Volume 50
Issue 2
July 2014
Cirkling
The Official Publication of the New Jersey District “ 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! “
A Recap from Subregion E Trustee Shivam Patel On the week of June 17th, 2014, members of the New Jersey District had the opportunity to travel to Nashville, TN, where we celebrated this year’s 50th annual Circle K International convention and large scale service project! Rebranded under the name “CKIx,” this year’s convention truly took our expectations for the organization to the next level- providing informative workshops, spirited sessions, and amazing service projects for our members to enjoy. The first two days of CKIx kicked off with our organization’s annual Large Scale Service Project, where members of our district split up in to teams comprised of different students across the globe. From there, teams had the opportunity to tackle unique service projects with an assigned team leader- one of whom happened to be our district’s very own governor, Dawn Kreder! (Cont. on page 2)
ICON Recap 1-2 Welcome Victoria Dayton 3 Football to Eliminate 3 Governor’s Page 4 K-Family Picnic 5 From the Editor’s Desk 6 Back In The Day 7 Mark Your Calendars 8 The Ronald McDonald House 9 Club Officer Spotlight 10-11 Kiwanis Spotlight 12 Fun Facts 13 Contacts 14
Icon Recap Cont. After two fun-filled days of fellowship and service, the event quickly jumped into the business items of the convention- in which former Subregion-A trustee Kathy Le had been elected our International President for the 2014-2015 service year! In addition, former New York Circle K Governor and friend to the New Jersey District Kelly Chan had also been elected in to the office of our Subregion-F trustee, and will be serving with us this year along with the districts of New York, Capital, New England & Bermuda, and Eastern Canada! Last but not least, your’s truly was elected to serve in the office of Subregion-E trustee for the upcoming year as well, providing council to our neighboring districts of Pennsylvania, Kentucky-Tennessee, Ohio, and West Virginia! Toward the latter days of convention, members were treated with very special presentations on empowerment from Phired Up, as well as food etiquette with Momma Nonnie. In addition, the organization also held a nighttime awards ceremony, in which the New Jersey District did fantastic work in sweeping up the convention! The Circle K club of Rutgers University won first place for both Single Service and the Eliminate Project. The New Jersey District as a whole won two honors for having fundraised the second highest district total, and the highest per member total for the Eliminate Project respectively. In addition, our 2013-2014 district board went home with a record breaking total of 7 trophies, with Eliminate Chair Stephanie winning Distinguished District Chair, Lieutenant Governors Brooke, Annabelle, and Victoria all winning Distinguished LTG, Secretary Dawn in winning Distinguished Secretary, and myself in winning both Distinguished Governor, and District for the state of New Jersey as a whole. As the convention concluded on Saturday night, we had the opportunity to reflect on our fantastic 6 day experience in Nashville by dancing the night away with members from across the nation. CKIx this past week was truly a celebration to remember, and we hope you’ll join us next year for our organizations 60th anniversary, in Indianapolis, Indiana!
NJCKI Awards included: Distinguished District, Distinguished Governor Shivam K. Patel, Distinguished Secretary Dawn Kreder, Distinguished LTGs Victoria Dayton, Brooke Lichter, and Annabelle Fallarme, and Distinguished District Committee Chair Stephanie Morales.
Our New District Board Member/ Football to Eliminate Recap
First of all I would like to thank everyone who was able to make it to FTE; it was an awesome event and one that we will now be making a tradition at Brookdale. Also I would like to take this opportunity to thank Christian Blanco and Christopher Heil, who did all the work in setting everything up and organizing the event. We were able to raise 245 dollars for the Eliminate Project and it also gave Brookdale an awesome start to the new service year. By: Kyler Hourahan Brookdale President
Metro LTG Year: Post-Graduate Major: Biology & Classical Studies Fun Fact: I’ve been a member of the Kiwanis family for 9+ years!
