A New Look pg.23
ISSUE NO. 19
Helping Hands pg.16
A Publication of the Texas-Oklahoma District of Kiwanis International
Be Kiwanis
Governor B pg. 6
KI-NOTES
October 2021
For 2021-22 Texas-Oklahoma District Governor Brad McKenzie, Kiwanis is all about every club and every member doing service.
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OUR STORY
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5 Governor's Message 6 Introducing Governor B 10 A Look at Clubs 22 District Content
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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.
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Texas Oklahoma Kiwanis District Governor's Message Brad "Governor B" McKenzie
DISTRICT CONVENTION 2022 Georgetown
August 4th, 2022-August 6th, 2022
WOOO!
A look at Governor B's first informational video to the district! In this video Governor B introduces his vision for our District and fellow Kiwanians. Specifically, he aims to focus on what it means to BE KIWANIS. In reference to what it means to "Be Kiwanis", he highlights the importance of service. In relation to service he introduces Plug and Play service opportunities. Plug and Play service opportunities are service ideas/projects that your club can do with limited time and finances.
Beginning this term as Governor of the Mighty Texas-Oklahoma District of Kiwanis International, I am humbled and privileged to have the opportunity to be your chief servant-leader for the next year. I want to congratulate all the new leaders from those elected to serve their local club, LTG’s elected to serve their division, and trustees elected to serve their region. I also want to welcome back those serving again in these servant leadership positions as well as our committee chairs and SLP Administrators. The children we serve are greatly impacted by the way you give of your time, talents, and resources by “Making the world a better place, one child at a time!” Every member and every club serving the children and youth of their community must BE our focus during the 2021-2022 Kiwanis year. What will we BE? This is the question I will be asking as I travel around the district and host various meetings and educational opportunities. We have an opportunity to reset, redefine, and recommit our personal lives and the purpose of each of our local clubs to the never-ending mission of “Serving the Children of the World!” In a nation more divided and tense since the Civil War, we must find ways to bring stability and common ground to the communities and experiences of our children. I am convinced serving those who need us is one of the greatest equalizing and unifying engagements in life. When we serve alongside another person, we become more focused on doing good and being good than we are on the differences which often divide us. As well, when we teach our children the lifestyle of service, we give them a perspective of life which values human life and makes sacrifices for others without expecting anything in return. I became a Kiwanian to service, and I expect you did too! As we continue to come out of the COVID 19 pandemic, let’s reaffirm our personal commitment to service and refocus our clubs back to the reason they began in the first place. This year, every member serving, every club serving, every month! What will we BE? Let’s BE Kiwanis!
2021-2022 Governor Brad "Governor B" McKenzie
As Brad “Governor B” McKenzie begins his year of leading the Mighty Texas-Oklahoma District of Kiwanis International, we find there is much more to our governor than you may know. Governor B fell in love with the service leadership opportunities Kiwanis offers when he joined the Pasadena, TX club. Wanting to discover what good was happening in the community and the way he could serve, as well as help plug others into service, the Kiwanis Club and their amazing members welcomed him to be part of the family. After serving as a club board member and various chairs, he eventually was elected club president where he would lead the club to become an Eliminate Model Club, grow in club membership, and have a greater impact and partnership in serving in the Pasadena community. After a successful year as club president, Governor B was elected to serve as Division 28 LTG. At the 2017 DCON in Abilene, TX, he made the commitment to Governor Patrick Schibi to open at least one new club in Division 28. Although this commitment was accomplished in the opening of the Texas Bay Area Club in June of 2018, little did he know the challenge he would face just three weeks later with the arrival of Hurricane Harvey. This catastrophic storm would devastate a vast area of the Texas gulf region, where hundreds of thousands of families were impacted in the Harris County area alone. This however became an opportunity to serve. Working with the T-O Disaster Relief committee led by Marshall Kregel, clubs around the district, as well as all over North America, Governor B was able to organize a relief center that would eventually help an estimated 40,000 people over an 18-month span. From food to paper goods, clothes, and 18,000 pairs of new shoes, the impact was great and provided many Kiwanians and non-Kiwanians hours and hours of service, especially to children. While leading this effort, he was asked to stay on as president of the Pasadena Club while still serving as an LTG. That year, he would open a club as well as lead his club and division to distinguished status, as well as distinguished club president and LTG status. He was awarded the most valuable LTG for the 2017-2018 year and Division 28 won growth awards for new members. In the summer of 2018, Governor B was elected to be Trustee of Region 2 where he served until being elected Governor-Elect in 2020. He also served as the district PR chair for two years. A Presidential Zellar Fellowship award winner and a two-time C.T Bush Fellowship award winner, yet with all the accolades and honors, Governor B considers his faith, family, and service opportunities the most valuable parts of his life. Married to his amazing bride Emily for 16 years, along with 15-year-old daughter and new Key Club member Anna Claire and eight-year-old son Jack, the McKenzie family live in Orange, Texas. There he is senior pastor of Orange First Church of the Nazarene while Emily is a language arts teacher at Mauriceville Middle School. Both children are active in church and extracurricular activities. Governor B is thankful for an amazing family who supports both his vocation as a pastor and his love for service leadership in Kiwanis. In their free time, the family loves to spend time together outdoors and traveling, especially going to the beach and attending Houston Astros games. Service is a family affair, and the McKenzie kids are being raised to “do for one what you wish you could do for all!”
