Arts and Kids Fundraising and Membership Program pg.30
ISSUE NO. 23
Hope After Tragedy Pg.18
A Publication of the Texas-Oklahoma District of Kiwanis International
DIstrict convention pg.7
June 2022
KI-NOTES
Contact us
Governor: Brad "Governor B" McKenzie Governor-elect: Patrick McCage Immediate Past Governor: Paul Heinz
KI Notes Staff
The first Kiwanis Club in what is now the Texas-Oklahoma District, was officially completed February 10, 1917, at Dallas, Texas, with a membership of 200. Due to the increasing number of clubs across the country members realized the need of setting up the District organization. In October 1918, the Dallas Club selected one of its members to serve as interim Governor of the Texas-Oklahoma District until an organization conference could be arranged. The first meeting was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and on February 10, 1919, the Texas-Oklahoma District was organized.
4 Governor's Message 7 DCON 16 Our District 18 Hope After Tragedy 20 A Look at Clubs 28 M & M Team Trains New Club Building Teams 29 Children Services Programs 2021-22 30 Arts and Kids Fundraising and Membership Program 32 Growth Team Club Coach Coordinator 34 In Loving Memory 35 Editor's Message
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www.txokkiwanis.org
https://twitter.com/txokkiwanis
21-22 District Officers
Editor: Evelyn Herrera District Marketing Chair: Marshall Kregel
txokdist@swbell.net
P.O. Box 13160, Arlington 76094-3160
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OUR STORY
texas oklahoma district
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Gov. B is now on
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WOOO!
Texas Oklahoma Kiwanis District Governor's Message Brad "Governor B" McKenzie
The Intentional Life The theme and focus this year of BE Kiwanis is more than just a governor’s gimmick, but an effort of an extremely talented team tasked to bring continuity and excitement to this pivotal year. This year is pivotal because of the need for local clubs and the district to thrive again after the difficulties of the pandemic. I am excited to report the Mighty Texas Oklahoma District is indeed thriving on many levels and in many areas, especially in club service, growth in our SLPs, membership growth, club openings, and even clubs meeting together in person. Obviously, there is still much to do and even issues to address, but our district has much to celebrate, specifically YOU working as a servant leader in your club and community. I am a great believer in this philosophy, “Nothing of value in life happens by accident, what is valuable is done with positive intentions!” Now it is true any of us can do or say something with a selfish or negative intention, and often our good intentions can be received or perceived in a way we did not mean. Regardless of how someone might decipher our actions or words, the intentional life of servant leadership, service, and being the good in the world will never be a waste. In fact, when we intentionally use our lives for the betterment of the life of another, especially a child, there is no way we can ever truly quantify the long-term impact. BE Intentional is the second tier of our BE Kiwanis drive this year, and hopefully, we will all continue to work at Being Kiwanis even after this year is completed. The necessity of the intentional life has never been more important as we have been resetting and revising in a post-pandemic existence and continually adapting to a world needing servant leaders in every corridor of our society more than ever. In fact, the children of our world need us, the servant leaders and volunteers of Kiwanis, more than ever, even with all of the technology, scientific, and improved quality of life now available in more places. As the population of our world, the population of YOUR community, continues to grow, the number of children needing someone to advocate for them, to notice them, to hear them continues to grow. This is the necessity of the intentional life! I joined Kiwanis because I wanted to find an intentional way to truly serve in my community, be connected to the good already happening, and hopefully “do for one what I wish I could do for all!” From my teenage years, I have been involved in serving within the confines of the church, and just this year, celebrated my 25th year in vocational church ministry as a pastor. Kiwanis has provided for me the platform to be a servant leader and community service provider in a way that is not connected to my vocation or income. Although I work to live the intentional life in my vocation, there are admittedly several tasks I willingly do but are also expectations of my compensated role. Serving as a Kiwanian continues to give me and my family the opportunity to intentionally serve and intentionally give for the betterment of a child. So why are you in Kiwanis? Why did you join in the first place? I would like to challenge all of us as members and as clubs to revisit our WHY! It is easy for any organization, especially after the past two years to have some missional and values drift as we work to get active again. I want to encourage you in this, whatever your commitment level may currently be or whatever state your club may be, the chance to reinvigorate your WHY and choose intentionality again is available right now, don’t hesitate until tomorrow. The kids of your community are depending on you and your club, and they need all of us to BE Intentional. Remember this year, every member serving, every club serving, every single month! This will not happen if we are not intentional! TO Family: BE Positive, BE Intentional, BE a Servant Leader, BE KIWANIS! I am thankful for you, thankful for our clubs, thankful for our district, and thankful for the opportunity to SERVE! Yours in Service, Brad "Governor B" McKenzie Governor Texas Oklahoma District Kiwanis International www.txokkiwanis.org www.kiwanis.org
Plug-N-Play
June World Environment Day June 5 - organize or participate in a “pick up litter” campaign National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables month - donate fresh fruits/vegetables to homeless, local pantry, school backpack program or others July Honor veterans July 20th - National Hot Dog Day - Host a hotdog cookout at a local park August Back to school - provide school supplies to local schools National Dog month - provide supplies or donate time to local pet shelter
Upcoming PLUG-N-PLAY ideas...
We love Aktion Club! Check out this great video.
