Viking Newsletter | Lamar Key Club | Volume III Issue VII | February 2022

VIKING NEWSLETTER February 2022 | Volume III Issue VII

Lamar High School Region 7 Division 39N

September August

October

November

December

March - May

January

PRESIDENT'S LETTER We are now counting down the months until the end of year, but our Key Club is nowhere close to stopping. Thanks to all our members who have stayed strong for all this time, and thanks especially to those who volunteered at our big Pancake Breakfast with the Kiwanis Club of Arlington. We still have a lot to look forward too with our YOF grant project coming up in a month, which brings the opportunity to read to some elementary kiddos. If you’re a senior this year, keep in mind you’ll have to submit your hours in two months, but until then, keep an eye out for lots of opportunities both online and in-person. We can’t wait to keep bettering ourselves and our community with all of y’all.

1 | President's Letter

TABLE OF

3 FEBRUARY RECAP 5 MARCH OUTLOOK 7 INCLUSION - BY LAYLA SHALABI 9 THE NEXT STEP - ADA LIAN 11 CLUB OFFICERS 13 DISTRICT OFFICERS 14 LEDCON NEWS 15 GOALS THIS MONTH - SARA LIM 17 IDEAS FOR YOF GRANT - EMILY WILSON 19 HOTO - LUKE ANDERSON 21 KC INTERNATIONAL'S PARTNERS

CALENDAR

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

1

2

3

4

5

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7

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28 27

28

2nd

23RD FEBRUARY

SOCIAL

FEBRUARY GENRAL

MEETING

1st APL

CRAFTS

14TH

VALENTINES

3 | February Recap

26TH KIWANIS

PANCAKE

DAY

25th HOTO

Due

HERE'S

A

RECAP

This month we had a special event where we volunteered for the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast on February 26th. We passed out drinks, cooked and served pancakes (along with sausage patties), passed out a variety of drinks and met with a lot of honored people.

We sent out officer applications last week and we will be accepting applications for Key Club Officer positions next year by April 1st.

Applications can be found in room 284. They require a teacher recommendation sent to Ms. Connor: pconnor@aisd.net. Again, both the application AND teacher recommendation will be due by April 1st.

There are 2 steps after submitting the application: 1) Applications will be reviewed by advisors and officers 2) If accepted and there are multiple applying for a position there will be a vote among the general membership.

4 | February Recap

CALENDAR

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

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17

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22

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25

26

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28

29

30

31

2nd 1st

week

of

March

MARCH

OFFICER APPS

RELEASED

GENRAL

21st

MEETING

APL

14-18th

SPRING

BREAK

31st HOTO

5 | March Outlook

Due

CRAFTS

NEW

EVENTS

YOF Grant: Bringing in the Books On April 29th we will have a day where members can volunteer to read to students at Butler Elementary.

This will be during the school day.

For absence to be excused, you must have a form filled out by parents (forms in room 284 - Ms. Connor's room) We will also donate books that we've purchased to each school.

CONTINUING

EVENTS

Charity Miles https://miles.app.link/8H4Q6ZnAKab 10 miles/hr - it's not hard! Just take your phone on walks.

Make sure you’re in our group! We’re supporting March of Dimes, a Kiwanis Partnership Free Rice (UN World Food Program) Group Code 29JTX24F Maximum 5 hours, so 2500 grains of rice Download the app or use the website: freerice.org Humans of Texas Oklahoma (Due Mar 31st) Become our featured HOTO member of the month!

Write 450-500 words about your key club experience, include a picture of yourself. Contact the editor, Sara Lim, for more info: KC.lamar.editor@gmail.com Arlington Public Library Crafts - Monday, March 21st from 3:30-5:30 pm Please be there for at least 30 min We will be putting together crafts for seniors who partake in Books on Wheels, APL’s outreach service for seniors. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f4dadaf2ca7fd0-march IMPORTANT

LINKS

Lamar Key Club Website https://keyclublamar.wixsite.com/lhskey Find all the important information here including opportunities, meeting presentations, cord and stole requirements.

