Viking Newsletter | Lamar Key Club | Volume II Issue III | October 2020

viking

newsletter OCT 2020 | Issue III Volume II

Working for a CAUSE, not for Applause

N 9 3 n oi si vi D 7 n oi g e R | l o o h c S h gi H r a m a L Service Opportunities // October Review // Favorite Service Events // Digital Detox

Written by Cleo Chiu

editor's note There's only a "six-weeks" left in the first semester.

Looking back on everything that happened, it's hard to believe that time has passed so fast. As a senior, it feels sad knowing that digital learning and volunteering is how I spent my last September & October in Key Club and in Lamar.

But there is still so much left that we can do and there have been so many new things that we've done.

This newsletter explores how we're dealing with virtual learning and volunteering. As the editor of LHS Key Club, I personally feel like we've never been more connected. On the apps that we volunteer on, we can see each other's progress rather than attending service opportunities alone. Even though we're stuck behind screens, everyone's "grains" on Free Rice, photos on J&J, and miles on Charity Miles add up as a club as a whole, we've never been more like a club.

1 | Editor's Note & Letter from the President

letter from the prezident Hey y’all!

We’re done with the second 6 weeks of school, which means we’re also done with Q2 of Key Club. Looking at the current hours this time, we have around 130 hours, between all of us. I have faith that lots of people haven’t logged their hours, so the number is definitely higher. For working through a pandemic, that is AMAZING! So please get those hours in, and hopefully, as a club, we can hit 250 just before winter break. Second, Vikingfest has been postponed, but so have memberships. If you know anybody that would like to join, let them know so they don’t procrastinate and join so they can be reported into our membership system. Thank you guys for making an impact on our communities, and stay tuned to our newsletter where we have a halloween special in there (hint hint it’s very popular among us right now).

2 | Editor's Note & Letter from the President

CONTENTS 1

LETTER FROM THE PREZ EDITOR'S NOTE

4

GET2KNOW UR OFFICERS SENIOR REP

5

CLUB OFFICERS CONTACT INFORMATION

7

DISTRICT OFFICERS CONTACT INFORMATION

8

UPCOMING EVENTS NOVEMBER

9

OCTOBER REVIEW + LINKS

12

NOVEMBER SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

13

MY FAV SERVICE EVENT -CLEO CHIU

15

EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING - JADE HA

17

ODE TO KEY CLUB - DAZ MCGINNIS

19

DIGITAL DETOX - JOSHUA CHANG

21

LOOKING FORWARD - PATRICK CHANG

23

HUMANS OF TEXASOKLAHOMA - SARA LIM

25

KC INTERNATIONAL'S PARTNERS & CHARITIES

GET TO KNOW YOUR

SENIOR REP Halloween Edition

MY FAVORITES COLOR: Royal Blue FRUIT: Mango HALLOWEEN CANDY: Gobstopper COSTUME THIS YEAR: AmongUS

Something important to me is My family, because without them I wouldn't be here and without their support I am not able to do the things that I am able to do today

EXTRACURRICULARS Tennis, Orchestra, FBLA, Church

JOSHUA CHANG Hi fellow key clubbers I hope you are having fun and that you are participating in the monthly event so. I hope you enjoy the rest of your 2020 year as it will probably be in quarantine. I hope to volunteer with you in person soon. Continue to get those hours and serve those around you. Continue to spread the love that is within you to those who may not have or get as much love.

COLLEGE CHOICE University of Texas at Austin

DESIRED MAJOR Business

MY DUTIES Make powerpoints for meetings Answer questions Help recruit members Understand what the seniors in Key Club need and covey their expectations 4 | Get to know your officers

