KI-NOTES
February 2026 (Issue NO. 45)
A Publication of the Texas-Oklahoma District of Kiwanis International
Contact us
Editorial
4 Governor's Message 6 District Initiatives Report 10 Board Updates & Reminders 12 Deadlines 14 Member Survey 16 Candidacy 18 Events 20 A look at Clubs 30 Club Charter Anniversary Milestones 32 Key Club: 4 Months to Go 34 Celebrate Club Growth 36 Jump Start Grant 38 New Club & SLP Charters 40 Disaster Relief Program 44 ICON 45 In Loving Memory 46 Editor's Message 47 Helpful Links
Contents
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 488 Schulenburg, TX 78956 www.txokkiwanis.org www.txokkiwanis.org/contact-us/ www.facebook.com/texasoklahomakiwanis www.instagram.com/texas.oklahoma.kiwanis/ www.linkedin.com/company/txokkiwanis https://vimeo.com/user95154993 www.youtube.com/@txokkiwanis
Editor: Evelyn Herrera Public Relations Coordinator: Courtney Harris District Governor: John Cano Contributing Writers: John Cano, Shanne Cochran, Susan Hennum, Evelyn Herrera, Marshall Kregel, Briona Lawson, Susan Marrs, Vivian Marschik, Kelly Poland, Glenda Rast, Blake Swarnes, Barbara Walker
texas oklahoma district
Texas Oklahoma Kiwanis District Governor's Message John Cano
Hello Kiwanians and friends, Happy New Year! On January 21 we celebrated the 111th birthday of Kiwanis International, and what a perfect way to start the second quarter of the Kiwanis year. This past quarter was a busy one for me with visits to the Region 1 and Division 2 backpack assembly service project in November; December visits to the Kiwanis Clubs of Northwest Austin, Mansfield, and Victoria; an early January trip to Kiwanis International HQ in Indianapolis for the Americas Governors Conference; our second quarter District Board Meeting in Allen, TX, on January 17; and I ended the month in Wichita Falls for their 70th annual Pancake Festival. On a personal note, from mid-February through April I will temporarily relocate to South Texas and Victoria, TX, while plumbing repairs are taking place at my condo complex in Austin. It’s a bit of an inconvenience, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity to be in close proximity to a number of the clubs in the area for first-time visits! In the next couple of months I’m excited to visit the CKI District Convention at Camp Hoblitzelle at the end of February as well as the Leadership and Education Conference (LEDCON) for Key Club in Wichita Falls in April. There are also a number of club, division, and region visits and special events coming up! Remember to check our District Calendar and use it to reference some of my scheduled visits and special engagements, important dates, and activities across the district: https://www.txokkiwanis.org/district-calendar/ Our Key Leader committee has secured November 20-22, 2026, for a Key Leader Weekend to be held at the Down Home Ranch in Elgin, TX. Remember, Key Leader is a weekend leadership retreat for any high school student and is not related to or dependent upon Key Club members. Key Club members are, of course, invited to attend, but if you have an emerging young leader in your family or a friend of the family or have connections with high school administrators who think a particular student would benefit from a weekend of leadership development, they should be at Key Leader! Registration will be $25/attendee, and the bulk of the cost will be underwritten by the District, the Kiwanis Children’s Fund, and the T-O Kiwanis Foundation. Clubs are encouraged to make a contribution of $150 per student they sponsor so we can build a base of funding for future events. Eventually, we’d like to see a second Key Leader organized in Oklahoma. Watch our District Convention page for more information about our convention in Texarkana in July! Registration opens on March 1. Thank you again for all of the service you’re doing in your communities and for your support of our district programs and initiatives. I’m sure that the next three quarters will be filled with meaningful, impactful service as your clubs Embrace Excellence. - John
Fulfill the district’s primary purpose of helping Kiwanis clubs and Kiwanis International advance the Objects, objectives, policies, and strategic goals of Kiwanis, and specifically to cooperate with Kiwanis International in: Building new clubs and strengthening existing clubs. Delivering education to clubs. Delivering service leadership programs (SLPs) and global campaign for children programming to and through clubs. Support our district SLPs with increased investment, including raising funds for the T-O CKI Legacy Fund as well as reactivation of Key Leader to develop young leaders. Legacy Fund promotion has started and the goal is to raise $20,000 this year. Key Leader committee organized and the event is booked for November 20-22, 2026. Key Club is strong and growing. CKI is stable but requires additional investment of time and resources. Thanks to Randy McDaniel for stepping up as a K-Kids administrator! Streamline our administration and operations by leveraging technology and process improvement. Our Constant Contact lists are current and templates are in use for consistency; Kiwanis shared their communications calendar and we know which days to avoid double-messaging. District files are stored in the shared Google Drive Workspace with all members of the leadership team having access. Susan, Marshall, Al, and others have done a standout job of organizing and consolidating our storage units for improved access, equipment sharing, and money savings. Marshall’s e-Library on Google Drive continues to grow as a club resource with his focus on service initiatives. Website is updated. Recruit and develop future leaders for the district. We still have vacancies to fill for Lt. Governors for 3, 10, 11, 20, 23, 29, 32, 36, 38 Participate in the Kiwanis Voices pilot program by identifying at least two sites where the concept can be most effective. We’ll be targeting potential sites for new Kiwanis Voices Clubs in Q3 when the school year ends. Harrah, OK is planning to start a Kiwanis Voices club based around the Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center. Share our Kiwanis story by increasing club reporting and producing the district annual report. Club reporting has not improved. 87 out of 196 active clubs (44%) have submitted at least one report; 82 out of 196 active clubs (41%) have submitted an October report. Access to the system has been cited as an issue for some users, but those need to be escalated to Member Services and resolved. The district annual report for 2024-25 is not yet published because the historical data has not been migrated to Engage. Our Ki-Notes publications have been wonderful but can always benefit from more content from clubs. Expand the depth and breadth of our district’s service initiatives around disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery as well as coloring, activity, and reading booklets for children. Marshall Kregel is doing an outstanding job in this area. Supplies are organized and readily available. New resources are going out to clubs. A website has been developed. The Foundation has increased support. The Abuela y Yo books and more coloring books are in the process of being produced for clubs to purchase and distribute.
