the beaver tree JANUARY 2013 VOL. 4 / ISSUE 10
THE OFFICIAL KEY CLUB NEWSLETTER OF BROOKLYN TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL WE FEEL GOOD. WE FEEL MAD GOOD. AND WHAT?!
IN THIS ISSUE
03
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
04
THE 2012-2013 EXECUTIVE BOARD & CABINET
06
JANUARY EVENTS
15
FEBRUARY PREVIEW: THE BIG PROJECTS
16
DISTRICT & INTERNATIONAL NEWS
17
KEY CLUBBER OF JANUARY
13
FUN & GAMES
14
KEY CLUB CHEERS
16
OUR CLUB’S VIPS
17
CONTACT INFORMATION
02 CARING—OUR WAY OF LIFE
KEY CLUB
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR HEY BROOKLYN TECH KEY CLUB, HOW DO YOU FEEL? Happy new year! It’s hard to believe but the 2012-2013 service year is coming to an end sooner than you think. That means that club elections are coming up in a couple of weeks, and the 2013-2014 application process is closing on January 31st, so get those applications in! I can’t wait to see who will make up next year’s executive board. Keep checking your emails and our Facebook group for regular updates. The 65th Annual Leadership Training Conference is less than two months away. Who’s excited?! I know I am. This year’s theme is Under the Sea, and if you haven’t signed up on our interest form already, water you waiting for? Join the executive board for a weekend in Albany, attending workshops, dances, elections, talent show, and so much more. More information can be found on page 16. Keep sending me articles and pictures! I love reading what you guys have to say and seeing pictures from events I couldn’t attend, and you should want to share it with everyone else, too. You can e-mail me at Sharon@thetechkey.com and send pictures to image@thetechkey.com. As always, thank you for reading! Yours in the spirit of service, Sharon Cai Bulletin Editor 2012-2013
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EXECUTIVE BOARD 2012-2013
PRESIDENT HAN-CHANG KIM
SECRETARY TIFFANY LEUNG
BULLETIN EDITOR SHARON CAI
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VICE PRESIDENT CHRISTINE HE
TREASURER ALEX MOK
WEBMASTER TINA GAO
KEY CLUB
EXECUTIVE CABINET 2012-2013
ADVOCACY KAIWUI YE
DISTRICT FUNDRAISING SONIA SAAKIAN
DORIS LIANG
JOANNA HUANG
COMMUNICATIONS SUNDY HE
TRAD SCRAP AMANDA LIU
HOME FUNDRAISING WEI LI
INDUCTION FUNDRAISING JENNIFER LEI
NON TRAD SCRAP
JENNY LIN
VISUAL MEDIA JOHNNY LEUNG
OPPORTUNITIES
HANNAH LU
SCHOOL SERVICES EMMA COSTA THE BEAVER TREE 05
MULCHFEST 2013
PHOTO CREDIT: EMMA COSTA
At Fort Greene Park, Key Clubbers had plenty of things to do to help out with Mulchfest. We shoveled leaves, pulled out weeds, dragged the trees, and spread the mulch all around! My friends and I had to un-wire the wires from the Christmas reefs. It's not that easy! It takes patience and dedication to do it. At first everyone was kind of cold, but eventually we warmed up when we got the hang of it. At the end, everyone was pretty proud of themselves for coming to help out with Mulchfest. It's quite rewarding to give back to the environment after what it has done for us: give us a home and oxygen. — Fanny Li 06 CARING—OUR WAY OF LIFE
KEY CLUB
MULCHFEST 2013 (CONTINUED) JANUARY 12, 2012
