The esPRESSo, Spring by Varun Awasthi

KEY CLUB

May 2012

The esPRESSo Volume 22 Issue 3

The official publication of the Pacific Northwest District of Key Club International

LIGHTS CAMERA DCON 2012 All the details about DCON, ICON in Orlando, FL and more!

In review esPRESSo to go Messages

A message from your Convention Team Major Emphasis

March of Dimes

Children’s Miracle Network Eliminate Convention

Welcome to DCON 2012! What to expect Caucusing

DCON spirit and cheer

International Convention 2012 Club Leadership

Maintaining attendance Innie-outtie relationship Marketing your club Resources

Circle K Kiwanis Mortimer the Moose Organization Clackamas High School: Winter Rage KCCP

Kiwanis Children’s Cancer Program Fundraising for KCCP District Project KCCP

7 Editor’s Note

Check the back cover for more information about the Youth Opportunities Fund and application! Special thanks to Leslie Peng, my beloved sister and 2008-2009 Division 28 Lieutenant Governor, for taking the cover photo of The Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World. Interested in visiting the Animal Kingdom this summer? Read more about International Convention 2012 in Orlando, FL on pages 7-8.

Thanks for reading this special online issue of The esPRESSo. Who’s excited for DCON? I know I am! Inside this issue you’ll find great articles about the various aspects of District Convention 2012 and International Convention along with club/member resources. Although I highly encourage you to get in spirit and be as outgoing as possible at DCON, I also encourage you to think about the more serious side of next weekend. Remember that the purpose of DCON is training your new officers and electing the next PNW Executive Board: your 2012-2013 Governor, Secretary, Treasurer and Bulletin Editor. You’ll also be choosing who you would like to endorse for International positions, should there be Key Clubbers seeking endorsement. There are times for fun and there are times to be critical thinkers! On the topic of new district officers, remember to thank your lieutenant governor for all of his/her hard work. All the Lt.Gs have persevered to make this DCON the best one ever and will be sad to see off your division! In service and caring, MaryAlice Peng

messages Cole Hickman International Trustee Hello PNW! This year has been fantastic and I have enjoyed nothing more than serving and having fun alongside you. Now that we are coming into our convention season, I want to celebrate the wonderful amounts of work and dedication that you all have put into this organization throughout the year. To those who are graduating, do not let the light of service ever burn out. Continue on, serve those both in and out of any membership organization. Remember that although 8 billion people live in this world, you alone can make a difference that galvanizes the entire planet. To those of you continuing in high school, I look forward to seeing you all at International Convention. Although I am graduating this year, I look forward to staying in contact with each and every one of you. Contact me about anything! I want to know how you are doing and I want to watch each of you progress. Good luck and I love you all! Cole Hickman

Varun Awasthi District Governor Hey PNW Key Clubbers! It’s hard to believe how quickly this year has gone by! Being your District Governor has been, by far, one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I hope you all have enjoyed this Key Club year! If you are an underclassman and still have some time left in Key Club, continue to serve your community and build upon the successes that you have made in your club this year. If you are a senior and graduating, your commitment to service is far from over! Try to join a Circle K club in college and maybe even join Kiwanis! I have been amazed to see all of the success that has been made with our district project, the Kiwanis Children’s Cancer Program. We have raised thousands of dollars throughout the district over the course of the year, and this will hopefully be our district project for years to come. If you haven’t heard about KCCP, it is a joint project between all of the branches of the K-Family to raise money for cancer research fellowships at three Pacific Northwest Hospitals (BC Children’s, Seattle Children’s, Doernbecher Children’s). Interested in learning more about it? You’ll learn much more about it at DCON! Speaking of DCON, it is just around the corner! I am so excited to meet you all at the largest district convention PNW has ever had! I can guarantee that it will be a truly unforgettable convention for all of you. Whether it is your first convention, or last convention, you will learn a lot, make new friends and have an amazing time overall! ICON isn’t far away either. The location for this year’s international convention will be sunny Orlando, Florida! Keep in mind that is open to all members. Ask your Lieutenant Governor for more detailed information. See you all very soon! In Service, Varun Awasthi Governor, 2011-2012 Pacific Northwest District Key Club International MAY ONLINE | THE ESPRESSO

Felicia Nguyen Convention Chair Hello PNW Key Clubbers! The District Board has put so much work into the upcoming 63rd Annual District Convention and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate an amazing year of service with over 1,650 attendees. Thank you for giving us a reason to share a weekend of learning, acknowledging our accomplishments, and enjoying the spirit of service. While at Convention, be sure to check out our new photo booth, tune into KeyTV nightly recaps that you can view in the comfort of your own hotel room, and consider participating in the blood drive! You will be given many opportunities to support The Eliminate Project and KCCP, from a miracle minute during caucusing to capturing memories with your friends at the photo booth. We have a variety of forums for you to choose from this year, with Salsa Dancing, Steps to College Success, Teen Sexuality, and an Invisible Children screening as a few, in addition to officer training, KFamily relations, and club building forums. District Convention is still months away, the date is approaching much sooner than you think! Lastly, you won’t want to miss out on the talent acts, winning oratorical speech, scholarship presentations, and awards that will take place at the Closing Session. With just days until District Convention, the countdown has officially begun! We cannot wait to see you all at DCON – let’s make this one unforgettable! In love and service, Felicia Nguyen District Convention Chair

