Division 30 South | September Newsletter

Key Club International | Cali-Nev-Ha | Region 3

VOLUME 24 |ISSUE 4 THE

YELLOW PAGES DIVISION 30 SOUTH

Hello, again, Division 30 South!

I honestly cannot believe that it’s been almost a month since school started. Time is going by so, so fast, and it’s going to be the end of the year before you know it.

2020 can hardly be considered a good year for anyone, but on the brighter side, at least it’s over soon! Despite our circumstances getting worse, however, our division seems to be thriving. I see a lot of Key Clubs continuing to do service projects and fundraising, which has greatly contributed to our progress in achieving our PTP and Service Hours goals! It seems as if yesterday was the day our term just started, and look at how far we’ve come. As time quickly passed, I hope all of us have had a chance to grow and improve as Key Clubbers.

Personally reflecting, I know that I learned a lot of new things as your Division News Editor that have helped me grow as not a only member but a person as well. With that being said, I know a lot of great things are coming for our division, and even if we’re not positively situated currently, things will improve soon -- I just know it! Let’s all work hard, do service, and be optimistic while reflecting on our circumstances while we’re at it. Great, great job so far, Suns!

-- Tran Pham, Division News Editor

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D30S x D13S Pen Pals

By Giang Nguyen | Oxford Key Club Ever since my first Fall Rally South, I have viewed the Division 13 South Ninjas with nothing but respect and admiration. In the days leading up to that event, our division worked hard to win the spirit stick and triumph over all opposition at the rally session. It was a hard-fought battle, but in the end, our spirit shined above the rest and we held the spirit stick high in our hands. With the strength in our bodies and the pride in our hearts, we thought that our spirit was unparalleled by any other division. That is, until we encountered the Ninjas in the streets of Six Flags Magic Mountain. Another division as grand as ours, boasting a spirit stick from a separate rally session, carrying voices as powerful as our own. They were a worthy adversary. Battles were fought. Tears were shed. Lives were nearly lost. On that fated day, I knew that the Division 13 South Ninjas were the true rivals to the Suns. We were to engage in spirit battles until the end of time. It was our destiny.

Anyway, we recently had a little pen pals event. I signed up thinking that I couldn’t possibly pass up a chance to meet a Ninja and talk to them. Staying at home all day

Anna Nguyen | Cypress Key Club

during quarantine has also been a cause for loneliness, I suppose. And who wouldn’t want to make new friends? It’s always exciting to get to know someone, especially when they are a member of the esteemed Division 13 South.

This was my first time participating in a pen pals event, and it wasn’t bad! I didn’t have much to say about myself at first when getting matched, but it didn’t seem to matter. My pen pal and I shared interesting conversations, and I was able to learn a lot about their role in Key Club and how their division works. We also talked about our lives outside of Key Club, and shared some sentiments over how boring quarantine has been. I’m not exactly the type of social butterfly that goes out of their way to make conversations with strangers, so it really feels great to have someone new to talk to.

Overall, this pen pals event has been a positive experience for me, as I’m sure it has been for many of the people who participated. I call it a success!

Environmental Science Project

By Marilyn Nguyen | Kennedy Key Club On Sunday, July 5th, 2020, John F. Kennedy’s key club held an “Environmental Service Project Week.” Service projects are not only an efficient way to gain hours but benefits students through increased sense of self-efficacy, analytical skills, and social development. Currently, COVID-19 has disabled many people, including key club, to have face-to-face interactions, service projects, etc. The idea of an environmental service project was to allow members to have the opportunity to help our communities while staying at home. John F. Kennedy’s Vice President Stephanie Nguyen quotes, “What I liked about the environmental week was that not only it was an easy way to earn service hours, but at the same time it was a way for everyone to save energy and to keep the environment clean so that we can make the world a better place! It was definitely educational, and I learned that this is something we should be doing every day!”

“Stay At Home Car Sunday” was the first step in helping our communities during this pandemic is to ensure their cars (parents or theirs) are at home. One of the best ways to protect yourself is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. Stay home as much as possible and avoid close contact with others. In addition, this is another way for members to help reduce the amount of air pollution created from vehicles.

“Energy Saving Monday” had the same idea of reducing the daily amount of air pollution. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use is a way to save energy.

Reducing energy use limits the number of carbon emissions in the environment.

Reduced emissions result in cleaner air quality and helps create a healthier planet.

“Plant Care Tuesday” allows members to take some time to water their plants in their home, backyard, front yard,

etc. Plants reduce pollution by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the air and giving off oxygen just what we need to survive. Plants do absorb and help with noise pollutions as well.

“Water Saving Wednesday” is water-conserving day as using less water reduces the need to treat and pump so much water. This means less money needs to be spent on energy, chemicals and on additional reservoirs. To add on, reducing the amount of energy used in pumping water lessens carbon emissions.

“Recycle Thursday” grants an opportunity to reduce the pollution caused by the extraction and processing of virgin materials. Recycling prevents the emissions of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants and saves energy. As we save energy the number of greenhouse gases and oxides are produced in less quantity.

“Learn to Love Leftovers Friday” reduces methane emissions from landfills. Food waste ends up wasting nearly a quarter of our water supply. Cutting back on food waste can lead to very significant decreases in greenhouse gas emissions associated with our food system.