From ideas for service to innovations in fundraising, you’ll find it all at the 2022 District Convention! This year, you can choose to BE anything you want to be... Will you BE of service to your community? Will you BE a leader in your club or beyond? Will you BE Kiwanis and focus your efforts on serving the children of your community and the world? Friday's luncheon keynote is open to the public! DCON is an opportunity to serve the community and increase visibility of Kiwanis. The weekend will create connection opportunities so you can engage with Kiwanians across the district. You'll get to shop from local vendors and participate in the silent auction so you'll always have a memory from convention. We'll have dedicated educational tracks to help improve the impact you make in the community by covering recruitment retention, social media, impact, and fundraising. Become a better Kiwanis leader to inspire and organize your club, district or community.
Who is most important in Kiwanis? The answer is simple: YOU! The most important person in this amazing service organization is you, the member who is committed to your local club, pays your annual dues, and gives hours upon hours to make the world a better place, one child and one community at a time. We often say, “Kids Need Kiwanis,” but in all seriousness, “Kiwanis Needs You, the member!” For Kiwanis to succeed in its mission to serve the children of the world, we need each and every member to do their part to make a difference and to be the good and the positive for children. The reality for the Mighty TO District is this: without our amazing members, our district and clubs would not exist and the children we serve would be without the much-needed service and support given by our members each year. We all know the needs of our world are ever-increasing, especially for children, and these needs will continue to increase. Our work is never finished, and our clubs must continue to grow in membership to have the human resources to meet the ever-growing needs. My governor predecessors all worked hard to see the district grow in membership by promoting education, new member drives, and opening new clubs. Even with all this amazing work and dedication, our district has continued to lose more members than we gain every year. It has been about a decade since our district ended a year with positive growth in membership. This trend has several reasons, but none of these reasons are impossible to overcome. How can we reverse this trend and end this year with positive membership growth? It all comes back to you. The greatest asset and resource we have in this district to recruit and gain members is again YOU! Members personally recruiting and sponsoring others to join Kiwanis is the most effective and successful way to see new members come into your club. When you become a Kiwanis new member recruiter, you are making it possible for more children to be served in your community. We cannot grow without YOU! Our goal for 2021/2022 is to gain 1,000 new members this year. Although this is an ambitious goal, we have determined this is the number needed to be reached in order to overcome the loss of members with new members. This is what the Governor B’s K Club is all about! K is the goal of 1,000 new members. Anyone who personally sponsors a new member this year will be inducted into Governor B’s K Club and will receive several acknowledgments, including the coveted Governor B governor’s lapel pin for this year. The member who personally sponsors the newest members by DCON in Georgetown, TX will receive his/her club dues paid for the coming year. This is a club you want to be a member of! To date, we are now just over 500 new members and currently are +100 for the year! Let's give a big WOOO for our current success! We are on the home stretch for this Kiwanis year! We still need 500 members to personally recruit a new member before the end of September. We can do this; we can have net growth for the year! Remember members mean service to the children of our communities, and more members mean more service to the children of our communities!
https://www.txokkiwanis.org/dcon/
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August 4th, 2022-August 7th, 2022
2022 District Convention Committee Chair, John Cano, invites you to DCON from Georgetown's town square.
At town Square
DISTRICT CONVENTION 2022 Georgetown
There is a lot to see and do at the convention! Dedicated educational tracks to help improve the impact you make in the community. Recruitment. Retention. Social media. Impact. Become a better Kiwanis leader to inspire and organize your club, district or community. Check out our agenda to see what interests you!
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This year's convention has a lot in store for Kiwanians. From a variety of workshops to a silent auction, Kiwanians are in for an exciting weekend. We will even have special guest appearances made by Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder, Kiwanis International Area Director Brad Boyd, Kiwanis International President Peter Manusco, and our future District Trustee Linda Lawther.
What's In Store?
A Glance at Fees
Registration Fee Early (Until May 31) - $90.00 On-Time (June 1 - June 30) - $95 Late (July 1 - August 3) - $110 On-Site - $115 Add-Ons Thursday Past Governor's and Spouses Luncheon - $35.00 (Only for past governors or their spouses) Friday Keynote Luncheon - $35.00 Saturday Breakfast - $20.00 Saturday Foundation Luncheon - $34.00 Saturday Governor's Banquet - $64.00 Please send a message for dietary restrictions.
2022 DCON Session Themes
Opening Session - BE KIWANIS In this session we will introduce the District Leadership from the Club Presidents to the Governor. We will highlight Kiwanis moments of clubs. Friday Lunch - BE POSITIVE In this session the Mayor of Georgetown will be our Keynote speaker. Seating is limited as the General Public is being invited. Register early to hear how Kiwanis has made a positive impact in Georgetown. Saturday Morning - BE INSPIRATIONAL During the traditional Memorial session, we will hear short memories about the honorees who inspired their club and community during their Kiwanis service. Saturday Lunch - BE INTENTIONAL Sponsored by the T-O Foundation, this session will focus on how we Intentionally serve by donating to the T-O Foundation. We will also be focusing on JEDI - Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and hear a panel discuss how they both affect others and are affected by these 4 tenets. Saturday Night - BE A SERVANT LEADER The passing of the Governor's Banner and all the pomp with the changing of the guard will be the main focus. At this session, we will highlight how the leadership positions of the Club and District are more than a title.