The Governor’s Page! Greetings, y’all! Okay, you may be wondering why my introductory message contains some “southern lingo.” Well, the answer to that question is because I just spent a week down in Nashville, Tennessee for CKIx! I had a great time meeting CKI members from all over the world, serving at the Nashville YMCA and Nashville Zoo during LSSP, and reminding myself about why I joined and proceeded to stay in our mighty organization. Having members from every district (and even clubs around the world who have yet to be included in the districts) surround you at every session and workshop allows you to hear about the individual CKI experiences that people have. Of course, there are those who were in Key Club and wanted to continue their K-Family journey. But then, there are others who just saw the opportunity that they had to evoke positive change on their homes, campuses, and communities that stumbled across Circle K by chance. No matter how these members got involved with Circle K, I have to say that every one of these 13,000+ members that I have had the honor of meeting has a heart of gold that has inspired me to do more as I returned home back to New Jersey. So, NJCKI, what does this mean for you? It means that you should make the most out of each day you have to perform even a small act of kindness for the world around you. Volunteer at one of the three Ronald McDonald Houses, help fundraise for the Eliminate Project, tutor some of the schoolchildren in your community, or just smile and say hello to a stranger you pass on the street. The size of the service is not the most important thing, but the fact that you are actively trying to help is what is. We are all members of Circle K International, and together, we really do make a difference!
K-Family Picnic!
Join the NJ Kiwanis Family at the K-Family Picnic on July 20th, hosted by The Richard Stockton College of NJ! The cost is $10, which includes a delicious barbeque as well as meat-free options for our vegetarian friends! Make sure to bring some extra cash and participate in our pie a board member fundraiser. All members of the Kiwanis Family are welcome, so spread the word! If you have any questions about K-Family Picnic, please contact Kiwanis Family Chair, Rocky Trifari at rocky.circlek@gmail.com and make sure to RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/304891493020898/ .
From the Editor’s Desk
Hi everyone! I hope you are all enjoying your summer breaks thus far. We have LOTS of exciting things coming our way, and I encourage you all to join the New Jersey District at the K-Family Picnic this month. I know I’m getting a little ahead of myself, but who else is SUPER PUMPED for Insight? Start stocking the piggy banks now, because you definitely don’t want to miss this weekend. Don’t forget to continue sending your hours to your club secretaries, and take this time off of school to make a difference in the lives of others. Find a local soup kitchen or do some yard work for an elderly neighbor. Visit a local animal shelter and give some much needed love and affection to cuties like this guy in the corner. Even better, find your local Ronald McDonald House and reach out! Enjoy the rest of your summer and stay cool!
Rachael & Cain the Pitbull
POP QUIZ Be the first to email me at rstieg.cki@gmail.com with the correct answer to this question, and you will receive a prize! Anyone is welcome to play, but you must be present at K-Family picnic to claim your prize! What was the first district of CKI and when was it established?
