THE JERSEY KEY The official publication of The New Jersey District of Key Club International
Volume 72
September 2018
Issue 2
table of contents
THE JERSEY KEY Volume 72 | Issue 2 | September 2018
district
international
club
A note from your District Governor 4
Words from your international council 14
A note from your District Editor 4
Bring your ideas to life with YOF 15
K-Kids Club chartered at Intervale Elementary School 22
Trick-or-treat for UNICEF 15 Flash flood? No problem 22
Meet your District Board 5 - 9 Whodunit? Find out at Key Club takes the Fall Rally 10 Windy City 16 - 19 Bloom in service at Fall RTCs 11 Key Leader: a unique experience 12 K-Family Picnic: service at the beach 13
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leadership Back-to-school service ideas 20 Building our membership 20 Advocacy focus: sexual harassment prevention and awareness 21
EHT hosts kickoff party 23 Thomas the Tank Engine visits Phillipsburg 23 NJDB collects school supplies for the needy 23 North Bergen volunteers at Special Olympics 23 the jersey key
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18-19 Service Year Calendar September 22nd
Fall RTC (Millburn High School)
September 23rd
Fall RTC (Hackettstown High School)
September 30th
Fall RTC (Central Regional High School)
October 7th
Fall Rally (Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson NJ)
November 30th - December 2nd
Key Leader (Baptist Camp, Lebanon NJ)
March 29th - 31st
District Convention (Ocean Place Resort & Spa, Long Branch NJ)
Follow NJ Key Club on social media
The New Jersey District of Key Club International the jersey key
@njkeyclub
@njkeyclub
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A note from your District Governor
A note from your District Editor
District Governor Frank D’Agostino
District Editor Eric Wang
I hope you are all doing well! The New Jersey District has been hard at work these past couple of months, with preparing for RTCs, organizing our annual Fall Rally, and planning for the great year of service ahead of us. I cannot wait to see all we accomplish together! Great opportunities such as volleyball tournaments, District Convention, International Convention, and Key Leader are all on the horizon after Fall Rally and dues season. The Lieutenant Governors and other District Board members are all here to help ensure your success as the year proceeds, so please do not hesitate to ask us for help or reach out at any time! I know that a stressful portion of the school year is approaching, with the start of school, college applications, testing, and other extracurriculars. However, during even the busy times, I implore you all to take a breather and reflect on how you can better yourself and your community. Come up with a new service project, take a new leadership role, or go out of your comfort zone! The world is what you make of it, and Key Club is there to better enable you as not only a high schooler, but as an individual. Our goal is to enhance every member’s experience and to give them memories to last a lifetime, while also helping countless people. Although I am only your Governor for a year, I appreciate the hard work each and every one of you put into this organization. I am proud to have served you all thus far as Governor, and I can’t wait to do more great things, together!
Hello members of the New Jersey District! I’m proud to present to you the second issue of the seventy second volume of The Jersey Key! As the “back-to school” edition, this issue contains useful advice for the service year ahead, such as tips about membership retention and service projects. In addition, there is a “meet the board” section where you can read about each district board member—where they are from, their hobbies, and a fun fact about them! You may have more in common with us than you think! There is also a section devoted to International Convention, or ICON, the largest Key Club convention in the world! If you were not at convention in July, here is your chance to read about all the fun and exciting things that we did in Chicago! This issue also has introductions from Lamiya Kudrati, our new International Trustee, and Hannah Nivar, our new International President and a fellow New Jersey resident! As always, be sure to email me at editor.wang@njkeyclub.org about any excited service projects that your clubs are participating in. It’s always a pleasure to showcase the wonderful service that is happening across our district. Thank you for reading this issue—I hope you enjoy what you see!
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Meet your District Board
Frank D’Agostino District Governor Senior at Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science Hobbies: watching Youtube videos about movies, shows, science, philosophy, comedy Fun Fact: I can wiggle my ears!
Chiara Fune District Secretary Senior at Brick Memorial High School
Junior at Parsippany Hills High School
Hobbies: playing field hockey, running, watching netflix, playing fortnite
Hobbies: running, reading, spending time with friends and family, swimming, baking, watching TV
Fun Fact: I lived in Manila, Philippines for 12 years before moving to United States, and Virginia was actually the first state I lived in.
Eric Wang District Editor Senior at Millburn High School Hobbies: competitive swimming, piano, watching movies, listening to classical music Fun Fact: I’m a total swim nerd! I’ve memorized the times and even splits of many Olympic swimmers.
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Kaitlin Cirillo District Treasurer
Fun Fact: I’m a twin.
Leo Shao District Webmaster Senior at Egg Harbor Township High School Hobbies: playing tennis, coding and developing apps Fun Fact: I was born in China.