A HOSPITAL DONATION Kiwanis Club of Victoria Texas (Foundation Inc.) donated $16,785 for 5 “high tech” bassinets to our local hospital. These units are replacing some that are more than 30 years old.
75th Anniversary The Kiwanis Club of Victoria Texas is celebrating 75 years of service to their community. One of their members was able to was able to secure some public service announcements on Lamar’s electronic billboards
Butterfly festival The Northeast Tarrant County Kiwanis Club held its annual Butterfly Festival September 11th & 12th, 2021. The festival is a time fot people to enjoy walking amongst hundreds of butterflies.
Voice of Granbury Audition Night The Kiwanis Club of Granbury just held their third annual Voice of Granbury Audition Night on September 16. It's a singing competition where their top three finishers qualify for the next "Main Event" show on January 20. It is also a great fundraiser in its own right. The club landed on the front page of their local paper, and raised over $6400 in net profit. There are some great singers in this area. The club would love to share our fundraiser idea with other clubs in the area.
PARADE OF GOLD For September Childhood Cancer Awareness the Kiwanis Club of Edinburg participated in their local Parade of Gold. Many other orginizations participated as well. Key Club students from Economedes and EHS also made the goodie bags. for the event!
FISHING TOURNAMENT The Woodlands Kiwanis Club. held their annual kid's fishing tournamnet Sat 09/04/21. This experience gives kids the opportunity to have fun and catch fish.
OUR DISTRICT KIWANIS TEXAS-OKLAHOMA DISTRICT
Trade Days The Bonham club has found a great way to raise funds for children’s programs in Fannin County as well as the rest of Texas and Oklahoma. Video by Mark Jones, marketing team video producer for Texas Oklahoma District.
The Harker Heights Kiwanis Club is very proud of the Key Club Secretary Grace Koh being chosen as a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist
Harker Heights Kiwanis Club Harker Heights Student Named National Merit Semifinalist SUBMITTED BY Vivian Marschik
Killeen ISD is proud to announce that Grace Koh of Harker Heights High School has qualified as a Semifinalist in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. Of the approximately 1.5 million students who enter the National Merit Scholarship Program each year, only 16,000 high school seniors are named as semifinalists. Koh entered the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking a 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists makes up less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. Koh will have the opportunity to continue in the competition toward one of 7,500 National Merit Scholarships that will be announced in the spring of 2022. To become a Finalist, Koh will work with her counselor at Harker Heights High School to submit a detailed scholarship application, which will contain an endorsement by a campus official, an essay, and her academic record, to include participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. Merit Scholar winners are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.
Clubs are looking to positively impact their communities in many ways.
A Look at Clubs
Our Club had another successful July 4th Freedom Fest 2021 event with the festival piece added back in. Last year due to Covid-19, we only held the fireworks display. This year we were able to add back in a limited 3-hour festival. The local crowd was ready for outdoor activities as the crowd greatly exceeded our estimates. This is our 2nd year back in Sooner Park and is proving to be an asset from a sponsorship/marketing opportunities perspective and the ability to expand the number of events in a more comfortable green space setting. We look forward to having a normal festival and fireworks display in 2022. (Tower & Fireworks Picture by Tony Lehmer.)