The following report, written by Governor John Cano, displays the current status of district initiatives. This report allows for Kiwanis members to take a look at all that has been accomplished this year and offers members the opportunity to fill in leadership gaps. It also provides a look at areas of need where clubs and members can volunteer. The report includes visual scoring in the form of colored bullet points. The colored points are to assist in the visualization of the progress of the District. Not all bullet points are scored due to topic complexity or applicability.
Texas Oklahoma Kiwanis District District Initiatives Status Report
“When you’re surrounded by people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible.” – Howard Schultz
Bulliten/Newsletter Contest Submissions Due Website/Facebook Contest Submissions Due
iiiiiii
DCON is around the corner. Before the convention arrives, make sure your club is up-to-date on candidacy, award, contest, endorsement, and bylaw submissions.Checkout our deadline timeline HERE. Bylaws: A club, by majority vote of its active members, may propose bylaw amendments to be considered at any convention of the district, provided they are submitted to the District Secretary not less than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the convention (May 26, 2026). Bylaw amendments may also be proposed by the District Board. Club Elections: Clubs should provide 30 days notice to members of the annual meeting to be held no later than May 15. After elections are held, the Club Secretary can update the Club Leadership Roles for 2026-27 in Engage to ensure no lapse in communications and access to the system for incoming officers. For Candidacy details click HERE. DCON registration opens March 1st.
Reminders
JUNE 30
The TX-OK Kiwanis District team has been hard at work inspiring new leaders and increasing efficiency in the district. Check out the latest board updates below: At the January 17 board meeting - Mark Crouch was appointed as the Leadership Development Coordinator and Randy McDaniel as the K-Kids District Administrator. Policy 15 on Fundraising was updated for consistency with Kiwanis International procedures. Membership and Engagement committee noted an increase of 35 members and the planned opening of a club in Yukon, OK. Trustee Paul mentioned he is recruiting regional teams of LTGs, presidents, and members who want to work as Club Openers to join his team. At the February 7 board meeting - Kameron Klement was appointed to fill the vacant Region 5 Trustee position and Crystal Yates as District Treasurer.
District Board Updates
Click for Newsletter Contest Info
Click for Layperson of the Year Form
Click to View Forms and Reports Page
Click to Download Deadlines Printable
Click for Website /Facebook Contest Info
Deadlines & Links
Happy, engaged members. Gain in membership year-to-year. -Anonymous
Excellence is having enthusiastic, active members publicly making a positive difference in the community. -Anonymous
In our January email to members, we asked you what excellence looks like across the district and in your club. Thanks for sharing your insights!
MAY 26
Check your emails for future surveys!
Member
Hands on planning, creating, executing and fruition of a goal from beginning to end with our members. - Sherry Dupree The Kiwanis Club of Quitman/Lake Fork
Governor-elect Candidacy: All qualified candidates for offices to be elected at the annual convention must submit written notice of candidacy to the District Secretary no later than sixty (60) days before the convention begins. However, if within 60 days before the start of the convention, there are no qualified candidates for an office to be elected at the annual convention, candidates must submit written notice no later than the beginning of the first convention session of the annual convention. This deadline may be extended by the district board if candidates other than the sole candidate(s) are necessary. Qualified candidates for Governor and Governor-elect shall: ● Submit a signed agreement provided by Kiwanis International to fulfill the duties of office. ● Have a satisfactory criminal history background check conducted and verified by Kiwanis International and the District. ● Make an official visit to the District office for orientation on district operations. All potential candidates must also abide by policy 17 and 18 in the following document:click here to view.
To-Do: Research how to run for Governor-elect!
Candidacy Details
OUR DISTRICT KIWANIS TEXAS-OKLAHOMA DISTRICT
The Elk City Kiwanis Club is to host their Kiwanis Kid Karnival on February 6 and 7 at Elk City Civil Center. from 6PM to 9PM. Games and prizes for all ages. Full concessions for dinner and snacks as well as popcorn and cotton candy!