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Alexis Faison LTG of Division 1
Jarod Wille LTG of Division 2
Junior at Lower Cape May Regional High School
Senior at Egg Harbor Township High School
Hobbies: reading, watching movies on Netflix
Hobbies: playing jazz on saxophone and piano, ultimate frisbee, ping pong, video games
Julianna Blair LTG of Division 3 Senior at Millville High School Hobbies: reading, listening to music, marching band Fun Fact: I have a hippie bus.
Fun Fact: I have freckles on my eyes. Fun Fact: I’m fluent in three languages and I go to Chinese School to learn Mandarin.
Lauren Quadir LTG of Division 4 Senior at Kingsway High School Hobbies: cooking, writing, reading, gardening Fun Fact: I’m such a grandma, but I’m a beginner knitter... it’s so relaxing!
Ellie Hulit LTG of Division 5
Emma Ke LTG of Division 6
Senior at Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science
Junior at Hunterdon Central High School
Hobbies: playing the saxophone or piano, going to the beach, watching new movies or TV shows, spending time with my friends and family
Hobbies: dancing competitively, listening to music, drawing, volunteering, talking to people Fun Fact: I used to have a pet turtle.
Fun Fact: I have been to every state on the Eastern Seaboard!
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Abbie Chan LTG of Division 7
Sarah Jacob LTG of Division 8
Katie Lynch LTG of Division 9
Senior at Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science
Sophomore at Brick Memorial High School
Junior at Marine Academy of Science and Technology
Hobbies: dancing, reading, listening to all types of music, longboarding
Hobbies: cozying up to read a good book, binge-watching Netflix, listening to music while painting or drawing
Hobbies: Irish dancing, swimming, calligraphy
Fun Fact: I have been playing piano for over ten years.
Surabhi Karambelkar LTG of Division 10
Fun Fact: I took an ancestry test several weeks ago! I’m so close to learning more about myself—I know nothing about my mother’s family, who live in Korea.
Maiya Dabare LTG of Division 11
Senior at John P. Stevens High School
Junior at Piscataway High School
Hobbies: baking, cooking
Hobbies: reading, singing, baking
Fun Fact: I have a tooth stuck in my jaw.
Fun Fact: I am trilingual—I speak english, Spanish, and Sinhalese.
Fun Fact: Everyone tells me I need to make my handwriting a font.
Ian Fischer LTG of Division 12 Senior at Bridgewater Raritan High School Hobbies: soccer, lacrosse, snowboarding Fun Fact: I’m the 5th straight LTG from my home club.
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Gillian Bayne LTG of Division 13
Hemani Patel LTG of Division 14
April Wang LTG of Division 15
Junior at Phillipsburg High School
Senior at John P. Stevens High School
Sophomore at Millburn High School
Hobbies: baking, drawing, painting
Hobbies: playing tennis, dancing, watching Grey’s Anatomy nonstop
Hobbies: reading, lacrosse, creating art (painting, pastels, charcoal)
Fun Fact: I love political science and plan on majoring in that area in college!
Fun Fact: I love all things related to Marvel.
Fun Fact: I basically know all the words to any Disney or Hamilton song.
Ed Hou LTG of Division 16
Summer Ahmed LTG of Division 17
Joseph Kajon LTG of Division 18
Junior at Livingston High School
Senior at Tenafly High School
Senior at Saint Mary High School
Hobbies: playing basketball, playing video games, analyzing blockbuster movies, debating pro sports
Hobbies: traveling to new countries, attending every key club event possible, having movie nights with friends
Hobbies: watching vines, hanging out with friends
Fun Fact: My last name, Hou, is the abbreviation for Houston, home of all my favorite sports teams!
Fun Fact: I have lived in Egypt and Morocco for over 2 years.
Fun Fact: I have a pet turtle.
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Katrina Pham LTG of Division 19
Kyla Hunter LTG of Division 20
Eliana Koenigsberg LTG of Division 21
Junior at Livingston High School
Senior at Mountain Lakes High School
Senior at Randolph High School
Hobbies: running, reading, playing video games, watching netflix, playing with my dogs, eating ice cream
Hobbies: playing the piano and clarinet, drawing, journalism, environmental club
Hobbies: singing, dancing, making movies, watching movies
Fun Fact: I have three cats that are named after Disney characters.
Fun Fact: I cannot get through the day without taking a bath!
Fun Fact: I was born in Chicago and have only lived in New Jersey for two and a half years!
Olivia O’Brien LTG of Division 22 Sophomore at Vernon Township High School Hobbies: reading and studying classical literature, playing guitar, singing, watching old movies, listening to piano music, crafting, exploring the woods
Cindy Lam LTG At-Large Senior at Parsippany Hills High School Hobbies: volunteering, listening to K-Pop, playing tennis with friends Fun Fact: Before the Vietnam War, my family used to own a multi-million dollar material-producing company.
Fun Fact: I’m an aspiring writer—I write novels, essays, poetry, prose, plays, and short stories.
