July/August Tex-O-Key by Texas Oklahoma

THE TEX-O-KEY KEY CLUB // JULY-AUGUST 2013

VOLUME 2

ISSUE 2

TAKE A LOOK INSIDE FALL RALLY AT SIX FLAGS Socializing with clubs, learning the DCON theme, and being scared out PCM REFLECTIONS of our wits You mean those pg. 8 fun, food-filled KIWANIS meetings? (Some of the pg. 32 coolest people you’ll ever meet) pg. 34

TOKEYCLUB.COM

CONTENTS 03

Contributions

B2S: Member Recruitment

Governor’s Report Top 5 Service Projects

The Hours Game

What Does Key Club Mean to You?

Kick ‘N Bully ‘N to the Curb

PCM Reflections

Kiwanis

Letters to the Editor

Messages from International Top 25 Clubs

Fall Rally

Art Ventures

Back to School (B2S): COCI

B2S: Dues, Dues, Dues!

B2S: Annual Traditions

EDITOR’S NOTE Hey Texas-Oklahoma! Summer has flown by, and now it is time to return to school. As your schedules begin to fill, continue devoting your time and eﬀorts to service. This issue includes tips and tricks to successfully kick oﬀ the 2013-2014 academic year. In addition, read more to learn about the upcoming Fall Rally. The event will provide you with the opportunity to interact with other clubs, hear the 2014 DCON theme, win free monthly report points, and ride the new Texas Screamer. I hope to see you all there! Finally, I’d like to thank you all for your contributions; if not for your excellent articles and photos, the Tex-O-Key would not be possible. Keep up the great work! Yours in service, Tashrima Hossain

RIDDLE OF THE MONTH

What goes up and down the stairs without moving? E-mail me the correct answer for five monthly report points! last month’s riddle answer: an ear of corn OR a chicken

CONTRIBUTIONS Cover Photo Samantha Pol

Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Report Each Tex-O-Key needs photos that tell a story. E-mail any highresolution, diverse, and compassionate Key Club photos to editor@tokeyclub .com, and they just might end up on the cover of this magazine.

Luke Broussard

Messages from International Rebecca Riley Raeford Penny Zack Waldorf

Fall Rally Grace Liu

COCI Correction to the May/June Tex-O-Key Cypress Ranch won the Platinum Award for Single Service; MacArthur instead won the Gold Award in the same category.

Usman Hyder

Dues, Dues, Dues! Isaiah ValleQuinones

Articles Sailaja Ammu Alexa Anderson Hope Carter Nikki Carter Cassie Cotton Matt Curbow Kelsey Endari Gregory Ross Hannah Hasson Sydney HoďŹ&#x20AC;man Tien Huynh Amy Jiang Jenny Li Sahanna Krishnatasan Baolong Nguyen Julie Nguyen Hannah Norem Jason Tran Vivian Young Emily Zhao 03

Governor’s Report FROM

Luke Broussard Hey Texas-Oklahoma! It is time to hit those books again and go back to the grind of school. Luckily, we have Key Club to keep us excited for the year! Getting the opportunity to help someone in need is hands down the best feeling anyone can experience. The important thing is to stay active and serve your homes, schools, and communities. TOgether, we are changing the world! Fall Rally is coming up on September 28th. I hope to see your bright, shining faces there, and hopefully, it does not rain this year. It only costs $30 for an amazing day of fun and Key Club. Not to mention, you can win monthly report points and find out what this year's DCON theme will be. It is never too early to start planning your Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign! Try and plan with other Key Clubs to maximize those monthly report points and to make your experience even more memorable. Shout out to Region 10 for having me at their Fall Training Conference. It was amazing! I am looking forward to traveling across this amazing district and meeting so many hard working Key Club members. Stay fierce, Governor Luke Broussard

Top Bellaire Eliminate Week Project Club members met up before the actual week of the event and decorated/posted posters and flyers encouraging students to donate, baked cookies, prepared ribbons for donors, and gathered boxes for donations. They used Facebook and the school principal for even more publicity. On the week of the event, club members and the sponsor gathered and organized donations during lunch and between class periods. (written by Amber Liu)

Bullard CMN Telethon Five Key Clubbers went to Trinity Mother Francis Hospital to help raise money for Children’s Miracle Network by calling those who had previously donated to the cause. Each volunteer got a paper with contact information; if donors decided to donate, they filled out a small form with the donor’s information. The event was a huge success, with Bullard Key Clubbers raising $4,905 in two nights. (written by Kayla McPherson)

Weatherford SPUD Event SPUD Week was a week of fundraising activities, involving not just Key Clubbers, but the entire school. Each year, the club chooses a beneficiary; this year, it was Luke Thompson, a local elementary school student with cerebral palsy. They raised the money to help him get to physical therapy in Shreveport, Louisiana. (written by Tiler Rose)

Service Projects

Summer Creek Sandwiches to the Poor Key Clubbers dressed as superheroes and made sandwiches for the homeless at the endof-year celebration. Members brought peanut butter, jelly, and bread, then assembled sandwiches after school. After, a few members took the sandwiches to a local church that supplies meals to the needy. (written by Victoria Carr) Venus No Turning Back Food Pantry No Turning Back Ministry Food Pantry of Lilian Baptist Church provides families in the area with a variety of goods every Thursday. On a regular week, they assist over 60 families.; about fifteen Key Clubbers organize and distribute goods to the needy. One of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering with this great food pantry is seeing the relief in the faces of individuals as they receive food. (written by Jazmin Escamilla)

a MESSAGE from

ZACK WALDORF (your international trustee) Greetings Texas-Oklahoma District! My name is Zack Waldorf from the New Jersey District, and I am so honored to be serving as your international trustee for the 2013-2014 year. Words cannot describe how excited I am to be working Texas-Oklahoma, an almost 18,000-member district with such palpable passion for service and leadership. As a trustee, my job is to represent Texas-Oklahoma, along with our sister districts Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee and Georgia, on the international level. I serve very similarly to a liaison in that not only am I providing you with information from international, but I am also making sure that international hears your voices and opinions. I don't want any of your opinions to go unheard, so please feel free to contact me for anything! Although our jobs began only two weeks ago, I, along with the rest of the international board, have been working diligently on our committee work. This year, we have four committees: 1) The Executive Committee, which deals primarily with International Convention and international board performance; 2) The Communications Committee, which is working on improving our overall communications with the members; 3) The Membership Development Committee (which has replaced the Reach Committee from last year), and; 4) The Education and Development Committee dedicated to educating and developing membership by creating and updating resources. I serve on both the Executive Committee and the Communications Committee. As far as the Executive Committee goes, in addition to working on amendments and board policies, we are in the process of deciding who our International Convention speakers/entertainers are for next year's convention in Anaheim, California. The Communications Committee has been working on getting feedback from district board members about the Key Club website and the app and how to improve them. Also, in order to improve communication with our members, we have also decided to implement a monthly international email that will be sent directly to the members. These emails will begin in October and will be themed (for example, in the October email, we would discuss Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF and Key Club Week). With the sad conclusion of summer, the school year is coming back around, and you know what that means: dues, your Fall Training Conferences, and your Fall Rally at Six Flags. Your district board has been working very hard to ensure the success of your Key Club school year, so make sure to thank those lovely people! As far as dues go, the Membership Update Center opens up Monday, September 9th, so make sure you all push for that Early Bird Dues award! Now that all the boring stuďŹ&#x20AC; is out of the way, I really want to stress to you guys how much your opinions mean to the International level of this organization. I want there to always be an open line of communication between us all, so please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, whether they be about dues, elections, committee work, the Youth Opportunities Fund, anything! Thank you so much, and I am so excited for the upcoming year! Yours in service, Zachary Waldorf

MESSAGE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

Raeford Penny

Hello Texas-Oklahoma Key Clubbers! I hope that I find you all in good spirits and enjoying your summer! At the 70 th Annual Key Club International Convention, I was elected to be the 57th International President of our wonderful organization. As a member of the crabtastic Capital District, I am looking forward to working alongside you all this year! I joined Key Club at first to help my local community and its issues, but I found an organization that was much more than just that. I found an organization full of passionate members who came together for the common cause of helping our global community, while molding us into future leaders of the world.

dues process, creating position specific email lists at the club level, webinars and chatrooms, the Youth Opportunities Fund and much more. Our goal is to inspire and empower the members at all levels to be more involved, because if we can become more passionate from within, our organization can truly grow.

