DCON, Project Showcase, Our New District Administrator - The Jersey Key - Jan 2012

VOLUME 65 | ISSUE 2

on t he o Find m o nlin e ve re lea rsion dersh ip of th is iss tips an ue i d ssuu news .com /njk eyc

JANUARY 2012

The Jersey Key

Walk the Boardwalk of Service Join hundreds of Key Clubbers at District Convention 2012 and get inspired to dive into another year of service

Project Showcase The district’s new talent competition fundraiser for the Eliminate Project

District board elections

Former Kiwanis International Trustee Mr. Ed Hutchinson appointed as new Choose your 2012-2013 leaders Key Club District Administrator

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The Jersey Key Volume 65, Issue 2 | January 2012

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Why you need to Former Key Clubbers join their Circle K district boards go to District 11 Convention 4 How you can The district’s new talent competition fundraiser for Eliminate— Project Showcase 5 Meet last year’s district talent show winner Mree 6 District event recaps 7 Division 1 adds two new Key Clubs 7 Former Kiwanis International Trustee Mr. Ed Hutchinson appointed as new Key Club District Administrator 8 Meet the district’s new Kiwanis Committee on Key Clubs 8 District and International elections 9 international How clubs Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF 10 Message from International Trustee Nick DePorzio 10

No New Jersey Key Clubs have applied for grant to fund projects 10

interact with your Builders Club 11

Crank up your speakers!

If you’re viewing this at ISSUU.COM/ NJKEYCLUB, you can hear last year’s district talent show winner Mree’s song “Atmosphere”

clubs Tenafly raises money for Eliminate through memorial garden 12 Hackettstown Key Clubbers entertain children at daycare while their parents take ESL classes 12

Promote your club with t-shirts 12 McNair recognizes Webmaster Akash 13 When membership is largely one race 13

PROJECT SHOWCASE Unlike last year’s Generosity Rocks, this year’s district talent

show is not open to just musicians. Read more about Project Showcase on page 8.

leadership

College application advice from seniors and alumni 14 General meeting mistakes that officers should avoid making 15 Mid-year membership drives 15 How to stay on top of many smaller projects and develop leaders at the same time 15

DCON A inspiring

weekend of bonding with your friends and meeting dedicated student leaders like yourself takes place from March 30 to April 1. Read more about District Convention on page 4.

BACK COVER Your

district executives posed at the beach in front of District Convention’s new home, the Ocean Place Resort & Spa. A special thanks to Lt. Gov. Zachariah DeGiulio for the wonderful picture!

The Jersey Key is the official publication of the New Jersey District of Key Club International. Each service year, three issues are released. In 2010 at the 64th New Jersey District Convention, the House of Delegates voted that only one issue of The Jersey Key could be printed each year. The District Bulletin Editor is responsible for creating The Jersey Key and is elected into office at District Convention. To submit articles to The Jersey Key, email the District Bulletin Editor at editor@njkeyclub.org.

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See you at District Convention!

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Members react to new District Convention location

WHAT’S UP, NEW JESREY?! WITH THREE

months to go this service year, I hope you’re all enjoying this Key Club adventure as much as I am.

The district board has been working extremely hard since they started their terms back in April, and have done a great deal and have much more coming in the future.

At this point in time, every division is planning their Project Showcase. Project Showcase, similar to last year’s Generosity Rocks, is a talent show/concert, all proceeds going to our district’s goal for The Eliminate Project. Officers, you should be hearing periodically about Project Showcase from your lieutenant governor, but if you’re not just send them an email and they’ll be sure to respond.

With the last half of the service year approaching, District Convention is well on its way. Our new location, the Ocean Place Hotel in Long Branch, New Jersey, welcomes us to Walk the Boardwalk of Service from March 30 to April 1. Look out for registration information soon!

Thank you for all that you do in Key Club that benefits your homes, schools, and communities. We are grateful for all that you do.

Yours in caring, service, and friendship, Nicole Darrah GOVERNOR NEW JERSEY DISTRICT KEY CLUB INTERNATIONAL

The Ocean Place Resort & Spa has replaced the Valley Forge Convention Center, a place of many Key Club memories

BY RACHEL GARDNER, LT. GOV. DIV. 6, VANI RANGANATH, LT. GOV. DIV. 9 WHEN THE NEW JERSEY DISTRICT OF KEY

Club thinks of District Convention, what comes to mind? A weekend full of fun and service located at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, PA. But this year’s DCON has moved from our old location to the beautiful beaches of Long Branch at the Ocean Place Resort & Spa. Due to a change in Pennsylvania law, gambling will now be allowed at the Valley Forge Convention Center, making it unfit for a student event.