Jennifer Zhen & Andy Nguyen Convention Aides Greetings PNW Key Clubbers! We hope that everybody is as excited for District Convention as us. For the past year, our wonderful Convention Chair, Felicia Nguyen, has been working very hard in order to put together the annual Pacific Northwest District Convention. As her aides, we have helped facilitate the process in order for you guys to have an amazing time at the Convention. With DCON only a few weeks away, we hope that everybody is getting pumped and ready to spend the most amazing weekend with 1,600+ Key Clubbers from all across the Pacific Northwest at the Doubletree Hotel. Be prepared to have the most exciting weekend of your life and we promise this is a DCON that you will never forget. We can’t wait to see your wonderful faces on March 30th! In Love and Service, Andy Nguyen & Jennifer Zhen Convention Aides

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Major emphasis Eliminate with UNICEF

Children’s Miracle Network

By: Mikela Heimuller, Div. 42OR

By: Bri Mostoller, Div. 54

In 39 countries around the world, maternal and neonatal tetanus can quickly turn the joy of childbirth into a tragedy. MNT kills one baby every nine minutes. Its effects are excruciating. Tiny newborns suffer repeated, painful convulsions and extreme sensitivity to light and touch. There is little hope of survival. And tetanus kills mothers too. MNT is caused when tetanus spores which are found in soil everywhere come into contact with open cuts during childbirth. The disease strikes the poorest of the poor, geographically hard to reach and those without health care. MNT can be prevented. Just three doses of a 60-cent immunization protect mothers, who then pass on the immunity to their future children. Together, Kiwanis International, Key Club International and many other organizations are working with UNICEF to eliminate this preventable disease. Teams are traveling across third world countries to not only deliver immunizations but to train and provide midwives with sanitary childbirth tools.

Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization that raises money to support the pediatric programs in local hospitals. Pediatrics is a highly specialized field, and the costs for treatment and research are often very high, so CMN steps in to make things easier for patients and their families. CMN supports over 170 children’s hospitals and helps more than 14 million children suffering from injuries, birth defects, cancer, and other ailments. As a CMN service partner, Key Clubbers have been sponsoring service projects for more than a decade. CMN is a fantastic organization, and it’s very easy for your club to get involved! Donut Sale: As simple as it sounds! Use the natural hunger of high schoolers languishing through second period to generate funds for CMN. To maximize earnings, ask local bakeries for donut donations or day-old freebies. Hats Off to CMN: Many schools have a ―no hats in class‖ policy. Raise money by selling ―hat passes‖ – or pajama passes or no-uniform passes, anything out of the ordinary will do! Charging just one dollar for a pass can make a quick and easy fundraiser. Ugly Beard Contest: Students and staff compete for the title of Ugliest Beard during this month-long event. Each competitor collects their votes in the form of donations, and the beard that raises the most money wins! Stop the Bop: Play cheesy, irritating, and overly catchy music during lunch and between classes. Don’t stop until students have donated enough money to reach your goal!

March of Dimes By: Macy Mulholland, Div. 70 What is March of Dimes? March of Dimes’ main purpose is to develop and implement local programs that will improve the health of babies around the world. Through the help of many volunteers, these programs reach over a million people across the country every year. These programs provide information and services that are designed to prevent premature birth and birth defects as well as promoting healthy pregnancies. Facts Every year, more than half a million babies are born prematurely in the United States. Our country’s premature birth rate has risen by 36 percent over the last 25 years. That’s serious cause for concern. Premature birth costs our nation more than $26 billion a year and takes a high toll on families. Babies born several weeks early are at a greater risk of health problems and lifelong disabilities. Premature birth is the number one killer of newborns. Prematurity Campaign In 2003, the March of Dimes launched the ―Prematurity Campaign‖ to address the crisis and help families have full-term, healthy babies. With funding they are able to conduct lifesaving research that improves care for mothers and babies. In 2008, they expanded the campaign globally. The ―Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait‖ program focuses on preventing preventable preterm birth. November is ―Prematurity Awareness Month‖ and when March of Dimes focuses the nation’s attention on premature birth. The awareness month kicks off on November 1st. November 17 marks World Prematurity Day, and the March of Dimes and our partner organizations worldwide are asking everyone to help spread the world on the serious problem of premature birth. For more information on March of Dimes, or if your club would like to make a donation please visit http:// www.marchofdimes.com/giving/giving.html

While CMN operates mainly on monetary donations, there are other ways to help out. Hospital stays are stressful times for kids, and your club can make a big difference. You could host a designated Key Club day when local Clubs host activities at the hospital or set up your own local long-term CMN partnership by creating an afterschool program or hobby group. You can find a CMN Children’s hospital near your club at http://childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/. No matter what your club decides to take on, you can be sure that you’re making a profound impact on these children’s lives!