President Patrick Chang Vice President Emily Wilson

kc.lamar.vicepresident@gmail.com kc.lamar.president@gmail.com

Secre Jade

Treasurer Razan Shakoor kc.lamar.secretary@gmail.com

kc.lamar.treasurer@gmail.com

Editor Cleo Chiu

kc.lamar.editor@gmail.com

5 | Club Officers

AMONG US OFFICER C Webmaster Haley Wehr

kc.lamar.webmaster@gmail.com

kc.lamar.historian@gmail.com

Senior Rep Joshua Chang

Historian Brett Green

etary e Ha

kc.lamar.seniorrep@gmail.com

Junior Rep Daz McGinnis

S version CONTACTS

kc.lamar.juniorrep@gmail.com

Sophomore Rep Sara Lim

kc.lamar.sophrep@gmail.com

NEW OFFICER! Freshman Rep Madison Harris

kc.lamar.freshrep@gmail.com 6 | Club Officers

DISTRICT GOVERNOR Kareena Patel

district officers

governor@tokeyclub.com

7 | District Officers

DISTRICT SECRETARY

Vivian Thai

secretary@tokeyclub.com

DISTRICT TREASURER

Raj Patel

treasurer@tokeyclub.com

DISTRICT EDITOR

Katelyn Tran

editor@tokeyclub.com

CONVENTION LIASON

Kaitlyn Roehr

cl@tokeyclub.com

TECHNOLOGY PRODUCER Alina Dam

techproducer @tokeyclub.com

INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEE Salma Eldeeb

salma.eldeeb @tokeyclub.com

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Valerie Hennessee

ltg39n@tokeyclub.com

REGION 7 ADVISOR

Melissa Greene

region7@tokeyclub.com

NOVEMBER UPCOMING

EVENTS

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

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20

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29

30

KEY CLUB WEEK!!!

20th LAST

6th

FOR

UNICEF TRIVIA

DAY

TO

SIGN

UP

THE

NOVEMBER

NIGHT

25th

NOVEMBER

HOTO

13th LAST IN

DAY

GENRAL

MEETING

27th

TO

TURN

IN-PERSON

OCC

OCC

NATIONAL

COLLECTION

WEEK

BOXES 8 | Upcoming events

OCTOBER REVIEW Johnson & Johnson Donate a Photo The #DonateAPhoto service opportunity has been an success for our club. We checked the #lhskc that we asked our members to include when they donate a photo. It is absolutely an honor to say that our key club has at least 750 photos uploaded by our members! This means that by spending one minute to donate a photo each day, our members have helped 750 causes!

The photos above are a few of our editor's favorite picks of the month -she is pretty biased because she likes fluffy animals- but there are so many other great photos! Download the app, and search #lhskc to see our members' donations!

9 | October Review - Donate a Photo

UNWFP's FreeRice As a generation that supposedly has a shorter attention span, our club's progress on Free Rice is amazing. By answer trivia in categories such as English Vocabulary, Sustainable Development Goals, COVID-19, and flags of the world, our members have donates 88 thousand grains of rice so far. Congratulations to Allyson 17 who is the number one "donater" of our club this month! She has donated 13 thousand grains, equivalent to getting 2600 questions right!

Cord & Stole Requirements 2020-2021 Chord 50 hours from any organization (ex. NHS + SNHS + Key Club) If you want a stole But its your:

**Note: Sponsored Hours are hours from opportunities talked about during the meeting, or ones that we promote.

1st Year in the Club 15 Sponsored Hours

15 Self-Earned Hours

If you want a stole And it is your:

2nd Year in the Club 25 Sponsored Hours

0 10 Number of Hours

20 Self-Earned Hours

20

30

40

50

10 | October Review

GET IN TOUCH keyclub.lamar @gmail.com

@lamarkeyclub

@vfndkey1

https://keyclublamar.wixsite.com/lhskey Log your Hours: https://tinyurl.com/lhskcloghours

Pay your Dues: https://tinyurl.com/lhskcdues

Free Rice APP: https://freerice.com/

OUR

Donate a Photo APP: www.donateaphoto.com

SPONSORS

Ms. Robbins erobbins @aisd.net

Ms. Chamberlain echamber @aisd.net

COMING SOON BLACK

LIVES

SHIRT

MATTER

DESIGN

#1

QUOTE: "IF

NOT IF

US

NOT

THEN

NOW

WHO?

THEN

WHEN?"

BLACK

LIVES

SHIRT

MATTER

DESIGN

#2

BY SOPHIA MA

11 | October Meeting Review

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES (NOVEMBER) Free Rice by UNWFP STEP 1: go to freerice.com or download the free app STEP 2: log in & our group with the code: 29JTX24F STEP 3: start doing trivia! each question = 5 grains of rice donated 1 hr/ 100 grains, 5 hrs max STEP 1: download the Donate a Photo app STEP 2: Start Donating!! Don't forget to add #lhskc when you donate!