On day 1 of Mulchfest (January 12), Key Clubbers gathered at Fort Greene Park to help out for Mulchfest. The tasks involved weeding, carrying giant trees, sprinkling mulch around trees, and spreading mulch out on earth. It was a cold day to be out at a park volunteering. However, the tasks turned out to be quite fun! Weeding, although difficult and exhausting, proved to beautify the areas surrounding the trees. Carrying trees was a very difficult task, especially for me :( but I pulled through with smaller trees. The most fun tasks were sprinkling and spreading mulch. Sprinkling mulch is like sprinkling condiments on a pizza. For spreading mulch out on earth, there was a whole hill of mulch that we had to spread out on a huge surface. If you're on top of the mulch, it's like you're on top of the world, and it's really fun to jump on and use your feet to push the mulch down. Just make sure no one's at the bottom of the hill if you're going to push the mulch down with your feet. I especially liked using a rake to spread the mulch out, though. Overall, Mulchfest was a really great experience and I loved the smell of nature! — Sandy Mui
To start out the event, volunteers were asked to put on gloves and take garbage bags to go de weed the areas around the trees in order for spreading mulch to be done properly. With the help of tools and lots of hardworking friends, the trees were cleaned up and nearly weed less (although it took nearly 1 ½ hours!). There were mountains of Christmas trees that had to be carried to the “chipper” machine from the underlying sidewalk. Although trucks and trucks of the trees kept on arriving, we were able to keep up! After, with a very dirty sidewalk, we were asked to rake and shovel leftover weed, leaves, and branches. Teamwork was the key here! Nearly past the halfway mark of the event, the volunteers were given a 15 minute lunch break when we ate chocolates and cheese, and socialized with our new friends! After a needed rest, it was time to mulch! Mounds and mounds of mulch were carried up hills, down hills, in wheelbarrows, buckets, shovels, and even bare hands! With the help of EVERYONE at the vent, all of the trees and grass was mulched! I had lots of fun at this event for many reasons. First of all, I made new friends. Also, I learned about mulching and was able to help out with the environment! As an extra reward, we even received 4 volunteer hours and many thank yous! Overall, the event was a big success and was a lot of fun! — Michael Yacubov
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KEY CLUB ALUMNI COLLEGE PANEL
Our second annual Key Club Alumni College Panel was a big success. Over thirty attendees came and filled every seat in the room. We had representatives from Hunter College (Jack Liu), CCNY (Rina Liang and Karyee Au), Wellesley College (Annie Deng), Harvard University (Jim Chan), Brown University (Crystal Avila), and Cornell University (Kelly Ieong). Speakers talked about their college experience, living away from home or commuting, their studies, and even offered valuable advice among other topics. A big thanks goes out to our advisor and guidance counselor Mrs. McKinnon for leading our panel and to our seven Key Club alumni for taking time out to come speak to current students!
PICTURE CREDIT: SHARON CAI
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KEY CLUB
MASBIA JANUARY 12, 2012
MASBIA—Brooklyn’s first and only kosher soup kitchen—started as a grassroots charity to feed the hungry in 2005. Since then it has grown to become a four-kitchen and food pantry network with locations in Brooklyn and Queens. Their mission is provide hot, nutritious meals to hundreds of New Yorkers in need food and to donate groceries every week to the people who don’t have enough at home through its Weekend Take-Home Package initiative. To learn more, visit www.masbia.org/.