Even though we may never meet the person we help, knowing that somewhere in the world a smile has come upon someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face is what keeps us going. Together we are powerful, together we can change lives, and together we will affect the world through service. Thank you for being the amazing, inspiring servant leaders who have agreed to join me in the quest to bring Key Club For this year, the International Board International to an even greater height. will be focused on many of the issues that have arisen, while increasing member Raeford Penny, involvement at the international level. Our Key Club International President committees will look into improving the raefordpenny@gmail.com

Top 25 Clubs

(in alphabetical order)

IP International President’s Message Greetings, Texas-Oklahoma Key Clubbers! Today I address you for the final time as a now immediate-past Key Club International officer. This past July in Washington, D.C., my term as International President ended. I passed the torch on to your new president, Raeford Penny, and began to bask in the hasbeen life, happy to finally get a bit of rest! Seeing as this is a “farewell” of sorts, you may be expecting a bunch of advice from a wise old has-been, but I won’t do that to you. Instead, I make of you just one small request: Don’t ever lose hope. We in Key Club are a group of amazing student leaders; never doubt that you can change the world. You can and, in fact, already do. Key Club is only as powerful as we make it, and I trust you to make it all that it should be. Thanks for all the great times as president, and thank you for entertaining my address one last time. So long and keep up the service! Rebecca Riley, IP International President

Allen Bullard Cinco Ranch Cypress Creek Cypress Fair Cypress Falls Cypress Ranch Cypress Woods Early Goose Creek Memorial Jenks Lampasas MacArthur Mansfield Summit Nacogdoches North Crowley North Garland R.L. Paschal Randall Sulphur Summer Creek Venus Weatherford West Brook Wetumka The above list solely covers the first quarter; there is still a long way until the final Top 25 is announced during DCON. The Top 25 clubs can, and likely will, change by April. Just remember to continue having a positive community impact, and do the little things that can increase your club’s point earnings. Every club has a fair chance of becoming the top club in the Texas-Oklahoma District. 07

You can also have your own

cover photo! (as pictured below)

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Never Too Early to Talk About Fall Rally

Download it from either your LTG or the T-O website, then upload it to Facebook as your new cover photo!

Fall Rally, a wondrous and fun filled Key Club event that takes place at Six Flags, is being held again this year. As a West Brook Key Clubber, I hope to attend Fall Rally and its many attractions. The event I am looking forward to most is the revealing of the 2014 DCON theme. While only having gone once, it was an unforgettable experience that I hope to be able to experience again, with my fellow Key Clubbers. Last year, I attended Fall Rally with two other West Brook Key Clubbers and our sponsor, Ms. Abel, and I hope the experience will be the same but with more people! I hope they include the Deal or No Deal event to allow various Texas or Oklahoma Key Clubs to gain points, as it was a thrill to watch and have the possible chance to join. The various skits and demonstrations were a sight to behold, both comical and informative. The details given out, such as the DCON theme and the Governor's Project, named the B.R.O. Project, were important and useful to the Key Clubbers. Six Flags is also a big part of Fall Rally as it gives Key Clubbers a chance to enjoy the multitude of rides and have fun at the park. Although it rained most of the time, it did not hamper the spirits and energy of any of the Key Clubbers. It is truly an experience I cherish and hope to enjoy again. The reason I am looking forward to the revealing of the 2014 DCON theme is because it gives a preview of what DCON will look like. It gives a look at DCON and heightens the anticipation for it. I am looking forward to Fall Rally because, besides revealing the DCON theme, it is an enormous gathering of clubbers throughout the Texas and Oklahoma Districts. It gives a chance to meet new people who have the same passion for volunteering as everybody else there. This chance of a meeting creates a deeper connection throughout the Key Clubs of Texas and Oklahoma. Fall Rally is truly a stunning event held at the prestigious Six Flags and is enjoyable throughout the time spent there. Hopefully, there will be many flyers and such to promote it, so more people will get excited to go and experience the thrill and enjoyment that Fall Rally offers. We give a big thanks to everyone who helps organize Fall Rally and can only hope to see you again this year! --Baolong Nguyen, West Brook

Thrills and Chills Wind in your face and thrilling screams that bring chills through your body? That doesn’t sound very exciting, but when you say amusement park, that completely changes your ideal. Fall Rally is probably the one big Texas Oklahoma meet up I look forward to. Maybe it’s because I’m a bit crazy, or maybe it’s because my friend is a complete rollercoaster fanatic, but I know I’m absolutely a Key Club fanatic. Everyone thinks that going to Six Flags is going to be all fun and games because of the big rides. In reality, the big thrill is getting to meet all these Key Clubbers in our area. Nothing can be more exciting than making a life-long friend that is interested in the same thing as you. The common interest: serving others. Fall Rally opens up many doors and it’s a great way to have fun during the second quarter of our Key Club year. At Fall Rally, you get to know your theme for DCON. Great thing about that is that you can get started on all your competition ideas, and everyone can brainstorm. I know I’m excited for Fall Rally. The memories, the excitement, the laughter, and the friends? That pretty much describes Key Club anyways! I can’t wait to bite in to a funnel cake while I’m there as well. That’d be such a great way to end the day. Make sure to show your club spirit and wear your club shirt. Let everyone know exactly who you represent and how proud you are to be representing. Tell others about your service club. A great smile and a great spirit wins over friends and helps spread awareness about projects that others might not have heard of. Key Club isn’t just a competition; remember that our goal is to help others to show your love and tell others about ideas that they can be a part of. Invite your Kiwanis! Kiwanis are an important part to Key Club and I’m sure they’d love to be a part of this day and get on rides too. They are just as full of excitement as we are, and if you ask me, the Kiwanis are some tough cookies. I know some that would probably ride more roller coasters than I would in a heartbeat, so come enjoy this day. Take a seat, pull the bars down and join us on this fantastic ride. –Tien Huynh, North Garland

A bright-eyed five year old asks me, “Where’s the restroom?” His dirty hands are outstretched in front of him, and he has green paint on his cute, pudgy face. I walk him to the sink where he washes his hands and cleans his forehead. He reaches for the paper towels, but he’s too short to grab them. With a smile on my face, one that I can’t resist, I gladly get some of the paper towels for him as he quietly mutters a “thank you.” Volunteering at the ArtVentures Camp in Beaumont, Texas is quite enjoyable. As a little kid, I remember my first day attending the camp. I walked into a big room in the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, and there was a station to make my own name tag with the teacher kindly telling me what to do and welcoming me to the program. When I was finished, I picked up my backpack and lunch kit and went to one of the tables to sit down. From there, it’s all a blur. However, I remember those couple of weeks were filled with fun and joy. Whether it was the mess that I was able to make with all the paint or talking away with new friends, I was thoroughly able to enjoy myself.