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals helping local kids

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Dcon 2012. The glitz, the glam, the action. It’s service on the big screen and we’re rolling out the red carpet. Are you ready for District Convention 2012?

What to expect at DCON By: Mayra Prado Reyes, Div. 80 District Convention (also know as DCON) is not your average event. DCON is an event for teenagers that like to, in a sense, go wild for service. DCON is an annual event just for Key Clubbers to celebrate a great end of the year of service, as well as to train incoming officers and elect the new District Executive Board. There will be elections for District Governor, Secretary, Treasurer and Bulletin Editor, as well as elections to endorse International officer candidates. You can expect lots of cheering and spirit competi4

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tions, fun workshops, intense caucusing, a service fair, formal dinner, dance and more. If you are new to DCON and shy like how I was then you will definitely break out of your shell and enjoy hanging out with Key Clubbers from Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and northern California! There is so much to do in DCON that there will never be a dull moment. DCON is truly a life changing experience that you will never forget and a time for you to learn new things about people. Coming from a small school I really didn't know

what to expect at my first DCON, but I learned the true meaning of Key Club and what it really means to serve. You can expect to take home life long lessons you don’t learn at school, friendships that will last for years to come, useful information/ideas for your clubs, and even cool free handouts. DCON is held in the DoubleTree Hotel in Sea-Tac Washington every year. So come to DCON and experience the best weekend ever!

Caucusing and elections at DCON By: Kelly Lock, Div. 26 What is it? Each year at DCON we elect new people to fill the positions on the Executive Board for the Pacific Northwest District. The Executive Board consists of the District Governor, District Secretary, District Treasurer, and District Editor. During the Friday night caucusing, each division is assigned to a caucus room and each of the candidates go to each room to give their speech. These positions are extremely important to the district so take each candidate’s platform into careful consideration. There may also be candidates for international endorsement— this means that they wish to run for the position of International President, International Vice President, or International Trustee at ICON this summer. This year we will have candidates seeking endorsement for the position of International Trustee; it will be up to you to endorse up to two candidates for this important office!

What do I do? Every Key Clubber go to their assigned caucus room and listens to the speeches from each candidate. Take notes and make sure you pay attention! After each candidate gives their speech, there will be time for questions from the audience. In preparation, think of a few questions that you might want to ask the candidate that relates to Key Club. After all of the candidates have given their speech and answered questions, you will have the opportunity to give input about who you think is the best candidate. Even though there are only two voting delegates per club, the whole club should decide together who they want to vote for.

What do I wear? The caucusing time is very professional. Dress classy in your business attire. Ladies, wear your appropriate length pencil skirts with a blouse, a business dresses, or slacks and a blazer, and complete your outfit with a pair of nice heels. Gentlemen, break out your slacks, suits, ties, button down shirts, black socks, and dress shoes.

Mortimer the Moose’s Morsels of Advice Want to know who’s running for what but can’t wait until Friday? Brush up on your candidates now! Check out the Candidate’s Booklet online @ http://www.wix.com/ pnwwebsite/keyclub#!__dcon

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Hey Key Clubbers…

How do you feel By: James Eng, Div. 32 This will probably be the most common question you will hear at District Convention. District Convention isn’t only about the service and officer training. Prepare yourselves because once you arrive at the Double Tree hotel you will quickly find out everyone will be screaming to the top of their lungs. Along with the service awards at District Convention there is also a spirit competition. At the Welcoming and Closing Ceremonies the top two divisions will be awarded the spirit stick for their creativity, etiquette, spirit and consistency throughout the convention. Do you want your division to win the award? Well, here are a few tips to help you and your division out. First, you want to make sure everyone in your Division is cheering. It’s important that your division knows your cheers to work as one single, unified group. The largest division doesn’t usually win the spirit stick because of their size, which leads to disorganization. Second, consistently cheer throughout the convention when the moment is appropriate. The more you cheer the higher the chance your division will be noticed by the secret panel of judges! Thirdly, remember to be courteous. The judges will look down upon any division that is insensitive to other divisions. Fourth tip, if you want to sit at the front of the convention, pay your dues early; usually it will be harder to notice divisions towards the back so you want to turn dues in early! Although the dues deadline has long passed for this year, this is a great tip to keep in mind for DCON 2013. Lastly, remember to have fun and meet new people. Key Club spirit in service is about making everyone feel welcome in the community, so don’t take this competition too seriously! Division pride is great but Key Club pride in general is what we’re aiming for.