Kiwanis Club of Bartlesville, OK Freedom Fest 2021 SUBMITTED BY Konrad Brandemuhl
The Kiwanis Club of Hideaway Lake is a large, active service club dedicated to the support of children in our local communities in East Texas. Our revenue is generated through local fundraisers and donations. Near the end of each fiscal year (Sept 30), we determine if our revenues for the year have exceeded planned budgeted expenses. Should we have a surplus, we donate these excess funds to selected local organizations and institutions that share our goals of loving and serving our kids and others in our communities. A total of $25,000 was donated in varying amounts to this year’s 2021 Day of Giving recipients: Youth With a Mission Living Alternatives Ministries Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County Lindale ISD Education Foundation Children’s Village of Texas Tyler Type One Diabetes Foundation Meals on Wheels Heart and Hands of East Texas Breckenridge Village .
"The Kiwanis Club of Hideaway Lake feels honored that God has chosen us to pass along His blessings to each of you and your fine organizations. God is well pleased with your efforts. Keep up the good work with which He has chosen for you. We all represent His light for Truth and Love in East Texas." - The Kiwanis Club of Hideaway Lake
Kiwanis Club of Hideaway Lake End of Year Donations SUBMITTED BY Ann Lee
Kiwanis Club of New Braunfels Kiwanis Heart of a Hero Award SUBMITTED BY Courtney Fallway
In September, the Kiwanis Club of New Braunfels awarded its first Heart of a Hero Award. The goal of this award is to honor someone who strives to make the world a better place for children, in alignment with the primary goal of Kiwanis. The initial award was presented to Comal County District Attorney Jennifer Tharp. She champions the children of New Braunfels in several capacities both in and outside her professional capacity. She has served as a Board Member for the Children's Advocacy Center of Comal County a decade longer than any other board member. She is a co-founder of Comal County Cops for Kids Foundation, which has raised over $300,000 in charity funds for local non-profits that assist children. At the award presentation, she described how her blessed childhood drives her to share a piece of that goodness with children in our community. When asked which of her projects is her favorite, she said she couldn’t narrow it to just one, but if she could pick three, they'd be Cops for Kids, working with the schools, and David’s Law, which focuses on cyberbullying. The club is grateful for the work Jennifer does in our community and for the opening pitch, she will be throwing at our Blue Santa/Green Santa softball fundraiser in November.
Kiwanian Vincent Villaflor, Mr. & Mrs. Gibson, Jacqueline Gibson (University of California) Kiwanians Gwendolyn Johnson and Cynthia BentleyUniversity) Kiwanians Gwendoly Johnson and Vincent Vilaflor
President Cynthia Bentley, Nikayla Fitzgerald (Howard University) Kiwanians Gwendoly Johnson and Vincent Vilaflor
Kiwanis Club of Kyle-Buda Helping Hands SUBMITTED BY Cynthia Bentley
The Kiwanis Club of Kyle-Buda is an immensely active club. The club prides itself in remaining active and being able to offer a helping hand to its community. The following are insights as to what the club has been up to. Distributing School Supplies The Kiwanis Club of Kyle Buda, in partnership with the Kyle and Buda Police Departments, Unforgettable Families and Friends and Word of Life Christian Faith Center and Cheops Temple #200, Prince Hall Shriners distributed 388 backpacks filled with school supplies. Each child also received a new pair of tennis shoes and socks. Each child was able to select a few books to take home for their personal library. Creating Star Pouches The Kiwanis Club of Kyle/Buda, Texas is an official Star Maker of "Star Pouches", in the ``Stars for Our Troops program. The Stars for our Troops program takes old, tattered, and worn out American Flags and turns them into a prized possession for an American Soldier at home, currently serving veterans and our First Responders. Stars for our Troops, "Star Makers", share embroidered Stars to let them know they are not forgotten. Stars for Our Troops headquartered in Troy, N.Y. Donating to Disaster Relief The Kiwanis Club of Kyle/Buda, Texas donated school supplies to Austin Disaster Relief for children affected by Hurricane Ida in Louisiana. Awarding Scholarships Kiwanis Club of Kyle Buda awarded two college scholarships. Nikayla and Jacqueline are the first recipients to receive scholarships from the Kiwanis Club of Kyle/Buda. Texas.
