The Tex-O-Key
TEXAS OKLAHOMA DISTRICT KEY CLUB
VOLUME 3 EDITION 3 tokeyclub.com
2014 October & November
☆;
CONTENTS
❝FIND THE FUN IN SERVICE.❞
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Governor’s Report
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From International
14
ELIMINATE
20
Balancing
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Post-ICON
Pumpkins were once used to remove freckles and cure snake bites.
Ly, Manor New Tech
While we call this season ‘fall’, the British call it ‘autumn’.
❞ RIDDLES
Vo, Mustang
What does Barbie carve on Halloween? Answer on page 18!
❞
Officers
FUN FACTS
❞
❝TAKE A LOOK INSIDE.❞
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FUNSTUFF;
❞
Malik, Cypress Ranch
Cinco Ranch
What instrument does a skeleton play? Answer on page 27!
EDITOR’S UPDATES & NEWS TOKeyClub.com Editor’s Blog T-O District Key Club Editors Text @TOEd to 512-982-9275
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An overall theme for each Tex-O-Key will be posted every 2 months on the TO website. Anyone may email me riddles & fun facts relating to the theme for +5 points if it is published in the Tex-O-Key!
Anyone may email me Key Club-related photos for +1 point per photo if it is published in the Tex-O-Key! Be sure to follow the criteria in the 2014-2015 Newsletters & Articles Guidelines. Cover photo by Port-Neches Grove.
☆NOTE EDITOR’S
Good Day T-O Key Clubbers!
I hope school has been treating you all well! I know you are all splendid, heavily involved individuals of the community and school- you must have a lot on your plate. Enclosed in this Tex-O-Key is a myriad amount of advice and tips that can help you survive
this year of school. Check out the “Balancing” section to learn from the experiences of other Key Clubbers. Yes, the renowned and exhilarating Halloween is fast approaching. Despite our ages, we continue to enjoy this holiday and appreciate it for the relief it offers from school. However, we can also use this
day for the good of others. Remember to bring those UNICEF boxes with you when trick-or-treating to collect change and donations. Let’s give it our all to raising money to eliminate MNT! Yours in Service,
Emily Zhao
GOVERNOR’S REPORT Happy October and November T-O District! I hope you are all getting prepared to kick off the Holiday season! From October to January is the biggest time of the year for volunteers! So get out there and start serving! I hope that the first couple weeks of school for all of you have been wonderful, and a good planning period for your clubs. As of October 4th, I have completed 7 out of 12 Regional visits. If I haven't come to visit your Region yet ask your Lt. Governor! I can't wait to meet all of you. This is an incredibly exciting time for the District Board, because we are close to releasing the 2015 DCON Theme! I know you all are so excited to find out what it is. Make sure to participate in serving the Children's Miracle Network this holiday season! This organization has touched my heart, and I hope it touches yours too. If you do volunteer send pictures to governor@tokeyclub.com, and we will make sure that you get up on our social media pages! Happy Halloween and Thanksgiving Family! I love you all more then you will ever know. Yours in Service,
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Photo Credit: Bobby Thakkar
from your INTERNATIONAL
TRUSTEE Greetings Texas-Oklahoma Key Clubbers, I hope you had a wonderful October and a spooky Halloween. Even though Halloween is officially over, you may still send your Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF funds to The Eliminate Project. Every penny counts! The goal for Key Club International is to collectively raise $1.4 million dollars for The Eliminate Project this year. Our goal of $1.4 million equates to saving three lives per member... only three lives! I am confident that we will achieve this goal. We would not be here today without the hard work and dedication of the Texas-Oklahoma District. Thank you for your commitment! In January, the Key Club International Board will be meeting in Detroit, Michigan for our winter board meeting. We will be celebrating the 100th year anniversary of the very first Kiwanis Club, Detroit No. 1, with the Circle K International Board, Kiwanis International Board, and Kiwanis members from around the 04
world. You should not be upset that you are missing this event, because you have an opportunity to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of Kiwanis with the entire Kiwanis Family! The 2015 Key Club International Convention will be held in Indianapolis, the headquarters of Kiwanis International, with the Circle K and Kiwanis International Conventions. There will be plenty of exciting events and activities for the whole Kiwanis Family. The triple international convention and 100th year anniversary of Kiwanis are truly a once in a lifetime opportunities. I cannot wait to see you all there! In the meantime, I look forward to meeting you all at district convention. If you ever have any questions or need anything from me, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. Thank you for your dedication to Key Club! Yours in Service, Barry M. Seng
FROM Your
INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT Greetings, Texas-Oklahoma Key Clubbers! It is such an honor to serve you as your Key Club International President this year! As your International President, my main job is to lead the International Board, which consists of me, our Vice President Kevin Zhang, and 11 Trustees. Our main goal is to ensure that: 1. You and our 270,000 members have the best experience possible. 2. Your club has the resources necessary to achieve its full potential. To do this, our International Board plans to present multiple webinars, twitter chats, and video updates to connect with members. We also want to increase the organizations that we work with to increase our name and influence. Right now, we are focusing on Trick-Or-Treating for UNICEF as we fundraise to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus and reach our Key Club International goal of $5.40 per member this year! The Key Club International Board made a goal of $1.4 million, or three lives per member. Check out this blog post for more information. Go to the official ELIMINATE Website and click on “Blog” in the top right hand corner of
the website. This project is one of my passions. We have the power and possibility to save millions of mothers and their babies from a disease by paying $1.80. Less than a Starbucks coffee. Less than a pack of gum. Less than a soda and chips. If we give up one of those items, we have saved LIVES. That idea motivates me to spread the word constantly to ensure we reach our goal! If you want to learn more about the project or how to fundraise, please email me! If you have questions about how to send in your Eliminate funds, as well, please feel free to contact me! Thank you for all that you do. Regardless of your position in Key Club (member, club officer, or district officer), we couldn’t do what we do without your hard work and passion for changing the world. Thank you for giving up time and energy to make the world a better place. You motivate me every day! Yours in Service,
Maria Palazzolo ipmariapalazzolo@gmail.com
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A Personal Reflection My anxiety sky-rocketed as I woke on August 14, 2011 - my first day of high school. I remember being the insecure freshman always making sure I never caused a scene or was the center of attention. The seniors and juniors were like big ferocious animals that roamed through the halls as if they had more power and responsibility than the Teachers and Administration. The sense of community and family that my school is known for was hard for me to find early that year, but believe me, I never gave up the search and eventually found it that week in midSeptember. In my opinion, the greatest example of my school’s core values of: Truth, Unity and Love is found in our 9/11 Flag Memorial. This Key Club project was started in 2007 by Corbin Wallace (our Key Club Co-President in 2008) and Hannah Poindexter. Each year since on September 10th, twenty to thirty Key Club Members (this year we had forty!) gather in front of the main entrance of our school and plant rows of U.S. Flags in honor of the 2,977 mothers and