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Whodunit? Find out at Fall Rally By April Wang and Gillian Bayme Lt. Gov. Div. 15
Lt. Gov. Div 13
As the 2018-2019 school year quickly approaches, so do various opportunities to join your District Board in their many adventures! This Christopher Columbus weekend, join Key Club in its annual largest gathering of Key Clubs at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ. Known as Fall Rally, this fantastic event takes place on Sunday, October 7th, and is the perfect way to kick off a new service year! The theme this year is mystery, so get ready to find out whodunit. Fall Rally starts off in Plymouth Rock Arena, where your District Board will inform you a few updates and reminders. You will also listen to the inspirational speech of the mystery Keynote Speaker! The session is quick, so you will soon be able to spend the rest of your day at Six Flags exploring the amusement park, riding rides, and eating cheesy fries! Once the night begins, you will have access to all the haunted mansions the park’s Fright Fest has to offer. Ticket prices are $40 for early registration, $45 for on-site registration, and $7 for season passholders. These prices are actually cheaper than your average Six Flags Ticket, so take advantage of them! Additionally, if we are able to reach our goal of having 3,000 Key Clubbers in attendance, our amazing District Governor, Frank D’Agostino, will dye his hair pink! Besides, why would you miss the chance to see your very own lieutenant governor in action? This year’s 2018 Fall Rally is certainly something you will not want to miss! 10
Where: Six Flags Great Adventure Jackson, NJ When: Sunday, October 7th Cost:
$40
$45
early reg
door price
$7
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Bloom in service at Fall RTCs By Chiara Fune and Hemani Patel
District Secretary Lt. Gov. Div 14
Some of you may be wondering what Regional Training Conference are. Well, Regional Training Conferences are training conferences that are held in both Spring and Fall. If you missed the Spring Regional Training Conferences, there will be three more Regional Training Conferences on September 22nd at Millburn High School, September 23rd at Hackettstown High School and September 30th at Central Regional High School. This conferences are held from nine in the morning until one in the afternoon. At the RTCs, there will be free food for breakfast and lunch, which the host club will provide. All you need is transportation. The locations are across New Jersey, so this should not be an issue. However, if it does pose a challenge, your Lieutenant Governors are willing to help you
by contacting other schools about carpooling and helping to fundraise for transportation costs. There are informative workshops that will help you learn more about your position in Key Club, as well as important leadership skills. There will be workshops covering Time Management and organization, District Project, Advocacy, Service Partners and many more topics. We will also have workshops for service projects, where we will be making kindness rocks for parks and making tissue paper flowers for senior citizen centers. All officers are required to attend at least one Regional Training Conference to receive the Distinguished Officer Award at District Convention. However, General Members are also highly encouraged to attend these events because they will see Key Club in a greater perspective. They will meet officers and members from all over New Jersey, as well as the District Board. We will also hold a Food Drive at the event, so bring canned foods and monetary donations to help end Hunger in New Jersey. We hope to see you and your friends there!
Fall RTCs: Where and When All RTCs run from 9:00 am- 1:00 pm
Millburn High Hackettstown Central Regional School High School High School Sat, Sept 22nd Sun, Sept 23rd Sun, Sept 30th
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Why Should I Go to RTC’s?
Regional Training Conferences are genuinely really fun since you get to meet executive boards of other Key Clubs. You can learn from them and they can learn from you! This is a great event to socialize with other individuals in the same boat as you and meet new people. We include icebreakers that are really enjoyable and breakfast that is free! The food is amazing and it this event truly is the time to show your Key Club spirit with your fellow Key Clubbers!
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Key Leader: a unique experience By Katrina Pham Lt. Gov. Div 19
You may be wondering: “What is Key Leader?” or, “Why should I go to Key Leader?” These are both valid questions, but after reading this article you will know the answers to these questions and even more about Key Leader! Key Leader is a weekend long retreat that Key Clubbers and non-Key Clubbers alike can attend to learn more about themselves and being a leader. Throughout the weekend, you will be able to meet new people, eat great food, and participate in a variety of team-building exercises to help you learn more about your own strengths as a leader! Key Leader has been around since April
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2005, and since then it has served upwards of 28,000 students at over 570 Key Leader events in 40 U.S. States, 7 Canadian provinces, The Bahamas, Malaysia, Brazil, The Cayman Islands, El Salvador, and Singapore. Last year, around 70 students from all over New Jersey attended Key Leader, and we hope to meet and surpass this number for attendance this year!
anyone else going to Key Leader, which made it easier for me to talk to them and make new friends. I can honestly say that I met some of my best friends at Key Leader, because not only was everyone super kind and friendly, but we all also had the same mindset—we were trying to make the world a better place one person at a time, starting with us.
