Kiwanis International Update

June 2008

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Review proposed amendments and a resolution, which will be presented in the House of Delegates at the Orlando convention.

Tell your story

Every Kiwanis club and every Kiwanis member has an inspiring Kiwanis story. And Kiwanis stories need to be told. Why? Because:

Children need help, and your story lets them know help is near.

Children need help, and your story will attract more members to help more children.

Children need help, and your story will teach qualities of compassion and leadership, which they can use when they grow up and compose their own Kiwanis stories.

One way to tell your story is via the Kiwanis International Web site. Share Your Story collects stories and photos from Kiwanis-family clubs worldwide. More than 5,000 visitors view the site every month, seeking ideas for their own clubs. It also is a prime source of stories for Kiwanis International publications.

Recent postings include:

Service—The Kiwanis Club of Aimeho Moorea, French Polynesia, arranged a day of environmental education, teaching children about their island’s fishing regulations.

Fundraising—Over the past 40 years, the Kiwanis Club of Friendly Duluth, Minnesota’s annual auction has sold everything from fuel oil to a used toupee, netting more than US$60,000 annually.

In Memory—When local authorities renamed a local street “C.W. Bercaw Way” to honor the late Mason, Ohio, Kiwanian, the club’s president, Jack Flaherty, noted: “It’s a true testament to the value placed on the volunteer efforts of individuals dedicated to serving our community.”

Share your story so the world will know how Kiwanis serves.

Convention countdown: A virtual guide to what's coming

With only a few weeks until the 2008 Kiwanis International Convention, virtual tour guide "Chris" has a few reminders about registration and entertainment.

Sign up to receive weekly video updates about the convention. (Check the "Convention Video" box.)

Magazine mines attributes of greatness

German children embark on a star-gazing expedition with Kiwanians. From his home in Trinidad and Tobago, a Kiwanis member helps the world fight HIV/AIDS. New parents are better parents after reading a Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District newsletter.

Read the June issue of KIWANIS magazine (English), which focuses on Kiwanis greatness. It will make you proud. Discover spectacular service projects that address the needs of young children. Meet inspiring people who devote their lives to children. And read about four “great” clubs that excel in service, membership, generosity, and fellowship.

Disasters’ children need help

Recent disasters have caused devastation in many areas of the world, prompting the Kiwanis International Foundation and Kiwanis International to issue a special plea for contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund.

Working with clubs in the affected areas, Kiwanis ensures contributions are directed to help children who have the greatest and most critical needs.

Contribute to the relief efforts or send your support to the Kiwanis International Foundation Disaster Relief Fund, 3636 Woodview Trace, Indianapolis, IN 46268-3196, USA.

Experience Kiwanis online

1. Get involved in the conversation at Kiwanis International CEO Rob Parker’s blog (English). Entries, such as the recent “Game of Life,” make lively conversation topics at club meetings.
2. Be there at the 93rd Annual Kiwanis International Convention, June 26-29. Even if you can’t be in Orlando, Florida, you can experience the fun, fellowship, and business. Daily postings will include video, photographs, speeches, forum materials, as well as House of Delegates news.

Women want to serve

According to a 2007 Kiwanis International survey of non-North American members, 68 percent of the female respondents said local service is the reason they are still Kiwanis members, as compared to 55 percent of the men who responded.

Convention countdown: A virtual guide to what's coming

With only a few weeks until the 2008 Kiwanis International Convention, virtual tour guide "Chris" has a few reminders about registration and entertainment.

Sign up to receive weekly video updates about the convention. (Check the "Convention Video" box.)

Win in Orlando

Kiwanis International convention attendees already are winners. From the June 26-29 Orlando, Florida, event, they’ll take home plenty of service project ideas, new friendships, and a renewed heart for service. But they also have a chance to win an array of prizes donated by Kiwanis districts worldwide.

Register now for the convention, and your name will be included in a drawing for prizes such as North American Indian artwork, a diamond cluster ring, buffalo meat, a kachina doll, and a Richard Petty racing experience.

Make new friends and win

This year, in Orlando, Florida, Kiwanis International convention attendees can meet new friends from around the world, get their autographs, and qualify to win "international" prizes. The International signature hunt contest encourages registrants to acquire signatures from 10 Kiwanians (each from a different country). Entry forms will be available on pages 55-56 of the official convention program.