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fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, employees and friends that were lost that day. While embedding the flags in the ground I noticed the silence and meditation of the students. No matter what grade, all the students share stories about relatives that were lost or that were in New York City at the time, our parents reactions, and even what we remembered as young children in Kindergarten on September 11, 2001. The day following the setup of the Flag Memorial - on September 11th - the entire school gathered around the Flag Memorial to pause, reflect, pray, and honor those lives. The Flag Memorial project is always one of the first projects that Cascia Hall Key Club does at the beginning of the school year and although this is my final year to participate as a student, I will always remember the sense of Unity I experienced my freshman year. By Margaret Fuller, Cascia Hall Prep
The First Meeting "Ding Ding"! The bell sounded, and school was let out. It was September 4th, a normally unspectacular date, but that day was different. It was our 2014- 2015 school year’s very first Key Club meeting! A fish swimming upstream to reach her destination, I hurried down to the room, the LGI. When I arrived, I saw a multitude of familiar faces wandering around the room; Key Clubbers were already pouring in! This seemed a promising start to the year. I quickly set up a sign in sheet, and, as minutes ticked by, more and more people entered the room. I gulped. The large LGI, which comprised two classrooms, was filled with people- so many that members were sitting on the floor and sitting on each other! It was terrifying to look at the room. Attendees squeezed into the smallest of gaps; it seemed like there was no space left anywhere. The officers and I quickly started getting everyone signed in and put the PowerPoint presentation on the Smart Board. The first slide read: “Welcome to Key Club!” This was my first meeting as the club president, and I was slightly nervous at the prospect of speaking to so many people. Last year's meetings where 40-50 members attended were already nerve-wracking, but at our first meeting, the number of people doubled. As they chattered, my anxiety increased. Was everyone going to hear me? Was I going to speak too fast? What if I wasn’t loud enough? How do I get them to listen to me? Then I saw my friends encouraging smiles along with Mr. Crowl’s, our Kiwanis sponsor, thumbs up. It was time to start our very first meeting! I closed to the door to the LGI and stepped into the front of the room. After I hit the bell, a hush fell over the room. I took a deep breath and began, “Hi everyone! Welcome to our first meeting…” Afterward, after the adrenaline had worn off, I looked back. For the first meeting, it wasn’t bad! We had covered the basics of Key Club as well as the first service opportunities for members to be involved in. The amount of people in retrospect wasn’t scary; it was encouraging! This meant we would have more members than ever before, and therefore could make a greater impact. Overall, I think the very first meeting couldn’t have gone any better. It was a great start to the year! By Cheryl Li, James Taylor 07
O
10 Crystal Tran, 11 Shannon Steele, Photo Credit: Vicky Luong , Cypress Fair
12 Carly Leweke, 13 Brendon Nguyen
OFFICERS A REMINDER
By Crystal Tran, Cinco Ranch
The Other Ten Percent 10
Key Facts, the Cypress Woods Key Club newsletter, is not magically made overnight. I am lucky; I work with InDesign on a near daily basis as Editor-inChief of my school newspaper. Thus, I am usually able to finish the entire newsletter in a few hours of solid work. I love graphic design, and I can honestly say I enjoy making the monthly newsletter, but being the Editor is so much more than just making a newsletter. As the fifth of each month approaches, you can probably find me furiously editing articles and laying out page after page of a newsletter. I have the responsibility of ensuring communication from the officers and representatives to the general club. Each month I post the new article topics, set a deadline, edit articles and put together a newsletter for the club. Then, I compile all of our articles, pictures and the newsletter and send it to the District Editor on time. Perhaps the most difficult part of making the newsletter is finding suitable pictures. While I require each article to come with a picture, some people do not send one or send one that they obviously found
My heart was racing at least a hundred miles per hour when all of the officers gathered together at one of the president’s houses. The senior officers had made the bulk of the decisions about the new officer positions and the rest of us only came to finalize the results. I ran for my old position as editor and even though I was about ninety percent certain I would get it, the other ten percent made me anxious. That ten percent of doubt lingered in the back of my mind when the seniors relayed to us their decisions, and what I heard shocked me. The editor position went to another person and I was left out of the officer team. For a few seconds, at least. Before my mind could finish properly registering the thought that I was no longer editor, the senior officers shocked me with another revelation: I was to become president. That other ten percent was right; I wasn’t going to be the editor. Instead, I would be in charge of nine officers and over one hundred members. First and foremost, do not panic. That’s pretty good advice for any kind of situation in which your anxiety shoots up and your mind goes blank: do not panic. Breathe in, breathe out. You’ll get through this, one step at a time. Do not think of the responsibilities now placed on your shoulders. Do not think of the burdens that you have to carry on your back now. Do not think that if something goes wrong, you get blamed. Do not think - oh, it’s too late anyways. Second, you have an image now. You are seen as the leader and you have to portray the image that you are ready to face whatever comes your way. If anything goes wrong, you must always have
Confessions of an Editor
the ability to fix it. You have the answer to every Key Club member’s questions and you are always the first one to volunteer for something that might be uncomfortable. You are strong, you are confident, you have it all together. However, if you do not meet any of the standards mentioned above, it’s okay. As they always say, fake it ‘til you make it. Third and of course not least, remember that you are not alone. You may be seen as the face of the club but most of the time, you’ll have an awesome, butt-kicking officer team to back you up. The vice president(s) can help with whatever tasks you find insurmountable on your own. The secretaries are running around recording meetings and submitting reports that the club, not yours or theirs but everybody’s, has been active and running smoothly. The treasurer’s got all of the monetary technicalities down, neatly organizing and jotting down the funds. The editor writes the articles, collects the articles, and submits the articles and a newsletter every month, in addition to coercing others to write some articles, too. The historians present at all of the Key Club-related events with a camera around his or her neck as they sprint from point A to point B. The general managers have to keep track of every single member’s hours, tediously updating them as soon as they can and making sure there is no room for error. They got your back, and they won’t leave you down for the count. So you might get somewhere you would never expect to get to ten percent of the time, but you’ll get there safely and do your very best a hundred percent of the time.