Visitor Guide
Watch as Host of Daytripper Chet Garner provides some insight into beautiful Georgetown, TX.
Tour Georgetown
James Edward “AUGGIE” Augenstein
Kiwanis Background Joined Southwest Oklahoma City Kiwanis Club on August 17, 1978 (43 Perfect attendance) President SW OKC Kiwanis: 1979-80, 1980-81 & 1999-2000 (Distinguished) Club Secretary: 1985-1999 & 2000 – 2008 (Distinguished 21 times) Club Secretary/Treasurer: 2008-2009 & 2016 to present Lt. Governor: 1982-83 (Distinguished) and 1987-88 T/O Keywanette Administrator: 1983-1986 T/O District Sergeant-at-Arms: 1994-95 T/O District Chair Sophomore of the Year: 1995-96 T/O District Chair Children Miracle Network: 2009-10, 2010-11 & 2011-12 T/O District Chair Children Services: 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 & 2018-19 T/O Division 30 CMN Chair: 22 years; T/O Division 30 “Sophomore of the year”: three years Life Member Kiwanis International since 1983 (Recipient Kiwanis International Hixson Award) Life Member Texas/Oklahoma District of Kiwanis Life Member Texas/Oklahoma Past Lt. Governors’ Association Member of Kiwanis/Children’s Miracle network Committee (30 years) Attended 34 Texas/Oklahoma District Conventions - Attended 19 International Conventions Auggie’s Personal Background Born May 04, 1943, in Gowanda, New York Widowed twice: 1996 (married 31 years) and 2016 (married 19 years) Married to Sarah Ann on September 09, 2018 (Sarah is Kiwanis President) One daughter- Dr. Jamie Augenstein (Past President Kiwanis Henderson, NV) One Step-daughter and Two Stepsons from previous Marriages 12 Grandchildren and three Great Grandchildren Graduated from Arcadia High School, Arcadia, California 1961 Attended Pasadena College, Pasadena CA Joined U. S. Marine Corps from 09/26/1962 to 01/26/1966 - Cryptographic Maintenance Technician Worked for Pacific Telephone & Telegraph from 02/07/1966 to 07/17/1972 Transferred to Southwestern Bell 07/17/1972 – retired 05/06/1996 Loaned to United Way by SW Bell “Selected Loaned Executive of the year1989” Volunteered with United Way serving as a Loaned Executive in 1996 Member Board of Directors for the “Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled” 1990-1997 Hired as the Executive Director for the “Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled” 1997-1998 A spokesperson for the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital Foundation” since 1984 (CMN) Office Operation Supervisor for the Denver Region of the 2020 United States Census from February 2019-2020 for Kansas, Oklahoma, and North Texas. Deacon Tulakes Baptist Church, Bethany, OK.
Your Governor Elect Candidates: James Augenstein
Your Governor Elect Candidates: Kathy Culbertson
Dr. Kathy Culbertson
About Me I am a retired educator who has devoted my life to education, modeling servant leadership in the public-school setting, in the Baptist church arena, in Kiwanis and Key Club organizations, and in the various communities where community service and volunteerism are essential. Holding a Doctorate in Education and Public Administration, I have served in both City Council roles as well as a School Board Trustee. I can truly relate to Kiwanis’ focus on the children. Serving in public education for 38 years in roles of teacher/coach, counselor, assistant principal, and principal, it is easy to have my heartstrings tugged by children, no matter what their ages, and my motto of “Serving with Passion and Compassion” are never-ending. My Kiwanis Connections: • Became a Key Club faculty advisor from 1996 to 2000 • Upon retiring as a school administrator in 2014, I returned to the West Side Kiwanis Club of Fort Worth • Club secretary from 2014 to present • Served two terms as Lieutenant Governor of Division 1 from 2017 to 2019 • Recognized as Distinguished Lieutenant Governor in 2017-2018 • Membership in two Kiwanis clubs –Fort Worth and Weatherford • Award-winning West Side Kiwanis Club Newsletter Editor, 2017 to present • Award-winning Division 1 Newsletter Editor, 2019 to present • Division 1 Selection Committee for Sophomore of the Year, 2019 to present • Currently serving on Weatherford Kiwanis Board Member • Member of Texas’ Club Growth Team, certified Club Coach • Currently serving as Region 1 Trustee • Currently serving on District Budget Committee • Completed Amplify leadership training My Secular Connections: • President of the Gordon ISD School Board • Serves on the First Baptist Church, Gordon, TX, Personnel and Budget Committees • Volunteers in local school activities and local community activities: athletic concession stands, sponsorship of student activities, mentorship roles; food pantry, Twice Blessed second-hand clothing store, highway cleanups, Meals on Wheels • Leads and participates in ladies’ 7R community Bible studies and ladies’ FBC Bible studies • Served on Benbrook Chamber of Commerce’s Tax Increment Finance Committee, for 2 terms Personal Connections: • B.S. from Wayland Baptist University – health, physical education, English; M.S. from Texas Tech University – Educational psychology; Ed.D. from University of North Texas – Educational and Public Administration • Married to my high school sweetheart; Mother of 4 grown children; Grandmother of 8 ranging in ages from 12 to 29 • 38 years in public education as teacher/coach; high school counselor; assistant principal; principal, central office – from 1A to 6A school districts throughout Texas
Kiwanis Club of Waco Golf Tournament is being held Wednesday, June 22 at 1:00 p.m. There will be contests, cash prizes, and door prizes.
