all about community service?” At the time I was still figuring out things in my life and what my future held for me, so I just shrugged off the times he’s asked me to join the club. After a year, a lot had happened to me and I was going through a really rough patch in my life and this was when he really persuaded me to join DVC’s CKI. He said it was fairly new and, remember, I still thought at this time this was some club where meetings were held at a Circle K gas station, so I figured why not I’ll join. What’s there to lose? Boy was I surprised when I found out that the meetings were actually held AT the college and not at a gas station, and that Circle K is the collegiate version of the Kiwanis In-
ternational Organization. Now since this was a fairly new club, not many people were there and I thought, “This is a really small club. I wonder what this club is all about?” It wasn’t until I went to my first service project, Chinatown YMCA Healthy Kids Day, did I finally realize what this club is all about, and boy did I have fun at that service project. Now at that time, I still had reserved thoughts about the club and whether it was worth my time or not, but it was keeping my mind off of things at the time and keeping me productive, so I continued on with CKI. It wasn’t until two district events later did I finally realize why Matt kept rambling on and on to me about CKI. The first district event was STC. This was a one day event and it was fairly small compared to the other district events, but even in that one day I had met a bunch of new people, learned a lot about leadership, and became VERY confused about a lot of the things that people were talking about in regards to CKI (I still didn’t know everything regarding CKI and the Kiwanis organization.) After that day, I thought, this club really has a lot more to it than I thought, and decided I’d stick it out for the year and see what it brings me. The second district event was DSSS, and this event was really the event that sealed the deal for me regarding
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service social !! CKI. It was three days long, and they were the most fun three days I’ve ever had in a long time. Those three days I had met a ton of people, grew closer with the friends I already had, and made a bunch new friends. On top of that, I really got fired up for service and leadership. My most memorable moment was at the end of the conference where there were spirit battles going on between divisions. They fired me up completely and I knew I had found a club that was pure amazing and awesome. If DSSS was this amazing, I really can’t wait to see what FTC and DCON have in store. I hear the overall atmospheres there are just 10x crazier and exciting. The best part about both these events? I had developed a part of me that I thought would forever haunt me: my shyness. For those who don’t know I used to be an EXTREMELY shy guy and I always was nervous to meet anyone or do anything. CKI really helped me bring out the leader and voice in myself. The entire environment surrounding CKI is just extraordinary. I really still can’t explain what had happened to me, and if I had to give a reason, the only reason I could give would be CKI. In addition, CKI has bled over into my personal life and my overall attitude in life. I’ve never been more motivated to do things and take initiative. I’ve never felt so alive and excited about my future. In addition, I’ve never been so excited to meet people inside and outside of CKI. I never imagined that a club such as CKI could do such
things for me. Between then and DSSS, I had grown a huge affinity towards the club, service, leadership, and fellowship with others and had developed my individuality and confidence. I absolutely want to do EVERYTHING CKI related, and I even want to eventually take up a position in the district and make an impact within CNH. While that is quite a goal I’ve set for myself, I intend on doing my best to make it as far as I can in CNH CKI. Life for me has never been the same, and it won’t ever be the same. It’s incredible what a chain of events does to someone. I can’t wait for this upcoming year of CKI. If I had to describe how I feel right now, it would be this: I FEEL GOOD, OH I FEEL SO GOOD I FEEL FINE, ALL OF THE TIME A BOOGA BOOGA, BOOGA WOOGA WOOGA (By far my favorite cheer. I don’t know why, it just is!) Thanks Matt for really pushing for me to join this club. You have no idea how much of a life changer it has been for me. Thanks everyone at CKI for being amazing. You’ve all affected me in so many different ways, and I wish I could personally thank each and every one of you.
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OCTOBER 2012
sunny's spotlights
CNH is Reppin’ it Internationally!
Watch out, CKI! Cal-Nev-Ha is here! Congratulations to the following individuals for their acceptance to their respective Circle K International Committees. You are all bridging the gap between CNH and International!