Log Your Hours! https://tinyurl.com/lhskcloghours

Email Us! keyclub.lamar@gmail.com

Follow Us: @lamarkeyclub

Get Newest Information @vfndkey1

6 | March Outlook

INCLU -SION

WRITTEN BY Layla Shalabi

7 | Inclusion

Inclusiveness is very important for Another way our club has promoted Lamar’s Key Club because it allows inclusivity is through our online and everyone to have a sense of in-person volunteer opportunities. belonging in the community. We want During the difficult time of this to include everyone in participating pandemic, some members might not in volunteering opportunities, feel comfortable with participating meetings, our social media, and in in-person events, or maybe some socials to strengthen and improve don't have the time to attend these the experience of working with events. Our club does not want another. This inclusiveness and sense anyone to feel left out and not have of comfort create a positive the chance to earn their hours, environment that allows people to therefore, we have kept and participate more with Key Club. included more online initiatives for Some ways our club promotes flexibility. These initiatives also inclusivity is by collaborating with engage our members not only with our other school clubs, including helping the local community but also underclassmen as a part of our helping and being a part of the officers, incorporating online and inglobal community through initiatives person volunteering opportunities, such as; DoSomething.com. using social media to promote other non-Kiwanis to participate in These are a few of the ways our volunteering opportunities, and club has promoted inclusiveness. We providing any other information and want all members or non-members to choosing volunteering opportunities have a sense of belonging in Key that don’t just help our local Club and in helping the world. The community but also engages with the positive environment inclusiveness global community. One way our club has created will lead us to continue is promoting inclusivity is by being an inclusive club. Our club will collaborating with other school clubs continue to find more ways for such as LULAC, the League of United creating a space where people can Latin American Citizens. Through feel welcomed. collaborating with LULAC, our club members and officers are working with different volunteer clubs and learning more about Latin culture.

Some events we have participated in with LULAC were a Thanksgiving food drive, volunteering with them at Mission Arlington, and hosting a Winter Warmth Drive.

8 | Inclusion

As we enter spring, it’s time for officer elections for the next school year. The Lamar High School Key Club has yet to hold its official officer election, however, things are already planned for the event. In the last couple of months, my experience will be more giving on to the next. As the current secretary, I will try my best to recruit and advertise the position to find someone to fill in the important role for the next year.

In the March meeting, each officer will give a brief insight into their roles. I plan to briefly discuss the monthly report, which is the main task for the secretary. I will tell the members that every month, they will use the google form found on the key club website to access the monthly report. This monthly report will give Kiwanis and other officers a large portion of the information on the Lamar Key Club, such as how and when activities are being executed. After all, on the report, there are meeting minutes and attendance, hour logs, the task of the month, and other important activities that the club has done. In addition, the secretary’s side job is to help out other officers and to attend as many events as possible.

9 | The Next Step

THE NEXT STEP Ada Lian After explaining that portion, I will tell the members that I’m open to any questions they have on the position at any time. They’re free to message me or ask me questions whenever they see me around. By doing so, I hope the members can feel comfortable asking for help, and that by providing one-onone support, I can boost the members more on the position. After application submissions and elections, I will initiate training with the new secretary. I hope to have the new secretary work with me for the last couple of monthly reports to let them have a bit of hands-on training.

I will show them how things are

The most important part of the

organized, such as how specific

training for me personally is to make

information is divided in the drive

sure the new secretary isn’t

and folders, and they are free to

overwhelmed and have a smooth

change the organization to fit their

sailing during their time in the

needs. In addition, I will provide

position. If the secretary position is

them with a checklist of things or

unfulfilled, I will work with the other

some advice notes on the side to

officers to work out a solution,

remind them. I will also look over

probably by splitting the work

the previous training notes I took

between each officer. Whatever

during my secretary training in

happens, I will try my best to be

order to prepare my best to be a

prepared for the situation. Although

trainer.

it’s sad to see how fast time flew by for the current officers, we all hope that next year’s officers will continue to spread the fun of Key Club!

