The Locksmith - October '06

ool’s High Sch t n a s e v Stuy

Key Club

Volume 2, Issue 2 October, 2006 Caring—Our Way of Life

THE LOCKSMITH

Inside this Issue MSABC

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A Note From the Editor: Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

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A Note from the Editor:

Picture of the Month!

I have three things to say: 1) I am amazed by the great turnout in our weekly Friday meetings. I hope that it will continue to attract so many members and interested prospective members. Keep it up!

2) Go to events!!! I cannot stress this enough: Events make Key Club as successful as it is today. I encourage you all to attend the various events we have to offer, whether it be the walks, JCC, cleanups, etc. Do what interests you—and if everything interests you, go for it!

3) I hope you had a Happy Halloween! The Cab is eagerly awaiting those cash-filled UNICEF boxes that you dedicatedly stuffed in front of other people’s noses for contribution.

Actually, I have more to say: 4) The majority of the Cab went to Six Flags this past week and during the long lines for Nitro and Medusa, we have sweated over plans for the upcoming year. So brace yourself for a fantastically new and improved (can something be new and improved? -_-) Key Club!

5) We are always available for comments, concerns, etc.

Just email us at stuykc@yahoo.com. If you want to submit an article or pictures of any event, please submit it to thelocksmith0607@yahoo.com . We would greatly appreciate it and I’m sure you will greatly appreciate seeing your name in this wonderful newsletter, The Locksmith!

Lily Tsoi

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JDRF/ JCC Operation Chicken Soup

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Memory Walk

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WHY Key Club?

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CONGRATULATIONS JENNY LIU! That’s the spirit of Keyclub! Happy to serve our home, school, and community.. *déjà vu*

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Have fun. Enjoy life. Don’t forget about Key Club.

Member of the Month of October !!!CONGRATS!!!

PUBLIC RELATIONS: Christopher Singh Sue Yee Chen

NEW PROJECTS: Melissa Wu Michelle Wong

FUNDRAISING: HuiZi (Anna) Lin Sally Cheung

ADVOCACY: Natalie Lam Danna Wei

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ART: Jenny Liu Connie Liu

LOCKSMITH Ashley Cheng Richard Huang

WEB: Un Soi Chio Pawel Socha Articles? Pictures? Send them to: thelocksmith0607@yahoo.com New Project/Advocacy idea? Email us at: stuykc@yahoo.com LET THESE ADDRESSES BE YOUR NEW BEST FRIENDS!!!!!

Michael Chu

L The first big event of the year turned out to be a success thanks to the many Key Club members, both old and new, who turned up for the MSABC Walk on Sunday, October 15th in Central Park. After arriving at the Bandshell at 7:00am, we checked in at the volunteer tent and received our t-shirts, which were a bit oversized, as usual. Then, we were split into our sections to start preparing for the walk.

My friends and I were put into Section 2 Route Marshalling. We followed our leader from 72nd St all the way past 80th St. The entire time we were unraveling a long roll of pink ribbon that we would later use to prevent walkers from straying onto the road. We each held on to a part of the ribbon to keep it up for many blocks. It took quite some time to space out the volunteers along the way, but in the end, we did it.

After awhile, our fingers started to get numb from having to hold the ribbon in the frigid cold, but that soon went away as the walkers started coming at around 9:30am. After that, it was just a continuous few hours of cheers and smiles. We got our energy flowing and spirits up with shouts of “Go walkers!” and the walkers’ echoes of “Go volunteers!”

After the last walkers had been greeted, we headed to the finish line where the other volunteers were to congratulate those who were still walking and those who had completed the walk. We all clapped and cheered as they passed under the arch of pink and white balloons. To reward everyone, paper bags filled with juice boxes, snack bars, apples, and chocolate were distributed at the finish line. The MSABC Walk was a great way to lead off all the big events that will be coming up throughout the year.

- Joanna Chen

LOL!

COURTNEY! OUR PRESIDENT!

MARIUS! OUR VICEPRESIDENT!

What’s better than spending a Sunday morning volunteering at Central Park in Manhattan? Well, it’s volunteering with your friends that Sunday morning, of course! The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC) Walk proved to be, so far, the longest, most fun, and most attended event of the year! Having been the first event for many Key Clubbers last year, many members, both new and old, were motivated to attend this year’s walk for breast cancer. The event occurred on October 15th, 2006 and lasted from 7 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon.

