Hello PNW Key Clubbers,
I cannot believe I am writing my final Biweekly Update. It feels like it was yesterday when I was first elected as District Governor, scrambling to finish my first Biweekly Update on time, trying to figure out what to include and how to send it out. Twenty-three Biweekly Updates later, we’ve accomplished a lot and have a lot to celebrate. Whether it be our membership count, service hours, District Projects contributions, or Divisional spirit, PNW Key Club has truly soared above the rest this service year.
Throughout this past year, your District Board has been working hard to support each and every one of you. I want to take this final Biweekly Update to give a final review on the three goals I set at the beginning of my term: increasing member-centric opportunities, increasing rural club engagement, and spotlighting our clubs and members.
First off, in the very first Biweekly Update, I promised to provide more member-centric opportunities for engagement within our District. And, one Exec Live, two Key Club Days events, three Exec Chats, and four Instagram takeovers later, I’m proud to say we’ve done just that. This year, we’ve seen higher levels of engagement than ever from club members at every event – whether it was a webinar, DCON, or DCM. We have you all to thank for taking the opportunities and running with them. It’s the members, our vehicles of service, that truly make this organization excel, so to see them more engaged means we as a District are more active.
Next, I pledged to support our rural clubs this year by giving them more in-person opportunities. And, 20+ Key Club Days Off-Site Events, 30+ in-person Officer Training Conferences, and 50+ in-person Divisional Council Meetings later, I’m confident that we have accomplished just that. By emphasizing local, in-person, high-quality events over online all-member events this year, we have increased not only our quality of membership but our quality of service. Clubs have learned how to support their local community and make a visible, direct impact on the lives around them. They’ve taken ownership of their service, and seen better results whether they are urban or rural.
Finally, I committed to highlighting the stars that make PNW Key Club shine. It’s the Club President working hard to include all members in an icebreaker, the Activities Coordinator working late nights to find meaningful service projects, and the member showing up to every service project that molds the core of Key Club. Through the promotion of existing member spotlight opportunities such as DCON awards and the addition of new spotlight opportunities such as the Holding Hands to Help End Hunger Campaign, we have given credit where credit was due and inspired members all across the PNW to do more. We hope you have been able to learn from, and be inspired by, these individuals – more of which are to be recognized at DCON 2023.
I hope when you look back on this service year, you can be proud of everything you’ve accomplished. I would highly encourage you to look back on your goals and see where they took you. Celebrate your successes, and note your deficiencies for your successors.
Thank you all for this opportunity to serve as your 2022-2023 District Governor. The immense amount of support from clubs, our District Board, and Kiwanians alike have continued to fuel me and enable me to thrive in this position. I owe all that I have learned, and all that this District has accomplished, to each and every one of you. Thank you for continuing to make PNW Key Club soar, and for being the leaders of tomorrow.
I look forward to making my final farewell this weekend in Seattle, WA, at DCON 2023! I hope to see and meet you there.
Key Clubbers, prepare yourself for the Key Club International Convention (ICON)! ICON is an opportunity to gather with over 1,000 Key Clubbers from across the globe to hear about new programs, develop personal and professional skills, attend educational workshops, and elect the International Board for the upcoming year.
The 80th Annual Key Club International Convention is being held July 4-9, 2023 in Anaheim, CA. The Pacific Northwest District of Key Club will be conducting its District tour, which will begin Tuesday morning, July 4th, 2023, and return Sunday afternoon, July 9th, 2023. Included in the cost are round-trip airline reservations between Los Angeles, CA and Seattle, WA or Portland, OR. The guided Disneyland Adventure will include a full day at Disneyland (with a park hopper), time to explore Santa Monica, including the pier, and much, much more. You’ll even enjoy a District dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.
The tour package includes all air and ground transportation, along with hotel room, registration fees, tour admissions, some meals, district pins for trading, and many other items. It costs $1,300, including a $500 deposit due by Friday, April 28th, 2023. Attached below is the Registration Packet, Shop Link, and a Sponsorship Toolkit. You can offset some of the costs by soliciting support from your club and local Kiwanis clubs. Begin planning now!
Do you want to hear about all of Key Club International’s accomplishments this service year? They have so much to share with you, and they’ve highlighted everything in the annual State of Key Club address. Hear from the Key Club International Board on their progress with service partners and Key Club programs by clicking below.
Over 700 million people don’t have access to clean water. Let’s do something about it. The four-week KC Walks campaign encourages Key Club members to practice physical and mental health while making an impact on the global water crisis.
During April, we’re challenging you to walk 50 miles (80 kilometers) and raise US$50. Starting April 3, get out and walk more than you usually do in an average month. In the process, you can raise money and raise awareness to get us one step closer to ending the global water crisis. Learn more and sign up for Key Club Walks at thirstproject.org/kcwalks.
Key Club International and its partner Schoolhouse, an organization that provides free online tutoring to students across the world, have seen some amazing growth over the past few months. Here’s a fun fact: Schoolhouse was started by Sal Kahn, a former Key Club member. He’s also a new course presenter for the Global Leadership Certificate.
Read about their partnership and upcoming campaign below. We hope you will be inspired to support Schoolhouse’s mission of universal education.
We are pleased to report that nearly all Divisions have Lieutenant Governors now, some for the first time in many years. This is all thanks to the help of the advisors and Key Clubbers that nominated eligible students. However, we still need your help! Lieutenant Governors are vital to the health of each Key Club division and serve as the critical connection between the club and district levels. Clubs in divisions that have no Lieutenant Governors lack a consistent source of relevant updates, resources, and leadership.
The following divisions have Lieutenant Governor vacancies.
- Division 9
- Division 19/36
- Division 22/24
- Division 34
- Division 46
- Division 52
- Division 74
- Division 78
If you or anyone you know is from one of these divisions and is interested in serving as a Lieutenant Governor during the 2023-2024 year, please contact me at governor@pnwkeyclub.org or District Administrator Brian Egger at administrator@pnwkeyclub.org for more information. I can assure you that serving on the District Board is an incredible experience and will help you develop your leadership skills.