MASBIA is an organization that provides nutritious meals to the needy, and I was glad to be a part of it for a day! I had a lot of fun with my friends from Key Club and was able to help the hungry at the same time. To start off, we were asked to peel potatoes. Even though bags and bags kept on piling up, we were still able to keep up (go team!). As weird as it sounds, people can really bond over peeling potatoes. After, we were asked to peel another cabbage-like vegetable. Many volunteers were pouring in to help out! After the ends were cut off and the vegetables were ready to be cooked, it was time to get down to business. Volunteers were given even more peelers and huge bags of potatoes. After peeling them, we cleaned up and were ready for the next task. This one was interesting. We had to cut and clean out bell peppers. Through jokes and conversations (and hard work), we were able to go through two big boxes! Next, we were given a lunch break to go outside and relax. When we came back, we were asked to sweep and clean tables. This event was a lot of fun since I was able to bond over others while helping out the community. What can be better? It is important to help the hungry, especially in this city, and I was glad that I could do my part. This event was lots of fun and a good way to spend my time! — Michael Yacubov
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MASBIA (CONTINUED)
PHOTO CREDIT: KEVIN TRAN
10 CARING—OUR WAY OF LIFE
KEY CLUB
MASBIA (CONTINUED) JANUARY 12, 2012
It was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and it was just not possible to me to spend a Monday sleeping all day long. I decided to volunteer at MASBIA of Flatbush to help prepare meals for those in poverty. I arrived at my destination to find thirty other Brooklyn Tech Key Clubbers ready to volunteer, not to mention the thirty volunteers from other community service groups. We were all split up into four groups, and each group did a different task. You could see people peeling potatoes, dicing peppers, cleaning the cooking utensils, and organizing the canned goods. It only felt like thirty minutes, but three hours passed, and we were late for our lunch break! After our lunch break, it wasn't a long time before we all went back to work. Things got very hectic as potato peels and diced peppers were flying everywhere. At least this gave us work for the remaining hour! Most of the other groups left, but Key Club stayed to sweep the floors and wipe the tables. It was a fun event, and I'm glad I was able to help. — Alex Mok
On January 21, Key Clubbers gathered at the MASBIA of Flatbush to help out with cleaning, peeling, and carrying food. MASBIA is a soup kitchen that helps out the hungry. I have never worked with a knife or peeler before, so I was hesitant to help out with peeling. So for the most part, I stayed away from peeling, but my friend Kevin did teach me the basics of how to peel an onion! Carrying boxes did not work out very well either. It was freezing in the basement and all the boxes were too heavy. The best thing I did was place some tiny, frozen pastries on a tray. They looked extremely good and they were really fun to break apart and place neatly onto a tray. Overall, I didn't really enjoy the experience, but it could have been worse, and it was mostly because I've never done anything in the kitchen before. I just wish I had more lessons of how to work in the kitchen before I went to this event :( So the next time I attend an event like this one, I hope I have more experience so it will be more fun then! — Sandy Mui
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WINTER JAM HANGOUT
PHOTO CREDIT: NANCY
As I arrived, the music and fun could be heard from blocks away. The band shell is no miss to the eye and was the center of the event. After signing in with David, we went to the different shops and tents. From cupcakes to concert tickets, it was nonstop activity and merchandise to look at. After, we went around to the skiing and Quidditch stations. There were actually rings from Harry Potter for Quidditch! Activities were never ending, ranging from kids hockey to a huge Red Bull snowboarding hill! On top of that, free candy and drinks were given out. After a nice walk around the frozen lake, we returned to the main event. At the band shell, sculptures of ice caught our eyes. From ice thrones to ice benches and cases, it was a sight to behold! For the rest of the day, although it was freezing, we had a lot of fun walking around and playing games with friends. This event was really fun and I would go again next year! — Michael Yacubov On Saturday, I attended the Winter Jam Hangout in Central Park. It was an interesting event. It had just snowed the previous day and felt like below freezing, but that didn’t stop us. The Bandshell was full of people including a band singing on a big stage. There were also three ice carvers who carved really nice chairs from ice. Along with everything else, there was snowboarding, skiing, and even Quidditch! My friends and I decided to go down to a frozen big lake. It was really cool and pretty. It was the first frozen lake I ever saw! Then we also took a nice 20 minute ride on a horse carriage around Central Park. The event was a little different from some of the other ones and I would do it again! — Hanna Yacubov 12 CARING—OUR WAY OF LIFE
KEY CLUB
PETITION TO SUPPORT THE HOMELESS JANUARY 28, 2012
Over a dozen Key Clubbers came out to Columbus Circle to gather signatures for a “support the homeless” petition organized by advocacy committee leader Kaiwui Ye. Not even inclement weather could deter Key Clubbers from fulfilling their call of duty. In a handful of groups, we set out to ask fellow New Yorkers for their time and signatures. As with all petitions, there were many instances of failed interaction with people, but there were also many who were willing to listen to what we were advocating for. While our campaign was cut short because of the rain and snow, in the few hours we were advocating, the advocacy committee was able to collect nearly 100 signatures altogether.