Warning: Post-DCON Syndrome Symptoms include:  Creeping on new Facebook friends and DCON       

photos Loss of voice Refusing to unpack Craving DoubleTree hotel cookies Muttering spirit cheers under your breath during school and at home Daydreaming about DCON Looking at your lanyard and ribbons much more than necessary (such as several times a day, every day) Telling anyone who will listen about how great it was, only to exclaim ―You weren’t there, you don’t understand!‖ when they get irritated

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I feel good. Oh, I feel so good, oh! Double it up, oh oh Triple it up, oh oh oh One long oh— ohhhhh Rapper style, oh-oh oh oh oh! Mortimer the Moose’s Packing: Do’s and Don’ts Do bring:  Two casual outfits (Friday/Sunday morning)  A pair of jeans (Saturday)  One or two business outfits, depending on whether or not you are a delegate (Friday/Saturday)  A semi-formal outfit (Saturday)  A comfortable pair of shoes  Food for Friday night’s dinner and snacks  Toiletries  Writing utensils  Camera (at your own risk)  A big smile! Don’t bring:  A swimsuit  Shorts/dresses/skirts that are too tight or short  Low-cut shirts  Noise makers (thunder sticks, clappers, etc.)  Food that requires a microwave  Paint (make your posters before DCON!)  Your llama

iInternational Convention 2013 Experience the magic in

Orlando, Florida June 29th—July 8th Option 1: $1450   

5 day park-hopper pass for Walt Disney World, 5 passes to Disney Water Parks or DisneyQuest 1 pass to the Disney Youth Education Series (Epcot or Animal Kingdom)

Option 2: $1530 

  

1 day pass to Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure (includes the Wizarding World of Harry Potter) 4 day park-hopper pass for Walt Disney World 4 passes to Disney Water Parks or DisneyQuest 1 pass to the Disney Youth Education Series (Epcot or Animal Kingdom)

See pg. 7 for more

33 districts. 10 days. 6 Disney parks. 2 dances. 1 convention of a lifetime.

And that’s a wrap! DCON 2012 ends on a high note with new executive board, exciting farewell dance, hilarious workshops and several club/member awards If you didn’t attend District Convention spirit by decorating the top half of the 2012 2012, then you certainly missed out on a PNW spirit stick. convention for the books! With a record of DCON transitioned into a more serious tone almost 1,700 attendees, DCON 2012: Service with over two hours of caucusing later Friday on the Big Screen was a huge (pun intended) night. Thirteen candidates delivered speeches success. Clubs from Alaska to southern Ore- and answered audience questions, then gave gon, Canada to Idaho gathered on the a short speech at last weekend of March to celebrate Elections results House of Delegates another great year of Key Club, elect on Saturday. GioGovernor: their new executive board, endorse vanni McKenzie was Giovanni McKenzie candidates for International Trustee, elected as our new and receive training for new officers. District Governor, Secretary: The convention kicked off on Friday Kelsie Hoppes as DisKelsie Hoppies night a meet-and-greet session. The trict Secetary, KenTreasurer: lobby was filled with Free Hug signs neth Lam as District Kenneth Lam and divisional cheers as club members Treasurer, and Bassel met new friends and reunited with old Bulletin Editor: Hamieh as District Bassel Hamieh ones. The divisional spirit continued Bulletin Editor. Calinto opening session and for good vin Leung and Maryreason: the secret spirit judges awarded Divi- Alice Peng were endorsed to run for Internasion 26 with the first spirit award of the week- tional Trustee at International Convention end! Division 26 showed excellent spirit, a this summer in Orlando, Florida. Congratuwelcoming attitude and overall enthusiasm lations to all the new officers! on Friday night, and continued to show that Besides electing the new executive board,

International Convention 2013 Orlando, Florida from June 29th—July 8th On the night of June 29th, over 40 Pacific Northwest District Key Clubbers will embark on a 10 day trip to the city of Orlando, Florida for International Convention. The PNW Tour depends on which option you pick (see page 7) but could include sipping on butterbeer at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, screaming until you lose your voice on The Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster, going behind the scenes at Animal Kingdom for an educational tour on conservation, tasting foods from around the world at Epcot, watching Independence Day fireworks at the Magic Kingdom and falling 11 stories faster than gravity at Hollywood Studios’ Twilight Zone Tower of Terror! The PNW will be staying at the All Star Sports Resort in Walt Disney World for the first few days (which means Extended Magic Hours in the parks!) and then transferring to the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista for the actual convention. The magic continues with the Hilton because it’s right across the street from Downtown Disney! Besides doing some district bonding in the parks, ICON attendees will be able to experience Key Club at an international level. ICON brings Key Club conventions to a whole different standard with professional entertainers, intense rounds of caucusing for International Board positions, fun yet informational workshops, an amazing talent show and pin trading with the 32 other districts. ICON attendees will have the chance to make new friends with dedicated, friendly Key Clubbers from as far as Bermuda, Jamaica and Washington D.C. at the meet-and-greet on July 4th, during workshops, and during the two dances. Interested in attending? Contact District Assistant Administrator Suzanne Endroedy to see if there’s still spots left! Email: suzbeth10@comcast.net 8