I attended Key Leader as a sophomore last year, not knowing anyone else from my school who was going, and apprehensive of what was in store for the weekend. However, I can promise you that I came out of the weekend with a completely new outlook. I was surprised by what I had learned from the activities and how I had grown from the conversations I had with the other high-schoolers I met there. Many of them were just like me: they didn’t know
Key Leader runs from November 30th to December 2nd and is held at the Baptist Camp and Conference Center in Lebanon, NJ. It costs $195 to attend—this cost covers food, stay, and the experience of a lifetime! You can register now at www.key-leader.org, and registration is open all the way through until November 29th, but register early because if you wait until after November 19th, you have to pay a $25 late fee. Hope to see you there this year!
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K-Family Picnic: service at the beach By Abbie Chan Lt. Gov. Div 7
The 2018 Kiwanis Family Picnic (hosted by Circle K) took place on July 22nd at Green Island, Toms River. Lieutenant governors from the New Jersey District Board, as well members from a few clubs, attended the event and spent a beautiful Sunday morning and afternoon hanging out together. It was a day filled with laughs, fun, and memories for Key Clubbers, Circle K-ers, and Kiwanians alike. We threw some hot dogs and burgers on the grill and started our
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day off right! We played beach volleyball, had a sand castle building contest, had a pie-in-the-face bidding war for the Circle K members, and had [multiple] water balloon fights! These water balloon fights shortly turned into “fill a bucket with water and dump them on everyone” fights, though. Although wading out farther out in the water was attempted, this mission was soon aborted, as we spotted many colonies of jellyfish (which were still cool, though, nonetheless). We were also able to talk to the Kiwanians and Circle K-ers, whether it be about Key Club business, or just fun small talk. We even invited some Circle K members,
including the International Trustee, Stephania Gonzalez Mena, to attend our 2018 Fall Rally at Six Flags! Everyone was so kind and open to conversation— it truly was a great time! We even buried Chiara in the sand, our collective artistic abilities making the sand into the shape of a mermaid. Not only that, but we were provided with a wonderful service project opportunity as well: we made peanut butter and jelly sandwich packages for those in need! Overall, though, it was a fantastic day and opportunity to meet new people in the Kiwanis family, as well as enjoy ourselves for a few hours with great food and even better people!
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Words from your international council to make sure your voices are represented throughout Key Club. Alongside New Jersey, I am also the trustee for the Districts of Pacific Northwest and Wisconsin - Upper Michigan! Feel free to reach out to the members in your sistricts, we are all one Key Club family!
Lamiya Kudrati International Trustee Hey there, NJ Key Club! My name is Lamiya Kudrati and It is my absolute honor to officially introduce myself as your 2018-2019 International Trustee! I am originally from the Florida District, where I was born and raised in the city of Miami, and I am currently senior at West Broward High School (go bobcats!). As trustee, I will serve as a liaison between the district and international levels of Key Club, in an effort
From my time as a freshman director, to now, as a trustee, the goals for my time spent in Key Club have never changed - celebrate the values of service and leadership all while expanding our impact throughout the world. By working with my fellow trustees, governors, and all of the mighty members in your division, I hope to curate a productive and exciting service year through accomplishing these goals! I cannot wait to see where the next couple of months take us, and I look forward to experiencing every part of the journey with all of you. If you ever have a question, concern, or just want to say hi, feel free to contact me through any means! I am here to serve all of you, and I look forward to doing so. Yours in service and friendship, Lamiya Kudrati Districts, as well as serving on a multitude of committees. My time in Key Club and being a member of our District has made a great impact on my life from the very beginning. As a general member, I remember being so inspired by the wonderful works of our organization and being eager to get involved, meet new people, and embrace caring as a way of life.