“I am really excited to see a change in DCON locations,” Point Pleasant Beach High School Key Club President Jessica Magno said. “I think it could increase the attendance since it is in state and relatively close to many divisions. I can’t wait!”

She is from Division 6 and close to the beach, but other divisions across the state or even more excited.

Nick Porcelli from Bloomfield High School in Division 17 said, “I think this will be a change for the better, plus I can’t wait to have DCON down at the shore!”

Keyport High School Key Club President Kerrin McLaughlin said “The hotel is huge! It even has a pool and a great view of the ocean.

We can even walk along the boardwalk at DCON with our friends and we’ll have plenty of photo opportunities! I think this place really highlights the best parts of New Jersey and will be a great place to end the service year and start the new one.” 

Watch some of the most talented high school students in New Jersey Project Showcase Final Round // Sat, Feb 11 // Millburn High School THE JERSEY KEY

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The talent show Show your fellow Key Clubbers your talent! Audition at DCON, and the three finalists will perform Saturday night.

Holmdel Key Clubber Will Lee won the talent show at DCON 2010. “It really was a great experience for me,” he said. “I was so surprised that my talent stood out to the judges. Everyone should really try it because we all have something to show the world!”

Elect the 2012-2013 executive officers Hear their speeches, ask them questions during caucus breakouts, and meet next year’s district leaders.

Are you a club officer? Learn how you can lead better this service year at workshops Do you need help with making newsletters or using graphic standards?

There is a workshop for that! Want to gather up more information about CSH and ELIMINATE? There is a workshop for that as well! Spend some time at these workshops and soak up as much information as possible.

Why you should go to DCON

BY PAIGE CRESCI LT. GOV. DIV. 2, VANI RANGANATH, LT. GOV. DIV. 9, ZACHARIAH DEGIULIO, LT. GOV. DIV. 12, ASHLEY JOSEPH, LT. GOV. DIV. 15

Claim your awards There are recognition sessions where clubs are recognized for the effort they put in during the service year.

Contests information was included in the District Convention mailing that was sent to advisors and club presidents.

Although the real reward for service comes from the people you help, participating in a contest is a fun way to show club talent.

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Do you like to dance? Come out to the Friday night dance and formal Governor’s Ball on Saturday night. You are sure to have a great time! Dance the night away.

Come out to see our new location DCON will be hosted at the beach at the Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch. This is the first time our convention has taken place in our own state for over 30 years.

Earn scholarships Each year, 18 scholarships are given to Key Clubbers all around the district. And this doesn’t mean just district board members. Last year, no more than five scholarships were awarded to District Board member.

The scholarships range from $500 to $2,000. All seniors can apply for a scholarship through the district, even those who are not officers.

At times it may seem that New Jersey District Board of Trustees always gets the credit for the effort and dedication that every Key Clubber has. But this is not the case.

The scholarships packet was included in the November mailing that was sent to club advisors and presidents. Applications are due February 25.

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Project Showcase talent competition raises money for The Eliminate Project

BY NICOLE VENTRONE, LT. GOV. DIV. 8

ROCK ON On November 18, Divisions 19 and 20 held New Jersey’s very first Project Showcase and raised $1000.

District-wide talent competition is open to all high school students, not just Key Clubbers.

Proceeds go towards Kiwanis and UNICEF’s campaign against maternal and neonatal tetanus.

Find pictures and other informational resources to educate your club about The Eliminate Project at theeliminateproject.org.

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THIS SERVICE YEAR, THE DISTRICT HAS THE

exciting opportunity support the new district project, the Eliminate Project.

The New Jersey District has set a goal of $79,180.38 to be raised for this fund. Though this number may seem overwhelming, Project Showcase: Saving Lives Through Talent events are happening around the district to raise money against maternal and neo-natal tetanus.

Once a winner from each of these divisional events is named, the New Jersey District will organize a state-wide show in mid-February.

Who can enter?

The competition is open to any high school student, not to just Key Clubbers.

Also, if participants are in a band or group, only one of these members must be in high school.

With such a broad definition for particiWhat is Project Showcase? pants, Project Showcase is sure to have a great Project Showcase is a talent competition fund- variety of acts. Remember to spread the word raiser to benefit the Eliminate Project. to all of your friends who may not hear about Whether you sing, break dance, or even yo-yo, it through Key Club meetings.  you are welcomed to compete.

Nicole is a co-chair of the 2011-2012 District Project SteerHow is the competition organized? ing Committee. Email her at ltgdiv8@njkeyclub.org.