By Shannon Steele, Cypress Woods
on the internet at the last minute. I can only hope that we get some good pictures during the new school year when more events begin again. I have the responsibility of finishing editing and making everything in a timely manner – and it can be hard. I completed three months of duties over the summer. I have fully immersed myself in senior year and all the responsibilities that come with it, and I have a full school year left before I hand over my position to someone else. My advice to whoever that person may be is to start early. It takes time. Reading 20+ articles with nearly the same wording wears me out. I regularly have to stop after two or three articles. Don’t get me wrong; I love reading what fellow Key Clubbers have to say – in moderation. Being the Editor has its ups and downs. I love being in charge of communication with my club, and it is so rewarding to see a blank page turn into a colorful, appealing newsletter. I can only advise that whoever is Editor in the future be great at timemanagement. Set yourself deadlines and stick to them. In the end, you will not regret it.
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SECRETARY
It’s Not Like the Movies...or is It? Has something ever happened to you that is so surreal, you’re stuck wondering how and if it actually happened? It just so happens that I had a similar experience recently that heavily involved Key Club. For those of you who are unaware, every month secretaries from each and every club are in charge of mailing their club’s monthly report to our District Secretary. It can be stressful for everyone involved and sometimes, things don’t always go as planned. As a secretary for my school’s Key Club, I spend the end of the month finishing up the monthly report and putting it all together to send in a freshly decorated envelope. Due to it being summertime, and my being out of town up until a few days before the report was due, I waited until the 5th, the day everything was due, to get the necessary papers signed by our club’s president. I got up early that morning to check over everything, complete the things that needed to be done, and pack up everything in the report. It was a rainy Texas afternoon by the time I arrived at the president’s house, so I had to be extra careful in order to protect the report from getting wet. After everything was signed, my friend and I quickly headed to the small postal store that I usually use to send our report in every month. To our dismay, upon our arrival we discovered that it had just closed, so we decided to go to the Ace Hardware store nearby because my mom had previously mentioned that it contained a post office inside. On our way there, my friend decided to call to make sure they were still open so that we wouldn’t waste gas. We were once again disappointed when they told us that they too closed early on Saturdays and had been closed for a little over two hours. We were down but not defeated, and I turned around to head to the UPS store, our ultimate last resort. I prayed to the heavens that it would not be closed as well, but when we arrived, things did 12
not turn out to be very promising. I was deeply disheartened and disappointed, but I faced the fact that the report would have to wait until Monday to be sent. I began the journey back to my house, the rain outside matching my mood. However, what kind of movie-moment story would this have been without a spectacular ending? Right as I was about to turn into my neighborhood, I casually looked into my rear view mirror and realized that there was a mailman driving right behind me. I immediately pulled into the other lane and slowed down to try and follow him. As if by some miracle, he turned onto the main street in my neighborhood, so I turned around and headed back that way. Right across from my house, parked at the mailbox, was none other than the mailman! I pulled into my driveway to park my car while my friend ran out to explain our situation to the mailman and ask how many stamps an envelope that size would need. After he told us, I darted inside my house, grabbed the roll of stamps from my mom’s hidden stash, and ran back outside in order to slap the four stamps on the envelope before the mailman left. It didn’t really hit me, how lucky we had been, until we got back inside and I realized how ironic the entire situation was. Our report was almost two days late, but because of a small coincidence, the ordeal was solved. Before I was an officer, I didn’t really understand the tremendous amount of work the officer team goes through each month to get things done on time, but now I know just how taxing it can be if things don’t go the way they’re supposed to. The next time you see your club’s officers, you might want to consider thanking them for all the behind-the-scenes work they do around the clock. By Carly Leweke, Cinco Ranch
In the TO District, most clubs contain the same, basic set of officers: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and editor. These are the barebones of any Key Club and allow for the most fundamental duties to be covered. However, there are many clubs that branch and include other positions, such as public relations vice president or historian. An office recently established by my club is the Webmaster position. As people become more and more dependent on technology, it only seems natural that Webmasters are necessary to continue to push out digital content to social media and maintain a website for people on the go.
As the recently elected Mansfield High School Key Club Webmaster, I initially believed that my job was somewhat insignificant. Tweeting every now and then in addition to posting pictures to Instagram is practically second nature for most teenagers and even some adults. However, in most cases, we’re just observing people spewing inane thoughts into the digital realm, hoping their random thoughts are worthy enough to be favorited and/or retweeted by others, so that their opinions can be further scattered across other people’s screens. On the other hand, as an organization, Twitter and Instagram can both be used effectively and informatively. Through joining these social media networks, Key Clubs have a shortcut for communicating to its members and community. Since so many people spend hours on these sites and
apps, it’s guaranteed that they’ll eventually come across the pictures or tweets put out by the Key Club. Everyone’s already scrolling through these feeds on a daily basis, so why not conveniently sneak in your reminders? Another underrated duty would be maintaining and updating a website. Of course, a Key Club website isn’t going to be nearly as popular as Bing or Google, but it’s a great way to keep a central database of events, meetings, and more. Past agendas and meeting PowerPoints can be posted for those who may have missed meetings, links to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts can be utilized to further advertise, and if you’re really creative, submission systems for service hour sheets, articles, and pictures can be made. Having all of these wonderful features encompassed into one central location is immensely useful for everyone. Furthermore, paper can be saved as people go more and more digital. Not only does this save the environment, but also solves the infamous problem of losing those darned papers. Sure I may never get the chance to apply for an “Outstanding Webmaster” role like the other officers can; however, the Webmaster position is still an up and coming office that will rise in popularity due to the globe-sweeping trend of increased technology use and the dominance of smartphones. By Brendon Nguyen-, Mansfield
KEY CLUB WEBMASTER
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AN IMPACT
ELIMINAT
16 Elizabeth Hang, 17 Carly Leweke Photo Credit: ELIMINATE UNICEF
18 Raquel Palma, 19 Kelsey Endari
E
Photo Credit:
By Elizabeth Hang, Mansfield Summit You may be wondering, “What in the world is the Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF, and what does it even do? Is it just another organization asking for donations just like any other group?” Right off the bat, I can tell you that the definite answer to that last question, is no. Trick-Or-Treat is so much more than raising money for an organization. It’s about saving lives in this given moment, in the next week, in the next year, and even in the next generation for families all around the world. Trick-Or-Treat is part of the “Eliminate Project”, sponsored by Kiwanis International and UNICEF. This phenomenal service program has saved more than 100 million families all around the world, and with our help, it will be save millions and millions more. The disease that we are trying to “Eliminate”, is called Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus, or MNT, for short. It is known as “a swift and painful killer disease” that has been the culprit of nearly tens of thousands of not only the deaths of newborns, but also the mothers in countries all around the world. Our goal is to raise $110 million to eliminate this disease in 59 countries by next year. Can we do it? Oh yes, we can.