Hannah Nivar International Vice-President Hello Key Clubbers! My name is Hannah Nivar, and it is a pleasure to introduce myself to you all as your International Vice President for the 2018-2019 service year! We have an exciting year ahead of us focusing on many aspects of our organization. Throughout my term, I will be working towards creating an encouraging, learning-friendly environment for members of the International Council, improving membership experience, expanding international development, strengthening K-Family relations, and increasing transparency throughout the levels of our organization. Prior experience that has prepared me to accomplish these goals include serving as a Lieutenant Governor for Division 7 and Division 4 of the Mighty New Jersey District of Key Club International, an International Trustee for the Minnesota-Dakotas, Missouri-Arkansas, and Ohio 14
Since then, my passion has lead me to where I am today. As International Vice President, I have the honor to chair the International Growth Committee, which is responsible for increasing inclusiveness for all clubs, maintaining contact with our clubs in un-districted regions, and assisting our Districts-in-formation. Districts-in-formation are regions that are striving to reach the requirement of 15 clubs, 450 members, and creating a district board. Districts-in-formation for this year include Western Canada, the Philippines, and Taiwan. If interested in taking part of what International has to make progress on, keep an eye out for the International Committee Membership Representative application where you can serve as an appointed member on one of our International Committees and any other campaigns we have prepared! If at any point you have any questions, concerns, or would simply like to speak more about the International Board’s goals for the service year, please do not hesitate to reach out to me @hnivar.kci@gmail.com! Yours in Caring & Service, Hannah Nivar the jersey key
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Bring your ideas to life with YOF By Kaitlin Cirillo, Disrict Treasurer
Do you have a fresh new idea for a service project but lack the funds to get it started? The Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) is an opportunity to put your idea into action. Applicants can request anywhere from $100 - $2,000 and must include a detailed description of the service project or event and explain its purpose, budget, timeline and impact on the community in their application. The due date is October 15, 2018 at 11:59 P.M. Applications must be submitted through keyclub.org/yof only by clubs in good
standing and are reviewed by members of the Key Club International YOF Committee at their November Board Meeting. Grant notifications will be emailed to all grant applicants in January. The grant is established through dues and the G. Harold Martin Fellowships. In 2017, 87 out of 200 clubs were funded and a total of $71,651.57 was rewarded. It was announced that $77,000 will be given out this year. Past recipients include Warren Hills Regional High School Key Club, who used the $2,000 grant they received from the Youth Opportunities Fund to build an organic vegetable and flower garden. Roxbury High School Key Club received
$2,000 for their African Library Project. Uniqueness is not the most important part of the project. The greater the impact the project has on the community, the more likely it is to be funded. A tip to keep in mind when completing the application include incorporating as much detail as possible to help the reviewers understand the project. Funding a portion of the project as a club shows successful fundraising efforts and the ability to carry out the project, something sought out with applicants. Furthermore, make sure to get Kiwanis and other branches of the K-Family, as well as fellow student and neighbors, involved. Every club is encouraged to submit an application and help make a difference!
Trick-or-treat for UNICEF By Joseph Kajon, Lt. Gov. Div 18
This Halloween, raise some funds and have some fun by participating in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF! It is a great opportunity for Key Club members to come together and raise money for a fantastic event! All the donations raised by Kiwanis family members (this includes Key Club) will go towards the Eliminate Project. The Eliminate Project focuses on eliminating maternal neonatal tetanus (MNT), a deadly disease that steals the lives of thousands of mothers and babies every year. With our help, we can help eliminate MNT! Participating in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is very simple! Unlike what the name suggests, money does not have to be raised by going door to door on Halloween. Although that is a great opportunity to raise funds, Key Club members can also hold fundraisers in their schools. These can be bake sales, penny wars, or any other great fundraisers that come to mind. All Key Clubs need to do to get involved is to follow these three simple steps: 1. Order collection boxes 2. Collect donations 3. Fill out the gift form and submit it with your club’s donations. Clubs that raise more than $250 and send it in before December 31st may be eligible for a banner patch! To learn more about Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, clubs can go to https://www.unicefusa.org/trick-or-treat. the jersey key
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Key Club takes the Windy City By Cindy Lam,
Ed Hou,
Katie Lynch,
Ellie Hulit, Sarah Jacob, and Hemani Patel
Lt. Gov. At-Large Lt. Gov. Div 16 Lt. Gov. Div 9 Lt. Gov. Div 5 Lt. Gov. Div 8 Lt. Gov. Div 14 International Convention (ICON) this year was held in Chicago, Illinois, at the Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, where believe it or not, a scene from the Dark Knight was shot! If you don’t already know, ICON is a massive gathering of Key Clubbers from around the world who come together to share service projects and fundraising ideas, listen to inspirational keynote speakers, and train for their positions in a vast variety of workshops. Not only this, but we also elect the next Key Club International Board. At this ICON, our own New Jersey representative, Hannah Nivar, was elected International Vice President! Even though our International Trustee candidates Madeleine Eichorn and Zachary Patterson did not win, they did a fantastic job in campaigning and representing us!
New Jersey district tour Shedd Aquarium
One of the stops on the New Jersey District Tour to ICON 2018 was the Shedd Aquarium! Hundreds of species filled the building, coming from vastly different areas. Not only did the tour group get to walk around and gaze at the different creatures themselves, but they were able to attend a 4D film and a dolphin show!
Architecture Boat Tour
The Architecture Boat Tour was one of the most amazing parts of Chicago. The tour is on a boat on the Lake during the 4th of July. The fireworks were fascinating to see and our board 16
members enjoyed every part of it. During the beginning of the tour, our tour guide showed us different bridges, museums, and well known buildings related to the history of Chicago.
Deep Dish Pizza
Chicago is known for their best Deep Dish Pizza at Giordano’s. This restaurant is always packed with hungry individuals craving their best pizza. There are so many different types of pizza to choose that comes with a delicious salad. Many people come to Chicago to specifically try Deep Dish Pizza and they bake it with a brick oven making everything extra satisfying!