Each of the district’s 22 divisions will host or co-host a competition in a location near you.

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Check out Mree on YouTube at mreebee3, like her Facebook page, and buy her new album at http://mreemusic.com/store.

Meet last year’s district talent show winner Mree

PHOTO BY EMILY TEBBETS

BY KATIE BRYDEN, LT. GOV. DIV. 11

Marie Hsiao was the winner of last year’s Generosity Rocks concert series. Marie, known as Mree, is attends Somerville High School. You can listen to music from her new album Grow on her Facebook page.

Who are your musical influences?

It’s kind of funny. My first influence that made me want to become a singer was Mariah Carey. I saw her in the movie Glitter and I wanted nothing more than to be able to sing like her. Now, however, that seems so silly because I wouldn’t be caught dead listening to her on my iPod. Now, I would say my influences are bands like Bon Iver, Jonsi, Sigur Ros, The Middle East, and Hammock.

How would you describe your music for an audience that has never heard you?

It has always been hard for me to categorize music, but if I had to describe my style, I would say it is a mixture of indie, singer/ songwriter, and acoustic.

What was the first song that you ever sang in front of an audience?

The first time I sang in front of an audience was one of the scariest and most exhilarating things I had ever done at the time. I did a Do you want to study music cover of “Love Song” by Sara in college?

Since I want to continue perusing Bareilles for my eighth grade school talent show. music, I am planning to go to college to study music producWhat are your songs about? tion/sound engineering.

I tend to write about a wide vari6

ety of things, but the thing they all have in common is that they are usually always about something I’m going through or feeling at the time.

How old were you when you started performing in front of live audiences?

I started performing regularly during my sophomore year of high school.

Does your family carry the same musical/artistic talents that you do?

My sister studies illustration at FIT, my brother is extremely into composing jazz music, my mother is also a painter, and my dad used to play guitar.

How did you create your first album?

I have a little home studio set up in my room where I recorded and mixed my album through Pro Tools.

What has been the biggest challenge for you while performing?

Whenever I perform a new song, I have to work hard to remember all of my lyrics and sing them right.

Where would you like to see yourself in the next five years as an artist?

In the next five years, I would hope to be touring and promoting my newest album.  ISSUU.COM/NJKEYCLUB

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Next year’s officers can attend spring Regional Training Conferences. More information will come out in April.

The district’s five Regional Training Conferences teach over 500 officers how to better their clubs

BY JIAYUN FANG, DISTRICT SECRETARY WE

STARTED

THE

YEAR

WITH Clubs and Spring Regional Training ing a Key Clubber.

the goal to “Sweeten the World with Service,” and we did just that.

This year’s Fall Regional Training Conferences hosted by Montville, West Deptford, and Piscataway Key

Conferences hosted by Brick Memorial and Millburn Key Clubs were all successful.

In total, all the RTCs trained over 500 attendees on the basics of becom-

The changes introduced this year— from new workshops to new icebreakers to the introduction of our new NJ mascot—made these RTCs pretty sweet for every one. 

With its 11th club, Division 1 will split into two divisions next year

BY CECILIA KANG LT. GOV. DIV. 1 CONGRATULATIONS TO CAPE

FALL RALLY On October 9, New Jersey Key Clubbers New Jersey packed into busses and cars

to gather at Six Flags Great Adventure to get pumped up for the service year.

Following tradition, the session ended in a nail-bitingly close cheering competition, in which Division 1 took home the Spirit Stick.

After all this excitement, Key Clubbers enjoyed an incredible and thrilling day in the park with wicked rides, daring drops, and blaring speeds. –DIANA LEE, LT. GOV. DIV. 16

May County Technical and Atlantic Christian!

Officially chartered last August Cape May County Technical is Division 1’s tenth club. With Atlantic Christian adding an eleventh Key Club, Division 1 will split next year into Division 1A and 1B. Division 1 is also in the process of chartering a Key Club at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology. 

theeliminateproject.org Learn more about our district project

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DISTRICT Zone Administrators help the district board and can also help your advisors too. To find out who your Zone Administrator is, ask your LTG.

Experienced Kiwanians join advisory committee on Key Clubs

BY AMANDA LUTICK, LT. GOV. DIV. 7

Message from new District Administrator Mr. Ed Hutchinson Hi! A song comes to mind and it goes like this: “Where do I begin, to tell the story...”

I would like to say I am thankful and proud to be given this opportunity to serve this Key Club district in this capacity. I have worked with this district for many years in different roles and I look forward, as a new page in my life turns, to work with the students and Committee to finish up this administrative year and have fun doing it.

