Hello, PNW Key Club!
With Thanksgiving approaching, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang have been on my mind lately. Between rehearsals for the Charlie Brown musical at my school and the familiar holiday traditions that come with November, I have been reflecting on some of the lessons these stories teach us. Beneath all the humor and holiday mishaps, there is a recurring message about friendship, kindness, and finding joy in the people around us. I think these are lessons that are especially important for us to remember as Key Clubbers. In A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, one of my favorite Charlie Brown movies, Charlie Brown learns that the value of a holiday is not found in having the perfect meal or the most elaborate celebration, but in the people we share it with. The same can be said about leadership and service. It is easy to get caught up in planning the perfect event, reaching membership goals, or making sure every detail goes according to plan. However, what truly makes our organization special is the community we build along the way. It is the friendships we form, the members we encourage, and the people who make us feel welcome. (I highly recommend A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving if you haven’t seen it!)
October gave us a wonderful opportunity to put these values into action through Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. By turning a familiar Halloween tradition into an opportunity to support children around the world, Key Clubbers demonstrated how simple acts, like collecting donations and encouraging others to participate, can create a lasting impact. I hope you carry that same spirit of service into the months ahead.
As we enter November, I encourage you to take a moment to appreciate the people who make your Key Club experience meaningful. Thank an advisor, recognize a fellow member, or reach out to someone who could use a little encouragement. Much like Charlie Brown and his friends, we accomplish so much more when we come together. You do not need a perfect plan or a grand gesture to make a difference. Sometimes, all it takes is a little kindness and a community of people willing to show up for one another.
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).
DCON Registration OPEN NOW
ATTENTION, KEY CLUBBERS! Join fellow Key Clubbers from all around the Pacific Northwest District for the largest event of the year: The 2027 District Convention (DCON). Now, YOU can register to join over 150 clubs to celebrate an unforgettable year of service. DCON 2027 will take place at the Hyatt Regency Seattle from Friday, March 19th, to Sunday, March 21st. This year’s theme is Rev-ing Into Service! We are excited to bring together Key Clubbers from across the Pacific Northwest for an unforgettable weekend filled with engaging workshops, inspirational speakers, extraordinary networking opportunities, district elections, and so much more!
Don’t wait to begin the registration process! All registration materials must be submitted through the online system no later than February 1st, 2027. The registration process includes the submission of registration fees and individual member and advisor forms, so please plan accordingly.
DCON Registration can be completed through the website linked below!
You can also find step-by-step instructions, along with important DCON information, in the DCON 2027 Registration Packet.
District Project Resources
The PNW District Project Committee is working hard to ensure that you can contribute to this year’s District Project! By focusing our service efforts on supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), we can make a meaningful impact on families and communities throughout the Pacific Northwest.
The RMHC One-Pager provides everything you need to connect with your local Ronald McDonald House. Simply locate your division, find your assigned House, and contact the individual listed using their email address. The District Project Committee strongly encourages you to use this resource to identify your local House’s current needs. By communicating with your local House before planning a service project or item drive, you can ensure that your efforts make the greatest possible impact.
We also encourage all clubs to complete the 2026–2027 District Project Pledge! Officers should work together to set a goal for the number of service hours and dollars your club plans to contribute toward RMHC this year. Our district-wide goal is 11,667 service hours and $11,667 in donations, or 1 hour and $1 per Key Club member.
Complete your club’s Project Pledge and start planning how you’ll reach your goal!
Youth Opportunities Fund
The PNWOF application season has officially ended! Thank you to all of the clubs who have applied. We look forward to reviewing your application and seeing what service projects you have developed!
If you did not apply, have no fear! You can still receive grant funding to ensure that you can realize your visions of a dream service project! Like the PNWOF, the Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) is a grant program that provides up to $2,000 for Key Clubs to conduct an impactful service project. The next application deadline is March 1, 2027, but preparation for your application should begin as soon as you can. I encourage you to meet with your Key Club leaders, share your ideas, and develop an action plan for an impactful service project that can be amplified by the Youth Opportunities Fund.
Key Club Service Week
Key Club Week Service Challenge is happening right now on 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: Keynote
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. Key Club International is excited to announce the Keynote speaker for this event: Felice Gorordo! Felice Gorordo is a past Key Club International Vice President and seasoned executive, investor, and board member. Felice brings more than two decades of leadership experience in management and governance. While in college, Felice co-founded Roots of Hope, a non-profit focused on youth empowerment in Cuba through technology and entrepreneurship.
Global Leadership Certificate Challenge
PNW Key Club, we’re getting closer every day to 100,000 completed Global Leadership Certificate courses across Key Club International! Once we reach this milestone, one lucky Key Club member will win an unforgettable experience at the next Key Club International Convention.
The winner will receive paid convention registration, an automatic spot in the GLC Master Class, a Key Club swag bag, $100 in Key Club Store credit, and a VIP lunch with the Key Club International President, Vice President, or a trustee. They’ll also receive special recognition during the convention’s Recognition Session and be featured in Key Club eNews!
Every GLC course completed by a PNW member also helps our district move closer to achieving Distinguished District status. Whether you’re completing your first course or working toward another, your participation helps strengthen PNW Key Club as a whole. If you’ve never completed a GLC course before, October is your chance to get started! The district with the highest percentage of learners completing a course for the first time will win a pizza party at ICON 2027.
Let’s see what PNW Key Club can do. Complete a course, encourage a friend to complete one, and help us get one step closer to 100,000!
Service Projects Recommendations
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:
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.