Maintain a streak for 7 days to get an hour

Charity Miles

Donate A Photo by Johnson & Johnson

STEP 1: download the Charity Miles app STEP 2: Pick "March of Dimes" as your charity - it is preferred by KC International.

STEP 3: Join our group and remember to bring your phone when you go walking! It can record your footsteps throughout the day.

1 hr / 10 miles - don't worry, they add up!

Operation Christmas Child Option 1: Go online and pack a shoebox online for $25 (2 hrs / box) Option 2: Pack a shoebox yourself and bring it to Lamar. Please remember to check the items that should not be included!

(1 hr / box) Option 3: Contact an Officer to donate toys

HUMANS OF TEXAS OKLAHOMA

Write an article for an hour!

Talk about yourself and your journey in Key Club Send us a photo of yourself It has to be at least 450 words Thank you to Samuel Lee for writing the September HOTO! 12 | November - Service Opportunities

my favorite service event so far

by Cleo Chiu

On a normal year, I bet my favorite service event so far would be something that had to do with a fall festival either at River Legacy, Mission Arlington, or elementaries and junior highs near us. But ultimately, we’re stuck mostly at home, staring at our screens for school and more relaxation, so it isn’t a surprise that our service events are also part of the virtual world.

I think the most comforting thing about virtual volunteering is the physical impact that is happening somewhere across the world. Our club has done Free Rice, Donate a Photo, and Adopt a Nursing Home. I haven’t had a chance to write a letter to the nursing home our club adopted, or else it would probably be my favorite service event. Of these three that our club has offered to us, I enjoyed Free Rice the most. It could be done anytime, anywhere - as long as there was internet connection- and it was very educational. It’s basically an app that its users play trivia using a category of their choice.

Each trivia question we get right donates enough money to help the World Food Program donate 5 grains of rice to people in need. As a former MUNer, I am really glad that the UN has decided to do something that could include common people like me.

13| My Favorite Service Opportunity

There are many critics of social media and screen time who say that it causes depression, anxiety, and other negative emotions. They’re not wrong.

My instagram is often filled with news about devastating disasters, whether man-made or natural, and sometimes it just makes me sad that there isn’t a lot that I can do. While food waste is a huge problem in the developed world, hunger is undeniably a problem world wide. By playing trivia on my phone while I wait for take out, while I sit on the car, while I sit on the toilet, I’ve felt like I made a large impact on the world. Although a few hundred grains of rice may not seem like much, I am confident that every little action has a reaction, and everyone’s combined efforts can make a big impact.

In addition to volunteering “internationally”, our club has a group in Free Rice that members can join and feel less distanced by working with our community.

From being the founder of the group and being the person who has donate the most grains, to sadly, number twenty compared to our awesome members, It has really been an honor to serve with these people. Free Rice, in a way, connects us. When I open that group and see all my friends and fellow members all trying very hard to volunteer in the world despite everyone’s busy schedules, I am propelled to continue to save time to volunteer, and I am proud of our club and the progress it has made.

In conclusion, while my other favorite service opportunity, Donate a Photo, is also very fun to scroll through the #lhskc, we can only do it once a day, so Free Rice remains my favorite service event so far.

14 | My Favorite Service Opportunity

J A D E

H A

Key clubs all over the world right now are

volunteer, but member participation has

struggling to find ways to serve the

drastically increased from the previous

community while staying safe, and Lamar

year. It’s amazing to see members still so

High School’s Key Club has been no

optimistic about service even if this wasn’t

exception. We, like many other clubs, have

necessarily what they signed up for.

found many virtual and low-contact

During a regular school year, there are so

opportunities to serve. However, I wouldn’t

many scheduling conflicts and other time

consider that the silver lining to this big,

commitments that prohibit many members

terrible, covid-induced cloud. Seeking out

from participating as much as they would

these unprecedented volunteer

like. People have tennis tournaments on

opportunities in these unprecedented

weekends, orchestra competitions, work,

times (I’m sure we’re all tired of hearing

family responsibilities, etc. and may not

that one) is simply a given. As officers, it is

be able to attend, say, the seemingly

our responsibility to adapt to the

never-ending amount of fall festivals this

circumstances thrown at us. The real silver

time of year. Having more accessible

lining lies, of course, in the people that

service events, many of which can be

truly make key club what it is...our

done simply through a phone such as Free

members!