We have a lot of work yet before us, but I know by all of us working together, we will end up successful and have a good time doing it.

Key Club is a student-led organization and our committee of Kiwanians will be there to help guide and support them in their endeavors.

I had the pleasure to attend Kiwanis Family Conference and to be with some of the district board, and now I am really looking forward to meet the rest of the board and to work with them, and also to help them become professional leaders which they are already on the road to becoming. I know we do teach them but I feel I always end up learning more from them. That’s why I enjoy it so much and it helps keep me young.

In service, Ed ADMINISTRATOR NEW JERSEY DISTRICT KEY CLUB INTERNATIONAL

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LAST FALL, EIGHT NJ KIWANIS school administrator.

members were appointed to serve on the Kiwanis District Committee on Key Clubs. The committee is responsible for properly carrying out the administrative tasks of the Key Club District Board.

Certainly not a stranger to the K-Family, Mr. Ed Hutchinson is the newly appointed District Administrator.

He has been a

member of the Cape May Kiwanis Club for 32 years and also a member of the Dream Catchers Kiwanis Club, a internet-based club of mostly motorcyclists based in the Southwest District.

In his time as a Kiwanian, he has served as a Lieutenant Governor, District Treasurer, Governor, and also as District Secretary.

This past year, Mr. Hutchinson finished his term as a Kiwanis International Trustee. Mr. Hutchinson has also worked with the NJ Key Club District as a Zone Administrator and Financial Counselor.

Th i s i s M s . K a i t l i n McCann’s third year on the committee. Ms. McCann has held some notable position in the KFamily. She served as the NJ Key Club District Bulletin Editor, and as Circle K District Editor, District Governor, as well as International Vice President. In Kiwanis, she has served as a club president and is now a Lieutenant Governor-Elect and New Jersey Foundation board member.

Ms. McCann works as a middle school math teacher making sure her students have every opportunity possible to be successful and is enrolled in grad school to be a

From the Kiwanis club of Edison, Zone Administrator Ms. Laura Liebowitz has been involved as the Key Club advisor for Piscataway High School since 1988 and has also been a Kiwanis member for several years.

Mrs. Liebowitz said, “I was excited to join the committee because I have been involved with Key Club for over 20 years and it always looked like fun and an opportunity to volunteer at a different level with some great kids!”

Mrs. Liebowitz is a special education teacher and she has been to DCON in at least three different locations in the past 20 years.

Zone Administrator Mr. Ron Orthwein has been a dedicated

member of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany. From the Kiwanis Club of Marlboro, Mr. Anthony Affatati has joined as the district’s new Financial Counselor, and Ms. Maria Recchione is also another Zone Administrator. Zone Administrator Mr. Jon Bitzer from the Kiwanis Club of Atlantic City and Mr. Affatati have both served Kiwanis as lieutenant governors.

Leadership Advisor Robert Acerra had some of the best

experiences of his life with Key Club members.

Rob’s history in the K-Family stems from his years in as a Key Club president and Lieutenant Governor, to where he is now as a Circle K International Representative. Outside of the KFamily, he is studying social work at Monmouth University.  ISSUU.COM/NJKEYCLUB

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The district board is responsible for planning events like Fall Rally.

They also decided the theme for the event, Swing into the Jungle of Service.

TRIVIA The last male New Jersey

District Governor was John Monagle, who served from 2005-2006 and was a member of Arthur L. John High School Key Club.

ONE OF OUR OWN Jared Greene

Running for positions beyond the club level

from Tenafly High School Key Club was elected to the position of International Trustee last summer. Though he’s from New Jersey, he serves at the trustee to the Carolinas, Florida, and Jamaica Districts.

BY ASHLEY JOSEPH, LT. GOV. DIV. 15

AS A KEY CLUBBER, I’M SURE

you’re all pumped up for service!

But do you ever find yourself itching for a bigger role?

Within a district, dedicated member can easily create a greater impact. Running for a higher position is a great idea and can benefit you personally.

Keep in mind that all district positions require great dedication and commitment. Lt. Gov. of Division 17 Jenn Braun says, “Run for a district position if you are willing to stay up until 2 A.M. doing Key Club work, sleeping, eating and breathing Key Club, all while loving every second of it.”

LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS

oversee the clubs in their division, and act as the liaison between each club and district.

Attending district events, creating newsletters for their clubs, keeping in contact with their officers through email and phone calls, as well as planning presidents council meetings for the division are some of the many duties of an LTG. The position is demanding, but still a highly rewarding experience.

