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City: Cave Creek, Arizona
Club: Carefree, Arizona
Age: 59
Number of children: 1 son; 3 grandchildren
Occupation: Retired social studies teacher
Year joined Kiwanis: 1998
Current Kiwanis position: Lieutenant governor of the Southwest District Division 11
Previous Kiwanis position: Club president
Other community activities/accomplishments: Foothills Library board of directors; Foothills Community Foundation, representing the Caring Corps, which serves to keep seniors in the community in their homes by providing meals, visits, transportation, and social activities
Your motivation: “My generation has benefited greatly due to opportunities created by the sacrifices and efforts of the generation before us in the United States,” Kathy says. “I believe Kiwanis service, through sponsored leadership programs, provides a way for us to model for the next generation how to give back. The spirit of the mission of Kiwanis, to change the world one child and one community at a time, must be taught. I just may be the ‘one’ to make a difference for a child in my community.”
Why join Kiwanis: “I thank Kiwanis for giving me the opportunity to serve others. Without Kiwanis, we would not have the vehicle in our community to provide scholarships and leadership training for our youth. We must grow Kiwanis, as Kiwanis is the only service organization that truly serves the future!”
Favorite inspirational quote: “Membership matters so others can have a ‘Kiwanis moment.’”
As president of the Kiwanis Club of Carefree, Arizona, Kathy Haugner knew she had to stand up to make a change. The club had gotten used to sitting back and writing checks instead of getting out in the community and offering hands-on service to children. Kathy changed all of that.
“The goal for my presidency was to do something big,” she says.
There were many “something bigs” that happened to the Carefree club during Kathy’s term, but one in particular stands out: the Science Fair. The first Science Fair involved about 30 Kiwanians and 600 students, which was a great turnout. And the program has continued to grow. This past year, more than 1,500 students participated in about 600 science projects. The result: The Science Fair has dramatically raised the level of interest in science and math in the surrounding school districts.
Now settled into her role as lieutenant governor, Kathy has taken on “Hands Across the Border,” a project to adopt a school in Sonora, Mexico. Kiwanians honor its students for their academic achievement by rewarding them with certificates, T-shirts, and school supplies. Sonora, Mexico, Kiwanians are given about US$684 a year to carry out the program for the students.
“I intend to involve my Builders Clubs in Division 11 in helping the students in this school with friendship and support,” Kathy says. “We will make a trip to visit our neighbors. We will model hands-on service to our youth.”
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