Lastly, “Say Bye to Your Bottle Saturday,” members were to use a mug/cup to drink from instead of drinking from plastic bottles. Reusable cups tend to use fewer minerals and fossil fuels than disposable cups. Using reusable cups reduces waste and does eliminate the unwelcome taste of plastic in drinks.

John F. Kennedy’s key club member Comely Tan quotes, “I liked how it encouraged changing and adding a few little things to our daily habits to create less waste and conserve more energy, whether it only lasted a week or not.” This service project proves that limitations from COVID-19 will not stop Key Clubbers from helping their communities. Even without these projects, I do encourage others to still do actions that can benefit in helping others and our communities to become a safe place.

By Maylani Vo | Cypress Key Club The Cards 4 Kids event was an amazing event I participated in! The objective of this event was to use our creativity to make cards for young children who are currently in hospitals. The cards included words of encouragement and motivation to inspire the children and make them smile, and to provide comfort. In the cards I created, I wrote the words “You got this!” and “We love and appreciate you so much!” While making these cards I always had the kids in mind, I thought about what makes them happy and included it in. I added bright colors and doodles to make the cards extra appealing. It’s nice to know that someone will be reading the cards I made and that I was able to make their day with it!

I’m so glad that the project chairs were able to find this event because I know we made real impact after completing this project. I hope the cards I wrote really touched some hearts and made people just a little happier than they were before. As Key Clubbers, doing service that has tangible impact on the community matters to us, and I’d like to believe that our cards, which were small and simple gestures, still contributed some way to our community.

By Clarissa Molina-Rodriguez | Cypress Key Club One of Cypress’ July service events I participated in was bedtime stories for kids, where we submitted video recordings of us reading a childhood bedtime story which was later sent to a children’s hospital. I decided to read the book, Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems. It felt kind of weird reading stories aloud to myself, especially when it’s stories that I wouldn’t normally read on my own time anymore, but then I thought of these kids who never get read bedtime stories like we did when we were younger. Or they might just want someone’s company at night and the comfort it may provide which made me give the reading my all and went full out. Even though I’m not the best at voices, I hope the kids who listen to my recording will enjoy it and laugh along because that’s what I hope for.

I think we will be able to make a couple of kids’ days with these bedtime stories because who doesn’t want someone reading them their favorite book to end off the day?

Reflection on the First Quarter of the Term

By Celeste Amorim | Western Key Club The first quarter of the term was definitely interesting. Pretty much all of our first term was done virtually we have yet to have a in person service project or event and we probably won’t have one for a while. But even with all of the obstacles, we have tried our best to make sure that we are doing the best we ca under these circumstances. Last quarter we definitely got off to a slow start but as time went by we started to get the hang of it and we gradually started getting more service hours. But one thing I wish we could have done last quarter was having more communication with our club. Something that I also have been reflecting on

was that I should have been more on task I left most of my work to the last minute and stressed myself but I have learned from the first quarter and now I know what not to do to make sure that my club is running smoothly. Last quarter was something of a learning period for me because since it was my first time being a secretary I had to learn everything fast and make sure that I am turning in everything on time and make sure that our club is looked upon as being responsible and that we are commended on our hard work. Even though we didn’t place in shining club in our division the first quarter we did get 4th shining club of the month this month so that means we are improving and we will only get better from this moment and on.

On to to the second quarter!

Note From The Editor All of our clubs seemed to have worked so hard this quarter and your work has truly paid off. I can’t wait to see what you all have planned for this next quarter, and I know that it will so awesome!

-- Tran Pham | Division News Editor

By Jocelynn Nguyen | Magnolia Key Club Although this term began with no in person events and online events from the comfort of our own homes due to the COVID 19 pandemic, I have got to say that this first quarter has passed by way faster than I thought. In the beginning, I was devastated to find out that the in person events were cancelled but as the virtual events continued,

my enthusiasm for Key Club remained.

Obviously things weren’t going to be the same but I kept my hopes up. The first quarter’s events were consistent which gave me something to look forward to during quarantine. I would not have wanted the events any other way and appreciate the hard work put into planning these events. One of my favorite events was the Officer Training Conference. It was cool seeing different members and LTGs from other divisions.

I also learned a lot of crucial information at the workshops I attended which were the Vice President and Networking workshops.

By Toni Quintos | Loara Key Club PTP Bingo was a fun and more importantly virtual way of fundraising money for PTP. It’s essential to make funds for PTP (Pediatric Trauma Program) because it is one of key clubs four preferred charities. This is an ongoing fundraiser inspired by the Division’s where board members create a bingo card filled with fun dares that each cost money. For example, in my card, I wrote that if someone paid $2, I would go on the floor and act like sizzling bacon.

Buyers would donate the money through venmo. I think PTP Bingo is a great way to get funds for PTP, especially considering our situation with covid. Personally, I’ve raised $10 so far; however, each board member is expected to raise $15.

Me and my younger brother have supported other people’s dares as well, and it’s been great getting a laugh from what we’ve paid for, while also knowing we are supporting PTP.

PTP Goal - 9.6%

PTP Goal - 39.3%

Last DCM, our LTG, Jennifer Vo, announced that our division is very well on its way to achieving its goals! For PTP funds, we’ve attained approximately 10% of our goal. As for service hours, we’ve completed almost 40% of our goal!

Good job, Suns! Let’s make this term just as successful as, if not more than, the last one!

Goals Overview: PTP: $13,000 Service Hours: 25,000