Lt. Gov. of Division 13 Nidhi Gurjar said, “The position of LTG helps you better yourself as a person and give you the opportunity to meet some of the best people in the state.”

Lieutenant Governors are elected in January at divisional elections.

You can also run for an executive board position!

The executive board is elected at DCON each year.

You can run to be DISTRICT GOVERNOR, SECRETARY, TREASURER, or BULLETIN EDITOR.

The Governor represents the district and supports the district board by keeping in with dozens of people. She is also responsible for planning district board meetings.

The Secretary records minutes at board meetings and also prepares the district handbook and directory.

The Treasurer works with the District Financial Counselor to maintain the budget. They also help lieutenant governors and their clubs through the dues paying process.

The Editor’s job is to create three issues of The Jersey Key, the district’s official publication.

You can also apply for the position of DISTRICT WEBMASTER, in which it will be your responsibility to run our district website and help the entire board with any technical difficulties.

Members can also run to be INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, or one of the 11 INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEES of Key Club.

Those elected to these positions have usually had experience in a district or International office. Candidates are endorsed at their District Convention, then campaign and run at International Convention in the summer.

Ashley is District Convention Elections Chairperson. Email her at ltgdiv15@njkeyclub.org.

Don’t be in the dark Get district updates and leadership tips from our THE JERSEY KEY January 2012 new social media connections

OUR NEW FACEBOOK PAGE

New Jersey District of Key Club International

OUR NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL

youtube.com/njkeyclub

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

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How different clubs trick-or-treat for UNICEF

BY OLIVIA SHANLEY, LT. GOV. DIV 5

International updates from Trustee Nick DePorzio HEY, NEW JERSEY DISTRICT KEY CLUBBERS! THE

CRAFTY! Egg Harbor Township Key Club made a UNICEF box costume to wear while trick-or-treating.

CLUBS HAVE DIFFERENT APPROACHES Township High School takes a more tradi-

for raising money for Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. Bloomfield High School visits their elementary school and educates the children about Vice President Nicole Couto says, Didn’t receive boxes?

“I love this idea Clubs that participated last because it gets our year were supposed to, but unfortunately International younger generaran out. The district is trying tions involved in to compile a list of clubs that should have gotten boxes. service projects.”

Egg Harbor

tional approach and goes to each home in the nearby neighborhoods to collect donations. Instead of going out on Halloween, though, they pick a later day and notify the residents via flyer a week prior to the event. They still dress up in costumes.

For over 60 years, children have gone door-to-door for Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, donating profits to causes such as Eliminate, this year’s benefactor. The money raised through Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF counts towards our district fundraising goal. 

No New Jersey clubs applied for grant to fund projects The Youth Opportunities Fund awards up to $2000 to clubs in need of more funding for projects

BY RAVI CHAUHAN, LT. GOV. DIV 3B NO NEW JERSEY DISTRICT KEY CLUBS

applied for the Youth Opportunities Fund this year.

The YOF grant is an endowed fund from the Kiwanis International Founda10

tion. Key Clubs can apply for $100 to $2000 for projects that they need more money to organize. For example, the CyFair High School Key Club in Cypress, Texas, spent the $550 they received to buy books for elementary schools and cassette tapes to record them for the schools’ reading programs.

Visit keyclub.org if your club would like to apply for the YOF grant. The application must be received by October 15. 

winds of change are a blowing! The seasons have shifted, the weather is colder, and winter break has left just energized for the rest of the service year.

In the midst of all these changes, one thing remains constant: our commitment to serve, our passion to make a difference. While our projects may change from raking leaves to shoveling snow, our purpose is resolute. My greatest encouragement and appreciation goes to each of you for the service that you do.

But what about the service of our leaders? What have they been up to? This past October, your International Board met in Orlando, Florida, to hold a board meeting. Several decisions were made for our organization and regarding the For more 2012 International ConvenInternational news tion being hosted in Orlando. visit Nick’s website: Of the work done, things to trustynick.com look forward to include six future webinars, a Key Club mobile app, an application for translated materials, revisions to International awards, among others.

Should you ever be more curious about the International Board’s work, please check out my website trustynick.com to satisfy your thirst for knowledge! A nice phone call or email is always welcome also!

Remember that our aim is the same and with open hearts we are united in the spirit of service. Having just visited your sister district of Ohio, I am told to extend their support and appreciation of the work of New Jersey. As for your other sister of New York, I am only sure they feel the same.

Funny, isn’t it? That no matter how great the miles that divide us are, the love we share is still strong.

Remember that there will always be someone in Key Club there for you! I will always be one.