Rice and Charity Miles, has allowed more members to participate than we’ve ever

It sounds counterintuitive since we have

seen. I feel like I’ve especially gotten a

been virtual and restricted in how we can

unique first hand account of this increase

15| Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

heart-warming to see that the majority of club members are participating in the virtual service events we have to offer. As the school year progresses, I look forward to continuing this trend of active participation. This is certainly an indication that we’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg and we can hopefully look forward to more member participation in socials and higher attendance in meetings, both of which will be much more accessible and convenient over a virtual setting.

I would’ve never thought that member participation of all things would increase.

In fact, I was apprehensive going into the school year that we’d disappoint and lose the interest of so many members given that we couldn’t provide them with the inperson experience they expected.

However, my fear seems to have luckily been for naught. Even with all the chaos

since I was actually the secretary last year

in the world right now,

and remained the secretary for this year.

Despite the sheer amount of data us secretaries have to sift through, you eventually notice patterns emerging as the months go by. Last year, we had quite a large amount of members, just over 100, but I recall seeing the same 15 to 20 people volunteering at every event whereas the majority of our members weren’t meeting the hour requirements to be in good standing. On the other hand, we have about half as many members so

"our dedicated members serve as an important reminder that there’s no cloud without a silver lining."

far for this school year but it’s already so

16 | Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

ODE TO KEY CLUB

by Daz McGinnis

Freshman year, a time of trauma; from the first moment of walking into a high school 3x larger than the middle school you just escaped from, to the last moment of the day when hoping for a better tomorrow is a necessity. Now this was my experience as an overachiever that dedicated all her time to GPA points and a snazzy college resume. And to be honest, joining Key Club wasn't an exception to that. I know, I know, it sounds absolutely horrible, but that's what makes this a love story: girl meets guy, girl hates guy, guy then hates girl, somehow ends up mutually using each other, huge fallout, then boom, falls in love. Well that's me, other than the fact that this is with a schoolhouse extracurricular.

I joined Key Club, due to the fact that I already volunteered a lot through a religious organization, and because of the five Youtube videos I watched for high school advice in regards to college preparation. However, over time, I grew very fond of the club because of what we do, and the people who do what we do...us, 17 | Ode to Key Club

especially the younger members of the club. My first Key-Club related volunteer experience was with River Legacy's Fall Festival, and it was there when I began my love tango with this enduring club. I worked with children of various ages

We started to remember each other and look forward to working with each other, and there’s nothing that makes me more proud than to see my generation and younger grow into the people who humble themselves for the

and backgrounds and saw how us volunteering had an impact on their childhood. From there, my love

good of others- who value their servantship instead of putting ourselves in the middle of our worlds. And that is

continued to grow when I volunteered for a food drive next, and saw how so many people who didn’t know each other all shared one goal: to help those who weren’t as fortunate as we are.

what I’m reminded of every meeting, every interaction; it’s what makes me fall in love over and over again.

That, to me, spoke volumes about who I wanted to be and what I want to do for others. What really enthralled me about my club was that time and time again, I would keep meeting the younger members of my club when we would go out and volunteer.

coming to an end with this being my senior year. By not only being a club member for the last four years, but as an officer of the last two years, I can safely say that I’m leaving my love in the hands of people who share it with me.

Unfortunately, my time with Key Club is

"there’s nothing that makes me more proud than to see my generation and younger grow into the people who humble themselves for the good of others"

18 | Ode to Key Club

EL DORADO DAILY DISPATCH The newsletter of the University of El Dorado

Photo Caption: Joshua Chang volunteering last summer in Jamaica

Digital Detox Article by Joshua Chang

Everyone nowadays is either going to school to be on their computer to learn or at home on their computers. Therefore, we are spending a lot of time on our phones and computers. We can all help and put a stop to this by going out on walks when we don't want to do the class work or even when we are volunteering by making sure we limit our screen time.