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DCON attendees were able to participate in a three rounds of workshops. New club officers received training from the outgoing executive board while members listened to workshops about Relay for Life, acing the college application, salsa dancing and of course, teen sexuality with Brad Hennings. Saturday night consisted of a formal dinner, closing session and a dance. At closing session, the old district board was retired as the new lieutenant governors and executive officers were inducted. Numerous clubs received awards for outstanding promotional videos, officers, scrapbooks and the like while specific members were recognized for their talent and scholarship. The second spirit stick was also awarded to Division 21 for demonstrating model Key Club behavior all weekend. If you attended and want to re-connect with the Key Clubbers you met, check out the Facebook group PNW Key Club DCON 2012. If you missed it this year, be sure to attend DCON 2013 next March!

Club leadership Maintaining attendance By: Jimmy Yin, Div. 56 So you’ve gotten a large portion of your school to come to a Key Club meeting, but your numbers have started dwindling. You’re having trouble getting people to come to Key Club consistently. How do you fix this? As a former Key Club president, I know it’s hard to motivate some high schoolers to spend part of their day to go to Key Club. The best way to keep attendance high is to be enthusiastic! Well-run meetings will draw Key Clubbers to come to the meetings! Nobody wants to listen to a monotone presentation about KCCP or Relay for Life, they want to hear enthusiasm! The enthusiasm by itself WILL generate buzz among the members. Another great way to keep attendance high is to make the meetings fun! Running fun ice breakers at the beginning of every meeting can be a great way for the club members to interact with each other as well as creating a fun environment. Make it a goal to set aside some time at

every meeting for something fun, such as ice breakers. Your members will definitely appreciate it! Key Club is all about sponsoring activities members can participate in to help the community. Make sure that there are new opportunities to help out around your community at every meeting! People go to Key Club to make a difference, and they can’t do that without service projects! Even if it’s just organizing a school cleanup or something else simple, anything to get members involved is great. It’s also a good idea to have occasional activities that involve the members in something that’s more fun, such as a barbecue, ice cream social or a bowling night. Just an occasional event to celebrate your club’s past successes. Remember, Key Club is FUN!

Marketing your club

Innie-Outtie What? By: Kelsie Hoppes, Div. 67 The relationship between innie and outtie Lieutenant Governors is much like a mentor and their student. The outgoing Lieutenant Governor (―outtie‖) trains the incoming Lieutenant Governor (―innie‖) on their job for the next year. They show them the do’s and the don’ts of being Lieutenant Governor and for being a member of the district board. The innie and the outtie both attend the Winter District Board meeting together, where the innie learns about their incoming year. During the weekend through carpooling, free time at the meeting, and other activities the innie and the outtie may form a closer bond. During DCON the outgoing Lieutenant Governor is relieved of their duties and the new Lieutenant Governor is officially installed. After that the new Lieutenant Governor is the division’s Lieutenant Governor hopefully the outtie will still be there for help and support always! Be sure you know who your new Lieutenant Governor is!

By: Miquelle Radich, Div. 50 Although our service means just as much if no one knows about it, a well-marketed club can accomplish much more than one that remains in obscurity. Many clubs fail to advertise merely because they fail to see the reason to do so. However, marketing has multiple perks that every club will surely want to take advantage of: Primarily, marketing gets Key Club’s name out there. Studies have proved that name recognition makes a difference in voting trends—the same process takes place with students deciding how to spend their time: Are they going to join the club they’ve never heard of, or the one with advertisements plastered all over the school? They are going to join the latter. It can also be important to highlight what your club has done. When people see the difference that Key Club has made, they may well be moved and want to participate. Furthermore, publishing your club’s doings (in sources like your local newspaper) will tell the community that they can look to your club for help. I know from experience that it can be hard to come up with fun and innovative service projects, and it’s not at all ap-

pealing to do the same things every year. Advertisement will allow your community to contact you for support when needed, and will give your club more service projects to choose from. Fortunately, advances in technology have made marketing increasingly simple and effortless. Some clubs opt to make their own website—which would undeniably serve its purpose—but Facebook alone can work wonders. Every club should create a Facebook page including the club’s information and fun pictures of the members in action. It will be a great way to share information with your club and it is sure to spark the interest of whoever stumbles upon it. Of course, you can never go wrong with simply putting up fliers around your school. They are informative, they get the word out and everyone looks at them while walking to class. Clubs should also consider getting their meetings announced in the daily bulletin or over the p.a. system (if their school has one). Ignorance of meeting time and location should never be a reason for someone not to attend a meeting. Make sure this is a priority in your advertising.