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Since last December of 2013, we have eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus in more than 30 countries, including China, Vietnam, Iraq, Uganda, and Egypt. This astounding progress to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus serves as a beacon of hope for not only mothers, but also newborns all around the globe and for future generations to come. One newborn dies every 9 minutes. In one day, that’s 160 baby deaths. In one year, nearly 60,000 babies die. It is a cruel and horrible experience for not only the babies, but also for the mothers who are unable to hold their newborn children. So now, you may be thinking, these are all important facts and statistics, but what can I do to help? All it takes is $1.80 to save a mother, her newborn and all of the future generations of the family to come. Just $1.80. Instead of buying a chocolate bar, or buying that new hit single off of iTunes, you can spare nearly TWO DOLLARS to save an entire family. Crazy, right? Just $1.80 can change a mother’s, a child’s and an entire family’s life for good. What will YOU do to make that happen?
Answer: A pump-Ken!
ELIMINATE UNICEF
Raising Awareness By Carly Leweke, Cinco Ranch As I sit on my laptop scrolling through each of my social media feeds, I continue to see videos of people being doused by buckets of frigid ice water pop up as the ice bucket challenge makes its way across the entire internet, raising money for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). In case you live under a rock and have no earthly idea what I could possibly be talking about, the ALS ice bucket challenge calls for those challenged to dump a bucket of ice over their heads, donate to an ALS organization, and then pass on the challenge to three other people. It has now completely taken over the internet and has helped to create so much awareness for the ALS community. All of this got me thinking about how we could use something like this to help fundraise for the Eliminate Project. Before I joined Key Club, I had no idea just how many women and children were affected by maternal and neonatal tetanus all over the world. While things like Miracle Treat Day for Children’s Miracle Network are a great way to raise funds, I feel that things like the ice bucket challenge are better because they have the potential to raise a lot more money and awareness. I believe this due to the fact that these challenges can reach almost anyone, anywhere, who has a video camera and some type
of device that has internet connection. Not only do challenges have the capability to travel all around the world, reaching people who have never even heard of maternal and neonatal tetanus, they can also reach very influential people who have the resources to spread their new knowledge to massive groups of people all at once. As many of you have probably seen, the ice bucket challenge has reached celebrities of all sorts and kinds, including Justin Bieber, Charlie Sheen, Hunter Hayes, and many, many more. There are videos that make you laugh, and quite a few that can even make you cry, but the most important thing is that they all motivate people to make things happen. What makes these videos so special is that anyone can feel like they are making a difference with each donation and challenge. Through things like the ice bucket challenge, we definitely see just how much of an effect social media and the internet has on our present day world. I sincerely believe that if each Key Clubber helped create a movement similar to the ALS challenge by nominating their friends to do something that creates awareness for Eliminate and tetanus, we could eventually help end this terrible disease.
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Red Walls
By Raquel Palma, Garland
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Day eighty-two These red walls are all I ever knew. The furthest my eye could see are these red walls. Alone. Warm. Dark. Confined. And red. But from all my memories, this is what I see as home. This is my safe haven. However, I both fear and hope there’s something more. My every movement is accompanied with muffled, distant noise. I don’t know what it is. I don’t know from where it roots. But I beat and drum on these red walls for some kind of response; are you in my mind or do you reside beyond these red walls? Is everything you see red walls and darkness, too? Never do I get the answer I want, but at least at times I am not alone – even if my company means my loss of sanity. Day two hundred seventy-something The days have started to blur together. All I know, for sure is that the red walls have gotten smaller. Closer. I feel as if I have grown too large for the quarters I currently reside. I squirm more. I need to be stronger. I need to be free. These red walls, all that I have always known, they cannot contain me for any longer. I will never allow submission. I will never allow failure. I will get out. I suddenly feel pressure squeeze all around me, as if an enormous embrace constricts me. I feel a rush stir in my belly. I begin to move around, hoping to somehow wriggle my way out of this confinement. I twist and turn with quick writhing movements, but the embrace only tightens. It is as if a band is wrapped around the crown of my head. Slowly, I move a little more and the band travels down. I feel a sense of coolness wrap around me. I think this is air. Bright light blinds my eyes. Is this freedom? Is this what it is like outside of the red walls? I release a boisterous roar to signal all of my victorious conquest. Day does it even matter? A black figure loomed over me. I felt something puncture my arm. I let out a loud cry, hoping someone would save me from this torturous endeavor. Sweet and gentle shushing comforts me while a soft rocking calms my panic. A few seconds pass and the complications dissipate. I am my own entity. I am myself. I am no longer on the path toward tetanus. I am officially ridden of any possibility that this disease could overrun my life. I look up to see a relieved smile from my mother. Day freedom In this hirsute, tight, yet amazing period of my life, enlightenment floods my being. I know who I am. I am a baby. And thanks to UNICEF, I may be more than just a newborn after today.
Take a Stand By Kelsey Endari, West Brook Take a Stand. Lend a Hand. Help Eliminate. We have members sign up to Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF every year. We talk about the cause and encourage it a month leading up to the event. In fact, we typically show the members a PowerPoint over Eliminate and MNT, so they can further understand where the money is going and how it would be used. In order to fundraise, we decided that we would have a project where people could get into groups and dress up in costumes a Monday in October and go door-to-door trick-or-treating. However, instead of asking for candy, the members would ask for donations for this worthwhile cause. Each group would have four people. One of the four people that were of age would be the designated driver, and the other 3 would ride with that person. The trick-or-treat portion would last from 6 PM-7:30PM. After the students had received money from the generous donors and finished going doorto-door, everyone would meet at Chick-fil-A to count the evening’s earnings. We want to do more than just this one project for the cause, however. We decided that those who aren't going to be able to sign up for the project but still want to help out can have the opportunity to ask for donations throughout the school. Decorative jars (or baby bottles, for a cuter twist) will get put out
around the school to put the money in, and people can donate this way, and well. With a school of 2,500 students, a little goes a long way. We have already started fundraising in the football stands during games. At the TexasOklahoma DCON in April, our club learned of a catchy chant that can be used to draw in people to donate. It goes like this, "A dollar eighty saves one baby. Give us four you save one more. Give us eight you help eliminate. Give us ten and the babies win. You walk on by and the babies die." We have tried this out at two of our games and have been extremely happy with the outcome. We were able to raise approximately $65 each time, and this didn't take long at all. We were able to raise the money in under 30 minutes, so there is potential to raise more. In addition, there are bake sales, car washes, and other such fundraisers usually do the trick as well. All in all, every cent counts towards the organization. Starting off small and growing is inevitable if you just keep at it and learn from others. Get your members engaged and make it a fun project. Enthusiasm is KEY, and it can take your club a long way. See how you can help eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus and save a mother and her child. Take a stand; lend a hand.