Kiwanis Club of Rockwall will be hosting the Kiwanis Tri-Rock Triathlon August 7, 2022.
OUR DISTRICT KIWANIS TEXAS-OKLAHOMA DISTRICT
The Kiwanis Club of Kyle/Buda is one of the sponsors of this year's Kyle Market Days hosted by Kyle Parks and Recreation Department. They are celebrating Juneteenth at Mary Kyle Hartson City Square Park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 11.
This course has been certified by the USATF as an official 5K distance. Our certification is TX14071ETM. This is a very flat and fast course. The event will be held Monday July 4, 2022. Race will be chip timed by Race Day Event Services. RACE DAY SCHEDULE: 7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. – Registration/Packet Pick Up 8:00 a.m. – 5K run/walk begins Awards given immediately following conclusion of 5K Early Packet Pick-up will be available at the YMCA July 2, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. July 3, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. REGISTER BY June 25th TO BE GUARANTEED A T-SHIRT! $25.00 11 & over $20.00 10 & under and 65+ **Race day Registration add $5.00 to above fees First place overall male/female winners will each receive a $30 gift certificate from Chicken Express. Second place overall male/female winners will each receive a $15 gift certificate from Chicken Express. Medals will be presented to all other age category winners. Age categories: 12 and under, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+ Special raffle prize $100 Visa Gift card from First National Bank
To say anything is a pleasure following a tragedy is taboo. However, speaking with Greater Randolph Area Kiwanis (GRAK) President and Uvalde librarian Mendell Morgan is always a positive experience, even in dark times. As calls and emails popped up, asking how people could help Kiwanians in my division, Mendell took time out of his busy week to share what had been going on in his corner of Uvalde. “This is a small, rural town with a strong Hispanic flavor. Family is key in this culture, so the heinous act has impacted an enormous number of people in Uvalde and far beyond.” The library has been used for a variety of functions since the shooting. “My vision of the library is to serve as a civic and cultural center where all are welcome to find resources for information, education, recreation, and inspiration. We want our building to be a safe space, a refuge that is a quiet, calm, and cool haven.” Mendell and his staff chose to continue with programs, as usual, the day after the shooting, holding Story Hour for the children and providing resources to aid parents as they try to help their children understand death and healing. The library has also opened its doors to reporters from across the country, providing facilities, wifi, and a moment of relief from the Texas heat. While most locals are eager for the media to leave town and let them recover in peace, Mendell acknowledges that most of the reporters don’t want to be there either; they have been sent to do their jobs, facing a story that none of us knows how to face. Hopefully, telling the story will help them – and the survivors – begin to heal. Mendell said he has received calls offering assistance from all over the country, naming cities from all four corners. The generosity is not limited to fellow librarians or authors who are sending box after box of signed copies of their books to distribute to the local children. Psychologists and social workers have offered their services free of charge to anyone needing help coping with the shooting. Therapeutic massages are available. Stuffed animals and care packages for children are being gathered. A variety of individuals are providing their talents and businesses free of charge to bring joy to the kids in the community. These include balloon artists, magicians, miniature horses, and more. Mendell reported that teachers had been summoned to school the day after the shooting to meet with therapists and other professionals to help them cope. Graduation was postponed, but by now, the funerals are already underway. He pointed to the $175,000 that had been donated to cover the costs of the funerals and flights for family members to attend. The Go Fund Me account established to support the children of the teacher and her husband who both passed away has exceeded $2.5 million. Members from Northeast San Antonio Kiwanis took time on Memorial Day to deliver a check from the club’s foundation and individual contributions to the Uvalde Kiwanis President-Elect Olga Charles. Kiwanians from the Woodlands club will be sending “Hey Buddy!” bears to the families that were impacted. The continued opportunities for generous neighbors to get involved are endless. Among those opportunities are the community relief fund set up by the Community Foundation of the Hill Country in Kerrville and First State Bank of Uvalde as well as the Los Angelitos de Robb Memorial Book Fund at El Progreso Memorial Library in Uvalde. Mendell also invites people to send 3 x 5 index cards from other children - or adults - who want to share a message of encouragement. These will be posted on a Caring Wall display at the library. Mendell leaves us with hope. “One takeaway is that this is a strong community where we have true care and concern for one another. Many if not most here hold fast to their faith believing in God, that good is stronger than evil and light is stronger than dark… There has been an enormous outpouring of support from throughout the nation. It affirms that even out of the most horrific circumstances some good will come.”
Hope After Tragedy
Insight to the Aftermath of the Uvalde School Shooting. Submitted by Courtney Fallway
If you would like to donate to families impacted by the tragedy please visit www.gofundme.com/c/act/donate-to-texas-elementary-school-shooting-relief
University Kiwanis Club Wichita Falls, Texas 66th annual Pancake Festival Submitted by John Rhoads
Lake Granbury Kiwanis Club conducted a Food Drive on May 21, 2022 raising over $2,000 worth of food for our local pantries.