Although the purpose of marketing is rather straightforward, it does not have to be black and white (literally). There are many clubs in every high school, each of them probably advertising for its own sake. In order to stand out, it’s important that your club markets creatively. If you’re working with posters, add a splash of color; if you’re announcing a meeting over the p.a. system, include something fun and quirky that will get people’s attention. The more it stands out, the better. For example, in December my home club held a toy drive for the Kiwanis Children’s Cancer Program. Rather than use bland advertisements, we wrapped up a bunch of boxes to look like presents and placed them in our commons. Along with the large banner explaining their purpose, the presents caught people’s attention and got them excited for the project. This simple means of marketing made a big difference on our results. As it is, there is no reason for any Key Club not to market considering its simplicity and effectiveness. Use my advice as a guide, and you will be amazed at the outcome.

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resources Meet: Mortimer the Moose By: Chelsea Likar, Div. AYS

Like me on facebook Click here to see more Mortie!

Originally, Mortimer, or Mortie, the moose was just a common children’s toy and beloved stuffed animal. He was always there for his kids: sharing their secrets, calming their fears, playing tea party or fort, and giving love and hope in any and all situations. Throughout the country little children born and/or later diagnosed with disease and/or disabilities were kept company by Mortie. Through thick and thin, bad and good, he stood by their sides and helped them to believe, to stay strong. Never once did he stray. He listened to their every worry and was there for their every advance, he was their best friend. For that he deserves honor, and the PNW district of Key Club International gives him just that. What higher honor is there than to be the fearless leader and mascot of a youth service organization? In our district we strive for nothing less than Mortimer quality effort by putting our best foot forward and doing everything we can for these children. Currently we, along with CKI, and Kiwanis are helping raise money to fight for a cure for Children’s Cancer through our Kiwanis Children’s Cancer Program (KCCP). Not only that but we try to provide hope for these kids just like Mortie through cards, trauma dolls, blankets, and books. We are showing them that we care; we are giving them a reason to stay strong. We hope to always follow his lead without fail, and exceed his expectations. For such a highly decorated club with many amazing achievements this will be no difficulty. With dear old Mortimer at every executive board meeting we have constant reminders that we are making a difference.

CKI: service beyond high school

Staying organized

By: Giovanni Acorda, Div. AYN

By: Virginia Waugh, Div. 11/18

Do you find Key Club cool and exciting? Do you enjoy helping out your community? If you think that Key Club might be the end of it, think twice again. Circle K International also known as CKI is a collegiate service organization sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. CKI began in 1936 as a Kiwanis project to provide an opportunity for ambitious gentlemen to receive a college education. Kiwanis assisted with their financial problems through scholarships and other ways. Soon they were recognized around the world. Now, CKI is the largest collegiate service organization in the world with over 12,600 members. There’s 500 clubs in 30 districts in 18 nations. Similar to Key Club the organization promotes service, leadership, and fellowship. In addition, they also have District Convention and International Convention. Circle K is currently partnered up with March of Dimes, UNICEF, Student Team Up To Fight Hunger, and Better World Book. Think about it, you are a freshman in college and need to make new friends. CKI is a great way to meet other students that have the same passion as you do. CKI can help you maintain excellent leadership skills, keep you busy with community services, and enjoy. Check with the institution you applied to and see if they offer CKI. Another option is to visit the organizations website at www.circlek.org. All the information you need to know should be there. It even gives you the districts that offer CKI. If the school does not offer CKI, Kiwanis Club is also an option. If you really love helping out your community and making a difference in the world, think about joining CKI because it could also benefit you. Be part of the Kiwanis Family.

Organization a skill many dream to possess and envy the ones who do have this blessed skill. Thankfully, this skill can be learned, though it can be a slow and painful process, depending on type of person you happen to be. The first step to becoming a more organized person begins in the mind you have to want it, really want it, and make the choice to change. Involve your friends and even your parents if need be. Ask them to help you it will not take long to become organized if it means stopping the nagging from your friends and family. To help yourself create lists. Have a list for your week goals, and a list for day-today goals. Write down everything you need to accomplish in a day and order it in importance. Set times for when you will do your biology homework and try and finish said homework in allotted time. Once you get into the habit of disciplining yourself in will become second nature. It might even become fun to cross things off your list or your planner; it’s quite a satisfying feeling to know that you’ve accomplished one of your goals for the day! Next thing you know you will be the friend nagging someone who wishes to improve on their organizational skills.

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Time management By: Olivia Owens, Div. 18/20m “Time = life; therefore, waste your time and waste of your life, or master your time and master your life.” -Alan Lakein

