EHTHS Key Club Newsletter Volume XVII Issue 4 by Pak Chau

Volume XVII, Issue 4| May 29, 2012

THE KEY CHAIN The Official Newsletter of the Egg Harbor Township High School Key Club

Somewhere Over the Summer! More Projects as School Comes to an End Page 6-8

https://Keyclubehths.com

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Volume XVII, Issue 4| May 29, 2012

KEY CHAIN CONTENTS Ar t i c l e s

Featured Article

On the Cover: Members of EHTHS Key Club, Cedar Creek Key Club, and Absegami Spanish Honor Society go to the Field of Dreams for another game!

“ Only Days Before Relays! ” - Summer is quickly approaching and so is the annual Relay for Life event at the Ocean City High School Track Read more - Page 7

, Editors Letter Dear Key Clubbers,

It’s been a pretty good school year but I must say, the highlight of the year is undoubtedly Key Club. From Fall Rally, to the NJ District Convention, to Field of Dreams, to Holiday Circle and the numerous walks on the boardwalk, each event ahs changed me on the inside—even if it was just a little. It’s been a wonderful year and I’m glad that service doesn’t end now but goes on through the summer. Keep on clubbing through the summer! Yours in Caring and Service, Pak Chau EHTHS Key Club Bulletin Editor

https://Keyclubehths.com

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Volume XVII, Issue 4| May 29 2012

MESSAGES & ELIMINATE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Hello my beautiful Key Cubs! I hope that you all are doing well! So the year is coming to an end–I hope that you have accomplished all your goals from the beginning of the school year to now. Even though the school year is ending, that doesn’t mean the Key Club is ending. Key Club runs 24/7! So remember to look at the EHTHS Key Club Facebook page once in a while to check if there are any projects over the summer; this includes Relay for Life, the Kick-Off Party, and 4-H Fair. This summer, we may have many more events to help fundraise for the ELIMINATE Project. And with that, I’d like to say a few personal words to wrap up this school year. I have learned a lot this school year as I finished my term as the club bulletin editor and began my term as president. I have learned how to be more organized, be more social, and be a better public speaker. My grammar and writing have both improved as well. I also made many amazing friends over the course of this year. To me, Key Club isn’t just about the hours and service–it’s a way of life. I’d like to thank Mr. Stevenson and Mr. Heenan for being amazing advisors. It would have been difficult being an officer if I didn’t have you guys to support me. I’d also like to thank the 2011-2012 Officer Board; you guys taught me how to work alongside other people and prepared me for my presidency. Thank you to the 2012-2013 OCC Board for stepping up to the plate and joining our team. I couldn’t do it without you guys. Thank you to all the general members for joining Key Club, because without your dedication and hard work, Key Club wouldn’t happen. To all the seniors, thank you for joining Key Club. I wish you the best of luck wherever you go after you graduate; we will miss you! Consider joining Circle K in college or Kiwanis! And to all the members who will be returning next school year, please join Key Club again, we can’t run this club without you! And to everyone, remember to keep on caring, keep on loving, and keep on helping people because you never know if one day, you’ll need someone to help you. I love each and every one of you! Thank you for making the 2011-2012 school year amazing for the EHTHS Key Club! KEY CUBS FOR LIFE! ♥ Yours in Caring, Friendship, Love, and Service, Valerie Wong EHTHS Key Club President

https://Keyclubehths.com

Valerie Wong recently picked out our club mascot to be a bear named “Key Cub”. This is a crude and general drawing of how he looks like and will represent EHTHS.

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Volume XVII, Issue 4| May 29 2012

MESSAGES & ELIMINATE LIEUTENANT GOVENOR’S MESSAGE Hey Key Cubs, As the year progressed, I have noticed that the attendance at meetings has been dropping and that’s understandable. Many of you are busy with sports, exams, and let’s be honest— meetings aren’t exactly the most exciting things. If you miss a meeting, make sure to get the information from someone else. You’re very fortunate to be part of a club that is active even into the summer months. There are always events and projects posted on the door and even when school lets out, there will be projects that you can sign up for through the website or Facebook. There are countless opportunities for you to stay active in your community and not many people take advantage of those opportunities, which is a shame. Many people have the wrong idea about service. They think, “Key Club over the summer? Nah, I rather have fun and party!” If you’re one of those people, think about the last time you’ve helped out a stranger or the last time you put a genuine smile on someone’s face. Doing service and helping out your community gives you a great feeling and it can be tons of fun, too. There are so many different projects, you’ll definitely find one that you love. The way to make the most out of your summer, and just life in general, is this: Live your life to help someone else live theirs.

Kelly Tran went to her first Field of Dreams event this weekend and helped disabled teens and children play baseball.