ART VENTURES

Now, I am old enough and blessed enough to be a part of Key Club and volunteer at the same program I attended as a young child. The kids are sweet and keep all the volunteers busy. After all, those tiny tots often get more paint on their faces than on the paper in front of them. Nevertheless, they are quite a joy to be around. They are able to paint, color, and make shapes out of clay. The older age group that comes in the afternoon is introduced to pottery and the kiln. After a while, they get a break where they go outside, drink lemonade, and have cookies or crackers. Towards the end of the week, the children have an art show where they are able to present all of their hard work to their parents. They process out in their new ArtVentures t-shirt which has a design of their choice on the back made with paint and stencils. The finished products of each child allow the volunteers and adults to have an insight into their personality and feelings, a treasured moment for us all, undoubtedly. This time spent with children and artwork is thoroughly enjoyable for everyone who attends. I couldn’t have asked for a more rewarding week. --Kelsey Endari, West Brook

Hello Texas-Oklahoma Key Clubbers! What’s going on y’all? I have no doubt that this has been an eventful and awesome service-filled summer for you. I hope that each club is out there not only serving their homes, schools, and communities, but also reporting to the District. While it has been summer, it is still a requirement to report. If you haven’t been, you absolutely still can! Send your monthly reports to my house address (938 Medina Dr. Arlington, Texas 76017) postmarked by the fifth each and every month. Now that school is back on, do not forget your Key Club duties! Your role as an officer can make or break your club, so remember to pay attention to those duties. Also, remember to update your Club Officer Contact Information on the District Website (tokeyclub.com). This is basically sending out your club officer’s information in the simplest way. If you need help, ask me! Here’s how you do it:

1 Go to tokeyclub.com in with your school’s username and password (if you do not have this 2 Log information, please email administrator@tokeyclub.com) 3 Go to the “Members only” section and click “Update Club Officers” down the name, email, phone number and house address of each officer/ 4 Write Faculty Advisor 5 Hit “Submit” done! 6 You’re Always remember to utilize the many resources you have to guide you through your position. Feel free to look over the Monthly Reporting Tutorial Video, the updated Jolly Book of Wisdom, your Monthly Reporting Feedbacks, The T-O District Key Club Secretaries Page, myself, and the other resources that you are provided with. I hope that I have been a beneficial aid, and I hope to continue to serve you guys in the greatest way possible. Always feel free to hit me up if you need help or if you just want to talk about something! Also, I absolutely cannot wait to see you guys at Fall Rally; you have to attend! –Usman Hyder, District Secretary

DUES

SECTION ARTICLE SECTION ARTICLE SECTION

“ I “ II “ 7 I

“ “ “

KEY CLUB INTERNATIONAL GUIDEBOOK

Any member club more than 60 days in arrears for any indebtedness to Key Club International or for any annual dues to a district thereof, shall be considered not in good standing, and may have its charter and membership herein suspended or revoked…

Each Key Club shall pay Key Club International, or its designated fiscal agent, annual dues of six dollars and fifty cents (US$6.50), being membership dues and subscription to the Key Club International publication, for every member, but not including honorary members. Fifty cents of the dues of each member shall be deposited into the Youth Opportunities Fund… Each Key Club that is a member of a Key Club district shall pay Key Club International [dues]…”

In order to be considered a club by International, each Key Club member has to pay annual dues of $6.50, including their district dues (T-O dues are $6.00, which makes our dues equal $12.50). Fifty cents of each member’s dues will go toward the Youth Opportunity Fund, and clubs must pay their dues within a certain amount of time before they become suspended.

DUES

IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES

SEPT. 9 NOV. 1

NOV. 30 DEC. 1 FEB. 1

ON/AFTER

BEFORE/ON

Early Bird

ON/AFTER

BEFORE/ON

Start submitting dues for the 2013-14 year

Deadline

Late Deadline

Suspended

To access the Membership Update Center, visit keyclub.org/MUC.

Watch the step-by-step tutorial on YouTube to help you with the Membership Update Center: (http:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=-gV47UE5uas).

Contact your Lieutenant Governor, or District Treasurer Isaiah, for stepby-step instructions on paying dues or for any help you may need!

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YOU have the power to ELIMINATE MNT by 2015.

The Busiest Time of Year The beginning of the school year is always a hectic yet vital time for school clubs. They’re always scrambling to get things up and started for the upcoming year. The significance of this time of year is a large determining factor to whether the club makes or breaks it for the rest of the school year. With that thought in mind, substantial duties are called to be fulfilled by clubs to start the school year off successfully. The organization of the club is what sets the plans and future of the club for the school year. Therefore, the arrangement of club events should already be set before the school year begins. Preparedness is necessary to prevent issues such as inactiveness or overdue dates. It helps the club flow smoother and decreases stress among the officers and members. It’s always nice to know what you’re in store for. All club organizations exist for a reason and have their own functions. In this case, Key Club exists to serve its community and to open up a different and giving world to its members. Recruiting t h e s e m e m b e r s to c a r r y o u t t h e organization’s plans is crucial to forming an accomplished club. Ways to gain members and promote the club can include introducing the organization to incoming students hosting a summer camp and

utilizing social networks to spread the word about the club. After recruiting members, they now have some knowledge of what the club organization is; so return the favor and get to know them! Becoming accustomed to the members is an effective approach to show that the club is open and friendly towards its members. Along with familiarizing the club officials with the club members, the club members should also understand the organization they’re participating in and its functions. After all, the members will become representatives of the group to the people in their lives and be those that the club officials will potentially work with. Socials and workshops are some methods to connect with the members effectively. The bond between the club officials and their fellow members help create dedicated and faithful group of members, and fortify the organization. There are many important duties that should be fulfilled at the beginning of the school year, but these are only a few that many clubs struggle with. These are encouraged for all groups to carry out in order to create an amazing school year, and active club that is not only unified and successful, but also fun. --Julie Nguyen, James Bowie

starting

oﬀ on the

right

It is just as essential to end each year of Key Club in a strong, lasting impression as to start a new year of Key Club. Beginning the year with a BANG will captivate the attention of both the experienced and new students of your school. Advertising before the start of the new school year is incredibly essential to ensuring membership. If possible, have your Faculty Adviser e-mail a flyer to every parent. You could even create posters before school and hang them throughout the hallways at the start of school. During Freshman Camp or perhaps Open House, gather your Key Club mates and set up a stand for all the school to admire. Whether it be parents, teachers, or students, advertise to everyone, especially to the incoming freshmen class. This body of students will be the fledglings you will take under your wing and nurture into full-fledged Key Clubbers. In addition to increasing membership, conceiving and executing a magnificent introductory (or first ever) meeting is very crucial. Introduce the officers as well as the faculty adviser, so that everyone knows who to go to for questions or help. Be sure to thoroughly explain the structure and mechanisms of Key Club International to newcomers, while not

T O O scaring them off. Also, give off an amiable vibe that will make the members want to come again! An excellent way to attract and get people to stay is to bring food. From doughnuts to cookies, anything sweet and nice, students will love it! Another wonderful idea for your first meeting of the school year is to invite your sponsoring Kiwanis Club over. These magnificent adults are the backbone of your Key Club. It is very important that you get to know them and appreciate all that they do for you throughout the year. In addition to inviting these friendly adults, why not try visiting them? Early on in the year, gather the Key Clubbers to go on a “field trip” to attend a Kiwanis Meeting- and there might just be some food there, too! Not only should you advertise your club, meetings, and Kiwanis, but you should also start promoting District Convention (DCON). Explain this district event to Key Club members as a time to celebrate all your achievements and commemorate those who have gone above and beyond. The sooner you advertise, the more people will come and the better the results at DCON, which means the better the experience and fun! One of the most essential duties above all, is paying dues. Dues, dues, dues- these are what ensure that there is a District Convention to go to in the first place. Make sure that all members pay their fair share to be a part of Key Club and earn their Key Club benefits. There may seem like there is a lot to be done for the start of a new school year, but with deliberate and careful planning, these can all be accomplished in time! –Emily Zhao, Division 24N LTG

2013-14 D U T I E S As new Key Clubbers begin to join at the start of the school year, it is imperative that every officer fulfills their duties. As the New Year begins we have to already have a jumpstart on which events we are able to volunteer at. The events have to be suitable and easily reachable for a group a people. Finding events isn’t always easy, so we have come up with a solution for every officer to find at least two events every two weeks before the meeting, which occurs once in two weeks. In order for the club to function effectively, we have decided to meet every Monday to discuss details for the next club meeting. During these meetings, we can discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the club and our duties. THE PRESIDENT has an overall responsibility of making sure every other officer is on task and making sure all the duties are met. The president is the helping hand to every other officer and member that might have any issues. THE VICE PRESIDENT has similar duties to those of the president. They ensure the club is running smoothly and clarify any doubts that anyone might have.

THE SECRETARIES take on a more literary role. They write the monthly reports, in which they report all the events that have occurred in the past month and other information relating to the club. They acquire all the names and numbers of people who are present at the events and meetings. The monthly report is a big commitment and requires plenty of effort; it is put in by our two cosecretaries, who promptly submit their work by the due date.