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A FEAT
BALANCIN
NG
22 Patience Ojionuka, 23 Christina Xu, 24 Annie Phan Photo Credit: Be Social Worldwide
25 Hannah Le, 26 Evelyn Thomas , 27 Sharon Zhou
Steps to Balancing When you're involved in extracurriculars and in school, scheduling can be hard. Things overlap, homework piles up and stress increases-- not fun for anybody. Luckily there are always ways to lessen the incredible amount of stress that balancing can be. ① HAVE AN AGENDA. Having an agenda or a To-Do list erases the need to try and commit things to memory. This is something I do personally. My memory, if I do say so myself, is superb, but juggling piles of homework from AP class-trying to keep up with what's due and what's not-- combined trying to recall important service dates, meetings, or other personal affairs can just be a hassle. With an agenda you can have an overview of upcoming events, important reminders, and the sense of accomplishment that comes with being able to mark off work you have done. If at some point you still feel stressed, it is always important to take a break. However, is even more important that you plan accordingly and do work in a timely fashion so that you actually have time to take a break. ② PRIORITIZE AND MANAGEMENT. Sorting out things from upmost importance to least is tremendous help. Take school for example. In the course of events, it's Thursday night, and you have homework in every class due Friday, but you were so busy all week you didn't have time to do it. Make a list of all the things you have to do. Which class is most important? Which homework will take you the longest? ③ SET GOALS. Make expectations for yourself and know your limits. It’s good to be able to say “I will do ‘x’ amount of work today, and then ‘x’ amount tomorrow because I know I can’t do it all today”. However, also be able to discipline yourself in order to reach your goals. This means turning off the phone, TV, computer, or leaving behind whatever distractions that may keep you from being productive. ④ HAVE INCENTIVES. There's absolutely nothing wrong with spoiling yourself once in a while! If you meet your goals, no matter how miniscule, it's okay to reward yourself, whether it's just a break, or the snack food you've been wanting to eat all day. Self-rewards are like a self-pat on the back, and a positive way to get work done with something to look forward to. By Patience Ojionuka, Summer Creek 22
Steps to Management ‘Tis the season to be stressed, especially with the end of summer and the onset of fall exams just around the corner. As the work continues to pile up, it becomes more and more difficult to balance academics and extracurricular activities. So how does one make time for Key Club? ① STOP PROCRASTINATING. This is by far the most important, but it is also the hardest. There is not really any brilliant solution to procrastination; the best way is simply to put effort into being productive. It also helps to reward yourself for finishing things so that there is some motivation to work. The sooner other things are done, the more time there is for Key Club. ② CREATE A SCHEDULE. Set aside a certain time or day that you will always dedicate to Key Club activities. For example, you can choose to give Saturday afternoons to Key Club. An established schedule will gradually become a habit, and eventually, working around that schedule will become easier. ③ LIGHTEN THE LOAD. Not many people participate in only Key Club. The average high school student, in an attempt to impress colleges, leads an extremely hectic life. Learn to prioritize what is more important and to maybe let go of things that you no longer have a passion for. Be sure that you are not wasting time on something that you don’t find worthwhile. Remember, it is better to be a big part of one organization than to dabble in a dozen things. ④ KEEP A BROAD MINDSET. Contributing to Key Club doesn’t always mean putting in a large amount of time. Being a Key Clubber can be something as simple as introducing a friend to the organization or helping someone understand what it means to serve. There are plenty of ways to contribute to Key Club other than directly volunteering in the community. You can promote what we do, write articles, brainstorm project ideas, and etc. Don’t limit yourself to simply volunteering. ⑤ DON’T STRESS. It’s okay to be unable to participate in some events. No one, regardless of position, is expected to be active at every single event. Don’t worry about being too busy this week or that week. Key Club’s purpose is based on its members wanting to serve; nobody should be forcing or pushing themselves to participate. If you are unable to attend an event, then so be it. Instead of feeling anxious about it, focus on making it to the next event. There are endless opportunities to serve. Key Club provides more than just second chances; it gives people an infinite amount of chances. By Christina Xu, Cinco Ranch 23
BALANCING
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WORLDS If I said that balancing Key Club with school was easy, I would be lying. Between all my classes that give me homework, and my other extracurricular activities, my average school life is harder to juggle than you think. In all honesty, there is a specific balance to this chaotic life though. Between my love for volunteering and academic life, I always find myself having to sacrifice one for the other. But, in rare instances, there is a certain balance where everything falls into place and nothing conflicts, and that is the balance everyone craves for. Recently, I’ve found myself piled up with school work that could possibly drown a country. I found myself sacrificing my weekends of volunteering to study for school. I would turn down socials because I was too tired or busy with studying and it consumed my life. As much as I love to volunteer, I know that school also has to be a priority. These conflicts always make me struggle and rethink whether or not to stay in Key Club. More often than once, I’ve found myself feeling as if volunteering is just a burden. At that point, I have to stop and realize that I’ve become consumed by my stress. Even with all that stress though, volunteering is actually my de-stressor. In more ways than one, whenever I’ve had a bad week or stressed day, volunteering at places make me forget about a lot of my troubles. I can’t exactly describe how much it really helps. The balance of Key Club and academics is extremely hard but somehow, there’s always time to volunteer for Key Club. Somehow, there’s a balance that falls into place. Key Club has become a safe place for me now. It’s my one club where I don’t have to focus on solving equations or analyzing books. All in all, there is a way to balance Key Club and school. It’s not impossible, but it is a struggle. As a Key Club veteran, I can confirm that it takes a lot of work to keep my grades up and having to go volunteer, but in the end, I really think it’s worth it. Key Club will always be a high priority for me, as high as my grades in school. It’s a club that I’ve become attached to and I don’t think I could ever really quit. That club has become a second home to me and somehow, I’ve found the balance between Key Club and school. By Annie Phan, Cypress Falls 24
Answer: Trom-bone!