Yours in Caring and Service, Kelly Tran Lieutenant Governor Division 1b

OTC (Officer Training Conference) is a meeting in which the LTG of the division meets up with the officers of the club to teach them their duties as officers as well as keep them updated about district news.

https://Keyclubehths.com

Volume XVII, Issue 4| May 29, 2012

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THE ELIMINATE CAMPAIGN

Steps Towards Eliminate. TheEliminateProject.org. What exactly is the goal of the ELIMINATE project? Right now 100 million mothers and their children are diagnosed with maternal neonatal tetanus. ELIMINATE wishes to eliminate this disease from the world at the year of 2015. This is not an easy task as a calculated $110 million dollars is needed to execute the plan. The Kiwanis Family and UNICEF are teaming up to sure this disorder. Maternal neonatal tetanus (MNT) affects the nervous system and cases infected mothers and their children to experience painful convulsions and sensitivity to light. MNT is mainly caused by spores from the ground that seep into cuts of children or their mothers. When infected, the fatality rate is 100% unless they are treated at a hospital which still results in a high fatality rate ranging from 10% - 60%. This disease kills one child every nine minutes and totals to about 60,000 children a year. Even worse, the disease can also kill the mother as well. The worst part is that the immunization cost a mere $1.80 to protect one mother and her child from MNT. Over 90 million women have already been vaccinated and MNT has been eliminated in 24 countries. However, there are still 35 countries that await the ELIMINATE project’s help in taking out the disease; that’s where Key Clubbers like us come in, to come and help out in any way we can! 

OFFICIALWEBSITE

Volume XVII, Issue 4| May 29 2012

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MAJOR EVENTS EVENTS

Walk for Lupus 2012

BY JOSH PEREZ GARCIA General Member

On Sunday, May 20, the Walk for Lupus was a worthwhile and incredible event. The morning started off with various volunteers arriving and registering for the event, along with countless walkers donating large sums of money for Lupus research. Lupus is a chronic skin disease that mainly affects tissues on the body. Lupus causes inflammation of the skin, sensitivity to light, hair loss, severe headaches and fevers without cause. Although Lupus is not as known, it’s more common than leukemia and multiple sclerosis. I never realized the severity of this disease. While planning for the event, I learned about Lupus diligently through the Oxford Medical Dictionary, to be more knowledgeable upon the disease. Although the day started cloudy, near the end of the walk the sun came out to shine on that inspiring morning. With well over 600 walkers, the Lupus Foundation Lupus causes the imof America was able to raise over 4,000 dollars for mune system to attack Lupus research. The Key Club was there to help healthy tissues in the out with set up, registration, check-ins and t-shirt body which results to administration. possible damage to arAlthough it was a very busy day, there were little eas such as the joints, the moments through out the day that gave you inspiskin, kidneys, the heart, ration and hope. The worthwhile moment of the day was when a group of college students came to lungs, blood vessels and the registration table, donating over $400.00 in the brain. cash! After the walk, when many volunteers returned, they gave out certificates of appreciation to the groups that gave the largest donations toward research. They gave out their thanks to the many that volunteered, including Key Club! It was an Lupus comes from amazing day filled with inspiring hope and admirathe Latin word tion and I can’t wait to help out again for this great cause!  meaning wolf be-

“Someone You Know Has Lupus”

cause the skin conditions cause victims to look like wolves.

General member Yuyan Chen helps set up and run the Walk for Lupus walk at the Ocean City Boardwalk.

https://Keyclubehths.com

Volume XVII, Issue 4| May 29 2012

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EVENTS

Field of Dreams : “The Second Inning” BY PAK CHAU AND RAYMOND CHAU Bulletin Editor and Future Key Club Member

My brother and soon to be Key Club member brother, Raymond Chau, had gone for the second time and I asked him some questions about his experience at the Field of Dreams and here were his responses: Question: What was your favorite part and what was you least favorite part of Field f Dreams ? Answer: My favorite part of Field of Dreams was playing baseball with the players and running around the bases with them. I didn’t like when I don’t get paired up with a partner and I end up being a cheerleader on the sidelines cheering on the players. Question: Was there anyone or anything that stood out to you at the Field of Dreams? Why did it stand out? Answer: Well, you were being nice to people which was weird because you’re mean to me. There was a kid there with a breathing machine and that was cool that he wanted to play baseball so bad he carried the machine around to play. Question: When you join Key Club in two years, would you consider going to this project again in the future? Answer: It was fun so I would probably go again. It’s a lot different form other projects that you bring me to. EHTHS Key Club President Valerie Wong (top left), future Key Club member Curtis Wong (middle left), Absegami HS Spanish Honor Society Member Christina (bottom Left), Division 1b Lieutenant Governor Kelly Tran (middle), and Absegami HS Spanish Honor Society Member Christine (bottom right) play a game of baseball at the Field of Dreams at the Dr. Jonathan Pitney Park in Absecon, New Jersey with their “buddies”

Key Clubbers worked alongside Absegami High School’s Spanish Honor Society and Cedar Creek’s Key Club to once again help physically or mentally disabled children and teens play a game of baseball at the Field of Dreams in the Dr. Jonathan Pitney Park in Absecon, New Jersey. Just when I thought I had seen it all the last time I was there and I was wrong. Although both Field of Dream events involved were generally the same, the age of the people playing were different; they were much older than before. Age was not the only difference that I saw on the field. Personally I didn’t get to be paired up with a “buddy” but I got the opportunity to see how the other members got to interact with their partners. I could really tell that this new group of kids wanted to play ball. They were full of determination and so were the Key Club members to help them achieve their dreams. Besides the age, they still shared one strong desire to have some fun and play some baseball. Each of the volunteers were partnered up with a “buddy” in which, together, they hit the ball and travel the bases to get a homerun. 