Name
International Committee
Kevin Chiong Kevin Goble Brandon Thomas David Truong Sharon Huie Cristina Magdaleno Sandra Mateo Felicia Grady Curtis Wu Andrew Tom Ryan Ocampo David Limjoco Michael Saechao
Large Scale Service Project
Language Specialist
Membership & Marketing
Social Potential Innovative Club Enhancement
Service Spotlight for September & October what is the “service spotlight”?
The Service Spotlight is a bimonthly display of information on a certain service organization that the district has chosen to highlight to help promote and educate members about its cause.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, aka AFSP, is the nation’s leading organization for understanding and preventing suicide through research, education, and advocacy. Not only that, AFSP als focuses on reaching out to people with mental disorders and those who have or are impacted by suicide. Circle K clubs can work with AFSP in many ways! The biggest project AFSP is known for is their Out of Darkness walk which is to raise awareness about issues pertaining to mental health and suicide prevention. Its aim is to bring these issues to light and let people know early on on how to prevent related situations. Circle K clubs can look for Out of Darkness near them and volunteer. A major thing about this service spotlight is that it is related to our District Service Initiative: Living Healthy, Living Life - in which this spotlight focuses on the mental and emotional side of the DSI. We would love to recognize and hear about your amazing service projects your club has done relating to this service spotlight! Please send in articles to service@cnhcirclek.org. Stay tuned for the November-December Service Spotlight in the next Member Bi-Monthly Mailing List (MBMML)! Subscribe if you haven’t already!
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what is “sunny’s spotlights”?
Sunny’s Spotlights is a corner where CNH recognizes the clubs and/or individuals that stand out and go above and beyond in the areas of service and fundraising. Stay tuned for the next issue to see if your school is featured!
Serv ic e: UC B erk eley Ken Tao UC Berkeley 4 AM. That’s right. UC Berkeley Circle K members woke up that early (or stayed up that late) to gather at a bus stop by campus at 4 AM to do service at Lake Merritt. The event? Out of the Darkness Walk, a one-ofa-kind event that touches the hearts of Americans all around the world. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the sponsoring organization, a person dies by suicide in the United States every 15 minutes and it estimated that a suicide attempt is made every minute. The Out of the Darkness Walks raise money to provide funds for research on methods to prevent suicide as well as to increase awareness about suicide prevention. At the event, the fourteen of us Circle K members joined several other volunteers from the
community to help out with a variety of tasks including setting up and manning the food tables, registering volunteers, collecting donations, giving out raffle tickets, cheering on all the walkers, and cleaning up when the event ended! All the attendees had a great time helping out and the event coordinators were extremely appreciative of our help. It was fantastic event and we looked forward to coming back next year!
Fu n d ra is in g: E l Ca m in o Colleg e Joseph Montes El Camino College Have you thought about holding a fundraiser at a restaurant or a quick grab-and-go snack? What if one offers more percentage? Then maybe you can get higher donation from them, right? Well, that depends on who they accept donations from and if they require to bring a flyer or not. I am writing this to share some thoughts and compare these two great fundraising experiences we had. We have had a fundraisers at Veggie Grill and Yogurtland. There were some big differences between what both had offered. Yogurtland offered to give us 15%, and Veggie Grill had offered to give us a whopping 50%. Veggie Grill was on Thursday, June 21 from 5pm to 10pm. Yogurtland was on Wednesday, June 20 from 4pm to 7pm. So far Veggie Grill has more hours and percent to give, but the main difference that separated them was how from who they would get the percentage from to donate to us. With Veggie Grill, you needed the flyer or had to tell them you were there for the fundraiser. Then for Yogurtland they gave us 15% from everyone who made a
purchase within the time frame. Now, that you know the percentage, hours of fundraiser, and from whose purchase, which do you think gave a bigger contribution? We were really shocked to find out that it was Yogurtland with a bigger contribution! After some thought, there were some possible reasons why we thought Yogurtland was more successful, although we deeply appreciate both contributions. The weather lately has been high most of the time so frozen yogurt would seem more appealing. Another was that you didn’t have to sit down and wait for your order to come to you so more people probably went to Yogurtland. But the main possible reason was that Yogurtland did not need a flyer for the fundraiser. They decided to set a 3 hour time frame and take 15% from anyone who had made a purchase. We first did think that Veggie Grill was going to contribute more but it depended more on how many people you tell about the event. I think that Veggie Grill’s way of contributing has to do more with how it is publicized. If we could have gotten more people to go then it would have been even more successful. In the end we made $127.07 from Veggie Grill and $210.86 from Yogurtland.