Presented by the Kiwanis Club of Sun City Georgetown Five Sun City homes will be decorated by homeowners and local decorators New for 2021---GLAMPERS---UPSCALE CAMPING ACCOMMODATIONS. The owners are members of Sisters on the Fly. These will be decorated with holiday cheer. DATES: FRIDAY, DEC 3, from 4 PM TO 6 PM; SATURDAY, DEC. 4, from 10 AM TO 5 PM; SUNDAY, DEC 5, from 12 T0 4 PM LOCATION: SUN CITY TEXAS IN GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, ON DEL WEBB BLVD OFF WILLIAMS DRIVE. MAP OF HOMES WILL BE ON TICKET AND SIGNS WILL BE NEAR ALL HOMES. FIVE HOMES ARE ON TOUR AND GLAMPERS AT LEGACY PARK OFF DEL WEBB BLVD. COST: $10 IF PURCHASED IN ADVANCE, $15 IF PURCHASED AT THE TOUR HOMES. BUY TICKETS FROM KIWANIS CLUB MEMBERS, AT THE NOVEMBER CRAFT FAIR, THE SUN CITY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION CENTER AT 2 TEXAS DRIVE IN SUN CITY (IN PERSON OR ONLINE), THE GEORGETOWN VISITORS CENTER AT 103 W. 7TH STREET, FIRST TEXAS BANK IN SUN CITY, AND AT 5321 WILLIAMS DRIVE Kiwanis Club of Sun City Georgetown gives thousands of dollars each year to children’s programs in Williamson County. The following lists the major organizations receiving donations from Kiwanis: “It is all about Kids” Literacy program—Twice a year volunteers read part of a book to an elementary school class (Georgetown and Jarrell ISD), and then give each student a copy of that book. Kiwanis donated over 73, 000 books since inception. Service Leadership Program at local Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, including K-Kids, Builders Club, and Key Clubs. Georgetown ISD Educational Foundation sponsor Scholarships to local students graduates--- at Georgetown, Richarte, Eastview, and Jarrell High Schools
Kiwanis Club of Arlington A Fun Trip SUBMITTED BY Evelyn Herrera
The Kiwanis Club of Arlington takes pride in being able to provide its members with fun opportunities to socialize. The meeting held on July 21st, 2021 was one such occasion. Prior to this meeting members were given the opportunity to RSVP to tour the Ranger's Global Life Field. Members were also able to bring a friend or spouse to accompany them on the tour. This outing allowed for members to socially engage with each other as well as take in the historical beauty at the ballpark. The home of the Texas Rangers held something interesting for all visitors. From historical wonders to amazing architecture and design, the tour proved to be very engaging.