There were around sixty Key Club members from Stuyvesant alone! So, what exactly did this event entail? The first thing that Key Clubbers did early that morning was report to Project Captains Pei Xiong Liu and Anthony Choi. After signing in with the enthusiastic duo, many proceeded to the volunteer tent to check in and receive a shirt and a complementary breakfast. Then, we just chilled with friends until it was time to disperse to our assigned routes to cheer the walkers on. Whether by way of thunder sticks and megaphones or by just shouting out loud, our presence no doubt riled up the walkers that Sunday morning. Both at the beginning and then end of the walk, we congratulated and thanked the walkers for their contributions. A lunch of an apple, small drink, chewy bar, and some chocolates was provided for us volunteers. Although this wasn’t much, most Key Clubbers who went would agree that the opportunity to spend time with their friends and make new ones that very morning was priceless.

Besides, who would miss the chance to see Courtney get lifted into the air? =D -Valentin Hsu

It was quiet and awfully chilly when I arrived at an entrance of Central Park to attend the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. I encountered few people on my way to the bandshell and began to worry that I had taken a wrong turn. But further down the road, I was reassured by the sight of tents set up in the distance. After checking in at the volunteer tent I was greeted by fellow key clubbers who had managed to come even earlier than me. From the breakfast tent, I received a muffin and lukewarm Starbucks coffee. After most of the key clubbers that had signed up (ninety-seven!) arrived, we set out on our first assignment.

For the first assignment, key clubbers had to stand along the beginning of the trail, holding up a pink ribbon to guide the walkers. Things were pretty quiet for a while but when the cheer of a thousand of walkers suddenly filled the air, we knew it had begun. The walkers marched passed like a parade. We tried to shout words of encouragement, but most of them were drowned out by the crowd. Sometimes we would succeed and the walkers would cheer with us. Then we got hold of a megaphone and things really got loud. We gave shout-outs to different groups of walkers that were identified by the signs they were holding. The walk wasn’t limited to adults either; there were many children, babies, and even dogs (there must have been at least twenty Yorkshires that had passed by).

When the parade of walkers began tapering off, we moved to where the real party was—the finish line. There, we again cheered on the walkers who had completed the arduous journey. But this time there were a zillion more cheerers, a woman with a microphone, humungous music-blasting speakers, and a cheerleading squad! We were impressed by the cheerleaders who did some neat moves and tried to mimic them. After a lot of struggle, we managed to get Courtney into the air, standing awkwardly on the hands of two daring key clubbers. The real cheerleaders approached us and we got owned. One of the cheerleaders practically hopped onto the shoulders of another, dazzling us and other on-lookers.

After six hours of service, even the diligent project captains were feeling the drag of waking up at 5:30 in the morning. But before we took our leave, Courtney convinced the lady with the microphone to give Key Club a great—big—BOOMBA! -PEI PEI XIONG LIU

On October 15, 2006, I, along with other key clubbers, route marshaled (directed walkers) for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. As usual, it was a very early event (I think it was 7 o’clock), but it was worth it. We had saved up our spirit sticks from the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer the week before and used them during this walk to cheer the walkers on. We were in charge of cheering at the starting line and at the end of the walk. It was so much fun; every time we saw a banner with a name we would scream to the top of our lungs until we totally lost our voices. I also remember how me and my friends began singing "Because of You" and the Pokemon theme song. It was VERY FUNNY! MSABC should be an event on everyone’s calendar next year, rain or shine. ~Nelson Chiu

Left: A quilt of hope.

Right: People from all over the city gathered together at Central Park to walk and fundraise for this spectacular event!

MAKING STRIDES AGAISNT BREAST CANCER!

For two days along 39 miles, men, women and children walked to raise money for the many people affected by breast cancer. The pink banners announcing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer could be seen from just about anywhere in the city. Stuyvesant Key Club was there at the finish line at South Street Seaport to cheer on the walkers. Even though I got there late, the energy was still unbelievable.

As I walked in the street towards Seaport, many people were under the impression that I was a walker and cheered me on with such great enthusiasm.

When I finally arrived at the finish line, I was hit with a sea of pink. Everybody there was lined up on the street. They had these pink balloon noisemakers and were banging them together as loud as they could—and believe me, they were

LOUD. Screams and whistles pierced the air as each walker made it past the finish line that was marked by pink balloons. Just for the heck of it, I joined in with my own screams and balloon-banging. It was great to see the joy on each walker’s face as they passed the finish line with the encouragement of everyone around them. Because of this joy and the overall enthusiasm, I will definitely come again next year.