Circle K International Convention: My Snapshot This past weekend, students from around the world were afforded the opportunity to come together with the similar purpose that unites them at the club and district level, our three pillars: service, leadership, and fellowship. While at ICON, it is easy to point out similarities and differences to years past, but one of the most engaging aspects of ICON has been, and will always be, the bonding that occurs between members. But, what is ICON really as it stands, a larger DCON, or something more? The two are similar in the presentation of candidates, the aim of offering workshops, service opportunities, and cohabitated living. It is, however, the grandeur scale of which the events surrounding the international one that makes the difference. Nearly four thousand hours of service got accomplished at the host city, Nashville this year . Candidates from around the world offered learning experiences for both the voting members and the candidates themselves. And the workshops were offered by individuals with varying real life experiences and fundamentally sound influences. So, the international flavor of it all has perhaps intrigued you, but what does that really mean? I had the opportunity to present to more than 60 students (more on that in a moment) from across not just this country, nor continent, but the world. Students from Canada to the Philippines, from North to South were present to expand their palettes when it comes to education of topics. As far as workshops, students were given nearly a full day's worth of offerings to choose from, covering things from dining etiquette to personal finances. NJ District was represented by three workshops offered, one from your District Administrator, Mickey Cohen, and two from myself. These opportunities to pass on our experiences and expertise broadens the scope of what the students have to offer, while allowing Mickey and myself to hone our skills. Mickey and Rutgers chapter faculty advisor Michael Murray also assisted in judging of awards, and everyone's favorite Zone Advisor, Joey G, was once again a familiar face when certain individuals were looking for some clarity on bylaws and the history of our organization, from the longest House of Delegates (13 hours!) to the explanation of the combination of bylaws and constitution, to the progressed adaptations of past conventions to now. Your immediate past governor, Shivam Patel, offered a glimpse of what one of my presented topics, moving forward when you've been knocked down, means by parlaying his defeat as international president into a Sub Region E representative position at the behest and vote
of the individuals he will diligently represent. Another unique opportunity I spent time absorbing was the service fair, an offering that gave clubs the opportunity to showcase some projects that are near and dear to them. Surprisingly, many of these programs were pretty large in nature and size, but all of them had impacts felt in and across their home communities. I took this opportunity to discuss the focus, intent, and overall impact from my point of view with several of the students, and made some contacts for future collaboration or discussion.
All in all, International Convention doesn't shake out to be better or worse than our very own District Convention, but rather a furthering of the good you all accomplish. A lasting impression, you should all be extremely satisfied with your work this year, as you will once again have a home grown member sitting on the International Board, won distinguished awards for service projects, district, a multitude of positional awards, and even a talent show! I say satisfied, that while NJ experienced great recognition, there is still plenty of room to grow. And under the leadership of your current board, spearheaded by Governor Dawn, you have all the tools in place for another ever expanding successful year. Don't forget; service, leadership, and fellowship don't disappear during the summer, so get moving! See you all at the K Family Picnic, and remember to Live to Live, Love to Serve By: Brian Pluchino
Mark Your Calendars!
July 2014 SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
1
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3
4 Randolph
5 Randolph
Freedom Festival
Freedom Festival
Randolph Freedom Festival
6
7
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9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
28
29
30
31
KFamily Pic-
nic!
27
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Contact District Secretary Rena Patel at renapatel.cki@gmail.com if you are interested in helping out at the Randolph Freedom Festival with all branches of the Kiwanis Family!
District Service Project: The Ronald McDonald House The story begins in 1974, with the first Ronald McDonald House being established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kim Hill, the daughter of Fred Hill of the Eagles, was diagnosed with leukemia. Thus, Hill experienced firsthand the need for a place for the parents and families of hospitalized children. Together with the rest of the team, their general manager, and Dr. Audrey Evans, Hill was able to make this dream become a reality in Philadelphia. The organization has grown to include almost 300 Ronald McDonald Houses in 30 countries! In New Jersey, Houses are located in Camden, New Brunswick, and Long Branch. The Ronald McDonald Houses of New Jersey alone have served over 21,000 families! There are various ways to help this incredible organization. While volunteering individually at the New Brunswick or Long Branch sites, one can become a house parent, an office volunteer, a fundraising volunteer, a volunteer ambassador, a daytime volunteer, or a special project volunteer. When volunteering as a group, there is the option to cook meals or bake, volunteer as planters, gardeners, and clean up crews, assist with holidays and celebrations ,or collect pop tabs. While volunteering individually at the Camden site, one can become a house volunteer in the morning/afternoon or evening. If you are volunteering as a group, you can host Family Fun Nights or Dinner Groups.