Hope you enjoyed the holidays, New Jersey! Keep warm, and fill up on hot chocolate and good spirit!

In caring and support, Nick DePorzio TRUSTEE TO THE OHIO, NEW JERSEY, AND NEW YORK DISTRICTS KEY CLUB INTERNATIONAL ISSUU.COM/NJKEYCLUB

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Former Key Club district board members appointed to Circle K district board positions

k-family

Help the next generation of Key Clubbers— Builders Club

ALWAYS PART OF THE K-FAMILY Immediate Past NJ District Webmas-

ter Shivam Patel (left) and Immediate Past Lt. Gov. Div. 6 Chris Godshall have joined their Circle K district boards.

BY AMI SHAH, LT. GOV. DIV. 3A, AND WESLEY YUAN, DISTRICT WEBMASTER TWO OF LAST YEAR’S DISTRICT Club and earned the Robert F. Club, but the people are the

board members have joined their respective Circle K district boards.

Former Lt. Gov. of Division 6 Christopher Godshall is now a lt. governor for the New York District of Circle K, and last year’s Key Club District Webmaster Shivam Patel now serves as Technology Committee Chair of the New Jersey District.

After he arrived at Columbia University to study political science, Chris joined Circle K and was soon asked to be a lt. governor.

He oversees the Empire Division, the largest division in the New York District with seven clubs.

Chris was a member of the Brick Memorial High School Key

Lucas Outstanding Lieutenant Governor Award last year.

Shivam, last year’s New Jersey District Webmaster and alumnus of J.P. Stevens High School, was appointed Chairperson of the Technology Committee of the New Jersey District. He is also the Rutgers Circle K webmaster.

He thought of joining Circle K during his term last year. Being able to use his technological skills to expand Key Club on a state level was fulfilling, and he wanted to continue serving through the K -Family in college.

Both have noticed Circle K’s smaller size due to the number of fewer colleges versus high schools, but they still enjoy Circle K. “I like Circle K,” Chris said.

“It’s much different from Key

same, just a new perspective.”

The greatest experience Shivam has gained from Circle K is learning how to use his “own two feet.”

Because everyone is a legal adult, they do not rely on Kiwanis advisors as much as Key Clubs do.

Shivam looks forward to using this freedom to be more creative with the district website and also with writing scripts for district promotional videos.

“It’s a true service organization.” he says, “The friends you meet through the program have hearts of gold, and the projects you embark on will always leave those less fortunate smiling. If you truly wish to keep on making a difference, even after high school, join Circle K.” 

In the New Jersey District, there are currently 66 Builders Clubs. As middle school students, they are Key Club’s future members, and it’s important for Key Clubs to interact with them.

Here are some ways you can help your local Builders Club: Invite Builder’s Club members to a Key Club event Create a peer mentor program to help their transition from middle school to high school Help them plan their events Plan joint projects Teach them about Key Club!

Plan a K-Family night with fun things like ice cream socials or movie nights to celebrate the success of all your local K-Family clubs.

District board bonds with other K-Family members in North Carolina

BY NIDHI GURJAR, LT. GOV. DIV. 13

In November, eight members of the New Jersey District Board, Kiwanis District Governor Mrs. Rosemarie Gibardi, a newly-appointed District Administrator Mr. Ed Hutchinson travelled Black Mountain, North Carolina to attend the 31 st annual Kiwanis Family Conference.

Kiwanis International President Alan Penn and Key Club International Trustee Alan Wang were also there, among other K-Family members from around the country. The conference was an opportunity for different branches of the K-Family to meet each other and bond in the small groups that they were sorted into.  THE JERSEY KEY

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Read about more cool projects that clubs are doing around the district. issuu.com/njkeyclub

Tenafly plants memorial tulips to raise money for the Eliminate Project

BY CHRISTINA XIAO, TENAFLY TREASURER

DRESSED TO IMPRESS To print shirts like Voorhees High School Key Club’s, you

can talk to your school’s graphic design class or visit sites like keyclubshirts.com or ooshirts.com. Voorhees High School wears their shirts to various club events.

How to promote your club with t-shirts

BY ZACHARIAH DEGIULIO, LT. GOV. DIV 12

IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN in memory or in honor of a loved

Tenafly sits Huyler Park. A few trees dot the patches of grass, and a couple of shrubs add some greenery to the scene.

But come springtime, that will change. Introduce a dozen Key Clubbers, Kiwanians, 20 trowels, and a donation of 2,500 tulip bulbs from a local coffee shop.

For just a dollar each, community members could plant a tulip

one, raising $400 the Eliminate Project.