School is in and so is Key Club volunteering, but if you are like the majority of high school students, you'll realize that the free time you used to have in the summer is suddenly consumed by piles of homework, textbook reading, and extracurriculars. However, everybody knows that if you care about something, then you WILL find time for it, so here are some ways for you to fit Key Club events into your busy schedules and hectic lives.
Find out about events in advance! That way, you can set apart dates for events that you care about the most and RSVP to them before anything else comes up. Just remember that once you commit to an event, you MUST go... or beware of the consequences if you don't show up.
Set aside a number of hours a month you need to fulfill your commitment hours. For example, if your club requires twenty five hours per semester, then from September to December, you will need a little more than six hours a month. Six hours a month can be easily spread out into two 3-hour events a month, not including the hours you can get from donating items
Search for organizations that let you come in at any time to receive outside hours. Some Key Club chapters have an alternative way of fulfilling hours, such as fifteen inside hours plus ten outside hours to get a total of twenty five hours, so start asking animal shelters and food banks if you can come in whenever your schedule permits you to earn hours!
Volunteer before football games. We all know that the fall means football season, but don't let the games distract you from community service! Most games start at 7 PM on Saturdays, which means you have the whole day and afternoon to gather hours.
If school work is an issue, set up a tutoring program for your Key Club or school. Tutors get hours for helping others sharpen skills in math, science, social studies, English, and even foreign languages, so you'll be helping yourself as well as other students!
Set up your own opportunities for the club. If you know a church or organization who is looking for canned goods or clothes or supplies, let a Key Club officer know! They'll help organize the events or item drive to help you out!
Talk to an officer about meeting your hour requirement. If you know you're going to have a tough time with the requirements, let them know. They are on your side! They will get you to your goal!
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A Balancing Act For the past three years, I’ve pushed myself to juggle Key Club, Student Council, National Honors Society, band, and a plethora of other clubs and organizations at West Brook and in the community, as well as maintain my GPA and get enough rest. All my life, I’ve strived to overachieve. I enjoy helping, so I hyperextend myself and spend all my time learning, leading, and serving. Why do I do what I do? I do it because I love it. Regardless of what occupation I’ve had in mind for the future, they all had one thing in common: helping people. I know that in order to help people and have enough money to support my family, I have to strive to the best of my abilities. Looking back, I’m grateful for my parents pushing me because it made me a well-rounded individual. This quest for success has made me an exceptional leader, but also has monopolized my time. As I’ve been taught since I started my formal education at three, my grades are one of most important things and that even though I have over a 4.2 GPA, I can always strive to raise it. No matter how late I get home from a Key Club meeting or a Thursday night football game, all of my homework is turned in on time. I have never missed a day of school since kindergarten, so skipping class to get a few extra “Zzz’s” in my senior year is out of the question. My education is the key that opens the door to success in all my future endeavors. Despite the fact that my late-night studying, essay-writing, and homework-completing, comes at the price of not getting much rest and relaxation, I know that it will all be worth it when I cross the stage on June 6, 2014. My leadership touches a wide gambit of organizations, which makes it difficult to balance everything. As Clarinet Co-Section Leader in band, I’m required to be at every practice three afternoons a week and any game or competition we may have. With Key Club, I’m required to attend every meeting and stay after for the officer meeting as well as complete West Brook’s monthly newsletter and help with articles if needed. Sarah (my co-editor) and I are also in charge of the editing committee. In StuCo, I have to attend every convention, a plethora of mandatory projects, and meetings almost every Monday before school. These three organizations fill up my week without adding in everything else I do. Holding leadership positions in all of these organizations has taught me time management as I fill my schedule with little time to rest. I’m 26
thankful for my supportive parents who chauffeured me all over town as a freshman and sophomore until I got my car. They allow me to continue to participate in all my extracurricular activities. Helping people is my next priority. Over these three years I’ve done everything from lifting pumpkins that weighed almost as much as I do to packing meals for Ugandan orphans to planting at a community garden and playing music for people in nursing homes. All of my clubs have one thing in common, and that’s setting aside time to help people. Many people don’t notice the band outside of us playing at football games, but every December, we travel around Beaumont and play music for those in nursing homes or hospitals. This is one of the most rewarding things we do. I love seeing the elderly nod to the beat of various Christmas songs and smile at the Christmas cheer we bring. Key Club also works with other organizations and as a separate entity to spread seasonal cheer, raise money and awareness for important issues and programs such as neonatal tetanus and Children’s Miracle Network, and do almost anything else needed in the community. With every pumpkin lifted, meal packed, teacher’s job advocated for, dollar raised, concession stand worked, weed pulled, and carnival game managed, Key Club is making a difference, which makes spending my time at every meeting and as many projects as I can manage completely worth it. Sleeping is the hardest part to balance. I’m no stranger to burning to midnight oil to finish my homework, which isn’t a cakewalk. I’m a make-it-happen kind of person and I know that in order to do what I enjoy, I have to make sacrifices somewhere. Sacrifice is falling asleep at two a.m. after a Key Club meeting and waking up at five a.m. to finish my work with the knowledge that I won’t return home until after midnight because of an away game. It’s a labor of love, knowing that I’ll be able to impact the lives of others, especially because I feel as though everyone should start a chain reaction and be the change they see is needed in the world. My social life has become engulfed in my extracurricular work because I’ve met several amazing people at service projects and other extracurricular meetings. It’s not easy to do and it can be extremely tiring, but I schedule everything else and when at last, everything is done, I can relax and settle into bed with a smile on my face knowing that I made a difference. By Evelyn Thomas , West Brook
Meet my Friend,