THE EDITOR edits all the articles and makes sure that we try to reach our maximum potential. The editor also designs the monthly newsletter in which information can be found for the new Key Club arrivals. Their job is also to send out mail about what was discussed in the meeting previously, so the members have a reference if they missed the meetings. It is every officer’s job to encourage the members to come to meetings to maximize their points and opportunities to sign up for events which are first come, first serve.

THE TREASURER handles all the money that the club has. Their job is to collect dues from all the regular and active members. They ensure that all the money is accounted for, so we are able to monitor how much money is being spent and received. THE WEBMASTER updates the school’s Key Club page and makes sure the information is valid and useful. The webmaster’s duty is also to upload the newsletters to the schools page. The webmaster also sends out the e-vites for the events which were discussed with all of the members in previous meetings.

It is everyone’s job to work collaboratively and make the next Key Club year a success among our members and school. We should be communicative and reach out to the community and serve to the best of our abilities. --Sailaja Ammu, M.B. Lamar

The Building Blocks of a Great Key Club What makes a great club, in general? An organized group of people, coming together to share a common passion. But when it comes to being one of the Texas-Oklahoma region’s best, that just isn’t enough for the best clubs. No, a top twenty-five would never settle for average or even good. So what does it take to be an overachiever club? Let’s take a look: MEMBER RETENTION A truly good club doesn’t only worry about attracting new members, though; it focuses on keeping the ones that it has. A small member fee helps members feel invested in the club, as well as goals and rewards for members. Fun socials are also a good way to keep things casual and fun for your club. A picnic at the park can go a long way. CONSISTENCY It’s kind of hard to go to club meetings if they are on a different day each time and are announced a day before. Cut your members some slack and schedule a day every couple of weeks to get together and announce/discuss/sign up for upcoming events. The same goes for committees. Stay in touch, establish a final goal, and keep the effort active. If your goal can be completed in an afternoon, but you give your group a month and a half to do it, it should be expected that there will be some serious down time. Make goals reasonable and fun! Fundraise! And for goodness sake, keep up the enthusiasm!

CLUB SIZE Obviously, if you have three people in your club, it’s going to be a lot harder to get things done well and on time. It is critical to spread the word throughout the school. Appeal to the kids in the programs that require community service hours. Entice lowerclassmen in search of social activity with club trips to cool places. Make the coolest key-related shirt that there ever was. Whatever works for your school; the more members, the more work that can be done and fun that can be had. ORGANIZATION OF THE OFFICERS It’s not enough to want your club to be in the top twenty-five. Turning in monthly reports on time and submitting articles is a big part of it. Like so many Key Club officers say: an event isn’t recognized by Key Club International until the hours are submitted. You want credit? Well, go and get it. --Hannah Hasson, M.B. Lamar

Key Club Means Family Family (noun): a basic social unit consis/ng of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not. A family takes care of each other, loves each other, and encourages common goals and morals. Key Club Interna1onal (noun): the oldest and largest service program; a high school student-‐led organiza/on whose goal is to teach leadership through helping others. Looking at the dic/onary defini/ons of these two nouns, they barely have anything to do with each other. However, aEer joining Key Club, a person can easily see where the two are compa/ble. To me, there are two things that make Key Club unique. One is that we are a family, and the second is that the benefits that our club brings reaches out to those far greater in number than just our school, or even just our community. Similar to a family, the ambi/ons and ethics are shared throughout the group. Though this family is not related by blood, the bond found between each member is like that of a brother and sister. We are a family that cares for one another and for those across the world that don’t have the advantage of living in a free country like ours. We help each other, help others, and help anyone that needs it. We live in a country where we take so much for granted each day and have so much to be thankful for. Key Club, a branch of Kiwanis Interna/onal, is an interna/onal organiza/on in itself. Not many groups or clubs can claim to have young adults like us, all over the world, all working together. In order to dis/nguish Key Club from “all those other clubs” and “everything else that is going on at the beginning of the school year that is just too much to keep up with,” we need to make ourselves known, stand out, and make each student think about how they want to find out what “this Key Club thing” is. There is no secret formula to gaining members— the development of a club’s membership is a challenge that takes a plan, along with pep, perseverance, and crea/vity. We need to always be looking out for poten/al Key Clubbers and learn how to approach prospec/ve new members. Making ourselves known to them includes grabbing their aUen/on away from whatever they’re doing at the moment. They need to be informed so that they will want to join our family of Key Clubbers. –Alexa Anderson, Cypress Woods

Finding My Place With Key Club guiding me through my high school years, I am confident that I have gained valuable leadership skills and the knowledge to know that there will always be even more to learn. But Key Club isn’t just about leadership. It isn’t just about character building. It isn’t just about service, caring, honor or inclusiveness. But all of these together. One thing I have learned from Key Club is friendship (among many others of course). But the friends I’ve made thanks to Key Club have completely changed my life. Along with the many special lessons I have learned from being in Key Club, I have met some of my dearest friends. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have any friends if it hadn’t been for Key Club. You see, the students of my middle school were split up. Half went to one school. Half went to mine. And of course all of my friends ended up together, without me. So going into high school was not only scary because of the new building, harder classes, frightening upperclassmen, or even finding my way around the largest school I have ever attended. No, it was the worry of not knowing anyone. My awkward eighth grade self knew three people that would be going to my school. And one was my brother. However, after Key Club graciously took me under its wing, I was invited with ear-to-ear smiles and an unmatched enthusiasm for friendship (and service, of course). My passion for Key Club quickly sparked, and I was able to make friends easier than ever before. It was happening. What was happening, you ask? I was happening. I was breaking out of my shell. The shell I had been cramped in for fifteen long years. The shell I worked hard to break but wouldn’t even budge. The shell that prevented me from being the person I wanted to be. And Key Club changed all that. The organization that welcomed me my freshman year became an immensely important aspect throughout high school. Yes, I am going into my senior year and I won’t miss petty drama. I won’t miss the horrific school “lunch.” And I certainly won’t miss AP tests. But I will miss Key Club. Sure, I still have a year to go, but just thinking about how Key Club has made me into the person that I am today makes me sad to know my journey will soon be coming to an end. ---Sydney Hoffman, Cypress Fair

At Cy-Fair High School, the amount of members in our club has a huge percentage of freshmen volunteering at our service events. I believe that the freshmen are the strongest force of volunteers in our group because they fill up the volunteer space and usually bring back great news from the volunteer coordinators. But last year, we had a major change in our membership as our sponsor wanted to weave out some members for their lack of participation from the previous year. This change was done with the purpose that we wanted more quality and qualification for being a Key Clubber at our school. It was a means for our club to gain integrity and inclusiveness. Many students may join and never do their share of volunteering, which is unfair to many other students. I believed in this change as a long-term goal because at the first thought, we may lose many members, but as the years pass, the club will gain a bigger, better reputation along with more honorable members. All of this ties back to the freshmen because they will learn that this club has a strong chain of students for volunteers, and they will take their extra-curricular activity in this club on a more serious level to better our community. Also, we have our Builder’s Club at Arnold Middle School, and I absolutely love that we have a neighboring club next to my school. Now, there’s a real Kiwanis connection between students and teachers to influence an outpour of Key Club love and care. Key Club needs this stepping stone from middle school to high school because it may ease a freshman’s mind, and it will send some knowledge about what they can achieve in their upcoming years. Even though our Builder’s Club is only about one year old with a few months officially charted, it has done its duties for the community. They have volunteered for multiple holidays, with Christmas and Valentine’s cards for retirement homes. Also, they have gotten close enough to do gift exchanges and have become knitted as a family unit. These two implications will keep the Key Club motto true to its last word because I will make sure that “Caring– Our Way of Life” is fully put into the minds of our members at Cy-Fair High School as well as the students at the middle school. --Sahanna Krishnathasan, Cypress Fair

Changing for the Better

I WANT YOU for

Key Club

Every Key Clubber has a mind filled with imagination. Now it’s your time to pull out each and every one of those great ideas you have and recruit! Or just read this article. That’s cool too. Recruiting members is crucial to having a club. You can’t have a club without members, so here are some easy ideas that you can use in order to make your club fill with people. 1 Oﬃcer Torture What’s a better way of getting people in the club than showing your officer’s fun sides? Have a contest within your club. On the membership application, in the slot for recruitment, check how many members each person recruited. The person that recruited the most members gets to do an action of torture. For example: Pick one of the following officers, and pie their face. Or pick one of the following officers, and you will get to draw on their face with make-up. Make it fun and creative. If you want to have more winners, you can make a top 3 or top 5, and the people in order of who recruited the most can pick their officer first. 2 Simply Key Club Material This doesn’t mean the characteristic of being Key Club material. This actually means use your Key Club materials! Wear your Key Club shirt, and let people know about this wonderful club that you’re a part of. Make posters with your best ideas and what Key Club means to you. Show people how important it is to you, and the brightness it brings in your life will bring other people in too. Make flyers with plenty of photos. Have local people in your community provide quotes for your flyers of how much your Key Club has helped them. 3 Water Balloon Fight Have a big water balloon fight. In the balloons, place laminated pieces of paper with Key Club information. Hype it up and invite as many people as you can. Everyone loves a good water fight during summer. Let your Key Club grow over a fun social.