This month as a club we decided to do charity miles as a service opportunity.

With charity miles it tracks how many steps that you take and gives a portion of the money to the charity of your choice.

By going on walks during the school day we can help donate

19 | Digital Detox

and limit the time that we spend in front of our cell phones and computers each and every day. This can also keep us moving which has a really big health benefit. Doing charity miles was a great bonus this month because it has taken away from my computer that I have been staring at for an entire class and when I procrastinate, but now that there are charity miles it encourages me to go exercise and raise money for charities to use and help others.

Although in person volunteering events are rare, they are still out there for you to go and find and do. I know that some people are really scared of this COVID virus whether you volunteer digitally or in person you are still giving back to the community. Going in person has many benefits you get to detox from your computer and phone. You are outdoors where you get to see the beautiful scenery of nature and many other things. Also, when you volunteer you get to walk around a lot, so also having charity miles is a great bonus that you can use to raise even more money. When you

volunteer in person right now it is a great benefit to the host who has put on the event because they really can not find anyone to go in and help due to COVID. With the amount of people in need during this pandemic it is important that we as a community come together and put down our technological devices and serve those who are in need. As we are also home all day we have the ability to snack whenever we want which can cause a gain in weight, and sitting in our chairs and at our desks won’t help the weight gain. By going out on walks and donating while we are doing it is just a great bonus.

Therefore, everyone get up and use charity miles in order to donate to March Of Dimes when you go exercising and volunteering whether in person or digitally.

During this pandemic it is important that we as a community come together 20 | Digital Detox

LOOKING FORWARD

For this year, personally, I am looking forward

myself..

to all of our virtual events. As we progress towards the end of the year, it’s amazing to see

As a senior, I have the privilege of working at

how many people are able to participate and

one of my dream companies, and with that,

volunteer. I would even go as far to say that

came with lots of work to do. After work, it’s

this is our most efficient year, by comparing the

way too late to make it to any in person event,

amount of hours to our amount of members. By

so online volunteering has really given me a

allowing volunteer work to be done outside of

chance to do the best of both worlds. After

the ordinary time of day, we’re working more

sitting at my desk all day, I like to go home, and

efficiently, and are more available to members

go on a run.

that are busy during the day, for example,

21 | Looking Forward

Using the app Charity Miles, I’m able to

So far, we’ve introduced service opportunities

contribute to charities of my choice (March of

for Johnson & Johnson, Free Rice, and Charity

Dimes) by running, walking, or biking. I’m also

miles. We’re excited for the coming months,

able to have the option of passively

where we can go into more of a hybrid mode

volunteering, because I can use my phone and

of volunteering. We’ll have options where

count steps and distance for Charity Miles.

members can help in person with our highlight projects of each month, and we’ll have options

The addition of volunteering virtually also raises the idea of why couldn’t we do this before?

Before, many of our members were busy on the weekends, where most volunteer activities were scheduled. Now, we have freedom of when to do volunteer activities whenever we can, vs. the old ways of whenever we could make it. Going on into the future, we’re definitely going to be incorporating these online activities into the years to come.

where anybody can volunteer virtually. However we volunteer, it’s always going to benefit people that are on the receiving end of our efforts. None of this would be possible without the help and willingness of our members, and we owe it all to the members that have the spirit of volunteering inside them.

by Patrick Chang

22 | Looking Forward

HUMANS OF TEXAS OKLAHOMA

23 | Humans of Texas Oklahoma

Hello, my name is Sara Lim. This is my second year in Key Club, and I am the Key Club representative for the sophomore class here at Lamar! I play the violin in the

As I mentioned previously, I play the violin.

I started playing the violin in 4th grade of my own will because I thought it sounded pretty. I don’t only participate in the

symphony orchestra at Lamar, and I’m also on varsity tennis. I enjoy drawing/painting and cooking in my free time (if I’m not drowning in homework haha).

orchestra in school, but I use my ability for others too. For example, at Christmas, my mom organizes a group of my friends and me to go sing and play carols in nursing homes. Doing this brings smiles and joy to

Volunteering has always been a part of my life since my parents brought my siblings and me to many volunteering events throughout our childhood. And when I found out that Lamar had a club that emphasized

the people watching us. It also brings me joy to see that we’ve brightened their day.