Navy Pier
Navy Pier had so many great sights! Not only were we right next to Lake Michigan, but this classic Chicago landmark included a variety of great places for lunch. Some restaurants included Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Billy Goat Tavern, and Riva Crab House. After stopping to eat some delicious food, we made our way back to the Marriott Hotel. On our way back, there was a happy Forrest Gump impersonator to promote Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and some of us took pictures with him. The time spent at Navy Pier was so much fun, and the sunny day only made it better! the jersey key
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Museum of Science and Industry
At the Museum of Science and Industry, we got to see how Pixar makes their lovable and timeless movies. The interactive Science Behind Pixar exhibition showcased STEM concepts used by artists and computer scientists who helped bring Pixar’s award-winning films to the big screen. It was so interesting and entertaining! Other parts of the museum included the Genetics and Baby Chicks Hatchery, which dealt with genetics, and Science Storms, which showcased the physics of natural phenomena like tornadoes, lightning, and avalanches. We also got to experience other exhibits like The Great Train Story, which presented 2,200 miles of scenery and stories from Chicago to Seattle along 1,400 feet of winding track. Every exhibit was unique and so incredibly creative! Overall, it was a remarkable experience we will never forget. the jersey key
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Blue Man Group
The Blue Man Group is a performance art company that is known for their stage productions which include many forms of art and music. Their masks are the best part of the show and it is definitely something no one has ever seen before! Their facial expressions also highlight the show adding humorous aspects to the performance. There is also multiple chances for audience members to participate in activities with the Blue Man Group performers making the show much more exciting to watch! If you watch the show in the first 3 rows, they offer a poncho so no color or products from the show splash all over you!
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international The convention Day 1 (July 4th)
The convention officially began on July 4th. After stops at Shedd’s Aquarium and the world-famous Navy Pier, the board head to ICON’s opening session at the Marriott Hotel’s Grand Ballroom! In addition to introducing this past year’s fantastic International Board, (now Immediate Past Officers) President William Sims and Vice President Minyoung Kim laid out all the wonderful events that would take place over the next couple of days. To cap off the day’s festivities, the board then attended a Chicago tour boat to learn all about the historical events that took place in the Windy City that transformed it into the grand metropolis it is today!
Day 2 (July 5th)
Just as much excitement as the first day, July 5th began with a meet-in-greet with all of the Districts around the world! Before the event, everyone was given five New Jersey Key Club pins which led to a majority of us strategizing on how to trade with everyone with just five pins. For example, Emma Ke, Lieutenant Governor of Division 6, traded pins for a picture with Tito the Tomato (smart idea!). Another example was that some of us would say that our pins were rare to convince other Districts to trade. There was also a lot of hype for rare pins, like the Carolina Key or pins from Taiwan since it was their first International Convention! Additionally, there were service organization booths to visit and learn all about them. Key Clubbers also participated in the various carnival activities and got to enter a raffle drawing to win free awesome prizes. Afterward, everyone went out to lunch and came back to attend workshops. At these workshops, we were able to learn more about our positions, how to plan for future events, how to connect with our Kiwanis family, etc. Later, we met with all the candidates and were able to get more insight into their platforms. During the free time, the New Jersey District Board came up with an exciting dance to present at the talent show audition. Even though we were not one of the finalists, it was still an entertaining way to bond with everyone! To end the night, there was a dance where everyone got to show off their moves without being judged.
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international Day 3 (July 6th)
Two days of convention has already past and ICON day 3 awaits! On July 6th, everyone woke up to attend General Session where the International Board discussed about workshops and additional information about caucusing later in the evening. Afterwards, we set off to our designated workshops to learn about our positions, service organizations, how to lead and fund for events, and perfecting public speaking. Shortly after came our free time where some of us went to see the Bean and tour around the beautiful city of Chicago; others went out to eat. Then, came the hour-hourlong district caucusing where the New Jersey Key Clubbers supported our representatives, Hannah Nivar for International Vice President, Madeline Eichorn and Zachary Patterson for International Trustees. During the caucusing, all of the candidates gave their speeches and answered our questions about why they felt that they deserved the positions they are running for. After listening to the International Board candidates, we went out for dinner, YUM! To end the night was the Recognition Session and Talent Show, we are proud to see some of the 2017-2018 New Jersey District Board rewarded their distinction awards. Congratulations to Ally Landon for placing as a finalist in the Talent Show where she shared her amazing voice to the crowd and Alexis Perminter for winning 2nd place in the Oral Contest!
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Day 4 (July 7th)
Day four of International Convention 2018 was the final full day of convention! We spent the morning trading pins with Key Clubbers from around the world and doing other fun activities like singing karaoke, packing school supplies, making dog toys, playing jenga, and taking photos in the photo booth. After a quick lunch, we headed to workshops. Workshops ranged from Lieutenant Governor training to weird and wacky service projects and everything in between. After workshops, we ate dinner and headed to listen to another great guest speaker. Finally, we all changed into some comfortable clothes and headed to the dance! We danced until we dropped and before we knew it, our last full day of convention was over!
