Belleville | Bloomfield | Clifton | Nutley | St. Mary’s Official Newsletter of Division 17 of the New Jersey District of Key Club International
Volume I Issue IV
Liz’s Letters ICON EDITION
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Hello all,
Table of Contents Page 2… A letter from your LTG Page 3… Organization Spotlight Page 4…Top 5 Reasons to love ICON
This edition is not a normal edition. Instead, it is devoted solely to the Key Club international Convention. From July 1-7, I traveled to Washington D.C. with Key Clubbers from around New Jersey to attend the Key Club International Convention. Once the convention started, I got to meet Key Clubbers from around the world. Meeting so many people made me realize just how big Key Club is. Before going, I was extremely proud of the fact that I can call myself a Key Clubber. However, after convention it has a new meaning and I am even prouder to say I am a Key Clubber.
Page 5… Photo Gallery Page 6… Page 7… Page 8… Contact Information
I will remember this week forever, as it is one of the best weeks I have ever had. ICON was more amazing than I could have ever imagined. Hope to see everyone in Anaheim for ICON 2014! Yours in caring and service, Elizabeth
*Look for more on exactly what we did in Washington on Page 6!
Upcoming Events July 20 – DCM/OTC Page 2
While in Washington D.C., we volunteered at the convention center for a few hours Tuesday afternoon to pack meals that would be given to hungry children and adults in the local area and around the world. All of Key Club joined together along with local volunteers to package over a million meals on July 1 and 2. This was an amazing experience that I will not forget. Going into it I was not happy about the hairnet and huge t-shirt, but after five minutes I forgot about all that and had a wonderful time. I can honestly say that this is by far one of my favorite service projects I have ever done. If any of you ever has the opportunity to volunteer with Kids Against Hunger, I strongly encourage you to take it. You will not be sorry! Look them up at kidsagainsthunger.org
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Top 5 Reasons to LOVE ICON By District Editor Pak Chau and Division 16 LTG Erik Lim Reason #1: The Atmosphere The 2013 Key Club International Convention was held in Washington D.C. - what better possible place to be than on the weekend of the Fourth of July? With ecstatic Key Clubbers staying a week in the nation's capital, the atmosphere couldn't have been anymore exhilarating. Even better, Key Clubbers got to share the same wonderful hotel as all the other Key Clubbers attending internationally. Waking up every morning and riding the elevator down to the meeting rooms with other service enthusiasts is a dream for Key Club fanatics. The atmosphere of International couldn't be anymore perfect! Reason #2: Voting and Delegating Key Club is the largest and oldest service organization of high school clubs and it is student-led. As Key Club is an international club, it consists of people from various regions around the globe. This is why voting and elections are such an important part of the International Convention. High School students will be leaders to their peers who live across the world. International Convention is a place where one will be able to elect the leaders among leaders as only the best of the best are able to fully represent Key Club as a whole. This year, New Jersey not only got to help decide the International Board, but also got the opportunity to push forward a candidate of our own for International Trustee. Reason #3: Pin Trading Pin Trading is one of the things that the New Jersey District looked forward to the most at International Convention. Not only was New Jersey excited to trade because we had the possession of really creative and appealing pins, but we also found enjoyment with exchanging pins as we got to show our Jersey Pride towards other districts with our little ketchup themed pin. Apart from just the design of the pin, the trading process was also a noteworthy activity. Every new pin obtained represented a newly acquired memory about International Convention. Not only did every pin allow Key Clubbers to take something home as a souvenir but every pin trade also sparked newly made friendships. Reason #4: Cheering on Your District "NJ ALL DAY" could be heard throughout International Convention the past few days as New Jersey Key Clubbers yelled till their throats were sore. Cheering for your district is always a great way to not only display your pride for your district but also to unify the district as a whole. The combination of such passionate Key Clubbers with creative chant lyrics create a fun-filled aura that will get all of the other districts rowdy and ready for their own chant. New Jersey likes nothing more than to show off just how mighty and enthusiastic we are. Reason #5: Meeting New People From the moment you step in the hotel, you are surrounded by a plethora of strangers. But these aren't any ordinary strangers. They are Key Clubbers. That's what New Jersey likes about the Key Club International Convention: the fact that anyone you choose to talk to and choose to meet all have the similar interest of serving the home, school, and community - the fact that they too are Key Clubbers just like us! Whether meeting new people meant establishing connections to help both districts or finding a new friend to hang out with, Key Clubbers got to go into a whole new pool of people that they are sure to get a long with. The friendly New Jersey District loves nothing more than to make some new friends and even possibly developing long lasting friendships with the new people we meet.