4 Incentives You can never go wrong with food. I know if I heard free food, I’d probably run straight to the door. Show that you know how to make people feel at home. Let people attend meetings with food. Cook something up and show them how good it tastes to have a taste of Key Club. Give away free old t-shirts/hand-medowns. It’ll make new members feel like they’re already a part of the club. 5 Hand Out Newsletters Print your newsletter in your school design lab or a local Staples store. Give out your newsletters, and let people look into your wonderful Key Club. If anyone has any information they need to know more of, they can just contact you at your e-mail or phone on the contact page. 6 Key Club Telephone Have your president start out with information about Key Club, and tell a person, then the person tells another and says a number. For example: Key Club is an amazing club that helps other people and teaches people how to better the community and themselves, 1. Tell the person to continue and say the same thing until the numbers reach 20. When the number reaches 20 they’ll see how much the information increased or changed when it gets back to the president. It’s like the actual icebreaker game, telephone. (Try to tell people that aren’t in Key Club.) --Tien Huynh, North Garland

You can make

a world of diďŹ&#x20AC;erence. Helping Local Kids

the HOURS

GAMES

“I volunteer!” A lanky white boy burst out from his seat, a flimsy geriatric of a chair that groaned horrifically from the released pressure of his butt. His brown hair flowed majestically as he flipped the soft, tickling strands from his face, revealing a frenzied look in his bright green eyes. He scrambled toward the small wooden table at the front of the Teaching Teacher, elbowing a bespectacled black girl in his dash. Hurriedly, he scrawled his name on the crumpled sheet of paper lying on the table, abandoned next to a stack of colorful certificates. “I volunteer as Publicity!” The lax gazes of distinguished Key Club officers directed themselves downward at the sloppily-inked “Matthew Stone” on the paper. A blonde, the Editor, leaned over and offered the boy one of her ever-present smiles. “Publicity, huh? That means you’ll be working under me,” Hannah Norem chirped. The smile plastered on her face grew even wider. “May the odds be ever in your favor.” --Key Club president Amy Jiang sat at the center of curved row of desks in room 2408, back straight, arms folded. Pens and papers were arranged neatly in front of her. She reached over to straighten a crookedly-positioned pen, before swiveling her head around the semi-circle to address the people sitting in their respective desks beside her. Blake Jones: head jutted high above the others, adorned with a wry smirk. Emily Salgado: an aura of poise that masked a hint of mischief. Alea Hon: an enthusiastic yet closed-lip smile that tinted her cheeks red. Mohammad Syed: a relaxed, backwards lean that threatened to burst forward with determination. And Hannah Norem: a bright grin and shining eyes that held an anticipatory gleam. “Ladies and gentlemen…” Amy declared to these officers, voice high with suppressed excitement. “Let the 88th annual Hours Games begin!” --Four awkward-looking teenagers waited outside the door. The tension in the air was tangible. The games were about to begin; they could hear the hushed whispers of the judges inside. Brianna Gibson, Jenny Ijoma, Vivian Young, and Matthew Stone stood next to one another, eying, judging, analyzing. They knew each other well, art students, interconnected through bonds formed in middle school. It was raining outside; gloom hung behind the slats of glass at the top of the cafeteria. Matthew sat in a low stool, a large bag of celery and stale-looking pretzels sprawled across the wrapper-littered surface of a table. A small bottle of water lied next to his gluten-free meal, adjacent to a styrofoam tray of school food. He reached inside the bag, a thick celery stalk held deftly between his fingers. He swirled the stick smoothly inside a container of peanut butter, before sticking it into his mouth. He sighed. His unhappiness caught the attention of the girl sitting at across from him, a pair of glasses resting atop the bridge of her nose. “Here, take my apple,” she said and extended her dark hands forward, fruit inside. “Thanks.” Matthew replied and accepted the apple, voice full of gratitude. She smiled in welcome. “No problem.” Four friends waited outside the door. The tension in the air was tangible. Matthew glanced down at the phone in his hand. A lone message sat inside a glossy gray bubble: Matthew, remember… When you’re in that room, you remember who the enemy is. ---The door creaked open. Amy stepped out, bouncing on her heel. All heads snapped to her direction. The hallway was silent. The president glanced at the group, and a look of concern crossed her face.

“Where’s Jamie?” The candidates looked among one another. “Jamie…?” Amy frowned. The door clicked closed. The sound echoed throughout the hallway, signaling the first casualty. --“Who wants to go first?” Amy looked at the four sophomores expectantly. They had a choice. To go or not to go? Was it wise to be the first, to rid themselves of their anxiety and return home quickly, or should they wait? For some reason, this decision reminded Matthew of a cornucopia. The four stared at one another, shifting uncomfortably in silence. Matthew decided it was best to wait; he did not need any of the opportunities that being first offered. “…I’ll go first,” Jenny said hesitantly. And the girl with the apple left, disappearing inside Room 2408. --Matthew took his seat in front of the row officers, nervously adjusting the Key Club pin on his shirt. He was the third to be interviewed. “So, Matthew,” Amy began. “You want this position. Real or not real?” “Real.” “And what do you have that the other candidates don’t?” “Well… I’m known as Matthew, the boy who was on fire!” Matthew exclaimed. “On the track. Because I run fast. In Cross Country. So it’s like I’m on fire. …Yeah,” he finished awkwardly. Suddenly, Mohammad pounced forward. “Cross Country!? HOW WILL YOU ATTEND OFFICER MEETINGS, THEN!?” He slammed his hands on the desk. Blake turned over to Mohammad, a look of clear disdain flashing in his eyes. “That is fake mahogany!” Mohammad ignored Blake and continued to stare threateningly at Matthew, waiting for a response. “No, no, the coach is really flexible!” Matthew insisted to Mohammad. “Really!” He could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins as Mohammad continued to inspect him. He feared for his life, for his survival. He could lose the game at this very moment. “Hm… “Amy mulled over his answer and then scribbled furiously on a sheet a paper. “And why do you want to be the Publicity Officer?” Hannah asked. “I keep wishing I could think of a way to… to show the officers they don’t own me. That I’m more than just a confused volunteer wandering the woods for an hour because their directions are unclear,” Matthew replied. “That wasn’t an exaggeration, by the way; y’all should seriously fix that. --“Thank you, Matthew,” Amy concluded. “We will have our answer by Monday.” The interview had finished. All that was left was to wait. ---“Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victor of the 88th Hours Games, Matthew Stone!” Amy announced. “Congratulations!” “Thank you,” Matthew replied. “You saved my life; you gave me a chance.” “Yes, to live.” “No,” Matthew said. “To write Key Kids articles.” --“One more article.” Fireworks, blared outside his window, squealing and crackling, offset by the patter of the pouring rain. Hues of red, white, and blue glowed in the night sky. Matthew bent over his computer screen, hair slicked across his forehead, damp from his work as a lifeguard. He was exhausted. He stared at the cursor blinking in his blank word document, eyes tired. An idea. He needed an idea. He continued to stare. Already, Matthew could feel his sanity slipping away from him. He took his mouse, holding on tightly, preparing for the article, and dreading the moment when he finally has to re-interview. –Vivian Young, Cypress Falls

WhatDOES KEY CLUB mean to you?