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Back-to-school service ideas By Emma Ke and Cindy Lam
Lt. Gov. Div. 15 Lt. Gov. At-Large
It is back-to-school season and nothing is better than starting off the school year with service! Going back to school gives you the opportunity to connect with more people and let them know how great service is! Doing service during the school year is also much easier because you will be able to contact more people and see if they are interested in helping out! Contacting your advisor, school, and local organizations can also be much accessible during school. Because of this, the District Programs Committee is creating a
service projects folder for your club to make planning service projects easier! Each service project idea will contain a brief description of what the project is, how difficult it is to carry out, the materials and number of members needed for the project, and the steps to planning the project! There will also be tips on running each event and suggestions to ask which local organizations to help out your service project events out. These step-to-step guides will contain a variety of easy, moderate, and difficult events to give your club various ideas! With the start of September, students can begin by exposing themselves to different types of service. You can also do service for local organizations or
Key Club’s preferred charities: many times, bake sales, restaurant fundraisers, and volleyball tournaments do the trick! Some other service ideas include creating cards for children in hospitals, doing a beach/park clean up, creating small gifts for seniors, and more! Doing service can be almost anything! You can make anything into a service project! The importance of service is getting people involved—make your service projects fun! A common problem that Key Clubs face is the dwindling of membership participation as the service year continues. Service projects serve as a purpose for members to attend meetings—we suggest that every club meeting should include some service project!
Building our membership By Ellie Hulit and Lauren Quadir Lt. Gov. Div. 5
Lt. Gov. Div 4
With the school year fast approaching, it is extremely important for clubs to make plans for membership growth and retention. Soliciting membership, whether it be new freshman or experienced upperclassman, is especially important in the fall time, as school is starting up again. A great way to gain membership is to set up a table at your school’s club fair or orientation to talk to peers about joining Key Club. Creating an informational and fun trifold describing Key Club, along with displaying flyers advertising Club and District events will set your club up for success! As a result, by advertising to both students and parents, you are appealing to a larger crowd and therefore have a better chance of gaining new members. Additionally, it is important to plan frequent service events, as many members are always looking to receive service 20
hours. Not only can Key Clubbers gain service hours, but their interest is also maintained in our organization. These service projects can range from simple to complex, but are a surefire way to keep your members busy. Furthermore, membership growth and paying your club’s dues go hand in hand. Make sure to collect dues early on - at the first meeting, if possible - to ensure that all new members are registered and can participate in District events. Speaking of district events - encourage new members to attend our fun-filled District Events, which include Fall Rally, Key Leader, DCON, and Regional Training Conferences! These are prime opportunities to show new members what Key Club is all about and the scale that we operate on, as many do not realize that there are many opportunities beyond the club level. In turn, new Key Clubbers really start to get a feel for the District and get introduced to all that we have to offer. Though gaining (and retaining) membership can seem an uphill battle at times, these tips will ensure that the jersey key
leadership
Advocacy focus: sexual harassment prevention and awareness By Emma Ke and Cindy Lam
Lt. Gov. Div. 15 Lt. Gov. At-Large
The NJ District Programs committee is honored to announce this year’s Advocacy Focus: Sexual Harassment Prevention and Awareness. Most students, teachers, and parents are unaware of the signs and consequences of sexual harassment, and people often ignore the signs of it, which is why we chose this topic to raise awareness for. The definition of sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature. When walking down the hallways in school, have you overheard a comment that seemed to go too far? Have you ever had a friend tell you a story which sounded like it may have been rape? Sadly, sexual harassment is part of daily life in
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almost every American middle and high school. Harassment does not disappear on its own. The most effective way to rid of sexual harassment is to raise awareness and prevention. When the problem is not addressed, the harassment will worsen and will become difficult to resolve. The fact that every 98 seconds, an individual is sexually abused is saddening. As Key Clubbers, we are taught to lead and stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves. We have to make a positive impact as we serve others in schools and the community. That is why the 2018-2019 District Programs committee chose Sexual Harassment Prevention and Awareness as the Advocacy Focus. With this said, there are goals that we would like to implement in the upcoming service year. All of these goals focus on informing others of the horrible reality that sexual harassment happens often in high school. We want to educate students, teachers, and parents about the effects, signs, and what
to do about sexual harassment, educate others about when sexual harassment crosses the line to sexual assault, encourage students to speak up against sexual harassment, and eliminate the myths regarding sexual harassment. What can we do to help? One way to complete this is to raise money for organizations such as RAINN, No More, National Sexual Violence Resource Center, and the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence through fundraisers. The money donated to these wonderful organizations will help improve the lives of people affected by sexual violence. Another way can be setting up a table during lunchtime and give out statistics to attract others to raise their voices against a serious crime. You can involve service projects with this year’s Advocacy Focus, such as, creating care cards to past victims and showing that you support them. Our lieutenant governors will be sending out the materials to your club when available. With the help of the District, we can assist in spreading awareness about sexual violence.