Our district has decided that the Ronald McDonald House will be our District Service Project for the 2014-2015 service year. Our district will approach this service project in three ways: collection, creation, and serving on site. Collection will include collecting pop tabs and possibly collecting food and toys for the various sites in New Jersey. Creation will include making something for the children staying at the Ronald McDonald House such as hats, bears, or blankets. This will allow for each of the clubs to contribute to our service project from their home clubs! For serving on site the goal is for our district to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House three times this summer and two to three times each semester. We will visit different sites in New Jersey, making it easier for all of the NJ Circle K members to attend at least one visit. Not only we will be providing much needed services for an amazing organization, these visits are a great opportunity for inter-clubbing with Circle K, Kiwanis, and Key Club! Our district has an extraordinary goal for this service year: to complete 20,000 service hours! I have full faith that our phenomenal district will achieve this goal, making the world a better place in the process. Our district may be small, but we are mighty. In the words of Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” New Jersey District, will you rise to the challenge? Let’s change the world, one service project at a time. Have any questions, concerns, or suggestions? Feel free to contact me at kenzielillia@gmail.com
By: McKenzie Lillia, District Service Chair
Club Officer Spotlight: Our Treasurers!
Alyssa Mol Caldwell College
Olivia Rutler Drew University
Laurel Bloch Farleigh Dickinson University
Jess Veneziano Rider University
Alexandra Rivera St. Peter’s University
Elizabeth Bullock The Richard Stockton College of NJ
Club Officer Spotlight: Treasurers!
San Smallwood Monmouth University
Diana Tenebaum
TCNJ
Patrick Shulack
Brookdale Community College
Christopher Waldron Rowan University
Jennifer Hickok ACCC
Lidish Pandya Rutgers University
Kiwanis Spotlight: College & University Relations Bruce Marich has worked in the community college sector for over 37 years, beginning at Middlesex County College in 1976 and for the last 28 years at Brookdale Community College. He has been Brookdale’s Director of Recruitment Services since 1988. In 2011, the Brookdale Alumni Association presented him the Robert Barringer Award, the highest award an employee can receive, in recognition of his work with students and his ties to the community. Bruce has been advisor for the past 25 years to the Brookdale Circle K Club. Prior to Brookdale, he was advisor to the Middlesex County College Circle K Club. During his tenure as an advisor, his clubs provided the New Jersey District of Circle K five governors, the Pennsylvania District one governor, five secretaries, one treasurer, and thirteen lt. governors. The Brookdale club has also been recognized at the district and international levels for their service activities. Bruce has been recognized for his involvement at the national and state levels. He is the recipient of the Circle of Service Award, the highest recognition given to a nonCircle K member, by Circle K International. He is the recipient of the NJ Circle of Service award. Also, the New Jersey District-Circle K Outstanding Faculty Award bears his name. Bruce has been active in the parent organization for Circle K and Key Club, Kiwanis International. In 2005-2006, he served as Governor of the New Jersey District. He is a past president of the Kiwanis Club of North Brunswick and the Kiwanis Club of East Brunswick. He was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of NJ Young Professionals. He is now a member of the Kiwanis Club of New Brunswick where he serves as Kiwanis advisor to the Rutgers University Circle K Club. Bruce and his wife Jackie (DC’66) have been married for 46 years and currently reside in North Brunswick. They have four children and eight grandchildren. In his spare time, Bruce enjoys the three “S’s” on the Jersey shore, doing section hikes on the Appalachian Trail, tailgating at Rutgers and Giants games, attending Jimmy Buffet concerts, and traveling.
Fun Facts about CKI VISION To be the leading global community-service organization on college and university campuses that enriches the world one member, one child and one community at a time.
Our Vision Partners
Our Preferred Charities
Our Service Partners: Better World Books and STUFH (Students Team Up To Fight Hunger)
Contact the District Board!
Dawn Kreder
Rena Patel
District Governor
District Secretary
Kreder.cki@gmail.com
Renapatel.cki@gmail.com
732-597-1570
732-439-0832
Max Hirsch
Rachael Stieg
District Treasurer
District Editor
Mhirsch.cki@gmail.com
Rstieg.cki@gmail.com
609-781-2657
609-634-4609