12 million hours

5,000 clubs

district

260,000 members

31 countries

major emphasis program

tom cruise

key leader

division

dcon homes

schools

eliminate

communities

i pledge

ltg serve

leadership

brad pitt

1925

kiwanis

bill clinton

character building

international

service organization

oldest & largest key boys

trick-or-treat for unicef

caringâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; our way of life

icon

sacramento high school

elvis presley

P.O.L.D.

There is a Key Club on over 5,000 high school campuses. Key Club is an international organization with clubs in 31 countries. Key Club has alumni that include Bill Clinton, Tom Cruise, and Brad Pitt. It’s fair to say that Key Club is an extremely successful organization. Now this begs the question, why? P.O.L.D.

P O L D

assion stands for the Key Clubbers that spend hot summer days selling lemonade and for the kids that miss prom to attend District Convention. Members are the backbone of Key Club and without their hunger for service, where would this organization be? Never have I been in an organization with members that made you feel welcome and treated you like family. Not only are Key Clubbers inviting, but truly believe in what they are working towards…a better tomorrow. rganization is an imperative part of a strong club and Key Club has mastered this beautifully. We may not agree completely with various rules and procedures, but these are necessary to keep Key Club running. An example is the monthly report that every club is required to turn in on the 5th. Many have opinions on changes that could be made to the monthly report, whether it be unsatisfied with the point distribution or complaints of the increase in articles. The monthly report is not perfect, but it is absolutely important as it catalyzes clubs into better serving their communities.

eadership describes the fearless people that lead the change. There are leaders everywhere in Key Club, ranging from the highest International President to a simple Freshman Representative. Every leader in Key Club can make a difference and implant their vision. Most leaders are chosen not by adults, but by Key Clubbers that can vote based on what they have changed. Because Key Club gives everyone the opportunity to grow and learn as a leader, it is cultivating the future of not only this organization but of America. iversity is the fact that Key Club is an international organization that has spread worldwide. Key Clubbers can interact with different kinds of people, exchanging ideas and making friends. Only with diversity will volunteers understand what they are trying to change and how they are going to do it.

Winston Churchill once said “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” So although Key Club has achieved so much, it is up to us future Key Clubbers to keep maintaining the victorious legacy. –Amy Jiang, Cypress Falls

The Club That Changed My Life

Key Club and the Unlike Key Club is an organization with a mission to serve and to help the community. With these goals a common focus to many other organizations, our Key Club is quite far from alone in the world of service organizations. This said, Key Club has its ways of setting itself apart from these other service organizations. The vast majority of Key Club’s individual districts hold a District Convention (Texas-Oklahoma’s being second-tonone) annually, in addition to having leadership infrastructure that is like no other. Now, let’s start with District Convention. This is probably what the T-O District and other big districts are most recognized for, and in turn is one of the factors that distinguish Key Club from other service organizations. In fact, this past April, I attended my first District Convention and was amazed with the way that the event was set up for both club members and board members alike. It was an experience that could not so much as be dreamed of by members of other service organizations. Another distinguishing factor that Key Club has under its belt is its many-leveled leadership infrastructure. When club officers lead on the club level, LTGs on the District level, and Governors take responsibility on the international level, a unique leadership system is created that both unites the entire organization across the country and gives club members a say in what goes on in Key Club. This leadership system again is one of Key Club’s defining elements that make it such a great service organization. Yet another way that Key Club sets itself apart from other service organizations is how we work with charity organizations on the global level. Currently, as we well know, Key Club is working in coordination with UNICEF in the Eliminate Project to eradicate maternal/ neonatal tetanus from less fortunate countries. UNICEF is an organization that works around the entire globe for its cause, and Key Clubbers are working with them. It is this kind of international involvement that makes our organization different than other service groups. All of these things are what distinguishes Key Club from its service group equals. In the eyes of an aspiring young freshman on his first day of high school, Key Club would be the equivalent of a yellow highlighter in a box full of brown markers. Again, these are just a few of the ways that Key Club is able to set itself apart. --Matt Curbow, Division 38 LTG

For my freshman and sophomore years, I was a part of Key Club. However, I use the word “part” very loosely. My friends were joining. It looked good on college applications. Sometimes we got fed at the events. It sounded appealing enough to me, so I joined. Why not, right? I went to the meetings and completed my hours on time, figuring that was all there was to it. At the end of my sophomore year, I applied to be a Junior Representative; I needed another leadership position to list for my National Honor Society application. I got the position with no idea that it would turn out to be one of the best developments of not only my high school career, but my life. It was after this promotion that I finally threw myself completely into the wonderful world of Key Club and figured out that it is so much more than a bullet point on a college application. Volunteering is a strange concept to many. One gives his own time and resources willingly to help someone else and expects nothing in return. In a society so focused on personal material growth, the motivation behind this is notion is confusing. However, one detail that is overlooked by those with a financial mindset is that the volunteer actually does get something in return. It sounds cliché, but the sense of worth that one gains after helping another is something that can’t be bought or exchanged, and it makes one forget about and not mind not getting paid for his time. This is a fact that I have come to know throughout my time as a Key Clubber; the long, late hours of working concessions at sporting events and the impatient, frustrated parents of Jr. High cup stackers could never dampen my spirits enough to make me want to stop giving my time because it’s not about my own comfort at all. Another aspect of volunteering that I haven’t truly experienced anywhere else is the knowledge that no matter your race, gender, social circle, or past, you can always find a place to belong in Key Club. At my first DCON this past April, I was blown away by how friendly and accepting everybody was. The spirit of volunteering carries over easily into Key Clubbers’ social interactions; we put others before ourselves. Making a first-timer like me feel welcome and comfortable at a giant convention like DCON was more important to seasoned attendees than sitting and talking with old friends. That’s a hard thing for most high schoolers to do, and it demonstrates just how incredible the bond is between people who live their lives for others. This organization is so much more than an extracurricular activity to those who truly pour their hearts and souls into it. Key Club has become a beacon of light in my own life by offering me countless opportunities to do the same in the lives of other people, which is, in itself, priceless. --Nikki Carter, Cypress Woods

KICK N’ BULLY N’ TO THE CURB SPEAK UP. SPEAK OUT. MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

You’re a bully when you… TEASE TALK ABOUT HURTING SOMEONE SPREAD RUMORS LEAVE SOMEONE OUT ON PURPOSE SEND A HURTFUL TEXT ABOUT SOMEONE SHARE EMBARRASSING PICTURES

If you’re being bullied… TALK TO AN ADULT DON’T BLAME YOURSELF ACT CONFIDENT SURROUND YOURSELF WITH FRIENDS AVOID SITUATIONS WHERE BULLYING CAN HAPPEN BUILD YOURSELF UP DON’T RESORT TO VIOLENCE

If someone else is being bullied… REFUSE TO JOIN IN DEFUSE THE SITUATION AT ITS START GET HELP SPEAK UP AND OFFER SUPPORT TO VICTIMS REPORT THE BULLYING CONTACT YOUR LTG TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN KICK BULLYING TO THE CURB.