“Planting tulips was a great event!” said Tenafly Key Club Secretary Samantha Caine.

“Now, whenever I drive by Huyler Park, I think about how much of a difference our Key Club has made in beautifying and helping our community.” 

Hackettstown Key Clubbers entertain children at daycare while their parents take ESL classes

HACKETTSTOWN KEY CLUB

BY BRETT SANDERS HACKETTSTOWN EDITOR

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members helped the day care for Spanish-speaking children at Trinity United Methodist Church on Saturdays last year.

Parents attended English as a Second Language classes while Key Clubbers played with their children and kept them amused.

While brightening the kids’ day, members realized not to take their capability to speak English for granted. 

Whether working a benefit dinner or competing for the all-important spirit stick at Fall Rally, tshirts display unity and can help the district get one step closer to making Key Club a household name.

Getting a club to print shirts can seem like a daunting task, but with the right planning, it can painless.

1. Create a design that is simple and straightforward. Have a contest or recruit other members to help you in designing it.

2. Find a printer Ask around your school to see if they know any printers that can print shirts fairly cheaply. If not, use a website like keyclubshirts.com or ooshirts.com to order your shirts.

3. How to pay Use funds from your school’s Key Club account or get members to pay ahead of time and get a specific number.

4. Wear the shirts as often as possible!

Your members will wear them during school and get others pumped for service.

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DISTRICT

McNair recognizes Webmaster Akash Desai

BY AKISHA MEHTA MCNAIR PRESIDENT ONCE IN A WHILE, THERE

comes an officer who exceeds everybody’s expectations. Our club’s dedicated webmaster, Akash Desai, is one of those officers.

Not only does Akash maintain the club website, but he is also involved in the meetings, as every officer should be. During meetings, Akash goes around to the members, reinforcing key aspects and addressing any concerns. Akash is able to use the four core values of Key Club in a way that not only benefits the club, but also advances it.

Akash is a very daring, dedicated and inspirational individual. It is with great pride and honor that we recognize someone who reaches for the stars. A luminescent star that twinkles in our sky of members. The MAHS Key Club is glad to have Akash as an officer. 

J.P. Stevens Key Club’s membership is mostly Indian, as is Edison, the town where its students are from. Some clubs in the New Jersey District are largely one race, giving students of the same race a reason to join while discouraging other students.

Does it hurt clubs when members are all of the same race?

BY REVATHI MEKALA, LT. GOV. DIV. 10

Some clubs attract new members of the same race, a trend that can also may discourage students of other races from joining.

Some clubs, especially in the New Jersey District, are composed of members of one race. Egg Harbor Township High School Key Club is largely Asian, and New Brunswick High School Key Club is Hispanic.

Manville Key Club befriends special education classmates in a new club

BY VANESSA VELEZ, MANVILLE PRESIDENT THE JERSEY KEY

January 2012

My home club of J.P. Stevens High School is also one of these clubs. We are the largest club in our division, with over 300 members, and the majority of them are Indian.

Being Indian myself, I think it’s something that unites the club, but unfortunately deters students who aren’t Indian from joining.

This situation is true for many clubs, but what sets J.P. Stevens apart is the ethnic makeup of the town it’s situated in. Not only is our club largely Indian, but so is our school.

But the general consensus from

non-Indian members is that they are indifferent to the culture of our club. It is something we are accustomed to.

“The fact that Key Club is a completely extracurricular organization based purely on service means that the club itself does no recruiting of its own. People join by their own will,” J.P. Stevens Advisor Mr. Louis Andreuzzi said.

“Whether those people are Asian, Caucasian, or Indian is beyond me. I just know that we make a difference, and that’s all that matters.” 

MEMBERS OF THE MANVILLE school. Members play games, eat

High School Key Club have successfully started a Circle of Friends club in their school. In this club, students interact and become friends with special education students. It creates a sense of belonging for them and gives them a more social experience at

lunch together, and even plan field trips. Last year the club went bowling.

Last year, there were only seven members. This year, there are 40 members who spend time with five special education students. 

Want to start your own club? Visit circleoffriends.org for more info.

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leadership Use these websites to talk to your fellow officers and promote your club

DISTRICT

College application advice Juniors, it’s only months away. Here’s tips from Key Clubbers who’ve experienced the application process

BY KIMBERLY LU, DISTRICT TREASURER

BY JOSEPH TOUMANIOS, LT. GOV. DIV 18

dafont.com For editors or anybody who likes adding fancy and exciting titles, this is the perfect site for you.

Download hundreds of free fonts to make your titles and headings exciting It offers the option to select by theme or by custom search.

join.me Is a simple and productive screen sharing site.