Our outstanding Governor Brad McKenzie was extraordinarily kind to attend and energetically participate in the 66th annual Pancake Festival of the University Kiwanis Club in Wichita Falls on Saturday, April 23. We put him to work around 7 AM while the crowd flow was "lite" and he seemed to enjoy it, almost as if he had done it before! It was a great pleasure to have him attend and was very much appreciated by our club members. We had our 64th Pancake Festival in January 2020 before social gathering restrictions were put in place. Because of the pandemic, we had a DIY (do it yourself) drive-through Pancake Festival on March 27, 2021, by selling pancake mix and sausage via online orders and a pick up of the ordered items in University Kiwanis Park in Wichita Falls. Through the gate numbers for this year (6,447) were down somewhat from previous years, possibly because of lingering concern about disease transmission. Too, our Festival is normally held on the last Saturday of January, so our April 23 date was simply "out-of-sync" for many supporters in our community. We'll do better next year because there is a new crop of kids that come every year! So THANK YOU GOVERNOR BRAD! Come see us anytime.
Lake Granbury Kiwanis Club Food Drive Submitted by Eva Gregory
Creating massive impact one project at a time.
A Look at Clubs
The Kiwanis Club of Abilene awarded $10,000 in scholarships to 2022 graduating seniors.
Southwest Oklahoma City Kiwanis worked with an underprivileged elementary school to bring about SPECTACULAR results. In August of 2021, the club President and the club Secretary visited with the Vice Principal about trying a “B. U. G.” and a “Terrific Kids” program. The club found out that the school had several other needs. The club agreed to purchase some needed supplies and equipment for the school. The teachers said that they had a need for a “laminating machine” to make posters and signs that would stand up to handling by teachers and students. The club purchased the $49.99 machine and extra laminating sheets. The club also purchased a large quantity of ‘First-aid supplies for the school nurse. As the year progressed the SW OKC Club initiated the “Terrific Kids” program on a monthly basis, even though the school has ‘Covid Restrictions’ in place. The teachers loved the program and really responded. As the First semester ended the school had 251 students out of the 425 students who improved their grades. The SW Club was very pleased with the effort and encouraged the teachers and the students to achieve more. When the FINAL grades came in the school and the club was thrilled. At an awards assembly attended by the parents and the President of the SW OKC Kiwanis Club, 501 grades had been improved by 326 students. 76.7% of the students raise at least one grade; this does not count those students that were already straight “A” students. 22 students actually raised four grades each. During the morning and afternoon assemblies, the principal, teachers and the parents thanked the Kiwanians for the encouragement to their students from both the “Terrific Kids” and the “B. U. G.” programs by the Kiwanis. At that time the Kiwanis Club Donated four $100 gift cards for a drawing of B.U.G. recipients. SW OKC Kiwanis is very pleased with this success!
Southwest Oklahoma City Kiwanis Club SW Oklahoma City encourages 326 students Submitted by James "Auggie" Augenstein
School’s out and the Jones city park is about to be busy! Recently, the Jones Kiwanis Club spent the day cleaning picnic tables, power-washing the pavilion, offering disc golf lessons, and serving hamburgers! Phew, what a busy day!
Kiwanis Club of Abilene Scholarship Presentations Submitted by Charles Kirkpatrick
Jones Kiwanis Club Service at the park Submitted by Kelly Poland
Go Greenville
Submitted by Pat Bowman
School’s out and the Jones city park is about to be busy! Recently, the Jones Kiwanis Club spent the day cleaning picnic tables, power-washing the pavilion, offering disc golf lessons, and serving hamburgers! Phew, what a busy day! Greenville Kiwanis Clubs have been making a huge impact in their communities and have gained a lot of recognition. Recently the Greenville Golden Kiwanis Club was featured twice in the Greenville Herald Banner. They wrote about the club's Pancake Day and a recent meeting celebrating member Chuck Dryden. The club held its Pancake Day on May 21, 2022. GISD Communications Director Amy Wade and GISD Superintendent Sharon Boothe both purchased tickets to the event. This event was made possible by Kiwanis volunteers and donated batter. During their May Kiwanis meeting, the GGK club awarded a Kiwanis International Legion of Honor 25-year award to Chuck Dryden. This award is given to long-time members of Kiwanis who have dedicated years of service to their community. The Greenville Herald-Banner has featured the club before, you can find more Greenville news content at https://www.heraldbanner.com/. Whilst GGK continues making an impact as does the Greenville Noon Kiwanis Club and their own sponsored Key Club. Terren Moore, President of the Noon Kiwanis Club, presented Sebastian Gonzalez with a $600 check on May 10 at Greenville High School. Sebastian was selected as the 2022 Sophomore of the Year by the club. His application and essay will move on to the Division 32 level and then on to compete at the Texas Oklahoma district level. The winner of the Texas Oklahoma district will be announced at a later date. Sebastian is a member of the Key Club at GHS, where he will serve as president during the 2022-23 school year. The Key Club works closely with the Golden K’s and Kiwanis Clubs on community service projects around Greenville. Also pictured with Sebastian is GHS Principal Dr. Brant Perry. GGK's very own Sponsored Key Club, Greenville High School Kiwanis Key Club, celebrated the graduation of their seniors. The graduating seniors shown in the photo below were presented by Ms. Natalie Mougia, GHS Faculty Advisor, with their Key Club Cord that they wore at the graduation ceremony on Friday 27 May. This Cord signifies that they have met the volunteer service hour and meeting attendance requirements during their senior year. They have supported the Greenville Golden Kiwanis in helping build ramps for the Texas Ramp Project, Beds for Hunt County Kids, and painting Mini Libraries for Hunt County United Way. Four of these seniors have been in the Key Club for all their High School careers. These outstanding graduates are Left to Right: Puja Bhusal (4 years), Riya Bhusal (4 years), Jerad Pastor-Perra, Aarati Bhusal (4 years-Superintendent Scholar), Sidney Sadler (Student Council Vice President-Superintendent Scholar), Tisha Pradhan (4years-Superintendent Scholar) and Mikey Wilson). The Greenville Kiwanis Clubs have done an excellent job of supporting their communities and uplifting their members. The clubs will make sure to keep us on our toes with their next acts of service .