Kiwanis Club of Sun City Georgetown TWENTIETH ANNUAL SUN CITY TEXAS HOLIDAY HOME TOUR SUBMITTED BY Stacey Robinson
Pittsburg Kiwanis Club Little Miss Peach Queen Ball SUBMITTED BY Jackie English
In the small town of Pittsburg, Texas, each September thousands of people come out for the annual Pioneer Days Festival. This is a week-long festival that includes a Little Miss Peach Queen Ball, a Leadership Luncheon, a Health Fair, a Latino Heritage Night, a parade, arts and craft vendors, food and carnival rides, and an impressive Queen’s Coronation. On Wednesday, September 15, Chamber President James Wallace (a member of the local Kiwanis Club), crowned the 2021 Peach Queen, Ms. Sadie Burrow. Sadie was sponsored by the Pittsburg Kiwanis Club, of which both of her parents, Dr. Rodney and Makala Burrow, are members. Each summer, seven upcoming high school seniors are selected to run for the title of Peach Queen and are given six weeks to raise funds. The girl who raises the most money is declared the Peach Queen. Each girl is assigned a sponsoring club or business that assists them in their fundraising efforts. When Sadie approached the Kiwanis Club to request that we serve as her sponsoring organization, we were happy to help, just as we helped her older sister Marandy Burrow claim the title of Peach Queen in 2019. For six weeks, Sadie worked tirelessly to raise funds. In addition to selling tickets to events at the annual Pioneer Days Festival, girls may also secure sponsorships and sell ads for the Festival Guide. Girls may also put together raffles and other fundraisers. Sadie secured several raffle donations including a limited edition gun, a deluxe spa package, a signed guitar from a Texas Red Dirt singer and songwriter, a handmade quilt, a kayak, and an umbrella covered in $1 bills and lottery tickets (It’s Raining Money). In addition to all of these fundraisers, the Kiwanis Club also assisted Sadie in a Chick-Fil-A luncheon and sold nearly 800 sandwiches. Sadie visited businesses in Pittsburg and the surrounding communities daily to request support for her fundraising efforts. In 2021, the Peach Queen and her court raised an impressive $140,000+, up from just over $74,000 in 2019. Funds raised by the Peach Queen Court are reinvested in the community, with a priority on youth programs. Each member of the court is the recipient of a scholarship to assist with their higher education. In 2019, Queen Marandy was awarded $2,500 and the additional six members of the court received $500 each. Sadie is on the A-B honor roll, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and participates in cheer, and serves as an athletic trainer. After graduating from high school, she plans to pursue a career in nursing.
A New Look Submitted by Evelyn Herrera
The Texas Oklahoma Kiwanis District has officially moved out of the building! With this new Kiwanis year comes a new adventure for the district team. The office Administrator, Laura Arnhart, is now working from home and has a sweet office setup. Changes may seem scary at first, but they are nothing but an opportunity for new experiences. We understand that this change may be difficult to adapt to but we are here to assist you any way we can. Our new mailing address is as follows: P. O. Box 13160, Arlington, TX 76094-3160. Items for the district or the Texas Oklahoma Kiwanis Foundation are to bee mailed there. Please note that DUES still should be sent to Kiwanis Int’l at the 3636 Woodview Trace address and all KI Children’s Fund donations. For further information please feel free to reach us at: TX-OK District of Kiwanis Int’l www.txokkiwanis.org & TX-OK Kiwanis Foundation www.tofoundation.org P. O. Box 13160, Arlington, TX 76094-3160 * 817-640-7711 * FAX 1-866-574-0698.
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Young Children Priority One: Young Children Priority One (YCPO) is an ongoing community service program of Kiwanis International that addresses the needs of children age 0–5. All clubs are encouraged to carry out at least two YCPO projects per calendar year, though many clubs are able to do more—serving children, families, and communities. 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 School has started and now is the time that Kiwanians can make a difference in the school life of many, many children. Check with YOUR local school and see what the staff needs that the Administration doesn’t purchase. My club bought 2500 Band-aids for our elementary school. It is the little things that sometimes make a difference. Terrific Kids: Terrific Kids is a student recognition program that promotes character development, self-esteem, and perseverance. Students work with their teacher to establish goals to improve behavior, peer relationships, attendance, or schoolwork and to reach their goal during a specific time period. All students reaching their goals are recognized as Terrific Kids! Recognition includes being pinned as a Terrific Kid; a pizza, ice cream, or other food-themed parties; and presentation of certificates and other giveaways. Bring Up Grades: Bring Up Grades recognizes students who raise their grades to an acceptable range and maintain or continue to raise them from one grading period to the next. Recognition includes being placed on the school's BUG Honor Roll, a food-themed party, and the presentation of certificates, buttons, and other giveaways. ** This program works well when adapted to Middle school or Jr. Highs.