PICTURE CREDIT: SHARON CAI
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PETITION TO SUPPORT THE HOMELESS (CONT’D)
Spending hours outside in snowy weather was definitely not ideal, but this did not stop our Key Clubbers from asking for signatures for a meaningful petition. After we all met by the globe at Columbus Circle, everyone was split into groups of three or more. I walked around the area with my group members to ask strangers for their signatures in support of more federal aid for the homeless. We were pretty nervous at first because of our lack of experience, but we quickly solved this problem after people were willing to listen to what we had to say. We patiently explained to them how can their signatures can help to raise awareness for the people in homeless shelters. I was so surprised to know that more than 40,000 people sleep in the homeless shelters each night and thousands more have to fare on the streets. I personally do believe in this cause and hope our government can provide more aids to this disadvantage group by decreasing the unemployment rate. This will not only benefit the unfortunate fellows, but it also can reduce some burden on the tax payers. One stranger, who said that he works in the shelters every night, left a deep impression on me and was definitely happy to help us to sign the petition. This event made me feel that even though New York is a huge city, it is also a closely united society with people willing to give their helping hands to anyone who needs them ! — Shijin Zheng
On January 28, 2013, Brooklyn Tech Key Clubbers gathered at Columbus Circle. We went around petitioning to increase government support for homeless shelters. It was a very cold day to be out and it was also snowing, but I thought it was great to be out supporting a cause! We split into groups to get the most signatures that we could. Since I am a very shy person, I did not say much. My group passed by a homeless man who was asking for money, and we felt bad that we didn't give him any money, but we also thought that we were helping him in another way (by getting signatures for this petition). Kevin got the most signatures for my group. I was very happy that there were many people who actually stopped to listen to us! Some seemed enthusiastic to support the cause, so I guess it's not too awkward to randomly stop people. At the same time it’s disheartening to get rejected or ignored by people. Hopefully I will get more experience for advocating for causes in the future. I want to overcome my fear of public speaking! — Sandy Mui
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KEY CLUB
FEBRUARY PREVIEW: THE BIG PROJECTS
As part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society—the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to funding treatments for blood cancer—Pennies for Patients, both a fundraising and advocacy campaign, is a project under its School & Youth Programs. It is geared towards educating kids about blood cancers and raising money for research and patient services. Pennies for Patients prides itself on the slogan “Kids making BIG change by collecting SMALL change.” Just by donating spare coins and collecting other people’s change you can make a difference in someone’s life. The campaign is already in its 16th year and students have raised over $211 million for research in leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma and care for patients and their families. To learn more, visit www.schoolandyouth.org/. Brooklyn Tech Key Club will be fundraising the entire month of February. Keep an eye out for the emails and pick up your box next month in room 3E20.
Hurricane Sandy has since come and gone, but it still a long road to recovery for those who have been hit the hardest. Some of Brooklyn Tech’s largest clubs—American Red Cross, National BETA Club, National Honor Society, National Society for Black Engineers, Outreach Club, and the National Assocation of SAVE in addition to Key Club—are teaming up under “Tech United” to collect flashlights, winter wear, non-perishable goods, toiletries, socks, and batteries. Collections will be held from February 11 to February 15 and February 20 to February 22. Everything will be donated to the Salvation Army, who will then distribute them a relief center on Staten Island.
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DISTRICT & INTERNATIONAL NEWS
DISTRICT NEWS www.nydkc.org Click here for the Facebook Group
Click here for the conference website!
There’s less than 40 days to the 65th Annual Leadership Training Conference, also known as our district Key Club convention. The theme this year is Under the Sea. Who’s excited?! This year, it’s taking place on the weekend of March 22-24, right before spring break, and it’s going to be packed full of workshops, dances, awards, contests, and so much more. Join the executive board at Holiday Inn on Wolf Road in Albany for all the Key Club fun, and I can promise you that it’s going to be an experience you’ll never forget. If you’re interested, sign up on the Google Form we sent out in our emails.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS www.keyclub.org Do you like to draw or have an knack for graphic design? Well, you might be interested to know that Key Club International is holding a T-shirt design contest! The winning design will be sold in the Key Club store and be worn by Key Clubbers all over the world. How’s that for your work going global? If you’re interested, check out the terms and conditions here.
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KEY CLUB
KEY CLUBBER OF JANUARY
What does it mean to be “Key Clubber of the Month?” Each month, we award a specific Key Clubber(s) who has made the most impact on our club for that month. To receive this award, a Key Clubber must not only attend most events that month but must also actively participate and contribute to Key Club and their community. We want a Key Clubber(s) who is fit to represent Brooklyn Tech and serve as a role model to others. For the month of January, this honor goes to …..
Kelly Tam Key Clubber of January
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” CREDIT: JIM CHAN - MahatmaPHOTO Gandhi
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FUN & GAMES
JANUARY PUZZLE Props to advocacy for their campaign to improve the conditions of the homeless in New York during the month of January! Put the pieces together to form the picture on the bottom, screenshot the entire website with the completed puzzle, and send it in to Sharon@thetechkey.com with your OSIS number for +5. Happy solving!
Click here for the jigsaw puzzle!
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KEY CLUB
KEY CLUB CHEERS Our Chant Hey Key Club, how do you feel?! We feel good. We feel MAD good. AND WHAT?
New York District Key Club Chant Hey Key Club, how do you feel?! We feel good! OH, we feel so good. OH! *pelvic thrust*
Key Club Pledge I pledge on my honor to uphold the objects of Key Club International, To build my home, school, and community To serve my nation and God and to combat all forces which tend to undermine these institutions
Beaver Call Beaver one, beaver all, let’s all do the beaver call!
Meet Bang, the Beaver!
Beaver two, beaver three, let’s all climb the beaver tree! Beaver four, beaver five, let’s all the beaver jive! Beaver six, beaver seven, let’s all go to beaver heaven! Beaver eight, beaver nine, STOP! IT’S BEAVER TIME! Go beaver! Go beaver! Go beaver!
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OUR CLUB’S VIPS
KIWANIS COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE MR. GIOIA
FROM THE MAPLETON KIWIANIS MRS. NEURINGER
MR. NEURINGER
BROOKLYN TECH KEY CLUB ADVISERS
MS. FILIPPELLI
MRS. BARANOWSKI
20 CARING—OUR WAY OF LIFE
MR. MORGAN
MS. MULTARI
MS. MCKINNON
KEY CLUB
CONTACT INFORMATION
From tallest to shortest: HC, Sharon, Alex, Tina, Tiffany, Christine!
WEBSITE
thetechkey.com
GENERAL EMAIL
bths.kc@thetechkey.com
PRESIDENT HAN-CHANG KIM
hc@thetechkey.com
VICE PRESIDENT CHRISTINE HE
christine@thetechkey.com
SECRETARY TIFFANY LEUNG
tiffany@thetechkey.com
TREASURER ALEXANDER MOK
alex@thetechkey.com
EDITOR SHARON CAI
sharon@thetechkey.com
WEBMASTER TINA GAO
tina@thetechkey.com
IMAGES
image@thetechkey.com
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THANKS FOR READING!
www.keyclub.org 3636 WOODVIEW TRACE INDANAPOLIS, IN 45268 USA 317-875-8755 US AND CANADA: 800-KIWANIS