Hello, PNW Key Club!
I hope you are enjoying the start of your fall season. This autumn, I’d like to share a special story with you.
At Kiwanis DCON, I had the pleasure of hearing from past Kiwanis Governor Lonnie Johnson, who gives gold starfish pins as a token of appreciation to those who strive to support others, even when their impact may not always seem significant.
The story follows a young girl walking along the beach, throwing starfish that have washed ashore back into the ocean. A man points out that there are hundreds of starfish and that she will never be able to save them all. She responds by picking up a single starfish and saying, “It will matter to this one,” before throwing it back into the ocean. This story reminds us that no one person can change the entire world. However, that does not make our impact any less meaningful. Your service may not solve every problem, but it can profoundly impact the life of one person, one family, or one community.
I encourage you to carry this story with you throughout this fall. Bring it into your Key Club projects, your schools, your communities, and your everyday lives. More importantly, I encourage you to live as a humanitarian. Creating a lifestyle of service is not simply about taking action. It is about changing your perspective. It means recognizing opportunities to help others in the moments when you may otherwise walk past them, and understanding that even the smallest acts of kindness can matter.
You may not be able to save every starfish, but you can always make a difference to the one in front of you.
In Love and Service,
Lawrence McConnell
District Governor
Pacific Northwest District
Key Club International
E: governor@pnwkeyclub.org
2026-2027 Project Pledges
As Key Club officers, you have the opportunity to lead your club in making a real difference this year through our District Project supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)!
Our district goal is 11,667 service hours and $11,667 in donations, one hour and one dollar for every member of PNW Key Club. Now, we need each club to set its own goal and create a plan to get there.
Take the Project Pledge
Officers, please work with your club to complete the 2026-2027 Project Pledge. You’ll be asked to:
- Set a monetary donation goal
- Set a service-hour goal
- Share how your club plans to reach those goals
We recommend setting goals equal to or greater than your current club membership. Think about fundraisers, RMHC service opportunities, and other creative ways your club can contribute!
Your club’s pledge is more than a number. It is a commitment to your community.
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!
Keys to Membership
Are you hoping to increase your club membership this year? Are you hoping to charter a Key Club or another branch of the Kiwanis Family? On Sunday, September 27, at 6:00 PM, the PNW Membership Growth and Reactivation Committee will host an informative, enriching, and exciting webinar to help you achieve your membership goals. By attending this webinar, you will equip yourself with the tools you need to expand your impact and share the magic of Key Club with more of your peers. Register for the MGRC Webinar with the link below!
College Application Workshop
Get ready to submit your strongest college applications! Hosted by Circle K International, this session will give you insider tips for standing out, avoiding common application mistakes, and staying organized throughout the process. Then, connect with current Circle K International college students in small-group breakout sessions to ask questions, receive feedback on your college essays, and hear advice from students who have recently navigated the admissions process. Leave feeling more confident, prepared, and excited for your next step! One lucky participant will even receive a free CKI membership for their first year in college!
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!
Key Conversations
I am thrilled to invite you to the first Key Conversations of the service year! Key Conversations is a program created by the Key Club International Membership Development Committee that brings members from across the world together to connect, learn, and share their experiences.
September’s theme is Back to School, focusing on recruitment, member engagement, and goal setting. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss recruitment strategies, learn more about membership, share challenges and successes, and bring new ideas back to your home club.
For the first time, everyone who registers and attends will be entered into a raffle! One lucky member could win a gift basket featuring Key Club International merchandise, an Amazon gift card, and more.
Join us on September 27, 2026, from 5:00–5:45 PM PT.
Global Engagement Rally
Registration for the 2026 Global Engagement Rally (GER) is now open! 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. Members are also encouraged to apply to facilitate a workshop and share their knowledge and experiences with others!
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.