STRESS By Sharon Zhou, Cypress Woods Quick! Name something that comes into your head when I say stress. Images of stacks of homework, paper strewn everywhere, and late night studying immediately pop up. It’s unfortunately a word that’s way too familiar to high school students. I know that for me, there are nights when it definitely seems like I’ll never be done with the homework that’s due tomorrow or it’s impossible to make a certain deadline; in times like these, my buddy, Stress, is always there by my side. Stress and I are really close friends. We met when I was a freshman and have been close to inseparable ever since, especially since this school year for many reasons. Firstly, I’m a junior taking a plethora of AP classes and trying to cram in some SAT studying on weekends (because that always works out). Secondly, I’m involved in clubs like Orchestra, Science Olympiad, and Key Club, and hold officer positions in all of them, so I’m constantly waking up early or staying after school for meetings, among other things. Stress and I know that it can get extremely difficult to balance academics and extra-curricular activities, especially when there are due dates and tests coming up. We want to make sure we let everybody know how to juggle everything that’s going on healthily. First of all, while Stress is always around to support me, he knows that he should keep his distance. Sometimes, we rope ourselves into an “Ican-do-everything” mentality. It seems like we can only volunteer on this one day, but there’s also a project due tomorrow, and we have to go to work soon, but there’s also a football game that we really want to go to. In times like these, it’s really common for Stress to tap me on the shoulder and say, “It’s okay! We can do all of it!” However, I have to remind both myself and Stress that I’m only one person, and I can’t be expected to bite off
more than I can chew. I tell myself to prioritize: work, project, volunteer, football game. As a Key Clubber, it seems scandalous that I’m not putting volunteering as my number one priority, but it’s necessary; if I can’t finish what’s the most important first, then while I’m volunteering, Stress will be constantly checking up on me and reminding me, “You still need to finish your project!” Secondly, it’s also important to know what to do when Stress is on vacation. Sometimes, Stress will decide to leave for a few days. In these days, it seems especially tempting to just curl up on the couch/bed and Netflix the day away. However, this is another time to prioritize. If you have plenty of time, why not go volunteer? While it doesn’t seem like the perfect way to spend the day, you might be pleasantly surprised. It may take a lot to persuade yourself to go spend your day working in your Key Club shirt, but once you get to your destination, it can be infinitely more rewarding when you see the smiles and looks of gratitude you get from the people you help out. Plus, you can spend the day with your friends and meet new people from around the community. And the cherry on top? You’ll get to do something good for the neighborhood without Stress always coming up and talking to you. Clearly, while Stress does his best to be a good friend, it’s sometimes necessary to let him know when the “support” is too much. The biggest thing we need to learn to do is to prioritize. Although Stress encourages us to do everything at once, we need to let him know when we can actually do what we want to do and when we need to only do the most important things. Once we learn how to do this, we can strengthen our relationship with Stress…meaning we can send Stress on vacation more often.
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A RECAP
POST-ICO
30 Jenny Brown, 31 Colin Gonzales Photo Credit: GOISTA
31 Sineka Guss, 32 Tien Huynh
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Getting to attend the 2014 International Convention in Anaheim was absolutely amazing. The whole trip was so exciting and I enjoyed every part of it. I met so many new people and it was such a pleasure to attend. While at ICON, I attended workshops and was informed about certain programs and organizations that I could become involved with. One of the workshops I attended was for The Eliminate Project. The Eliminate Project is an international campaign that works to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus. During this workshop, I learned so many new things about the Eliminate Project. I was also given helpful tips on how to raise awareness and how to fundraise for the campaign, such as having an Eliminate Week during the spring which focuses on raising money for this cause. I think Eliminate Week is a great idea and I would love to get my Key Club involved with it. Another workshop I attended was for Children’s Miracle Network. The Children’s Miracle Network is an organization that raises money for children’s hospitals around the globe. At this workshop I was told about the Dance Marathon. The Dance Marathon is an event that can be hosted at high schools or colleges around the world. At the marathon, people that attend are kept on their feet for
12+ hours by playing games and dancing. This is a great way to raise awareness and all the money made at the event is donated to a local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. The Dance Marathon is something I definitely would like to plan and hope to have one at my high school in the future. I enjoyed everything at ICON, but one of my favorite things about it was getting to meet all of the other Key Clubbers that attended. I got to meet so many different people from around the United States and even some people that lived out of the country. It was so much fun meeting all of them and I was able to make a lot of new friends. Another thing I enjoyed was attending the workshops. It was a great way to learn more about organizations that I could become more involved with. I was glad I was able to attend them and I gained a lot of new knowledge about things that I was able to tell other people in my club. I am so thankful I was able to attend ICON this year. I enjoyed everything so much and it was such an amazing experience. It was so great being surrounded by people that all enjoy service like me. It was such a special trip and I hope I get to attend ICON next summer! By Jenny Brown, Port NechesGroves
The chatter of over 1,600 unique voices, the blur of colors seen on flags worldwide, the air vibrates with nervous excitement, and I have the privilege of standing in the middle of it all. I walk deeper into the crowd, shake hands with leaders from around the world as we trade pins. By pins I don't mean pens, so get that out of your brain, by “pins” I mean pins. A pin, the kind you trade, the ones that are metal and have exciting or vibrant images on them. Similar to the pins that presidents wear when they want to show their unwavering patriotism and clear love of country. These pins weren't just any pins, these were pins from district conventions held around the world. Each one had its own individual story to tell, history behind it, because they all came from different places as well as from completely different leaders. This describes the first convention that was like no other had ever been to, I was in Anaheim, CA for ICON 2014. This is the convention where over 1,600 of the most involved Key Clubbers got together for a few days to elect the new international board, share ideas, and learn in spectacular forums. It was honestly one of the best experiences of my life so far because I got to learn so much from fellow leaders and how they did things in their districts. We ate at food trucks, walked to Downtown Disney, jumped in elevators, sat in caucus rooms, danced like no one was watching, debated amendments, and so much more. This was just the convention part. After that convention was over, we ventured around Anaheim, California to go sightseeing. We went to Disneyland, Universal Studios, Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and I had an unforgettable time sharing this experience with other people as inspired by Key Club as myself. So next year when you're debating whether or not you want to be in Key Club or experience either convention, DCON or ICON 2015 just remember all of the opportunities Key Club International provides us for advancement not only in our communities but also the lasting impact that many clubs have across the globe. Be glad that we are fortunate enough to live in a society where service is so easily given and not just taken, so with every volunteer opportunity that you take, remember that you are making a lasting impact on someone’s life. By District Treasurer Colin Gonzales
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LASTING
IMPACT