Kiwanis Club of Harker Heights Citizenship Award Submitted by Vivian Marschik
Kiwanis Club of Plano Plano Kiwanis Books, Buddies & Beyond service project Submitted by Jeanette Kelley
Gen Robert M Shoemaker Citizenship Award is awarded to only 1 student at the school who exemplifies service in their actions and character, exhibits and is involved in selfless service in the school and/or community demonstrates responsibility, honorable, and a positive leader. Sophia Rios-Wallis from Harker Heights HS, Evan Ringstadt from Harker Heights Elementary School, and Regina Roker-Magar from Eastern Hills Middle School were presented with the award.
Place: Forman Elementary School Plano, Texas. Time: Wednesday, May 25, 2022, A day after children and teachers' lives were lost in Uvalde, Texas. Why: Graduation day for 100 kindergarten students. Plano Kiwanis was invited as we gave 100 bilingual books to each child to help with written language skills. Those Gathered: Fathers and Mothers no matter backgrounds or future, who are without question immensely proud of their children. Thoughts: It was heartbreaking to see these children so small and vulnerable just a day after a Texas tragedy. Books, Buddies & Beyond provides bilingual books to a Boys & Girls Club "Reading Room" project, Head Start activities, and Plano ISD schools were invited and needed. We hope to expand bilingual books to medical office waiting rooms and libraries. We fill a small niche where it is helpful to have community involvement.
Kiwanis Club of Norman Oklahoma Finding Stability Submitted by Breck Turkington
Denton Kiwanis Club Who is Your Hero Submitted by Robin Meyer
As one of our monthly service projects during the month of May, Denton Noon Kiwanis held the "Who Is Your Hero" art contest for third graders attending Hodge Elementary in Denton. There is a total of 6 third-grade classes on this campus and we received a total of 99 submissions. We worked with the campus's art teacher on this project. Prizes were awarded for first through third place for each classroom, with the winners each receiving an art kit and a certificate. There were also two "Grand Prize" winners, each receiving a bicycle, helmet, and air pump.
After many months of on and off again in-person meetings, we have stabilized and maintained weekly meetings since early February 2022. Knowing that many of our local community service organizations have also struggled over this time (particularly with fundraising efforts) Norman Kiwanis decided to highlight one group each month for 2022 and provide them with $1000.00 to support their efforts in our community. We also supported an emergency request from Aging Services to assist in funding a replacement mini-bus, which carries the name “Kiwanis Kruiser”. Our ongoing service efforts include Terrific Kids for our elementary schools, hosting VA Bingo, and providing for a Christmas Party for patients at Central State Hospital located in Norman. We were also excited to resume our support for our local Special Olympics State Qualifying event. This was the first time in three years that they have been able to hold this event. Norman Kiwanians provided drinks, snacks, lunch, and instant photos, and with the help of the University of Oklahoma Women’s Basketball team cheered and encourage these special athletes. We look forward to resuming our fundraising events in the upcoming months with a golf tournament and our annual Pancake Day.
The Kiwanis Club of Paris recently presented its annual scholarships. This year they presented a total of $21,000 to 27 Key club members from Paris, North Lamar, and Chisum High Schools. To earn one of the scholarships the students were required to be a member of Key club, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, and have at least 40 hours of community service during high school.
The Kiwanis club of Paris Annual Scholarships Submitted by David Phillips
The Harker Heights Club has had a very busy month of May. On May 4th we awarded the Stewart C Meyer Scholarship of $1500 at the JROTC Awards Ceremony. On May 10th we awarded 4 more $1500 Scholarships at Harker Heights High School: (2) P R Cox Memorial Scholarships, H. B. Davis Scholarship, and the Harker Heights Memorial Scholarship. We also recognized the TX/OK Sophomore of the Year for District 23 Scholarship applicant and the Robert M Shoemaker Citizenship Awards at Harker Heights ES, Eastern Hills MS, and Harker Heights HS. On May 17th we held a Teacher Appreciation at Harker Heights Elementary School and received a tour to see the wonderful work their students are doing. On May 14th we had our annual Pancake Supper Fundraiser at Harker Heights Elementary School. May 30, 2022, will begin our American Flag Delivery fundraiser for homes and businesses in Harker Heights. Photos included: JROTC Scholarship winner Tanner Joines (Right) and Scholarship recipients Donald Bentley III, Grace Koh, Ava Young, Anahi Hernandez-Martinez (SOTY), & Elaina Beckham (Left).