-Alex Tam

DDDDD The 2006 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer took place on a sunny day that was made even more wonderful by the people assembled at South Street Seaport, participating in the fight against breast cancer. The dedication that these people possessed for their cause radiated throughout the walk. It could be seen in hilarious t-shirts that people wore that said things like “Save the Boobs” and “F*©k Cancer.” It could even be seen in the funky hats that walkers made especially for this walk and in the people who stood at the finish line cheering on walkers dressed as a pink bunny and a metrosexual cow. There were team names like “The Grateful to be Alives” and even the sobbing cries of survivors who had crossed the finish line could be heard. The enormous amount of luggage at the baggage check showed that people had come from all over the nation to walk on that day.

Key Club volunteers were timid and quiet at first, but soon evolved into a roaring wave of support for the walkers. With their team sticks, Key Club made sure that the walkers knew that they were doing something truly special when they crossed the finish line. Volunteers inspired the walkers, causing them to cheer even more loudly; likewise, the walkers encouraged the volunteers. It was an amazing sight to see. I will forever remember the extraordinary effort that Key Clubbers put into cheering for the amazing people who walked that day.

By Yuliya Feldman

What could be better than starting off your Sunday morning with multiple service changes and train delays? Nothing, of course!

JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, one of the first walks of the year, has always been one of the coolest Key Club events!

This year was no exception.

We were stationed at the food tent which of course meant free food and soda!

We started off by setting up the tables for breakfast. Who knew stacking apples could be so much fun? But then as the walkers left Battery Park, it started to rain pretty hard, and that’s just an understatement. It was still fun though since we had a nice warm tent and a bunch of corny games to pass the time (i.e. Bobby’s World, Samurai Slap, and Black Magic). Then, as the sky cleared up, we got prepared for lunch. I’d like to give a big thank you to Subway for providing us—I mean the “walkers”, with plenty of delicious sandwiches! There was also a live band and a DJ that kept playing 70’s music. Of course, we set him straight and he started playing a few of the songs from our awesome play list!

And to top it all off, I think we were on TV! Whoo hoo!

-Anthony Choi

People say that chicken soup heals the soul. Although JCC's Operation Chicken Soup probably will not repair your soul, it can definitely reenergize a stressed out Stuy Key Clubber after an intense day of academics. JCC's Operation Chicken Soup gives volunteers a fun way to get together and have fun while cooking meals for homeless shelters throughout the city. Whether it’s hearty minestrone or a delicious batch of fudge brownie cookies that we are cooking, one thing is certain: everyone will enjoy themselves and no one will be left out of the fun. And if extra food is made, guess who get to “clean” it up?

At the end of the day, everyone who participates in this program receives a certificate recognizing the volunteer’s efforts and time. Occasionally, we even get guest passes for future visits to the JCC, giving access to JCC’s gym and even the pool.

Although signing up for the event is a little more complicated than the other ones, the experience is totally worth it. (Or as I like to say, the juice is worth the SQUEEZE). Anyway, the next time you get a 59 on a stupid AP Chemistry test (or something like that), drag yourself to the JCC and unwind with your friends while cooking delicious foods for a great cause.

-William Qiao

On Sunday, October 22, 2006, Stuyvesant Key Club showed its support for those with Alzheimer at the 18th Annual Memory Walk at Riverside Park. On that day I arrived at 7:30 AM on a cold (as usual) fall morning. After signing in and getting my volunteer t-shirt, I was briefed on what my task would be: route marshalling. Our coordinator told us Bob would be in charge of assigning us positions along the path. However, we were not needed till 10:00, so that gave us time to walk around.

For a little while my friends and I played at the nearby park, going on the swings and monkey bars and indulging in our adolescent selves. Afterwards we got food at the breakfast area, chomping on a mini muffin and a danish while watching little kids practice for a soccer game. This may not sound like much at all, but it was a relaxing way to pass the time.