At the beginning of July I was given the opportunity to join a focus group at International Convention. Matt Mattson lead the focus group. He did an amazing job at getting us to really open up and talk about everything Key Club-related. The focus group included me and five other students from around the world. Talking to people from other places really opened my eyes to the fact that Key Club is really an international organization. It is so amazing to realize that there are people so far away that share the love for service as we do. The focus group was set up like a question and answer type of format. Matt would ask the group a question and we would all reply and discuss the question. Everyone in the group got really involved and deep with their answers. We talked about anything and everything that had to do with Key Club. I really liked the way we were all allowed to discuss our opinions and there were no wrong answers. During this focus group, we were all treated as equals and we were not treated like simple children. All of the questions he asked were always relevant and good to discuss. He started off by asking all of us why
we joined Key Club in the first place. That question was one that we spent a really long time on because everyone got really personal and deep with their answers. He also asked us what we wanted to change in our club and on the division, district, and international levels. His questions made all of us think very hard about where our clubs stood. During and after I was a part of his focus group, I started thinking a lot about our club as a whole. I also learned what Key Club is truly about. Once I saw all these other wonderful people being so passionate about Key Club, it really reminded me of why I joined in the first place. I realized that in Key Club we are not just club members, but we all make up a big family and every single person has an important role within our club. Everyone in key club plays a vital role in the big picture. The focus group has district governors, regular members, and club officers and no one was made to feel less important. During my focus group experience I learned so much about myself and my personal goals as well as the true meaning of being a Key Clubber. By Sineka Guss, Port Neches-Groves 31
The True ICONic Experience From accidentally running into a Chinese man, to blowing up a coffee machine, I can definitely say that I've experienced a whole new side of Key Club. From July 2-6, Key Club International convened at the Mariott in Anaheim, California. I never knew that Key Club could be such a whirl pool of excitement. There were so many spirited Key Clubbers there that were focusing on the same cause: servant leadership! Let me start by saying that the International Board worked really hard! They came up with so many amendments and dealt with a hard crowd with ease. They did their research on what they debated for and definitely did what they felt was best for the Key Clubbers when it came to house of delegates. Rachel Benoit did a great job taking Raeford's place. Although Raeford wasn't there, he was there in spirit and 32
he gave a speech that made our eyes cry waterfalls. The talent competition was remarkable. Key Clubbers definitely worked hard to be up there! One person even wrote a song called Key Club Love and performed it on stage (Let me just say that is my new jam that I listen to on soundcloud.) There was a large variety of talent on the stage that I can definitely say was better than even the queen Beyonce. Sorry Kanye, but Key Clubbers take the prize. My favorite memory from ICON? It's obvious! I dropped my fork down Walt Roetter's balcony, and Amy tried to save it and dropped her badge, then she mercilessly cried to Luke, “SAVE IT!� Then we had to tie a magnet to Luke's ribbon and get it! But there's more! Amy Jiang and I tried to make ramen, and accidentally electro-
Photos: Alisa Prachan, Rebekah Elizabeth Drennon, Regan Smith, and Tien Huynh
cuted the coffee maker! Then on the way to Disneyland I accidentally ran into a random Chinese man and his family! I had such a great time meeting new people and let me just shout out to PNW. Pacific Northwest Key Clubbers are so absolutely spirited and they know how to have a good time. They are passionate and strong minded! I've even kept up with them post ICON! I made some outgoing CaliNevHa kids such as Daanyaal from Division 35E. He has taught me so much about how to make my division spirited and I'm so excited to utilize some of the tactics he has taught me! Key Clubbers are such hard workers and teach me so much! Especially Tashrima Hossain, she is my idol. Tashrima, IP District Editor made speeches that surpassed Morgan Freeman in any movie and stole the stage! Her hard work paid off be-
cause guess what? She was voted International Trustee. Last but not least! OH DISNEYLAND. That is where my heart will forever be. At Disneyland I grew such a strong bond to IP Governor Luke Broussard, Amy Jiang, Governor Kaitlyn Wilson and Regan Smith. I had such an incredible time with them. Even if I rode a Ferris wheel of death with them! We were like kids again and BEST PART? No lines! At all! We rode every ride twice and enjoyed the journey down to the last drop. In the end we concluded with the world of color show, a whimsical water show that depicts famous Disney movies. Overall I have to say my heart belongs to ICON and my post ICON depression will never sleep. Key Club is love. Key Club is life. By 2C/2S LTG Tien Huynh 33
LETTERS TO THE Editor K E ANSWERS Y C L U BTOQYOUR U E SQUESTIONS TIONS THE Q:
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Do you have any tips or suggestions on starting a newsletter? What software can you use? And What should you include in the newsletter? - Sanjana Janumpally, Heritage You can do anything with your newsletter; it’s yours to make creative and unique. Try coming up with either an overall theme or monthly theme for each newsletter. When you create a format, stick with it for the rest of the year. On the TO Website at tokeyclub.com, go to Resources, Club Resources, and Back to School Resources for free, downloadable graphics, logos, and fonts- it’s a fantastic resource to get started! You can use any software you want to design and create your newsletter. I use Microsoft Publisher. Other programs include Microsoft PowerPoint and Word. There are also more advanced software that will aid the very ardent ones. Here are some things you should include in your newsletter: Cover (including title, school, division, district, month, year, volume, and issue), table of contents, page numbers, Club Contact Info. (website, Facebook, Remind 101, etc.), Reminders & Updates, President’s Message & Editor’s Letter, Upcoming Events (projects, social, meetings, important dates, etc.), Major Emphasis Program, Club Officer, LTG, and Sponsor Contact Info. (name, position, phone, & email), and, of course, photos! 34
We all know about the standard fundraiser ideas such as car washes, bake sales, etc. The classics are great, but do you have any fresh and new ideas to raise money for your Key Club? Deepa Muthusamy, James Taylor Unique and entertaining fundraisers are an excellent way to raise money. Here are some ideas below! Dog Wash: Rather than washing cars, try washing dogs for tips! There are countless people who own pets and are willing to have others groom their dogs for low-cost. It’ll be an enjoyable fundraiser that lets you interact with animals. Hairy Leg Contest: Whether faculty staff or students, contestants’ legs are photographed, and the pictures are taped to jars. One vote costs a quarter, and the money is placed in the jar of the individual with the most hairy leg. Save or Shave: Choose a willing teacher who is ready to donate his beard for a fund-raiser. Students then vote with money whether the beard should be saved or shaved (it is hopefully shaved at a school assembly). Tape a Teacher: Sell foot-long strands of tape for $1 to students who want to tape a willing teacher to the wall. No tape in the teacher’s face or hair! In addition, be on the lookout for future Tex-O-Keys. There will be countless articles containing creative and novel fundraisers form other Key Clubbers.
EMAIL ME ANY KEY CLUB-RELATED QUESTIONS FOR ANSWERS AT EDITOR@TOKEYCLUB.COM
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Tex-O-Key 2014 October & November