Kiwanis Club of Harker Heights Month of Scholarships Submitted by Vivian Marschik
The annual 89er Days Celebration commemorates the Land Run of 1889 and the birth of Guthrie. The celebration features a parade, carnival, and a host of other community events. See the following for a complete schedule of events: http://www.89erdays.com/big-wheel-race.html. The Guthrie Kiwanis offered our Big Wheel Race. Kids ages 3 - 7 participated in this fun event that honors a classic toy.
Guthrie Kiwanis Club 89er Days Celebration Submitted by Suzette Chang
Kiwanis Club of Baytown Busy May Submitted by Al Richard
The Kiwanis Club of Baytown Texas stayed busy during the month of May as the club held its annual Sophomore of the Year Luncheon and Scholarship Luncheon on consecutive Thursdays. In addition, the Club held its annual scholarship fund raiser – a GOSH tournament. GOSH is a combination of a golf and fishing tournament (GO for golf and SH for fish). This year’s tournament raised over $18,000 for the club’s scholarship fund. The club recognized seven sophomores as campus winners in the annual Texas-Oklahoma Foundation Sophomore of the Year contest. Each school in the Baytown area submitted essays for sophomores and one winner from each high school was selected. That winner, O’hanna Moore advances to District competition representing Division 28. The following week, eight graduating seniors were presented with $2,000 scholarships for their accomplishments throughout high school. The scholarship presentations marked the 74th consecutive year that the Baytown Kiwanis Club has honored seniors with scholarships.
Young Children Priority One: Young Children Priority One (YCPO) is an ongoing community service program of Kiwanis International that addresses the needs of children aged 0–5. All clubs are encouraged to carry out at least two YCPO projects per calendar year. Young Children Priority One focuses on four key areas: •maternal and child health “Pregnancy Crisis Centers” •child care and development •parent education and support •safety and pediatric trauma Summer is HERE! What has your club planned for the children in your local community? Do you plan to let them run wild or do you have some plans to keep them busy and out of trouble? There are several things that your club can do during the summer. 1. Sponsor kids to a summer camp. Some parents can not afford to let their kids attend a camp. YMCA, Scouts, Church, or Boys & Girls Club. 2. Work and teach in a community garden. A wonderful way to teach while helping feed kids in your community. 3. Tutoring/Helping at the library with summer reading programs. The club can sponsor awards for reading programs or provide free books for kids to take home. Many libraries enjoy having guest readers. 4. Sponsor a neighborhood bicycle/wagon parade for the Fourth of July. The club can supply flags and decorating material for some homemade floats. Be the judges for the best decorated or the best theme float. 5. Host a movie night at the community park or swimming pool. This could become a monthly project for the club. 6. Sponsor a swim team at the local pool or YMCA. Clubs can supply medals and ribbons for the events. If your club likes a FUN work program, how about a “Bicycle Rodeo”! It is an opportunity to get Kids, Law enforcement, and Kiwanians to work together to make sure that the kid’s bicycles are in good working order, the kids know the SAFE bicycling rules of the road, and are capable of riding safely. Get your Key Clubs involved and make it a K-Family affair.
CHILDREN SERVICES PROGRAMS 2021-22 Submitted by Chair Children Services Sarah Augenstein
We are bringing kiwanis back along with all our programs for students!
Susan Hennum & Marshall Kregel trained 3 teams of new club builders on April 26—28 in Ennis, Texas. Governor B., Club Coach Coordinator Paul Heinz, Trustees Marty Mullins, Kathy Culbertson, Thomas Callaway, and Peter Journey along with Denise Kornejay, David Lockridge, and Belinda Journey attended the training. New Clubs are being built in Ennis and Commerce Texas. If you have any contacts in these two areas please let us know. Coach Club Coordinator Paul is working on an Oklahoma Location. If your club would like to share Kiwanis with a town near you please contact Susan Hennum at susan.hennum@hotmail.com to find out how you can get your team trained!
Join us Wednesday June 8, 2022 at 5:15 p.m. at the Hunt County Justice of the Peace & Constable's Office, 1106 Main St. Commerce , TX 75428. Bring your ideas for local service projects. We want to hear from you!
M & M Team Trains New Club Building Teams Submitted by District Growth Chair Susan Hennum
Kiwanis is Coming to town Come hear what all the excitement is about!