We all can agree being a teenager is stressful! You want the best for yourself and your future, in turn we try our hardest in school, invest our time in sports/extra circular activities. We go above and beyond in Key Club while also trying to maintain a family and social life. Sometimes we find ourselves stressed out and overwhelmed, because after all we are only human. With all these things on our plate it is hard to succeed in all categories. Now don’t get me wrong no one expects you to be perfect. In life you make mistakes, and learn from them. Here are some helpful tips to organize your time to where you can give everything you 100% attention without missing a beat. School: Take notes in all classes. Research says that when you write something down you are more apt to remember. After school read through all your notes for 5-10 minutes; this will refresh your memory. Keep your notes in tabs, breaking them up by chapter or category because it helps for easy access. Also, don’t cram for a test! Once you study for over an hour on one subject you are less likely to remember what you learned. Go over your notes every couple of days and plan ahead so there is no stress before a test. Social Life: For some this means friends and other this could mean a boyfriend/girlfriend. Keeping a balance between both is crucial. A good way to fit friends in when having a busy schedule is to go to lunch. You have to eat right? Taking an hour out of your day lets them know you are trying to make time and value their friendship. Plus you have to stay in the loop! As for your significant other, seeing them every other day or so is fine. Time apart makes the heart grow fonder. Plan a date night once a week that never changes so you can have something to look forward to. Now if you are an overachiever you can always invite your gf/bf to hang out with you and your friends. This doesn’t always work and if not don’t try and force it. But if it does, then that’s the best case scenario!

Winter Rage By: Calvin Leung, Div. 66 Despite the differences between students in Clackamas High school, from academic to social backgrounds, they all joined forces for one cause on December 10th: their 14th annual Winter Rage. Started through the vision of one Key Club to support a family’s Christmas, Winter Rage has grown exponentially into one of the most successful outreach programs in the nation. Countless days and hours of preparation are needed to make this extravagant charity event absolutely magical. This year, Clackamas High School was able to assist about 150 local families by providing donated clothing, food boxes, gift cards, Christmas trees, and gift-wrapped presents for each and every needy kid. ―Preparing for Winter Rage takes a lot of restless nights, passion, and most importantly, hard work,‖ said Clackamas Key Club Winter Rage Chairman Amanda Duong. ―My co-chair [Emilee Huey] and I started in April, right when we got our positions. We wrote many letters, asked for donations, requested space, asked for performers, called many businesses, went to school early, and stayed up late many days before December even came around.‖ Despite the current depression, the hearts of the community were unaffected and bigger than ever. Many generous families across the North Clackamas School District left their donations outside their doorsteps the day before for high school students to pickup. ―One of my favorite memories [from Winter Rage] was when I met this kind lady,‖ said Clackamas Key Club Co-President Edward Yan. ―She said her days were numbered on Earth, and that her last wish was to give back to the Clackamas community. It was a very touching moment to meet and get to know her. It’s moments like these that make you cherish life a little bit more and to work harder to give back to your community.‖

Key Club: Attending all meetings is KEY. Make sure to check with your clubs and write down ahead of time when they are so you can plan around them. A good trick I always use is I put a reminder in my cell phone. Key Club meetings are just like classes, so take notes! A lot goes on at meetings and sometimes it is hard to remember every school’s information. Keeps a good relationship with the officers and members in your club, they can keep you informed of what you are missing. MAY ONLINE | THE ESPRESSO

Kiwanis children s Pacific Northwest Seattle, Vancouv Inside the governor’s project, 2011-2013 By: SunSun Gan & Kirstina Shattuck, Div. 74 & 48 Background As all of you know (or we hope you know) Kiwanis Children’s Cancer Program (KCCP) is our district project of this year! Did you know that cancer is the number one disease related death for children? Approximately 12,400 children diagnosed with cancer each year. KCCP was established by Kiwanis District Governor Frank Morehouse in the memory of a ten year old girl, Penny, who died of brain cancer in 1964. Frank Morehouse and Penny became very good friends during her illness and the short time before her death. Penny would come into Frank Morehouse’s office every afternoon to chat with him while he did his paperwork. They would discuss her losing her hair and actually joked about her looking like an old man. During that year Penny had several hospitalizations and would always look him up to discuss what was going on. On her last visit she was too ill to get out of bed so Frank Morehouse would visit her each evening before leaving his office next to her room. One day she told him that she had figured out that she was going to die. Frank Morehouse asked Penny, ―Who told you that you are going to die?‖ No one had told Penny but she figured it out, but she wanted him to keep her knowledge secret. They discussed that life was precious and someday a cure would be found. Penny even got Mr. Morehouse to promise to come to her funeral and do all that he could to help other children that were ill. Research hospitals The main goal of this project is to raise funds for cancer research until a cure is found, because while the Doernbecher program has raised funds over the years, KCCP goes further and supports BC Children’s and Seattle Children’s Hospitals as well. Why these hospitals? U.S. News & World Report every year ranks over 5,000 hospitals in the U.S. by individual departments. Pediatric Oncology &