ELIMINATE

Bullying

As we approach a new school year, we leave behind the stresses of the last, expecting only the best for the next 180 days. However, many of our classmates are unable to shake the most detrimental of school-year stresses. 77 percent of school-aged children admit to having been bullied once in their life (stopbullying.gov). This age-old epidemic has left deep scars in our community with more and more of these victims attempting or contemplating suicide daily. Those already lost may have grown up to cure cancer, lead the free world, or even teach, but because of the cruelty deemed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;normal high school behavior,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; no one will know what they could have accomplished. As Key Clubbers we are dedicated to serving the community, but how can we serve a community when it unintentionally encourages such brutality? We must use this new school year to redefine how we see bullying. It is not enough to watch a three minute video that will be forgotten or joked about. The words bullies say, the things they do, will never leave their victims. As a former target, I know what these children go through, and no one should ever have to experience what I did. Our job as the leaders of our school is to protect the students, but with the methods currently in place, the people that need the most help cannot come forward. Those that do are seen as a joke, as if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re making a big deal out of something insignificant. With the recent spike in teen suicides, we should be on the lookout for bullying. We should be ready to listen to the victims, to help them stand up to their bullies, and to seek even more help. There is power in numbers, and as a dedicated service

organization, we should be able to help put the power back in the hands of those who need and deserve it. If Key Club starts to be seen as a safe place, somewhere that the bullies cannot touch you, we can give someone the strength to stand up for themselves. Our club can set up an awareness event to start easing into addressing the true importance of stopping bullying and saving lives. From there we can advertise for the tipline to stop bullies (schooltipline.com), suicide help-lines for students who are truly desperate or need someone to talk to, and other clubs and organizations that can give students specialized support. If the culmination of work from our 300 plus members can save at least one person, it will be enough. No one deserves to feel the way bullies want to make you feel. No one should have to spend every day in fear. Everyone deserves a chance to be happy. --Cassie Cotton, Cypress Woods

Hot Weather, Sweat, & Smiles--

Oh My! It was no ordinary Saturday morning. It was a morning of victories, a morning of new discoveries, a morning of screaming and laughter and shouts and new friends and old enemies and those people in the in-between. It was the morning of my first PCM. As I stood nervously in front of the twenty-something people feeling as if I were facing oﬀ against deadly lions on the Serengeti, I panicked as the thought that the experience would never end well raced repeatedly through my head. However, in retrospect, my PCM, although far from devoid of awkward moments and unwanted puns randomly stuck into spoken phrases, was surprisingly well executed. A few tips for the brave adventurer. While the provision of food and drinks for ravenous teenagers living in an excruciatingly hot summer environment seems fairly obvious, a few other things didn’t. For example, location means everything. While parks may be abundant for some Lieutenant Governors to make full use of, neat and tidy libraries are sometimes the only settings available for others. Note: remember to adapt your behavior to changes in your surroundings! That library surely won’t be happy with a piñata fest and cake fight. Things to take note of include the weather for that day (rain, rain, go away!), the type of people that pass through the area (especially true for later PCM’s occurring in the evening), the proximity of food, and the availability of comfortable sitting areas (so Key Clubbers aren’t awkwardly made to stand for hours only to tackle the organizer of said PCM later on and egg his or her house). The icebreaker is also surprisingly crucial.

From silly songs to impromptu talent shows, icebreakers are key in highlighting the idiosyncrasies in Key Clubbers that make them so lovable as human beings. Without an icebreaker, that awkward four-foot wall of embarrassingly cold awkwardness just never quite disappears without a metaphorical flamethrower (or maybe some really bad jokes at frequent intervals). Icebreakers increase cohesion, bring divisions together as true communities, and bring forth laughter from even the most unwilling of adolescents. Icebreakers bring a sense of fun and amusement into PCMs– people woke up early or dedicated parts of their weekends to attend, so make it worth their while! A printed program of the information that will be presented is crucial. Scratch that. Twenty or thirty printed programs would be a good number. One never knows when individuals that miss the PCM will desperately seek information and be unable to get their hands on a good set of minutes. These are absolutely essential in remaining organized in the physical sense and the mental sense. As I stared down my adversaries that morning of my first PCM, I realized that perhaps things weren’t quite as dire as I had initially supposed. Lions, tigers, or bears, these Key Clubbers definitely made the experience as enjoyable as it was. --Jennifer Li, Division 3S LTG

THE KEY CLUBBER’S GUIDE TO NATURE

(OR WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER EVER BE LATE TO A PCM)

PCM. President’s Council Meeting. The name sounds scary at first, but to many, a PCM is a great time for people from other clubs in your division to mix and mingle, right? Well, of course, for me, it means something completely different. It means seeking your friends out amongst a Bear Grylls-esque landscape and transforming into Katniss Everdeen. Let me explain. I was prompted by my club president to go to one of these meetings because, you know, I have excellent people skills. I saw the event was near my house and familiar to me, so of course I joined the event on Facebook and made plans to attend. Unfortunately, it rained cats and dogs the previous day, so the PCM had to be moved forward a couple hours. For me, this meant that I would have to attend it late because of a mandatory meeting at my church. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately), my church was literally only two minutes away from the park the PCM was held at, so I ended up not missing very much. Or did I? I parked my car at the park, hopped out of it, and saw a grand total of five people at the park. Out

of those five people, I knew exactly none of them. At this point, the lightbulb over my head should’ve gone off suggesting that something wasn’t right. However in all my naïveté, I went into the park and asked where the other Key Clubbers were. “Oh, they went on a walk.” NO. That’s bad. I knew the park where the PCM was held very, very well (I even had my third birthday party there), and because of this, I knew that the people that went on a walk were probably stuck in some muddy parts of nature. So I did the right thing and went after them. And inevitably became their savior. (Note to anyone going anywhere where there are green plants, trees, and/or mud: don’t wear Sperrys. It may seem like a good idea at the time, but it’s not.) I trekked through the muddy, soggy park, following the voices of my lost friends. They seemed to be getting louder and louder, but then I had to go off the trail. Bad idea. Going off the trail meant having to come in very, very close personal contact with unknown shrubs, bushes, and weird tree-like things with thorns. I truly lived out the Hunger Games that day, minus the evil, deadly wasps. Finally, I heard voices that I recognized, and they sounded very, very confused. And that’s when I saved them. Carolina thought I was a mirage at first. Everyone else was just incredibly confused. I must have been quite the sight, having walked through a tremendous amount of nature with only a Vera Bradley wristlet and my phone. Caked in mud and weird scratches, I joined up with the group and made sure that everyone was coming with us. Everyone wanted to hear my story, and I started off by saying one thing: “Never, EVER show up late to a PCM.” –Hannah Norem, Cypress Falls

How NOT to Talk to a Kiwanian “Yo yo yo, what’s up my homie gee?” That’s probably not the best way to greet the Kiwanians, huh? I’m here to show you how not to talk to a Kiwanian: 1 GREETINGS How you greet a Kiwanian is very important. As you can tell from the example in the introduction, don’t act like a hardcore (or wannabe) rapper. The first words out of your mouth can either make you or break you when it comes to first impressions!

4 LANGUAGE The Kiwanis members are your friends. Everyone knows this. But just because they are your friends, it doesn’t mean you should talk to them like one of your friends. Catch my drift? Sure, you can talk to them casually, but remember to be respectful. Don’t get careless with your words!

2 NAME Once you learn your Kiwanis’ name, don’t forget it. It’s pretty awkward to go up to a Kiwanian mere minutes after having just met them and call them the wrong name! Ask your fellow Key Clubbers the name of the Kiwanis member you forgot. Don’t wing it and end up calling the Kiwanian Alex when she was actually an Alexis.

5 TOPICS Like I said before, the Kiwanis members are your friends. Talk to them about anything! But don’t talk to them about just anything. Make sure you pay attention to their personal beliefs to try and minimize your chances of treading on a touchy subject. In fact, just completely avoid touchy subjects unless they

3 POSTURE AND FORM A person’s body language, form, and posture say a lot. And we all know that adults (especially parents) pick up on those things like vultures. Remember: NO SLOUCHING. Stand up straight, head up, and be confident! Don’t go up to a Kiwanian slouched over with your head down! It is ver y unprofessional and doesn’t look good either.

are brought up by the Kiwanis member as a topic for discussion (really, this is good advice for anyone, not just when talking to Kiwanis members).