This site is sure to make working both easier and fun.

jaycut.com Many clubs like to make videos advertising their events, such as the Eliminate video or Fall Rally promotional video, and a great way to edit all the film clips that you record is through this website. Jaycut is a website that allows a quick effective editing variety so you can film, alter, and publicize as soon as possible for best club results. All editors and members should definitely check out this site.

“I made a spreadsheet during my application process that listed deadlines, the supplements I still needed to complete, and the time I needed to do them. Also, I made specific folders for my college applications so nothing would get lost.”

Past District Secretary Kevin Sun Harvard University

“Ask yourself one question, "If you got into every college in the world, where would you go?" You should consider applying there early decision. As for early action, it is another great opportunity because you will find out about your college decision in December.”

President Sami Fiorino Senior at Holmdel High School

“Recommendation letters are important. They should come from people who know you well.

Getting a letter from a teacher you don't know well just because you aced their class will say nothing more than what is on your transcript.”

Past Lt. Gov. Div. 19 Neepam Shah The College of New Jersey

skype.com Sometimes it is difficult to get all officers in one place for a meeting. Skype can help with that.

Any computer with a camera allows users to instantly see and speak to one another instantly.

This allows users to spread information instantly and keep in periodic contact at all available hours of the day. 

“Major in something that will make you happy.

This is the choice that will direct the rest of your life and you can’t choose a path you won’t be happy with. I want to be a doctor and work with people and feel like I am making a difference in peoples’ lives.” Vice President Katie Sacco Senior at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology

Reading The Jersey Key in issuu.com?

Then you’re listening to Mree’s “Atmosphere.” Hear more from her new album Grow on her Facebook page.

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ISSUU.COM/NJKEYCLUB

January 2012

DISTRICT

leadership !!! Learn about what the

Officers, avoid these general meeting mistakes

BY CELINA BAQUIRAN, LT. GOV. DIV 14 NOT ALL GENERAL MEETINGS ARE PERFECT, Poor public speaking

even if you’ve had experience planning them for the first half of this year.

Here are a few things to avoid when running your next club’s meeting:

Being unprepared No member is going to take the meeting seriously if the speaker does not have a clear understanding of the topic. Members look up to officers and expect them to know everything about the club.

One way to solve this problem is to review the agenda in detail at an officers meeting before the general meeting. This will also make answering members’ questions easier since all officers will know the information.

Command the room with a loud, clear voice.

No one is going to pay attention if they cannot hear you, and speaking too fast won’t let your members take notes. Project your voice and speak at a slower pace.

Losing your audience Members are constantly having their own conversations, on their phone, and walking in and out of the room. A way to fix this problem is to have officers spread out in different parts of the room. If people are talking, the officer can simply ask the members to stop and pay attention. 

$$$$

You can still recruit new members, even if the initial dues deadline has passed

BY RYAN CLARKIN, LT. GOV. DIV. 21

The dues deadline has passed, but it isn’t too late to recruit more members.

Encourage members to bring a friend to a specific meeting educate them on why Key Club is such a great club. Recruiting new members is all about getting the word out, so take advantage of morning announcements at school, flyers, and newspaper

advertisements.

The process for submitting dues for new members is the same as the one your treasurer went through earlier in the year.

Log in at keyclub.org, enter the new members’ information, then print out the invoice and mail it and the dues payment to Kiwanis International. 

International Board discusses at their meetings.

Visit keyclub.org for agendas and minutes.

Also check out trustynick.com for updates from our International Trustee Nick DePorzio.

How to stay on top of many smaller projects and develop leaders at the same time

BY CECILIA KANG, LT. GOV. DIV 1

***

KEEPING TRACK OF ALL THE SMALLER PRO-

jects your club plans can sometimes be challenging.

One help way to keep things organized is to assign a member to be in charge of each project. You can refer to this member as a “point person.” This individual is to be responsible for keeping members who have signed up informed with reminders, cancellations, and changes.

It is a great way to not only keep things organized but to also have more leadership opportunities available members who aren’t officers, especially trustworthy freshmen.

Stockton College Circle K assigns points to each of their projects to keep their members in the loop. 

See you soon Continue to support Children’s Specialized Hospital. To schedule a recreational therapy visit, contact your lieutenant governor today.

THE JERSEY KEY

January 2012

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Key Club is leadership.

Elect your 2012-2013 District Governor, Secretary, Treasurer, and Bulletin Editor at District Convention

Walk the Boardwalk of Service DISTRICT CONVENTION 2012 // March 30 - April 1 // Long Branch, NJ