Hello, PNW Key Club!
As October begins, I want to encourage you to take a moment to look around you. Fall can be a busy season. School is well underway, activities are picking up, and our calendars quickly fill. Don’t forget to apply for your FAFSA and look out for those college application deadlines. They really can sneak up on you! In the middle of all that busyness, it can be easy to overlook the opportunity we have to make a difference without dedicating time to do so.
One of the most important lessons I have learned through Key Club is that service does not always have to be something grand. Sometimes, it is checking in on a friend, helping someone who needs it, or simply noticing an opportunity to show kindness and choosing to act. As Key Clubbers, we often think about service through the projects we organize and the hours we complete. Those things matter, but service is also about the way we live our everyday lives. Being a humanitarian means developing the habit of looking for ways to help, even when there is no recognition or service hour to record.
This October, I encourage you to notice those small opportunities. A simple act of kindness may seem insignificant to you, but it could mean everything to the person receiving it. We cannot solve every problem, and we cannot help everyone. But we can choose to help the person in front of us. We can choose to care. Sometimes, that small choice is where meaningful change begins.
In Love and Service,
Lawrence McConnell
District Governor
Pacific Northwest District
Key Club International
E: governor@pnwkeyclub.org
Kiwanis Engage Resources
As fall approaches, so does dues season. Club secretaries and advisors must be prepared to utilize Kiwanis Engage, the new dues and reporting system. Below are procedures and resources to help you become more familiar with this new interface or obtain support if needed.
- Explore the various training resources provided by Kiwanis International.
- Utilize the Kiwanis Engage Support Form, which will provide a response within 24-48 hours. Please use this form before proceeding to the next step.
- Contact District Administrator Angela Bruhl (angela@pnwkeyclub.org).
Early Bird Campaign
The PNW Executive Committee is excited to launch an Early Bird Dues Campaign. During this campaign, clubs are urged to submit dues well before the Early Bird dues deadline, November 1, 2026. In order to ensure your club’s dues are received and processed by Kiwanis International before this date, you may need to collect members’ dues by the end of the second week in October. I also encourage you to pay with a school charge card rather than a mailed check, as charge cards significantly expedite the dues payment process.
Clubs that submit Early Bird dues will be rewarded with the following incentives:
- Key Club banner patch
- Priority DCON seating during Opening Session
Apply Now: PNWOF
With summer officially over, it is time to start thinking about service projects for the 2026-2027 service year. If you have ideas for an amazing project, but lack the funds to make it a reality, apply for a PNWOF grant! The grant covers up to ⅔ of the total project cost, and grants range from $100 to $1,000! Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
Call to Convention
Are you interested in attending DCON 2027? Join the DCON Committee on Wednesday, October 13, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM for the 2026 Call to Convention Webinar!
The Committee will present general information, as well as important dates, convention logistics, awards, and more! You will also have the chance to ask your own questions to ensure you have all the information you need to attend DCON 2027 from March 18-21 in Seattle, Washington. Please contact DCON Committee Chair Lillian Willard at convention@pnwkeyclub.org with any questions or concerns.
Youth Opportunities Fund
The Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) provides financial support to Key Clubs and members through service grants, academic scholarships, and funding for special projects and events. Consider applying if your club has a service project or other eligible opportunity that could benefit from additional funding.
Round One applications are due October 15 at 11:59 p.m. ET
Key Club Service Week
Key Club Week Service Challenge is coming up November 2–6! This is an opportunity for your division to come together through service, strengthen your clubs, and showcase the impact Key Clubbers can make in their communities.
I encourage you and your club to participate throughout Key Club Week and make the most of this special week of service. A Volunteer Guide is available with challenge details, important dates, key messages, and sample social media posts to help your clubs get involved.
Service Directory Ideas
Have a great service project that you think other Key Clubs could replicate? Key Club International is collecting service project ideas for its Service Directory!
When submitting your project, be sure to provide a clear project outline and include helpful information such as the recommended club size, difficulty level, additional guidance, templates or forms, and photos or videos of the project in action.
Your project could inspire Key Clubbers around the world to serve their communities in new and meaningful ways!
Global Engagement Rally
Registration for the 2026 Global Engagement Rally (GER) is now open, with the event planned for November 7th at 8:00 AM!This year’s theme is “United in Service,” celebrating how Key Clubbers from around the world can come together to learn, connect, and make an impact through service.
The GER is an opportunity to connect with Key Clubbers beyond your own club and district, learn about service happening around the world, and exchange ideas with members from different communities.
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
This Halloween, Key Club invites you to join the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. Instead of just collecting candy, help raise funds for Start Strong: Zambia, our signature UNICEF project. Your donations support the creation of insakas—community centers in Zambia that provide education, nutrition, and safe spaces for young children and their families. Last year, Key Club members, along with Builders Club and Aktion Club, raised $86,955—enough to fund two insaka centers, each with a classroom and playground. Imagine the impact we can make together this year! Let’s turn Halloween into a force for good. Join the tradition, make a difference, and help children in Zambia start strong! You can order Trick-or-Treat boxes until October 21 at the link below.
Back to School Service Projects
As we head back to school, many of us are getting back into busy schedules filled with classes, extracurriculars, sports, and other commitments. With so much going on, it can be easy to put service on the back burner. However, even with a busy schedule, there are always ways to give back and stay involved in your community.
Some of my recommendations for getting involved this school year include:
Volunteering with the American Red Cross means supporting communities across the Pacific Northwest that have been affected by recent PNW fires
Getting involved with Schoolhouse means tutoring and supporting fellow students with difficult academic courses
If you are looking for additional service opportunities, reach out to and/or visit your sponsoring Kiwanis Club. They can be a great resource for finding local organizations and projects to get involved with throughout the school year.
Available District Leadership Opportunities
We are pleased to report that nearly all divisions are served by Lieutenant Governors. However, we still need your help! Lieutenant Governors are vital to the health of each Key Club division, as they create a critical connection between the club and district levels. Clubs in divisions that are not served by a Lieutenant Governor lack a consistent source of relevant updates, resources, and leadership.
The following divisions do not currently have a 2026-2027 Lieutenant Governor:
- Division 9
- Division 20i
- Division 22/24
- Division 42v
- Division 45
- Division 50
- Division 52
- Division 74
- Division 78
- Division 80
- Division 82
If you or anyone you know is from one of these divisions and is interested in serving as a Lieutenant Governor during the 2026-2027 service year, please contact me at governor@pnwkeyclub.org or District Administrator Angela Bruhl at angela@pnwkeyclub.org. Serving on the District Board is an incredible experience that provides opportunities to create change and develop as a leader.