And so ends my tutorial on how to talk to a Kiwanian. I hope this guide helps you strike up many a good conversation with any Kiwanis members at your next event. Remember to use sound judgment, but still let your personality shine! Be yourself, but be respectful and courteous. --Jason Tran, North Garland

Meeting Our Kiwanis Sponsors The Greater Houston Kiwanis club takes pride in helping the community. Either by volunteering their time or resources, this esteemed group of men and women make a tangible difference on both the Houston area and the world. Dressed in business attire, Maya Iyer, Laura Motard and I went to Houston’s Bayou Club to attend the weekly luncheon to update our sponsoring Kiwanis club on our status. Over a delicious three-course meal, featuring salmon, we talked at length with our club’s Kiwanis sponsor, Eugene Tunitsky about issues concerning our club and our relationship with Kiwanis. Our sponsor Kiwanis club hosts a fall bike race in Sealy, Texas every year. This year, our club is making an effort to help facilitate the event. Even though the race is an hour’s drive away at the crack of dawn, it is important for our club to reciprocate the help that our sponsoring Kiwanis club gives to us. The bike race will be on Saturday, October 26th at 1008 Main St., Sealy, TX. All proceeds of the event this year will go to Amigos de las Americas, so any members who participated in those mission programs should appreciate that a large chunk of their funding comes from Kiwanis! The guest speaker at this particular luncheon was a representative from the Nehemiah Center, a nonprofit group in Houston aimed at providing quality education for poor and at-risk children who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity. After the lunch, I went up to the speaker and exchanged contact information so that our Key Club could volunteer for their organization. Going to the luncheon not only reinforced the bond between our club and our parent Kiwanis club, but also gave us an opportunity to further help out with a great organization that needs all the help it can get. This was the second Kiwanis luncheon that I have attended since joining Lamar’s Key Club, and like the first time, it was a great experience. Many of the members of the Kiwanis club were Lamar alumni and were eager to hear about their alma mater. Our Key Club would not be able to do as much as we are able to without the generous support of our Kiwanis group. From helping to provide funds for traveling to DCON to giving us opportunities and connections with larger service events throughout our community, our Kiwanis club opens doors that would not normally be accessible. We want to build our relationship to a point where we don’t have to fret or worry about asking our Kiwanis club for help because we will help them in their efforts as much as they help us in ours. --Gregory Ross, M.B. Lamar

Be Prepared to Serve YOUR Community Every Wednesday morning I have the pleasure of visiting my local Kiwanis Club. These meetings have always been a bright spot in my experiences as a Key Clubber. I always enjoy the bright smiles of the Kiwanians and their willingness to serve their community and nation. One of these Wednesday mornings was particularly insightful and I will never forget what I learned that day about the importance of serving my community. The meeting featured the volunteer coordinator from Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio as the speaker. He gave a riveting presentation on what his organization does for the community and why he needs people like Key Clubbers to help him serve. He explained that deserving families in the San Antonio area need and deserve these homes, but due to a lack of volunteers, their organization is making less and less houses every year. As a resident in the San Antonio area since the age of three, I have gained a strong connection to San Antonio, and his words stuck. I knew that I had to take action. San Antonio is a vibrant community of food, love, and diversity. I love my home, and after this man’s words, I remembered distinctly the words in the Key Club pledge that state “to build my home, school, and community.” Part of being a Key Clubber and something that I have always taken to heart is that we are the young leaders that lead the way in making difference in our communities around the world. Therefore, we need to take advantage of the wonderful organizations in our communities and build a connection with them. Research your city and find out what organizations serve in your area. Find out age requirements, when the volunteer training events are, and if it is a good fit for you club. After the research, take action! Contact the volunteer coordinator, and find out about group volunteering. Speak to your Lt. Governor and fellow club officers and members, and do what it takes to help the organization see that your Key Club is committed to serve. Through these actions, you are building a foundation for the future of service in your club. So this year, Key Clubbers, make it a personal goal to seek out the community organizations and form a commitment to them. I know that through our acts of service in our community, we will better our world and the places we have come to love! -Hope Carter, Division 5 LTG 35

KEY CLUBBERS ASK:

Dear Tashrima, Answers to your every question about anything Key Club

Q: I decided to start working on the June newsletter and create an original template, but I had a hard time

trying to find an easy-to-use and convenient source to create a design. I tried Microsoft Office Word, but I found it rather challenging to put the colors, shapes, and pictures together to create a neat format. I tried Microsoft Office Publisher as well, but it seemed to no avail as all of the choices that were offered were already-made templates. Please let me know what you recommend. --West Brook

A: Consider trying Adobe InDesign. It grants users precise control and flexibility with graphic elements. The one downfall is that the software is a bit pricey; if you’d be willing to purchase it, Adobe InDesign is a sound investment for future use. If not, however, you can ask your school’s journalism or yearbook department if they have the software on their computers. In that case, you can ask to use their computers to create your publications. Another option is Microsoft Oﬃce PowerPoint. We’ve all used it before, so it should be fairly convenient. Moreover, it has more graphic functionalities than Word. If you can’t access Adobe InDesign, I’d definitely recommend PowerPoint as a second choice.

Q: What makes you choose an article for the Tex-O-Key? Is there anything besides the rubric that helps with

your decision? Is it just you who picks the article assignments or do you take in the other officers’ input? What is your favorite memory whilst being in Key Club? Has being in Key Club changed the kind of person you are? If so, how? What is the most challenging thing about being District Editor? Do you have any tips for clubs to gain new members? --Leander

A: While adherence to the rubric is important, I also look for uniqueness in articles. Be genuine, and display your voice– that always makes for a good article. Typically, I’m the only one to choose article assignments. However, the other staﬀ members’ input is always welcome. My favorite Key Club memory dates back to my first service event, a craft bazaar in which all proceeds went to a women’s charity organization. A few other volunteers and I helped an old woman set up her stand, and she was incredibly grateful. It was empowering to realize that I could help someone help others. Moments like those have made me a more aware individual; making an impact on my community seems likelier now that I am a Key Clubber. The most challenging part of being District Editor is time management. There’s so much to do and so little time! However, in the last Tex-O-Key issue, I mentioned some of my tips and tricks for successful time management. Finally, pages 20 through 23 include information about member recruitment. That section of the magazine should serve as a resource for clubs trying to gain members.

Q: I have worked very hard on the newsletter, but how can I make the total a perfect score? I’ve been very

close, but I haven’t quite made a 50/50 yet. Can we have tips on how to improve newsletters while still incorporating the brand guide? Our club also has a hard time coming up with good topics to write about. When we run out of ideas, we try to pick something to research on, yet it doesn’t get our creative juices going. Where do you go to find inspiration or what would help us find interesting Key Club topics to write about? One last question, what do you look for when choosing an article to put into the Tex-O Key? –North Garland

A: Earning 50 points is a rare accomplishment due to my grading scale for newsletters. Every month, I grade newsletters on a sliding scale. The best newsletter earns 50 points, the next best newsletter(s) earn 45 points, and so on. The key to a good newsletter is truly just adherence to the rubric– quality content, adherence to graphic standards, promotion of Key Club/Major Emphasis Program, DCON advertising, club oﬃcer/LTG/District Staﬀ contact information, etc. In addition, the brand guide can serve as a resource to improve your newsletters. Using the uniform colors and graphics will ensure that your publication aligns with those of Key Club International. Other ways to improve your newsletter are adding length, including more photos and/or articles, having varied layouts, and maintaining organization. Though the Tex-O-Key is a bimonthly magazine, you can use it as a model of what your newsletters should look like. When your club has trouble thinking of article topics, be sure to visit the T-O website on the 15th of every month. I post monthly article assignments to help address that exact problem. Nonetheless, I’m typically inspired by the Key Club events that are going on as I am writing. For example, right now, the start of the academic year is just around the corner; thus, many of my Key Club writings are focused around successfully returning to school. Finally, your question about article publication has been a popular concern. You can find the answer on the preceding page in my response to Leander’s Letter to the Editor.

We have lots of great service events happening this summer. We are currently working on our main project, Terrific Tuesdays. Terrific Tuesdays are days when we provide a field trip to residents at The Door, the local battered women's shelter. We take them to a neighborhood pool and throw them a pool party. They all had a blast cooling off from the Houston heat. We also took them to a ceramics emporium. They had a great time as they created their own masterpieces. The looks on their faces were uplifted as they escaped from their troubles. It feels wonderful that we are able to provide these services for the less fortunate. In return, the smiles on their faces brighten our days. Along with Terrific Tuesdays, we are also currently raising funds to send a child from The Door to a horse riding camp. We are asking for donations from community business sponsors and are planning to have a Key Club car wash to raise money for the cause. We are looking forward to contributing to our community. –Summer Creek

A: I’m excited to hear about all of your volunteering developments!

I can tell that you’re definitely having a large impact on the residents at The Door, and it’s nice to see your club focus your energies on one specific organization. I admire everything you’ve done and look forward to hearing more about the services you impart upon The Door. Keep up the great work!

THE TEX-O-KEY KEY CLUB // JULY-AUGUST 2013