10 | The Next Step

KC.LAMAR.WEBMASTER@GMAIL.COM

HALEY WEHR

TREASURER

SECRETARY

VICE- PREZ

KC.LAMAR.VICEPRESIDENT@GMAIL.COM

ZAC HATT

'22

KC.LAMAR.SECRETARY@GMAIL.COM

11| Club Officers

SARA LIM

'23

'22

KC.LAMAR.EDITOR@GMAIL.COM

'23 ADA LIAN

SAMIR ZAMAN

'22

PRESIDENT

EMILY WILSON

KC.LAMAR.PRESIDENT@GMAIL.COM

'22

WEBMASTER

EDITOR

CLUB OFFICE

RS 2020-2021 KC.LAMAR.HISTORIAN @GMAIL.COM

SENIOR REP

'22 MOI TUNGNUNG

KC.LAMAR.JUNIORREP@GMAIL.COM

'23 LUKE ANDERSON

JUNIOR REP

KC.LAMAR.TREASURER@GMAIL.COM

ENDORF

HISTORIAN

'22

KC.LAMAR.SENIORREP@GMAIL.COM

LAYLA SHALABI

MARIELA MORALES

'24

KC.LAMAR.SOPHREP@GMAIL.COM

SOPHOMORE REP

12 | Club Officers

DISTRICT GOVERNOR

district officers

Lillian Thai governor@tokeyclub.com

13 | District Officers

DISTRICT SECRETARY

Ginna Galindo Gomez secretary@tokeyclub.com

DISTRICT TREASURER

Makayla Hsieh treasurer@tokeyclub.com

DISTRICT EDITOR

Anushka Ranjan editor@tokeyclub.com

CONVENTION LIASON

Kaitlyn Roehr

cl@tokeyclub.com

TECHNOLOGY PRODUCER Noah Obuya techproducer @tokeyclub.com

CONVENTION LIAISON Salma Eldeeb salma.eldeeb @tokeyclub.com

REGION 7 ADVISOR

Melissa Greene

region7@tokeyclub.com

We are excited to announce the theme of the 73rd annual LEDCON, SERVICE IS SWEET. Start your planning now to attend Thursday, April 21 through Saturday April 23, 2022.

Registration will open January 15.

found: https://www.tofoundation.com/scholarshipinformation.html . Interviews will be held during LEDCON in a separate Zoom. This scholarship is for Key Club members only, therefore you and your club must have paid dues for you to be eligible.

FEBRUARY 4, 2022 – Scholarship applications must be postmarked **EXTENDED** MARCH 18, 2022 – Hotel LEDCON rates end.

MARCH 24, 2022 – Early Bird Registration Closes APRIL 7, 2022 – Online Contest Entries Due APRIL 14, 2022 – Registration Closes APRIL 21-23, 2022 LEDCON at Hilton Anatole, Dallas

district news

Applications and information on Key Club Scholarship can be

14 | LEDCON

GOALS THIS MONTH

By SARA LIM Our club recently submitted a grant proposal for the YOF grant, or the Youth Opportunities Fund.

The YOF grants are only given to Key Clubs. The grant amount can range between $250 to $2,000.

We submitted an application for the second cycle that was due March 1st. Our application is now waiting to be approved and reviewed by a Key Club International Board committee. There are requirements to qualify for this grant. Firstly, we had to have Key Club member engagement. Then we had to fill a need within our community and determine that need by completing a community needs assessment. Thirdly, we had to support activities within at least one Kiwanis Children’s Fund cause area: health, education, or youth leadership development. Lastly, we have to spend the grant money within a year of when the grant was awarded.

After our president, Emily Wilson, informed us about this grant opportunity, each one of us officers brainstormed one to two ideas as to what met the grant’s requirements and what could get us the most grant money. But out of all of these ideas, we chose to propose a literacy night event with elementary schools in AISD. We hope with this grant money we will be able to provide support to our local elementary schools through the donation of books and literacy encouragement for our students. We have set up certain dates for “literacy events” where our members will read to the elementary kids at the schools.

15 | Goals this Month

Along with this, we are coordinating with the librarians to see what books would benefit them the most. The officers will purchase the books in-person at a local bookstore. On the days we go to read to the students, we will also donate books that we have purchased with the grant money.

