Wooster, Ohio, U.S.
OHIO DISTRICT
Kiwanis Club of Wooster
Kiwanis Club of I-NExT
Biography:
I have devoted my adult life to helping children. I have been a public-school teacher, principal and superintendent. My wife, Becky, and I have three daughters and seven grandsons. Becky, daughter Kelly, son-in-law John and I are all Kiwanians in the Kiwanis Club of Wooster. I believe in operating with integrity, empathy, commitment, courage, respect, trust and collaboration.
Describe your Kiwanis moment — the moment you knew you were a Kiwanian.
I was chaperoning special needs children to see their first professional baseball game. Their excitement and tears shot a jolt through my heart and brought a tear to my eye. Now I was a Kiwanian for life! Also, our club built a new playground as the children watched and were so excited. They could hardly wait for it to be done and available to them.
Why did you decide to run for office?
As a trustee, I have worked with several Kiwanis International presidents and participated in board action for Kiwanis. I would like to ensure more transparency and priority of services to give clubs more useful tools to grow and be excellent. We need to provide templates and step-by-step procedures to clubs to see the best practices of successful clubs.
What qualifies you to become an officer of Kiwanis International?
As a Kiwanis International trustee, I was committee chair of Leadership Development and Education. I was also on the Executive, Audit and Finance, and Membership committees and the board of Kiwanis Youth Programs.
I served as Ohio District governor and lieutenant governor, and I was district chair on membership, new club building and Service Leadership Programs. I was 2019 Kiwanis Advisor of the Year for Key Club. I am a Member of Ohio District Hall of Fame and a Hixson, Zeller and Blechman Fellow.
What do you hope to accomplish during your term in office?
Using compassion, respect and teamwork, we will make all Kiwanis clubs active, growing and inclusive, and provide a lasting impact and legacy on their communities. I hope to research and innovate, educate and develop positive servant leaders, encourage collaboration, acquire additional members, be creative and develop partnerships with SLPs. I also want to develop templates for best practices of successful clubs.
What strengths do you bring to the Kiwanis International Board of Trustees?
More than 30 years of Kiwanis service, a 19-year superintendent career, and teaching and raising a family have prepared me with servant leadership, fiscal, interpersonal, teaching, negotiating and collaboration skills. I am prepared to use these skills with creativity to solve issues, grow our SLPs and Kiwanis, develop a pipeline of positive servant leaders, and create lasting change and a legacy for Kiwanis clubs.
Learn more about Kip Crain on his campaign website.