I’m glad that I can use my violin “skills” to make others happy in our community. A fun fact about me is that I sew! I’ve been

volunteerism, I was elated to join! Joining Key Club last year as a freshman, I didn’t have very high expectations. But, as I started hanging out and volunteering with the

sowing masks for my local church drive, and now I’m sowing masks for the Lamar band booster club. I also plan on sewing masks in the near future to donate to a

people in Key Club, I realized that this club wasn’t only about volunteering and bettering the community; but a family. Key Club is one united family to me. Unlike other clubs, Key Club reaches out to people/organizations to help them! It’s an amazing family to be a part

hospital called Scottish Rite because they’ve helped me when I had to go there for a year and now I want to give back to them. I hope that here at Key Club we can start a sewing service opportunity to donate masks to our community too!

of. Going to service opportunities together and growing as a better human being is a valuable outcome of being in Key Club to me.

I look forward to creating more memories in Key Club this year despite the pandemic!

I can’t wait to be able to see everyone in person again. And most of all - I can’t wait to volunteer with the Key Club family again.

I realized that this club wasn’t only about volunteering and bettering the community; but a family.

24 | Humans of Texas Oklahoma

Key Club International's Collaborative & Service Partners Landscape Structures (LSI) has joined Kiwanis International as a vision partner to bring play to communities across the globe. LSI is proud to provide high-quality commercial playground equipment and planning consultation services that reflect the high degree of integrity that Kiwanis clubs expect.

Thirst Project is a nonprofit organization that works with the support of young people to END the global water crisis by building freshwater wells in developing communities that need safe, clean drinking water.

By providing a community with safe drinking water, disease rates can drop by up to 88% virtually overnight!

Child mortality rates can drop up to 90%- overnight!

Clean water also plays an incredibly critical role in effectively treating and managing HIV/AIDS in rural communities.

Nickelodeon currently presents two major campaigns year round that encourage action in kids globally. Worldwide Day of Play reinforces Nickelodeon’s mission to make the world a more playful place by leading Play events across the country.

Nickelodeon’s Get Dirty campaign seeks to educate kids, families, and teachers about what they can do to help protect the planet in a way that is mindful and fun.

TeleSquads provide Key Club members with affordable opportunities to complete community service hours while gaining hands-on international experience implementing projects that improve health and education outcomes for inneed communities. Each TeleSquad is a customized 1-9 week online course for groups of 8 or more Key Club members to build knowledge through skill-based volunteering, build cultural competency through virtual immersion, and deliver real impact through our local team by participating in live community and professional exchanges.

25 | KC International's Partners

K Corps is Kiwanis International’s youth exchange program for Key Clubbers and Kiwanis-family teens. It’s a great opportunity for youth connected with Kiwanis—and for families and Kiwanis clubs as well.Through the program, clubs, families and youth develop strong global relationships and intercultural communication skills by—attending meetings, experiencing fellowship, raising funds for various causes, and participating in service projects.

The Army strives to strengthen local communities Register for one month of through service and to build character and fitness, reach your health leadership among youth such as Key Club members. goals, and change lives.

Through the Kiwanis Speakers Army personnel can Join individually or create a connect with Kiwanis-family clubs at club meetings, team. Your involvement raising awareness of what today’s Army can provide creates community, and it and offer access to local Army support and helps Project Happiness resources. The Army also gives exceptional educate youth and people of all ages—by providing opportunities in higher education that can help proven tools for greater happiness and well-being. young people throughout their lives.

Preferred Charities

Since 2014, Up with People and Kiwanis International members have teamed up to serve our communities, inspire youth and expand our impact in the world. that’s what Kiwanis International and Up with People share. Up with People programs open a door to service and intercultural understanding—whether it’s through a local show, leadership, and cultural workshops or providing service and travel experiences for young adults. Both organizations strive to ‘serve the children of the world’ and ‘empower youth to take action’ through our partnership.

26 | KC International's Partners

Thank you for reading Issue III Volume II of the Viking Newsletter

KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL WEBSITE: KIWANIS.ORG TEXAS-OKLAHOMA DISTRICT WEBSITE: TOKEYCLUB.COM