Volume XVII, Issue 4| May 29 2012

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EVENTS

Only Days Before Relays! The end of the school year is only weeks away but so is the annual Relay for Life walk! It’s one of our Key Club’s best events of the service year with dozens of relay teams walking to help support the American Cancer Society. The walk features a overnight stay at the Ocean City High School track where many walkers will start walking on June 22 at 5:00pm until 7:00am the next day. The walk is to symbolize the everlasting battle against cancer throughout

Sleeping Bag Unless you plan on staying up for a very, very, very long time…

Bug Spray The field that we stay at has grass so be prepared to fight off vampires.

Jacket and Pants It might be cold and it also works as an anti-mosquito shield.

Blanket You want to walk the whole time? You want to sit on goose droppings?

Good Shoes It’s “solely” up to you want you want to wear but you’ll be walking...

BY PAK CHAU Bulletin Editor

the day and night. During these fourteen hours, at least one walker will be walking around the track at all times while relief walkers socialize with others by simply talking, playing cards, or even playing volleyball with other walkers! Relay for Life lasts all night. What exactly is a necessity to bring? Here’s a checklist: 

Food and Drinks This isn’t a hunger strike and it’s going to be a long time. Bring food.

Cell Phone If you ever get lost on a track that goes in a complete circle...just bring it.

Board Games You’ll get tired so bring something to play even when you’re tired.

Volleyball When you have a lot of energy or you feel sportive, start a game!

Money Buy a Relay for Life T Shirt or even some fries form the boardwalk!

https://Keyclubehths.com

Volume XVII, Issue 4| May 29, 2012

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KEY CLUB PHOTO WALL PHOTO WALL

Volume XVII, Issue 4| May 29 2012

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KEY CLUB FUN PAGE FUN PAGE I will now be taking nominations for Key Clubber of the Week. All you have to do is fill out the nomination form below and put it into the “Editor’s Mailbox” out side Mr. Stevenson’s room and the nominee might have a chance to be featured on this page! They might even be featured in one of the games below! Nominee’s Name: Nominee’s Grade: Three Facts About the Nominee:

Comments:

KEY CLUBBER OF THE WEEK: Christine Pao ABOUT: Her nickname is Ronnie and she’s great at dancing. She also enjoys going to service projects and walks on the boardwalk and getting tan while doing it! - CONGRATULATIONS CHRISTINE

Caption this:

You are drawing THE ELIMINATE PROJECT For Pak C.

Return to Pak to consider publishing in letter.

Can you name all the non-profit organizations and events? Write down your answers and put this form into the “Editor’s Mailbox” outside of Mr. Stevenson's door with your name and grade and you’ll get a prize!

Volume XVII, Issue 4| May 29, 2012

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CONTACT YOUR OFFICERS Valerie Wong President (609) 742-3868, president.valerie@gmail.com

REMINDERS... 

May is Mental Health Month and Bicycle Safety Month.

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You must have the required minimum 50 hours by the end of the service year if you want to write Key Club onto your college transcripts.

Vi Nguyen Corresponding Secretary (609) 742-3455, KC.NguyenThVi@gmail.com

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Cynthia Thurairajah Recording Secretary (609) 440-3366, recording.cynthia@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group if not already part of it and check for updates and projects!

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This is the last meeting of the school year. Don’t stay after for anymore general meetings!

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Check out the website set up by our webmaster Michael Tran!

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Have a safe and wonderful summer ! vacation!

Parth Parikh Vice President (609) 576-9885, prparikh02@gmail.com

Selina Su Treasurer (609) 442-5975, Shongsu95@gmail.com Pak Chau Bulletin Editor (609) 553-3366, pakwachau@gmail.com Michael Tran Webmaster (609) 788-4845, michdaotran@gmail.com

Next General Meeting

Tiffany Luong Sergeant-at-Arms (609) 969-3333, saa.tiffanyluong@gmail.com

Check Facebook! Next OCC Meeting

Kelly Tran Division 1B Lieutenant Governor (609) 432-9204, ltg1btrank @gmail.com

June 5, 2012

“Caring - Our Way of Life”

www.keyclub.org 3636 WOODVIEW TRACE INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46268 • 317.875.8755 • US AND CANADA: 800-KIWANIS