CHILDREN SERVICES PROGRAMS 2021-22 Submitted by Sarah A. Augenstein
Greetings fellow Kiwanians, Governor Brad McKenzie has taken the reigns and I am looking forward to an exciting year in the Mighty T-O District!! I now serve as your Immediate Past Governor, but the Membership Chair, Susan Hennum, requested I join her membership team to assist with club coaching and I have accepted this great opportunity. As we return to the new normal, club coaching and mentoring are more important than ever. I plan to work with the Past Governor Committee and our T-O certified club coaches to help the clubs find the assistance they desire and need to succeed. The district marketing, public relations, and membership teams are also available to help promote your club. The coaches and mentors will help you integrate the ideas provided by those teams to ensure your club realizes the maximum benefits. Please reach out to me to get a coach and/or mentor scheduled to visit your club so that we may help you recruit new members and get back to the pace you were before the pandemic. Thank you for your service, Paul Heinz Immediate Past Governor Texas/Oklahoma District of Kiwanis International (405)246-5972 #KidsNeedKiwanis
Joining the membership team Submitted by Paul Heinz
With the start of the new Kiwanis fiscal year, I take on a new volunteer role of District Chair for the Kiwanis Children’s Fund and am looking forward to this role. I want to thank John Martin for his past service in this role. I also want to thank our own Ann Wilkins of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, for her service to the KCF. Starting on October 1, 2015, she was appointed to serve a three-year term as Kiwanis Children’s Fund trustee. Since that time, she was also appointed as treasurer, president-elect, president, and just wrapped up her term as immediate past president of the Children’s Fund. Please help me congratulate her on her leadership of the KCF during the most trying time in recent history. Annual Club Giving. The good works of the KCF function in large part to Annual Club Giving. Please check with your club board and consider adding a line item to your service budget for KCF. (Don’t forget the Texas-Oklahoma Kiwanis Foundation.) The recommended amount is $10/member or equivalent to what you’ve contributed in the past. While I don’t know what the criteria will be for Distinguished Club, contributing to the KCF has frequently been among the criteria for Distinguished Club. If your club hasn’t contributed in the recent past, consider starting with the recommended amount or consider the amount 365. $1 per day per club from your service account. Do you know that some of the funds sent to KCF by clubs come back to the District as an optional grant? 15% of every dollar sent to the KCF has the potential to come back to the District for an appropriate service effort. I understand in the past the District has used our funds to send SLP members to our DCON. Consider giving to the KCF so the District can fund similar efforts.
Submitted by Konrad Brandemuhl
From the Texas-Oklahoma Kiwanis Foundation Submitted by Konrad Brandemuhl
With the new Kiwanis fiscal year, it is my pleasure to begin serving as President of the Texas-Oklahoma Kiwanis Foundation. I wish to thank John Curlee, who just completed 2 – 1-year terms as President and many years of service to the Foundation. I have big shoes to fill but am glad John is still serving as a Trustee of the Foundation and available to provide guidance. I wish to also thank Denise Deason-Toyne, who has served as Trustee and President, and Robin Meyer who has served as Ex-Officio member for their years of service. Both are rotating off the Foundation. Dennis Mitchell has stepped down from his role on the Foundation and I wish to thank him for his many years of service as the Treasurer of the Foundation. I also wish to welcome Courtney Harris to the Foundation as a Trustee and Patrick McCage as an Ex-Officio member. We look forward to working with both. One of the main activities of the Foundation is to award scholarships. Since the question already came up from a Kiwanis member, I wish to share estimates which have been shared with me regarding the scholarship. Expect applications to be ready by Thanksgiving and we do not anticipate any material change to the applications. Key Club and CKI Scholarship Applications will be due in late Jan. or early Feb. Sophomore of the Year Applications will be due in late Feb. or early Mar. Key Club & CKI winners will be announced at their respective conventions and SotY will be announced at our DCON. Annual Club Gift. For the Foundation to award scholarships every year, we need your assistance in the form of Club Gifts and other awards such as the CT Bush and Gary Hicks. Like the Kiwanis Children’s Fund, both Foundations have an annual club gift program. Please consider asking your club board about an Annual Club Gift and adding it as a budget line item in your club’s service budget. The recommended amount is $10/member per Foundation. While I don’t know what the criteria will be for Distinguished Club, contributing to the Foundation has frequently been among the criteria for Distinguished Club. 100% of your donation is in support of Texas-Oklahoma service leaders. .
2021 DCon Submitted by evelyn Herrera
DCON was once again held virtually due to complications concerning the Pandemic. Nonetheless, the Texas Oklahoma Kiwanis District team beautifully constructed the virtual convention. The virtual convention was very engaging and because it was held virtually, you can experience it first hand once again! The video below is a recording of the wonderful work done by our District.