Soon after 10:00, we were lead to the area where we would be marshalling. The walk was short, about a mile long. Stuyvesant Key Club obtained a spot near the beginning and end (route was a loop around the park), laying out orange traffic cones and getting ready to cheer on walkers. At 11:00, it finally began. Key Clubbers could be seen rooting on the people as they walked in the beautiful crisp morning (fortunately, it had warmed up). We were able to buoy both walkers that had just started and walkers that were finishing up, getting joyful shouts as responses as we encouraged them on.

-Michael Chu

If the Key Fits: My Doorway into Key Club I’m a freshman looking for extracurricular activities that will look good on my transcript, and what better place to turn to than Key Club? When I first heard about Key Club, I admit that I thought it had something to do with actual, metal keys. Hah, what a misconception!

A friend of mine who goes to Brooklyn Tech was the first to tell me about such a club. She told me to join the one in Stuyvesant, which at the time I didn’t even know existed. On October 6th, I spotted a sign saying, “Key Club Meeting, cafeteria, after period 10.” I begged my friends to stay [much to their annoyance], and when the time came, we headed towards the cafeteria.

Perhaps it was an awkward day to hold a meeting, because when I first stepped in, I saw seniors in their pajamas with stuffed animals or pillows. “Is this the right place? Are only seniors allowed?” I asked apprehensively, ready to leave right that moment. But my friends persuaded me to stay, and I’m glad that they did.

The members of the cabinet had listed the upcoming events on an enormous and brightly decorated whiteboard. My eyes scanned the list briefly, wondering if I was really cut up to devote so much of my time to Key Club and the various events it offered.

As a freshman, there is no doubt that I am nervous about organization of time, and more importantly, lack of it. Would I be able to study for tests, do my homework, finish projects, have a social life, and still do the Key Club events on weekends? It seemed impossible.

I was introduced to the idea of committees, the ratio of 1 hour to 60 points, and “BOOMBA.” Strange as it may have seemed to be, I began to grow more comfortable with each passing moment, thinking to myself, “Hey, maybe, just maybe, I can do this!”

Now, barely a week has passed, and I’ve begged classmates for change [for Unicef’s trick-or-treat event] and volunteered for route-marshalling at the MSABC [Making Strides Against Breast Cancer] Walk, a fundraiser for breast cancer research held annually at Central Park. Even in this short period of time, I’ve begun to realize how significant Key Club is.

Not only is it a great way to socialize and earn credit at the same time, but it’s an amazing way to help out the community and do our part in this ever-changing world.

There will be clubs that I may join half-heartedly, but Key Club takes dedication and true ambition. In a way, I see it as a challenge, but I assure you, it’s a challenge that I accept.

- Bette Ha

WHY Key Club? r ? ?

The first time I ever heard about Key Club was last year, in Junior High. To be honest, I didn’t think much of it then. I only knew one person in that club, a classmate of mine called Jacky. As much as I would like to tell everyone about what a sexy, muscular hunk Jacky was, I can’t because he really wasn’t. In fact, you could say that he was the exact opposite: quiet, lonely, and generally unsexy. Yet that never stopped him from attending every club meeting. Every Monday he would sacrifice his lunch just to wait in a stuffy library room and even now I’m not sure why he did it. Maybe he wanted it on his applications for college. Maybe he actually wanted to help people (uh huh). Maybe he was forced to join by his sister and his two cousins that were already in the club. Whatever the reason, Jacky devoted himself to Key Club and I sort of admire that.

The fondest memory I have of Jacky is when he walked around during homeroom asking for money. He kept shaking his orange UNICEF box, as if the more he shook it, the more we would feel like donating. In fact, he told me once that if I didn’t donate, he wouldn’t help me do my homework. Now, that was creative AND effective marketing.

All in all, the reason I joined Key Club was not to help people nor was it to get service credit for college apps, even though that’s always a plus. I joined Key club in the hopes of meeting more people like Jacky, people I could easily befriend and have fun with. Therefore, the next time you decide to skip an event or even a Key Club meeting, please think of poor Jacky.

The walk was short, lasting for about an hour. After the walking had deceased, we headed back to the breakfast area and cleaned up around the coffee tables. Of course the fun didn’t stop, with ranging activities including water flicking at others, a certain person eating sweeteners, and people getting strongly fumed from coffee as the coffee makers were being emptied. We finally finished up the job at 1:20 and headed out of the park, going our separate ways. I’ll make sure to remember the Memory Walk in my mind, keeping its silly follies and wondrous accomplishments treasured in my memory.

-Andrew Huang