Hope Markes elected 2026-27 Kiwanis International president

Hope Markes elected 2026-27 Kiwanis International president

Jun 27, 2026 | General interest, News | 0 comments

Other results include Cathy Szymanski as president-elect and Toto Gonzales as vice president.

By Tony Knoderer

Hope Markes of Hanover, Jamaica, was elected president of Kiwanis International for 2026-27 at the House of Delegates session during the 2026 Kiwanis International Convention in Manila, Philippines. Convention delegates also chose Cathy Szymanski of Wattsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S., as president-elect and Trinidad P. “Toto” Gonzales of Pampanga, Philippines, as vice president.

In addition, Valarie Brown-Klingelhoefer of Greenfield, California, U.S., Taka Ogata of West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., and Linda Ramsey of Martin, Tennessee, U.S., were elected to represent the United States and Pacific Canada Region as trustees.

This year, the Kiwanis International Asia-Pacific convention was held jointly in Manila, where Jose Ramos “Ike” Altavas of New Kapis, Philippines, was elected as a Kiwanis International trustee from the Asia-Pacific Region.

All of the Kiwanians above begin their terms on October 1, 2026. 

Votes on proposed amendments 
The House of Delegates also voted on proposed amendments to the Kiwanis International Bylaws. (Note: Proposed Amendment 1: Remote Voting for Kiwanis International Business was withdrawn by the Capital District before the convention.) 

The following proposed amendments were not approved: 

  • Proposed Amendment 2: Reduction of Executive Committee Members. Submitted by the Kiwanis International Board, this amendment would have adjusted the size of the Executive Committee to be commensurate with the size of the Kiwanis International Board.  
  • Proposed Amendment 3: Kiwanis Object #4 Change of the Word “Aggressive.” Submitted by the Kiwanis Club of Maplewood in the Missouri-Arkansas District, this amendment was intended to adjust the wording of the Object for modern sensibilities. 

Details on elected leaders
Hope Markes is a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Hopewell in Hanover, Jamaica, and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Northwest Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. For Kiwanis International, she has been chair of the Leadership and Education Committee and a member of several other committees, including the Executive Committee and the Membership Committee, as well as a member of the Kiwanis Youth Programs Board. Markes has a background in early childhood education and enjoys traveling, crossword puzzles, tennis, reading and gardening, as well as spending time with her family, friends and pets. 

Cathy Szymanski has been a Kiwanis member since 1994. Her home club is the Kiwanis Club of Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S., where she has served as Distinguished president and secretary. She was elected as a Kiwanis International trustee in 2019 and served as the board’s membership chair, as well as counselor for Circle K International, the Kiwanis program for college and university students. Szymanski has also served as Distinguished governor of the Pennsylvania District. Her spouse, David, is secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Millcreek and a member of eKiwanis 2.0. Szymanski will be president of Kiwanis International in 2027-28. 

Toto Gonzales has been a Kiwanis member since 1988. He is a three-time president of the Kiwanis Club of Angeles City, Philippines, where he has also served as secretary and treasurer. For the Philippine Luzon District, he has served as treasurer and as Distinguished governor. Gonzales was a member of the Kiwanis International Board from 2022 to 2025. He also served as the chairman of the Asia-Pacific Region in 2016-17. He is a Punong Barangay (barangay captain) of Barangay Sta. Cruz, Magalang, Pampanga. Gonzales and his wife, Beth, have three children and four grandchildren.   

The 2027 Kiwanis International Convention will be held in Dallas, Texas, U.S., June 16-19.

Making mental health support accessible

Making mental health support accessible

Jun 26, 2026 | General interest, Service projects | 0 comments

The Kiwanis Club of Central Okanagan funds cards and stickers that have contact details.

By Julie Saetre

Two years ago, an organization in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, proposed an emergency phone line for young people contemplating suicide. In response, the Kiwanis Club of Central Okanagan donated CA$40,000 to get it started. 

But this year, two area high school students were speaking about the importance of mental health resources for young people — and when they were asked whether they had heard about the youth suicide hotline, they said no.  

Clearly, something was needed to spread awareness.

Wendy Falkowski, a club member and the 2008-09 Pacific Northwest District governor, had an idea.

“Perhaps if youth had a pocket card or something they could scan into their phones,” she says, “it might be an idea to get information out.”

Putting help within easy reach
Fellow club member Tom Cockrell led the effort to spread the word about mental health resources. He met with groups of teens and school counselors at Kelowna Secondary School, Mount Boucherie Secondary School and George Elliot Secondary School, as well as the school district’s administrator of safety and well-being.

As a result, the Kiwanis club funded the creation not only of wallet cards, but stickers that students can affix to frequently carried items such as water bottles and cell phones. The cards and stickers have QR codes and phone numbers for agencies that provide mental health support for young people — including the original hotline established two years ago. 

In September, club members will reach more than 15,000 students by distributing stickers and cards to all of the district’s middle and secondary schools. Cockrell and other club members also hand out the materials at schools’ mental health information days, and additional cards and stickers are provided to youth centers and youth hostels.

“Mental health is a private matter that an individual keeps to themselves, but knows they need help,” Falkowski says. “Where do they find it? Now they don’t have to stand in the hallway in front of a mental health poster to write down a phone number. All they need to do is go to the QR codes.” 

Does your club support youth mental health in your community? Let us know by emailing shareyourstory@kiwanis.org. 

How to host a speaker at your Kiwanis club

How to host a speaker at your Kiwanis club

Jun 23, 2026 | General interest | 0 comments

Four steps to a productive exploration of new projects and partnerships.

By Julie Saetre

Inviting a speaker to visit your Kiwanis club is more than just an agenda item for a meeting. It helps your members learn about potential service projects or partnerships, and it introduces Kiwanis to community leaders. But to ensure that the experience is productive and positive for the speaker and your members, it’s important to properly prepare. These four tips can help.  

Establish clear guidelines. Give the speaker as much information as possible so they can make the most effective presentation: 

  • Confirm the meeting date, place and time. 
  • Make sure you and the speaker agree on the presentation’s content. 
  • Request a resume and the spelling and pronunciation of the speaker’s name to help you or another club member make a proper introduction before the speech. 
  • Let the speaker know the meeting’s agenda, the time allotted for the speech (and a Q&A session if appropriate) and the approximate time of the meeting adjournment. 
  • Share the expected number of members who will attend. 
  • Detail any available equipment the speaker can use (screen, lectern/podium, audiovisual equipment, computer, etc.). 
  • Explain the club dress code, if any. 

Make the speaker feel welcome. Make sure your guest feels comfortable from the moment they walk in the door: 

  • Ask an officer or member to greet the speaker upon arrival and introduce them to other members in attendance.  
  • Provide a guest or speaker’s badge and seat them at the head table (if applicable).  
  • Have water available within easy reach of the speaker during the presentation.  
  • Designate an officer or member to officially introduce the speaker and provide pertinent background information before the presentation. 

Invite local media. If the speaker agrees, a news story can promote both Kiwanis and the project or organization your speaker represents.  

End on a positive note. When the speaker’s presentation is over, don’t just move quickly to the next agenda item. Take a moment to show your gratitude: 

  • At the speech’s conclusion, thank the speaker and offer an inexpensive token of appreciation. Check out Kiwanis-branded merchandise for inspiration.  
  • Consider donating on the speaker’s behalf to a cause that reflects your club’s focus on service and community.  

Your interaction with the speaker can even extend beyond the meeting itself. A day or two after the presentation, send the speaker a note of appreciation on behalf of the club. And don’t forget to invite them to join!