Know Where You Go: History of Indiana Submitted by Courtney Fallway
Indiana became a US state in 1816. Prior to statehood, it was part of the Indiana Territory, along with Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota. The capital of Indiana was Vincennes first, then Corydon. Indianapolis became the permanent state capital in 1824 due to its central location. Indianapolis officially received its city charter – and its first railroad – in 1847. The annual Indiana State Fair first took place here in 1852, and the first recorded train robbery in the United States took place in Indiana in 1866. The first professional baseball game took place in 1871 at a stadium in Fort Wayne. That same city was the first to host a game at night with artificial lights brightening the field. 1911 was the first year that the 500-mile Memorial Day race (a.k.a. the Indianapolis 500) took place. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a 2.5-mile oval track. During the two years prior to the first car race, the speedway was used for racing balloons and motorcycles. A few famous people who’ve spent time in Indiana are President Abraham Lincoln, Public Enemy #1 John Dillinger, and author of Ben-Hur General Lew Wallace. Elvis Presley’s last performance was in Indianapolis, and Carole Lombard’s last public appearance was there too. To learn more about local history, be sure to include the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center in your plans when you travel to Indy for the Kiwanis International Convention next summer
ymca Kiwanians can volunteer with their local YMCA. YMCAs provide a variety of resources to their local communities and are open to volunteers. Kiwanians can opt for typical YMCA volunteer opportunities such as sharing their talents and mentoring OR they can join special holiday events (depending on their local YMCA).
Gift Wrapping Gift wrapping is always a great holiday activity. You can set up a table at local shopping area and even invite Key Club to join! You can shop at Dollar Tree for wrapping paper or bags and tissue, tape and scissors. Suggested Donations as well.
Feeding America Clubs can contact local food banks to understand what items may be needed and host a food drive. For clubs worried about COVID, they have the option to do a virtual food drive. Some locations even offer pick-up services.
With the pumpkin spice aroma in the air and chilly weather approaching, it is a reminder that our favorite holidays are right around the corner! Halloween, Day of the Dead, Thanksgiving, Indigenous Peoples Day, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and more await us. These holidays prove to be great times for acts of service. The TX-OK team has put together a few ideas that your club could do this wonderful holiday season. They are also in the process of coming up with a special Christmas Program for this year. Please take a look at the following ideas for some club holiday inspiration.
Salvation Army Salvation Army is always in need of bell ringers. Did you know if one of their locations doesn't have a bell ringer they have to pay someone to ring the bell? However, if people don't want to spend time outside, a club could also sponsor a red kettle. Besides sponsoring a red kettle or bell ringing, Kiwanis clubs can contact their local salvation army to donate goods in time for the holiday. Each locale may be in need of something different.
Holidays are Around the Corner
Texas Oklahoma Kiwanis District Editor's Message Evelyn Herrera
Hello Fellow Kiwanians, A new year brings new opportunities for growth! I am very excited to see where this new Kiwanis year takes the district. As the pandemic has shown to be prolonged, many clubs have adapted to hosting meetings regardless. The flexibility clubs have shown has proven how powerful Kiwanians are. This leads me to believe that our district will continue to make progress. As you know, a new year also brings a change in district positions. As of right now I am the district Administrative Assistant as well as the district KI Notes Editor. As of October 9th, 2021 I will no longer be holding the Administrative Assistant position. Fear not, Laura Arnhart still remains as the Administrative Supervisor if you have any questions or concerns. Until further notice I will still be KI Notes Editor and continue to await inspiring stories from wonderful Kiwanians. Let's see where this new year takes us! I welcome everyone who has come forward to share their talents with the district. Remember, BE KIWANIS! All KI Notes submissions can be emailed to txokkiwanis@gmail.com.
Month
Division
Club
Name
August
34
Hide-A-Way Lake
Jack Davis
5
Alamo, San Antonio
Daniel O'Connor
September
32
Paris
Gordon Hogue
13
Texarkana
Barbara Garrett
George Poulos
16
Stillwater Golden K
John Green
2
Plano
Gordon Raynor
39
Venus
Thomas Denny
All listed with sympathy and memory.
In Loving Memory
“The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.” - Marcus Tullius Cicero