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club K-Kids Club chartered at Intervale Elementary School By Chintan Bhavsar and Wasay Noor Editors of PHHS Key Club
Due to the hard work and incredible resilience of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, with the help of our very own Cindy Lam (a senior here at Parsippany Hills and a 2018-2019 Lieutenant Governor At-Large), Intervale Elementary School has a K-Kids Club! Documentation was sent out to the Kiwanis International Leadership Program in Indiana and the official charter certificate along with some other materials was sent out this past summer, finalizing the process. The Parsippany Troy-Hills School District now has a Kiwanis Club at every school in the district! All Clubs fundraise and donate to the Parsippany Food Pantry, Youth Center, Little League, and many other service charities. This is a major accomplishment for Key Club in our neighborhood and it is only one of many that are yet to occur!
Brick Memorial aids flood recovery effort By Sarah Jacob Lt. Gov. Div. 8
Early morning on August 13th, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning. Almost 8 inches of rain came to follow, flooding the Garden State Parkway and many homes in Brick, New Jersey. In the Greenbriar I senior community, the flooding damaged 114 homes. The Brick Memorial Key Club stepped into action to help the senior citizens. In homes, there was a considerable amount of water damage. Tons of furniture had to be moved from the homes onto the curbs, soaked carpet
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had to be torn out, and timeless photos from family albums had to be salvaged. With time being of the essence, as homes had to be cleaned as much as possible before mold set in, The Brick Memorial Key Clubbers worked very well together to help their community. Brick Memorial President Chris Wozniak says, “I am very proud of the actions taken by the club to help Greenbriar. We were especially eager to help because the Kiwanis of Greenbriar is our sponsoring Kiwanis Club. A big thank you to all of the members who helped and dedicated their time into cleaning up.�
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club EHT hosts kickoff party By Aarani Kamalanathan Editor of EHT Key Club
This year’s Kick Off Party was held on August 26 at Tony Canale Park. Current members and incoming freshmen came together for 4 hours of food, laughter, and fun. The 2018-2019 board members first introduced themselves to everyone with their beautifully made posters and shared their roles, aspirations, and one fun fact about themselves. Then, the advisors introduced themselves, including the new advisor, Mrs. Phillips, talking about their expectations and thoughts on the club. After that, the party continued, and members then played frisbee, volleyball, and tennis, sang karaoke, ate food, and much more. Our members also donated 51 cans of food towards our District Project: Hunger in New Jersey. We thank the 2018-2019 Special Events Committee for organizing and running such an amazing Kick Off Party to start the school year off right.
Thomas the Tank Engine visits Phillipsburg By Gillian Bayne Lt. Gov. Div. 13
The Thomas the Tank Engine event is an annual event in Phillipsburg. It gives children the opportunity to ride on Thomas himself! To help out, Key Clubbers from Division thirteen ran stations by through a variety of activities, including temporary tattoos, storytelling, spin art, and directing. The children and Key Clubbers alike were able to had fun in the sun while assisting where they were needed. Members that came even earned money for their Key Clubs! We were also able to raise money for our District Project, Hunger in New Jersey! The event was a great success and every kid got to enjoy their day with Thomas.
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NJDB collects school supplies for the needy By Surabhi Karambelkar Lt. Gov. Div 10
During the August Board meeting, the New Jersey District Board collected school supplies for the Hands of Hope Food Pantry in Edison. We donated notebooks, folders, writing supplies, and other items! It’s great idea for your club to host a school supply drive at your meeting. Many kids cannot afford
to buy supplies, which is essential for school, so starting off the service year by helping other students in need is very thoughtful. Donating new or slightly used supplies to your local food pantry will equip kids just like us with the proper tools to help them learn and grow.
North Bergen volunteers at Special Olympics By Summer Ahmed Lt. Gov. Div 17
On Saturday May 5, 2018 North Bergen Key Club volunteered at the annual Hudson County Special Olympics at James J. Braddock Park. Special Olympics New Jersey is dedicated to bringing pride into the lives of all involved. They are a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide sports training and athletic competition to children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
As a global movement, Special Olympics reaches 5.7 million Special Olympics athletes and Unified Sports teammates in 172 countries. North Bergen Key Club showed their leadership skills through cheering on the athletes, motivating them, helping to fundraise during the event, and so much more. They took part in a great organization that helps to inspire many people. I am very proud of all the hard work they achieved over the weekend and it was a great way to give back to their community!
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