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Photo Gallery
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My Experience at ICON I had the pleasure of attending the Key Club International Convention the first week of July. Going into the week, I did not know what to expect, as I had never been to ICON before. Little did I know it was going to be one of the best weeks of my life. From the first day, after we finally made it to the south pickup, the week was full of fun bus rides, museums, the metro, and of course meeting tons of new people. The Newseum is the coolest museum I have ever been to. From the Berlin Wall to the Pulitzer Prize Winning Photograph Exhibit, there is something for everyone. My personal favorite is a tie between the photograph exhibit and the sixth floor terrace with an amazing view of the Capital. Another standout was the Night Monument Tour we went on Tuesday night. If there is a perfect way to see the monuments, it is on this tour. Everything is so majestic at night and provides for the perfect photo taking opportunities. This was an outstanding way to spend our second night in D.C. Riding the metro can at first be a slightly terrifying experience. However, after you get lost once or twice and figure out what stop the hotel is, the metro is the greatest way to travel. It was the fastest way to get from point A to point B and became quite fun by the end. Once the convention started, meeting new people became the most common thing I did. From riding the elevator to sitting next to someone new in a workshop, there were unlimited opportunities to meet Key Clubbers from all over the country and even some from other countries. However, my absolute favorite part of the trip was sitting in the grass at the Lincoln Memorial watching the breathtaking fireworks display on the Fourth of July. Spending the Fourth of July in Washington D.C. is an experience everyone should have at least once in their life. I have never seen more wonderful fireworks. And of course the crazy, crowded metro ride with fellow NJ Key Clubbers is unforgettable. I cannot wait for next year’s convention in Anaheim, California. I hope to see all of you there, as I am sure it will be just as amazing if not more so than this year’s!
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Personal Experiences Anurag Maganti John F. Kennedy Memorial High School - Division 13 At first I was hesitant about staying at a hotel with about 2,000 strangers. The question “What if no one likes me?” rang through my head about a hundred times the day before the trip. I thought that I would be out of place, especially since my Key Club involvement really just started a few weeks ago. The moment I stepped foot on the bus heading down to Washington D.C. all of my fears and suspicions were cast away as everyone around me turned out to be the nicest and most accepting people I’ve met. And once again to my surprise, the 2,000 other strangers were just like them. I never knew a simple “Hey! I’m from Jersey!” was all it took to make a couple of new friends from all around the world. Out of the numerous activities that were offered at ICON such as the Eliminate Dance and Workshops, I’d have to say that Pin Trading was my very favorite. Even though I went around the huge room about 20 times the number of new faces never ran out. Everyone always had something to give me in exchange for the rare New Jersey Ketchup Pin.
All in all, going to ICON was by far one of the best decisions I’ve made this year. The memories made at the 4th of July fireworks at the Lincoln Memorial, getting lost on the subway, and all the goofy pictures taken at the Smithsonians will be cherished forever. Nicole Lema Lieutenant Governor Division 3A ICON really gave me an opportunity of a lifetime to meet people from all over the nation and world. I met people who will be part of my life for a long time and who I’ve made memories that have molded me into a better person.
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Contact Information
Lieutenant Governor Division 17 Elizabeth Wallace Bloomfield, NJ 973 – 934 – 7584
District Governor Ryan Clarkin Vernon, NJ governor.clarkin@gmail.com
elizabeth.wallace.ltg17@gmail.com
District Treasurer Penny Xu Morris Plains, NJ njtreasurerpennyxu@gmail.com
District Secretary Kelly Tran Egg Harbor Township, NJ dsectrank@gmail.com
District Editor Pak Chau Egg Harbor Township, NJ district.editor.pak@gmail.com
District Webmaster Yuya Ong Tenafly, NJ njwebmasteryuya@gmail.com
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