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OCTOBER 2012
shoutouts & announcements
You are cordially invited to join UCSD Circle K’s 15th Annual Masquerade Ball for a night of magic and romance.
Roger Pan
This November 10th, UCSD’s Circle K will be holding their annual Masquerade Ball fundraiser. For $30 we shall take you all into the seas as we sail along the waters of UC San Diego the San Diego harbor in the Inspiration Horn Blower, the LARGEST yacht in Southern California. This year we shall dive into secrecy and romance as we bring the world of James Bond’s Casino Royale to all of you. From the mysteries of being a spy to the romantic encounters in the starry night we hope to charm you all with an amazing display of class and enchantment. We will provide the perfect setting so that you all can enjoy yourselves and dance the night away!! All proceeds go directly to Pediatric Trauma Program, one of our District Fundraising Initiatives. Ask your presidents today on how you can attend! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at roger.w.pan@gmail.com.
Mikael Miller San Francisco State University
I asked Chris Kawaguchi (Fresno State’s president) how his club is doing, and I got this: “It thrives through the mysterious force of service. It’s leadership a continuous adventure of college chaos held together by building fellowships. Like a Circle of harmonious uncertainty it thrives under this mysterious force. So many unknown and dark figured paths but in the end I know it will prevail... For Circle Ker’s know where the playground in the land of chaos is. It’s a dirty job but somebody has to make it fun.” When asked why, he said, “It was the simplest answer I knew.” Chris, I love you, man!
This is a shout out to all the new members in Circle K International, all of you are making an effect in your community, city, and the world by just participating in your home club. Remember you can make a difference and keep on doing service!
Robert Lin San Francisco State University
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Congratulations Camille!
Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Business Journal presented its 3rd Annual Corporate Counsel awards. Individuals were selected “not just for their contribution to their organizations, but also for their contributions outside the workday.” One of the recipients was none other than our CNH District Administrator Camille Goulet, who was recognized in the government sector! You deserve it, and we’re grateful for all you do! Thanks for your contributions to the beautiful district of Cal-Nev-Ha!
CNH District CKI/Kiwanis
Your #1 resource to building and developing your club to great heights.
Camille Goulet
contact
District Administrator administrator@cnhcirclek.org
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Executive Board Jonathan Cao-Nguyen District Governor governor@cnhcirclek.org
David Limjoco
District Secretary secretary@cnhcirclek.org
Hans Meimban
District Treasurer treasurer@cnhcirclek.org
Lieutenant Governors Fiona Cheng
Kevin Gordy
Capital capital@cnhcirclek.org
Central Coast centralcoast@cnhcirclek.org
Kevin Goble
Chloe Shih
Mikael Miller
Stephanie Nguyen
Sean Nguyen
Azhar Deen
Tony Wang
Foothill foothill@cnhcirclek.org
Metro metro@cnhcirclek.org
Golden Gate goldengate@cnhcirclek.org
Paradise paradise@cnhcirclek.org
Desert Oasis desertoasis@cnhcirclek.org
Magic Kingdom magickingdom@cnhcirclek.org
Sunset sunset@cnhcirclek.org
District Chairs Ashley Valdez
Stefanie Chow
Ruben Ruiz
Andrew Tom
Lauren Kim
Brett Butler
Jennifer Lai
Leonne Chung
Truong Pham
Awards awards@cnhcirclek.org
Kiwanis Family kfamily@cnhcirclek.org
Publications Editor editor@cnhcirclek.org
District Convention dcon@cnhcirclek.org
Membership Development & Education mde@cnhcirclek.org
Service service@cnhcirclek.org
Fall Training Conference ftc@cnhcirclek.org
On To International Convention icon@cnhcirclek.org
Technology technology@cnhcirclek.org
a Kiwanis-family member www.circlek.org
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