THE ESPRESSO | MAY ONLINE

Hematology is one such department. Seattle Children is ranked 6th and Doernbecher Children’s is ranked 27th. In a similar Canadian poll BC Children’s ranked 6th in all of Canada. Doernbecher Children’s Hospital is a leader is the National Cancer Institute 20 member consortium of Phase 1 treatment centers in the United States. The fact that the only research and teaching hospitals in the Pacific Northwest have achieved such National and International acclaim is worthy of our support. K-Family effort Both Key Club and Circle K have teamed up with Kiwanis for this mission. Few of the many ways that you could participate is to tour the Children’s Cancer Research Hospital in your area, sponsor a fundraiser for the Research Program, schedule a speaker from any of the Kiwanis Cancer Research Programs, or make hats, trauma dolls, and quilts for children going through cancer treatment. Kids with cancer need a future! It’s a Kiwanis family thing. It’s a community family thing. What you can do A meeting of two people led to friendship, but soon became a memory and a dedication. This is the story of how PNW Governor Frank, Kiwanis, dedicated his Governor’s program to the memory of 10 year old brain cancer patient, Penny. His friendship with Penny became the inspiration for the Pacific Northwest District’s Program. This program is all about supporting three specific hospitals in our area that are pushing to help with Children’s Cancer Research, which is also applicable to adult cancer. So ask yourself if you can help in this effort and tell yourself YES I CAN, because anyone can participate in making a difference! You could start by taking a tour of one of the Children’s Cancer Research Hospitals in Seattle, Portland, or Vancouver, British Columbia. Unless you live a little farther out than most,

you will want to choose from many of the home projects that can get your club, family, and community involved. Start a fundraiser for the Research Program with maybe a marathon, bike rides, relays, picnics in the park, barbecue’s, and so much more that can raise money to help in the aid for cancer research! Or you could put in that personal touch and create or decorate hats, trauma dolls, blankets, booklets, quilts, paintings, and whatever comes to your mind. Contact the hospital you wish to help and ask them about your idea or project and once that’s happened you may than begin the change. The changing of your life, your clubs, your community, and most importantly the children you’re helping to fight cancer. Go to the Kiwanis Children’s Cancer Program website and learn about what you and your club can do to make a difference in many lives.

Canadian Rally attendees wax Wyatt Fisher’s legs to celebrate raising over $1,000 at a car wash for KCCP

s cancer program t district project ver B.C., Portland Average New Cancer Patients Annually at Seattle Children’s Hospital

Common childhood cancers     

 

Brain/nervous tumors Neuroblastoma Wilms tumor (kidneys) Lymphoma Rhabdomyosarcoma (skeletal muscles) Retinoblastoma (eyes) Bone cancers

The Pacific Northwest is the beginning.

The world is our goal.

PNW Key Club raised over 3

$15,000 for KCCP in the year

2011-2012

Kiwanis Children’s Cancer Program Raise awareness. Support research. Fund fellowships. Help find the cure.

MAY ONLINE | THE ESPRESSO

Governor Varun Awasthi varun.awas@gmail.com Secretary Emerson Kim emersonkim1221@gmail.com Treasurer Neha Dalal pnwneha@gmail.com Bulletin Editor MaryAlice Peng maryalice.peng@gmail.com Convention Chair Felicia Nguyen feliciakn@yahoo.com Program Director Samuel Kim samkeem@gmail.com Communications Chair Marcus Frates marcusfrates@gmail.com International President Annie Lewandowski keyclubannie@gmail.com PNW International Trustee Cole Hickman kcitrusteecole@gmail.com District Administrator John Jay jmjay@bainbridge.net Assistant District Administrator Suzanne Endroedy suzbeth1@comcast.net

Key Club International Pacific Northwest District PO Box 25006 Federal Way, WA 98006

Recipient instructions: Thank you for supporting The PNW District of Key Club International. Please pass this on to the Key Club advisor and ensure that your club members have an opportunity to read this issue of the esPRESSo. Thank you, MaryAlice Peng District Bulletin Editor

Youth Opportunities Fund By Varun Awasthi, Immediate Past District Governor There are numerous Key Club members that often come up with great community service ideas but lack the proper monetary funds to facilitate it. If you have ever found yourself in this situation, then perhaps you should consider applying for a grant from the Youth Opportunities Fund. The Youth Opportunities Fund is an entity exclusively for Key Club members. Clubs have the option of applying for grants ranging from $100 to $2000. The Youth Opportunities Fund committee tends to give grants to those Key Clubs that are only requesting a partial amount of funding as opposed to all of the required funding. The application must contain detailed information that includes the title of the project, the problem it addresses, the location of the project, how it will benefit the community, what has been done to establish it so far and general budget information. The applying Key Club must have paid their dues by December 1st in order to be considered for a grant. There is only one funding cycle per year and applications must be turned in by October 15th. Key Clubs are notified of the International Boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision by mail, no later than January 15th. There are countless opportunities for service that one has with the Youth Opportunities Fund. The Key Club of CyFair High School in Cypress, Texas received a YOF grant of $550 and used it to purchase eighteen books, read them onto cassette tapes for eight elementary schools, then bag and deliver them to the libraries of the eight schools. The Key Club of Brockton High School received a YOF grant of $2000 and used it to purchase playground equipment for the local elementary school. This particular Key Club also received sponsorships from various corporations along with their own organized fundraising. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and apply for a Youth Opportunities Fund grant! You can then watch your project idea grow into an amazing reality! Applications can found at www.keyclub.org under SERVE, Apply for a YOF