The majority of students entering our high school are reading at a lower level of comprehension than they should. Through our district’s current system, many children are still struggling to get the reading skills necessary for a textbook. This project is needed to encourage our local youths to dive deeper into the realm of literature. In a society where we are increasingly engrossed in technology for entertainment and education, it is important to invest in traditional forms of learning in engaging and interactive methods for future success.

Whether it be school projects, essays, college entrance exams, or admission applications, stronger literacy skills will benefit our students. This project serves as an investment to students, the ones who will lead our future.

Aligning with Key Club International’s core objective for education, our project shows the support our elementary schools need in times like these where technology and social media can distract everyone from education. With our project, we hope to support our elementary students by donating books and reading to them in person. Additionally, our project also aligns with providing a practical means to form enduring bonds, render unselfish service, and build better communities in our local elementary schools. We achieve that core value of Key Club International by taking time out of our lives to serve the young and growing during these times. Our project will impact the young minds of Arlington’s elementary students through literature.

16 | Goals this Month

IDEAS FOR YOF GRANT

BY EMILY WILSON

After recently submitting our application for the YOF grant, I can be the first to say that it isn’t a simple project. Preparing for the YOF grant takes time to answer lengthy questions, create a meticulous budget, and most importantly, figure out what initiative would leave the most positive impact on your community.

I knew the decision of what we would do for our project should be a collaborative effort between my officers, so in early January, I gave them the task of finding service initiatives that were important to them.

I gave them weeks to think about it and received many ideas. From my webmaster, I got the idea of creating a recycling system around the school.

Very few teachers at Lamar use recycling bins frequently, and students are always throwing paper in the trash. A new system would involve creating recycling stations around campus and having volunteers take them to larger receptacles. Our editor suggested a program to support teachers when they were feeling overwhelmed.

The teachers would fill out a Google Form with what they needed, and students could help them out, whether it was reorganizing computer carts or cleaning the classroom. Our treasurer even thought of supporting the local animals in our community by asking our members to volunteer at rescue shelters.

17 | Ideas for the YOF Grant

Then we would donate food, toys, and medicine for the pets. The junior class representative had a great idea of finding a local elementary school where we could serve meals to families over the holiday break when students couldn’t get food from school.

The secretary gave many ideas, from organizing a day to pick up trash in the community, raising money to donate to charity, or painting a school mural. Moi, the senior class representative, thought of making bags filled with basic necessities for those living in homeless shelters and serving them a meal.

The officers came up with quite a few wonderful ideas, but we had to stick with one. After a vote was conducted and logistics were studied, we decided to use the idea created by our junior class rep.

Our members are going to volunteer their time during the school day and read books to elementary kids in class. We’d also donate books that we had purchased with the grant money on the same days.

It wasn’t easy to come to a conclusion, but I think with this decision, our club will be leaving a positive impact on the community and its students. I also want to thank my officers for creating many great ideas and demonstrating a commitment to Key Club and its ideals.

The success of the club wouldn’t be the same without them.

18 | Ideas for the YOF Grant

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20 | Humans of Texas Oklahoma

WANT TO DO MORE?

HERE ARE KEY CLUB INTERNATION PARTNERS AND COLLABORATIVE P

Landscape Structures (LSI) has joined Kiwanis International as a vision partner to bring play to communities across the globe. LSI is proud to provide highquality 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.

21 | Key Club International Collaborative Partners

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-ons international experience implementing projects that improve health and education outcomes for in-need 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.

NAL'S SERVICE PARTNERS The Army strives to strengthen local communities through service and to build character and leadership among youth such as Key Club members. Through the Kiwanis Speakers Army personnel can connect with Kiwanisfamily clubs at club meetings, raising awareness of what today’s Army can provide and offer access to local Army support and resources. The Army also gives exceptional opportunities in higher education that can help young people throughout their lives.

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.

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS

Register for one month of fitness, reach your health goals, and change lives. Join individually or create a team. Your involvement creates community, and it helps Project Happiness educate youth and people of all ages—by providing proven tools for greater happiness and well-being.

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.

22 | Key Club International Collaborative Partners

THANK YOU FOR READING OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER