Gator K-Munication: January 2023 (Vol. 14, Issue 6)

Hey y'all! Happy new year and welcome to the January newsletter! If you're new, I'm Emily, your Editor, and I make the monthly newsletter! It's been such an exciting start of the spring semester, and I'm glad to have seen so many new faces at our events this month! Also yes, I did change the picture that I always put above my Editor's notes just to show you guys how much I loved the Renaissance Faire this month. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the newsletter <3

Members of the Month

Nick Kottas - New Member of the Month for November

Year: First

Major(s): Aerospace Engineering

Minor(s): Computer Science

Favorite Tenet: Service

Why did you join CKI?

Was a big part of Key Club in high school

Favorite CKI Memory: Personally, I really liked volunteering at the Gainesville Community Ministries spot. It was one of my first CKI events in the club and I truly felt that the work that I was doing was making our community a better place for others

Did you do Key Club in high school?

I was Vice President senior year and secretary the year before, and overall, I felt that it was one of the clubs I was most involved with in high school simply because of the variety of opportunities I was presented with for volunteering. We also had small service activities at every meeting, which were fun to do as a member and even more fun to organize and lead as an officer

What do you expect (to gain) from your time in CKI?

I expect to gain leadership skills and hope to grow an even bigger love for service

Fast Facts

Favorite TV show: The Office

Favorite movie: Top Gun Maverick

Favorite song/artist: Life goes on - Lil Baby

Hobbies: Pickleball, work out, sports with friends

Amber Morgan - Returning Member of the Month for November

Year: Second

Major(s): Biochemistry

Minor(s): Philosophy

Reason/passion for your choice of major(s)/minor(s): I am on the pre-medical track and I enjoy science! I am pursuing a philosophy minor for fun and as a break from STEM classes.

Favorite Tenet: Fellowship

Why do you love CKI?

I love the friends I have made in CKI and I enjoy doing projects and socials with them

Favorite CKI Memory: My favorite CKI memory is LTC. I loved meeting people from all over and doing fun activities and exploring Camp Kiwanis with them. I enjoyed bunking with my club and getting to know everyone better The best part of LTC was the challenge events we did as teams.

What are you most excited for this year?

I am most excited for DCON I hope to see everyone who was at LTC at DCON and can’t wait to make new friends. I am also excited to do a service project with everyone!

Do you have any reflections you'd like to share about your time in the club?

My time in CKI has been amazing and I love meeting new people at socials (especially the boba ones) I have been able to make an impact in the community and learn more about how I can help. I have also grown as a leader and I am proud to watch my fellow CKIers grow as leaders as well.

Fast Facts

Favorite TV show: Stranger Things

Favorite movie: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Favorite song/artist: Somethin’ I’m Good At by Brett Eldridge

Favorite Food: Chocolate

Hobbies: I play Quidditch on the UF Club Quidditch Team!

Paula Zamudio - New Member of the Month for January

Year: Third

Major(s): Health education and behavior

Favorite Tenet: Service

Why did you join CKI?

I was at the club fair and my friends stopped by CKI’s table, everybody was really nice so I decided to join

Favorite CKI Memory: the New Year’s Eve party at the elementary school! It was really fun interacting with the kids and painting their faces!

What are you most excited for this year?

Spending my 21st birthday in Vegas!!

Fast Facts

Favorite TV show: Scrubs and Outlander

Favorite movie: When Harry Met Sally

Favorite song/artist: CAAMP

Favorite Food/Cuisine: Italian food

Hobbies: In my free time I really love going for walks w my dog, work out (CycleBar is my go-to place) and walking around target/marshalls without actually buying something lol

Ashley Saint Jean - Returning Member of the Month for January

Year: First

Major(s): Chemistry

Minor(s): East Asian Languages and Literatures-Japanese

Favorite Tenet: Service

Why do you love CKI?

I have a deep love for CKI because of the supportive and inclusive community it provides The people I have met through CKI are incredibly nice and interactive, making it an enjoyable experience every time I attend an event. Furthermore, the service events that CKI hosts are not only fun, but also have a significant impact on the Gainesville community. These events provide an opportunity for me to give back and make a positive impact. Additionally, the social events organized by CKI are a great way for me to meet new people and broaden my network I always look forward to these events, as they provide an enjoyable and relaxed environment to have fun with friends and make new connections.

Favorite CKI Memory: My favorite CKI memory is making a Schuyler Sister's TikTok with Paula, Chloe, and Amelia at the medieval faire. We had the same costume on and it was a fun and lighthearted experience.

What are you most excited for this year?

I am most excited for this year because of the new service events that are being planned These events provide an opportunity for me to make a positive impact in my community and give back in meaningful ways I am eager to participate in these events and contribute to making a difference in the lives of those around me.

Do you have any reflections about your time in the club?

Reflecting on my time at University of Florida Circle K International (UF CKI), I can say that it has been a meaningful and impactful experience. Being part of UF CKI has allowed me to explore not only the campus, but also the diverse group of students at UF and the vibrant community of Gainesville. Through my involvement in UF CKI, I have grown as an individual, made lasting friendships, and had the opportunity to make a positive impact in my community

Fast Facts

Favorite TV show: Breaking Bad

Favorite movie: The Godfather trilogy

Favorite song/artist: Slo dancing in the darkJoji

Favorite Food/Cuisine: Seafood

Hobbies: Sleeping

Any Advice?: Sign up and come to CKI events!

January Recap

Here's a recap of all the fun events, socials, service opportunities and more that we had during January :)

January Recruitment -

Our Recruitment chairs, Kristen and Ryan, along with our members have worked hard this month to reach new students through tabling on campus Thank you to everyone who's tabled this month and helped to get the word out about CKI!

January 12Baby Gator

Baby Gator Child Development Centers offer high-quality care to children ages six weeks to five years and is located right on campus! As volunteers, we helped out with art and craft activities in the classroom.

January 12New year's Eve Party at Parker Elementary

We volunteered to help with Parker Elementary's New Year's Eve party.

January 14Hoggetown Medieval Faire

We volunteered at the Hoggetown Medieval Faire!

January 15Adopt-a-Street

We cleaned up and picked up trash along our adopted street.

January 17 -

UF Native Plant Nursery

The UF Native Plant Nursery produces native plant materials year-round for restoration and ecological enhancement work on UFowned lands. We helped pot plants and fill pots with soil.

January

18 -

Bento Social

After our general body meeting, we got dinner together at Bento!

January

20

Studio Ghibli Social

We had a cozy movie night watching The Secret Life of Arrietty and enjoying some warm milk tea and cookies

January 21Bob Ross

We had one of our most popular fundraisers where we followed along with a Bob Ross video and made some beautiful paintings :)

January 22Grow Hub

Grow Hub is a non-profit plant nursery supporting adults with disabilities. We helped with mulching, weeding, planting, and nursery maintenance

January 22 -

Cat Cafe Social

We petted cats and drank coffee it was awesome.

January 23 and 24Gainesville Community Ministries

As Volunteers helped pack food bags for those in need throughout the Gainesville community!

January 24Tennis SOcial

We had Sammie, our club tennis expert, teach us how to play tennis!

January 25Nicoya Farm

As volunteers, we helped out with tasks around Nicoya Farm.

January 26UF Trivia Night

Our philanthropy committee kicked off the semester with their first event: a super fun trivia night!

January 26 -

Salvation Army

We volunteered with Salvation Army to help them sort and organize donations

January 27Hoggetown

Medieval Faire

We returned for another fun day of volunteering at the medieval faire!

January 28 -

Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together is a nonprofit organization with the goal of preserving affordable homeownership and revitalizing neighborhoods through free home repairs and modifications for neighbors in need. As volunteers, we helped with exterior home improvements.

January 28The ELaborate Entrance of Chad Deity

We headed downtown to the Hippodrome to see a knock-out play together!

January 29Gainesville Sports Commission Indoor Track & Field Event

As volunteers, we helped with ticketing and assisting officials on the track

January 30Secret Seuss Social

We got together to share our favorite books and read in plaza of the Americas!

January 31Study Social

We gathered in the Marston basement to commiserate and study together :)

Thank you to everyone for coming out to our events this month!

Shout Outs

Shout outs are a way to show your appreciation for literally anything inside or outside of CKI! Send in your shout outs to ufcki org!

Shout out to Edward for just existing - Destyni

shoutout to destyni for being a better fish than johnny - Amelia

shoutout to Rachel for being a legit psychopath

Dear Samantha,

Hello. How are you? Don't answer that, for I do not truly care. Let me introduce myself, I am Chaos, or as my devout followers call me, Eris You may call me Eris and nothing else. I've decided to write to you for one reason and one reason only: I thought it would freak you out. Was I right? As your favorite artist Bo Burnham would say, are you feeling nervous? Are you having fun? It's almost over (it's just begun *insert sinister laugh here*). An alumnus of Bay High School in Panama City and current Psychology major like yourself may think you can decode who I am You cannot Knowing you, you're probably thinking "I'm going to make it my life's mission to find out who Eris is." That's cute but it will never happen Bye Bye now

Eris

shoutout to edward for establishing the soundstick army - Johnny

shoutout to destyni for dropping everything to go to a kfam event

shoutout to johnny for being a better fish than Olivia - Amelia

Shoutout to Patti for saying “Once a stripper, always a stripper.” at the Kiwanis Lunch - Destyni

“Doughboy” - Tom from Kiwanis - Des

shoutout to johnny for saving christmas!Olivia shoutout to destyni for actually being Beyoncé in disguise

shout out to the escaped chickens at the northside park cleanup

shout out to sammie for an epic tennis social :D - Emily

shout out to \ she's a real one

giysi

shout out to the socials committee for always planning such fun socials!

Anti shout-out to influenza (A and B simultaneously) for forcing me to miss a full week of Circle K events

Shout out to the Emily, Brandon, Edward and Helen for showing up to Salvation Army! - Kyle

Shout out to team Giysi :) - Kyle

Shout out to our new amazing Philanthropy chairs for throwing such a successful first eventRachel

Shout out to all of the new wonderful members that have graced CKI with your presence this semester!! - Rachel

Shoutout to the service chairs for raising the bar every semester!! - Rachel

Shoutout to Chloe for successfully planning a goat yoga event, even though many doubted her undeniable finesse. - Rachel

shout out to Oliiva for being the boot catAidan

shout out to Ryan K., Johnny, Edward and Ryan M for doing an AMAZING job recruitment at the involvement fair!!!

Shout out to Philanthropy for trivia night and the really nice whiteboards

shout out to everyone that went to the Bento event, we made a substantial amount more than expected - Fundraising

Shout out to the Knot for taking my day pass, they looked quite skeptical when I showed it to them - Adrian

Anti-shout out to Luke's Bagels Their sign totally says they take Venmo but they denied me and I had to use Apple Pay instead :(

shout out to Arrietty for being so small and 'borrowing' so much

shout out to the delicious cookies that johnny baked for the ghibli social

another customary shout out to the DnD gang, can't wait to perish at the hands of a vampire with you guys <3 - Emily

shout out to @ufcki.assassin, we are indeed Mitskiplier

anti shout out to the shout out above this shout out - Emily

shout out to the e-board. No specific reason, I just appreciate them

shout out to this newsletter specifically, it's a really good one. I especially like the thing it says on page 5. Go read that page again.

shoutout to the beautiful socials shadows for doing their own socials

shoutout to rachel for having a semi infinite supply of tennis rackets

shoutout to edith for donating a whole dollar for her first happy cents, didn’t know u were rich like that

Shout out to all the amazing new members!! Y’all are so funny and sweet and I can’t wait to see your amazing faces at future socials :D - Julia

Clayton,

I have heard from my sources that you think you know who I am. Bold of you to assume you know anything about me. Oh but I know about you: founder of the DND interest group, avid Bloodborne enthusiast, master of power metal. I know what makes Clayton Salvatori tick How are your medical school interviews going? How's your microbio/marine science/astronomy degree going?

Quite a few interests there A man of many paths

One could even says it's...chaotic. The one thing you are allowed to know about me is that I love chaos

That is all for now. Bye bye Clayton ;) Oh and... Fear the old blood

Shout out to the random West 20 resident who watched the Studio Ghibli movie with us and then did a head stand - Julia

shoutout to philanthropy for hosting an awesome first event!!!! - Olivia

shoutout to team giysi :D

shoutout to fundraising for absolutely slaying last semester and continuing to slay

shoutout to meghan for walking with me to the bathroom to get paper towels after i projectile launched a tennis ball onto sammie’s friend’s hot chocolate

shout out to the Millmans for playing tennis

shoutout to the socials shadows, edward and sammie, for planning awesome socials that i had so much fun at! :D - Olivia L

shoutout to skittles the cat

shout out to giysi - giysi

shoutout to tally for turning 19!!! YIPPEE!!!

Shout out to Chad Diety for being an absolute chad!

Shout out to Johnny and Julia for making the Cat Cafe and Tennis Social a reality!

Shout out to puss in boots

Shout out to Brooke for always planning such fun and unique ice breakers!

Shout out to my e-board besties, i love you guys hehe

Sorry to get sappy in the shout outs, but shout out to everyone in CKI, whether you've been around for years or you're new with us this semester It has been such a joy to share my college years with you all and I'm so sad to be graduating soon. Love y'all <3 - Emily

Shout out to the amazing costume performer at the Renaissance faire, i'll miss him so much

Shout out to the amazing Socials shadows who ran fantastic events this month!!

Shout out to the new committee members! I know y'all are gonna do great things this semester :D shout out to Annabella, the newest member of my family You're already slaying and I'm so excited to be your family head this semester <3 - Emily

Go Nicole for preserving our dignity in the SAI Bowling event!

Thank you Julia for getting me an amazing book! - Devanshu

Thanks Coach Sammie for not giving up on us even though we suck at tennis! - Devanshu

Shout out to Destyni's page of shoutouts - julia

shoutout to julia's shoutout to all of destyni's shoutouts - johnny

Shout out to Paula for getting so involved this month! - Destyni

Shout out to Ryan K for being a trooper when his car got booted at the Studio Ghibli SocialDestyni

Shout out to Philanthropy for having their first event!!! - Destyni

Shout out to Edward for letting me use his hand warmer at the Bob Ross fundraiser - Destyni

Shout out to Kayla for making friends with the random people that occupied our study room before the social - Destyni

Shout out again to Kayla for the toilet paper earrings. Slay - Destyni

Shout out to Courtney and Olivia for jamming to Taylor Swift with me in my car - Destyni

Shout out to the Rat Extravaganza at the Medieval Fair - Destyni

Shout out to everyone that hauled the really heavy rake at the track and field event - Destyni

Shout out to team Rekemez for winning the Trivia Event - Destyni

Shout out to the Olaf head at the New Year's Parker Elementary event - Destyni

Shout out to Annabella because all of her posts on the CKI IG have ~slayed~ - Destyni

Shout out to Amelia's Cat, \, for attending the Tennis social - Destyni

Shout out to Clayton for running the very first CKI D&D campaign - Destyni

Shout out to Socials for planning the Studio Ghibli social It was a lot of fun, and the milk tea slayed - Destyni

Shout out to Destyni for her awesome recruitment dances - Definitely not Destyni

Shout out to everyone who came out and supported CKI at the Bento Fundraiser! I was so surprised with the turn out. You guys are awesome - Destyni

Shout out to Johnny for reaching his goal of bringing 100 different people to Tuesday Pizookie night I am so proud of youDestyni

Shout out to Tally for their first month as Fundraising co-chair - Destyni

Shout out to Amelia for giving me the book - Destyni

Shout out to Ashley for just being awesome. You were at sooo many service events this month - it was so cool :) - Destyni

Shout out to the recruitment co-chairs for recruiting so much >:) - Emily

Shout out to my DnD party members (except Devlan, anti shout out to him) - Emily

shout out to Tally, their "YIPPEE"s fill me with immeasurable joy

anti shout out to johnny for trying to kill me with a peanut butter cookie

shout out to the Greek orator Clitarchus

shout out to study socials, i love how much we study and get work done during them

shout out to shout outs

BeReal of the Month

This month was very short on BeReals, so unfortunately the nerds won BeReal of the month. Here we are playing D&D >:D

Picture of the Month

The picture of the month that you guys voted for is this glorious picture I took of Johnny at the Northside Park Clean-Up. The chickens escaped.

Letter from the Editor

So, I'm sure many of you all have noticed that we've gotten some interesting shout outs in the last couple of newsletters. I wanted to let you know that, if you have any questions for our mysterious contributor, Eris, you can fill out the Google form attached to the QR code and they may answer your question in the next newsletter... or perhaps sooner. Much glory and bragging rights await whomever can deduce Eris's true identity before the semester ends. Best of luck ;)