Getting our clubs involved in the local arts communities to help kids Original Concept: Based on the original program created by Marshall Kregel for the Richardson Kiwanis Club in 2010. We asked local arts groups for donations of artwork that we could sell with the proceeds going to select children’s programs within the city. This turned out to be very successful with many art donations to the club. We sold the artworks at art shows and festivals around town. We had posters and flyers that explained that the profits from the sales would go to some very select children's programs and we listed them on our posters. We also heavily promoted the artists that donated their works on flyers and in our social media and email campaigns. Parts of the program in getting the arts community involved with the Kiwanis organization are: 1. Promoting the artists, their websites, pictures of their work, and doing video interviews to share with the community. 2. Plan public events, like art festivals, where a Kiwanis booth can be set up to showcase our efforts to help kids learn to read, participate in the SLP programs, and take donations through PayPal, Venmo, or other payment systems. 3. Provide teaching opportunities where the artists can teach kids, perhaps on Saturday mornings, at a school, library, YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, or in another public venue. 4. The arts could also include music, dance, and theater. Lots of schools across the district (and nation) have cut back on arts programs in schools due to budget constraints. This is not fair to the kids. A great arts program can build kids' mental and social health and help them excel in other school programs. How to promote the Arts and Kids program for your club If your club would like an opportunity to support kids in arts and potentially get new club members from the arts community, take the following steps: 1. Utilize the marketing material created for clubs on the district website. You can find this material under the marketing tab here: https://www.txokkiwanis.org/marketing 2. Contact members of the arts community through the following resources: a. Town Arts Council b. Artist Group Facebook or Instagram pages c. Local community college or 4-year colleges (ask the CKI members for help) d. Join the local “Meetup” groups online for arts social groups e. Send material to local galleries or go on a visit and talk about your program f. Look for promoters of local art shows and send them material or ask for assistance in contacting local artists 3. Plan an event in town to showcase artistic talent and sell booths to artists. Also, have a Kiwanis booth at all town events to hand out material regarding the arts and kids programs. And…don’t forget your press release! 4. Also showcase participating club members or new members on all club media in order to promote their businesses. The term “starving artists” isn’t just a passe name for artists. It’s a real thing. Support the arts and they will support you! 5. Encourage artists to help kids by donating artwork that can be sold at a Kiwanis booth at an art show. Remember…promote the artists! 6. Give artists a chance to participate in teaching arts to kids and get them to help plan promotional events. Find a local venue that you can use and advertise it to parents as a place to take their kids on a Saturday morning. You might have to take reservations because you will quickly become overwhelmed by the participation! If you have to charge the parents a few dollars in order to pay for the venue or the materials for the class, then that won’t scare off the participants. 7. We (the district) have contacts with wholesale operations like Dollar Days to purchase art kits for kids in bulk, at great prices. Getting involved in the arts is fun for kids of any age, even those with grey hair. And…you are providing such a wonderful opportunity for children who otherwise would be missing out on a crucial part of their education.
Arts and Kids Fundraising and Membership Program Submitted by Marketing Chair Marshall Kregel
To better understand the new concept pitched below, visit the following website: https://www.fastcompany.com/90430283/i-started-a-creative-community-heres-why-you-need-one-too
Greetings fellow Kiwanians, The Kiwanis year is quickly coming to an end, but as always we still have much to do. I have spent a lot of time on the road working with clubs on membership and organization. I cannot express how important it is for the club officers to get training. Your Lt Governor should have provided the incoming club president, secretary, and treasurer with the leadership books. If you have not received it or just want to see what the officers learn, here is the link for the online guide: https://www.kiwanis.org/clubs/member-resources/training/leadershipguide (toward the bottom of the page there is a link to download the entire guide). This guide is very informative for the officers, but it also has a Kiwanis 101 section that is a great intro for the new Kiwanian. I also recommend clubs create a trifold that has specific information about the club projects, Service Leadership Programs, and fundraisers. People want to hear about what they will be doing in the community when they join a club. Growth is still very important and we should continue to recruit new members all through the summer. With prorated dues, there is no reason to wait. We have a large team of club coaches in the T-O District to provide assistance when requested. A club coach alone cannot guarantee success, it takes club members willing to put in the effort to succeed. Simple actions provide positive results. Start by asking your guest speakers if they would like to be a member, invite those helping you with your projects, follow up with former Key Club and CKI members, and ask friends and relatives. By not asking, you are denying them the opportunity to say “YES”. Consider inviting potential new members to a project, most new members are more interested in our projects than our meetings. Hopefully, by now you have signed up for the Texas Oklahoma District Convention – on August 4-7, 2022 in Georgetown, TX. This is a great area to visit and the convention will offer something for everyone. The pandemic shut us down for the last two years, so this will be a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. If you want me to visit or get someone to come to help your club with growth or just to make the Kiwanis experience better. Call, text, or email me to get a coach and/or Past Governor mentor scheduled to visit your club so that we may help you recruit new members and/or get back to the pace you were before the pandemic. Looking forward to seeing you at the District Convention in Georgetown!! Thank you for your service, Paul Heinz Immediate Past Governor, Growth Team Club Coach Coordinator, Lt. Governor Divisions 20 & 21 Texas/Oklahoma District of Kiwanis International (405)246-5972(405)246-5972 #KidsNeedKiwanis
Texas Oklahoma Kiwanis District Growth Team Club Coach Coordinator Paul Heinz
KI Notes submissions can be emailed to txokkiwanis@gmail.com.
Texas Oklahoma Kiwanis District Editor's Message Evelyn Herrera
Hello Fellow Kiwanians, Can you believe it is already June? This year has flown by in the blink of an eye! I am here to remind you to take a moment to catch your breath. I understand a lot of our summer programs are coming into play and you are ready to rumble, but it is important to take moments for yourself as well. Remember to get plenty of sleep, eat well, and keep hydrated during this hot summer. I would also like to take this time to wish everyone a happy pride! It is important to recognize the diversity of our members and I want everyone to know that they are cherished. Remember to please stay safe and time for yourself. Have a happy summer!
Month
Division
Club
Name
April
2
Mc Kinney
John Moore
May
32
Greenville Golden K, Greenville
Elvie Tipton
17
Weatherford
Lessley Prince
30
Del City
Darrol Evans
June
Henry Myrick
16
Stillwater Golden K
Norman Durham
All listed with sympathy and memory.
In Loving Memory
“Never. We never lose our loved ones. They accompany us; they don’t disappear from our lives. We are merely in different rooms.” – PAULO COELHO