February
The Kiwanis Club of Gainesville's annual Kiwanis Radio Auction is coming up February 22nd on KGAF at 1PM.
A Day of Hope in Texarkana Submitted by Barbara Walker
It was a day that will be remembered for years to come, a day when compassion and community came together in the most beautiful way. Today, Texarkana celebrated the unveiling of a Safe Haven Baby Box, a life-saving resource for mothers in crisis. This simple box carries a profound message: hope, safety, and love during an unimaginable moment. What makes this milestone even more meaningful is the story behind it. A few years ago, one of our own, Heather James, had a vision. She approached then-president James Syler with an idea, could Kiwanis help bring a Safe Haven Baby Box to Texarkana? Without hesitation, James said yes. From that moment, a dream began to take shape. Today, that dream stands as a reality. This box is more than metal and technology; it is a promise. A promise that no mother will ever feel alone, that every child will have a chance at life, and that our community will always choose compassion. As we gathered to celebrate, prayers filled the air: prayers for comfort, safety, and love for every mother who finds herself at a crossroads. This box will be a blessing for years to come, a beacon of hope in times of despair. Texarkana, this is what community looks like at its very best people coming together to make a difference, one life at a time. For Kids. For Community. For Texarkana.
Creating massive impact one project at a time.
A Look at Clubs
Submitted by Glenda Rast, Lt Governor, Division 5
TEXAS HILL COUNTRY KIWANIS CLUB INVESTS IN THE FUTURE
It’s been a busy, but very rewarding, couple of months for the Kiwanis Club of Texas Hill Country who recently added two new Key Clubs to the Kiwanis Family. Students from both clubs contacted the club and asked about establishing a Key Club at their respective schools. On December 4th, Glenda Rast (Lt. Governor, Division 5 and Club Liaison) and DeLisa Leopold (President), assisted by Club Members Mike Clark and Leatine Fasano, installed the Faculty Advisors and Officers at Davenport High School in San Antonio, TX. The Key Club members completed their first service project on October 31, 2025, when they participated in the town of Garden Ridge’s Trunk or Treat. Then, on January 12th, Dale Flashberg (Club Liaison) and Jan Clark installed the Faculty Advisor and Officers at Champion HS in Boerne, TX. Two of their members volunteered at the Texas Hill Country Kiwanis’ Park Cleanup on September 6, 2025. The two new Key Clubs join Key Clubs at Smithson Valley HS and Hill Country College Preparatory HS, bringing the number of Key Clubs sponsored by the Texas Hill Country Kiwanis Club to four. The faculty advisor and students at both schools are as excited about being part of Kiwanis as we are to have them. We can’t wait to see the great things that they will accomplish this semester. It’s a great day to be Kiwanis!
Mission of Service Kiwanis Club of Harrah, OK Oklahoma
Kiwanis Club of Harker Heights Pancake supper planning Submitted by Vivian Marschik
The following story was featured in the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce weekly Thursday newsletter . United Supermarkets and Market Street donated $1,000 to the University Kiwanis Club of Wichita Falls in support of its 70th annual pancake festival and ongoing youth programs. The contribution helps further Kiwanis’ mission of serving children and strengthening the community, highlighting a long-standing partnership rooted in giving back. Proceeds from the annual pancake feed directly benefit local youth initiatives, continuing a tradition that has supported Wichita Falls families for decades.
Living out our mission of service, the Kiwanis Club of Harrah, Oklahoma has been actively engaged in meeting critical needs within our community. One recent initiative included collecting food donations for the Harrah High School and Middle School food pantries, helping ensure students facing food insecurity receive consistent support. Harrah High School and Middle School each operate small food pantries led by school counselors and supported by dedicated student volunteers. These pantries are stocked monthly through the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, along with generous local donations. Students facing food insecurity are provided weekly Friday food bags to take home and share with their families. This year alone, the middle school pantry has supported more than 30 students, along with their siblings and families. The high school pantry serves an average of 10–20 students each week and provides approximately 400–500 meals throughout the school year. The Kiwanis Club of Harrah, Oklahoma, was proud to host a food drive during the holiday season to help replenish both school pantries, especially during a time of unexpected need caused by the recent government shutdown. The Kiwanis Club of Harrah, Oklahoma, remains committed to meeting the ongoing needs of Harrah students. Through our current Coat Drive, we are helping ensure students across our community stay warm, safe, and cared for throughout the winter season.
Submitted by Shanne Cochran
University Kiwanis Club of Wichita Falls TX Supporting Youth Through Community Giving Submitted by Susan Marrs
The Kiwanis Club of Harker Heights members are in the planning stage for the annual Pancake Supper Fundraiser that will be held on Saturday, Feb 28, at the Harker Heights Elementary School, beginning at 5:30 pm. The club usually offers many free door prizes for attendees as well as a few auction items for fundraising. Most of the food, door prizes and auction items are donated from the community businesses and individuals. Some of the other things members have been involved in are pictured. The Boys & Girls Club, Day for Kids, Legion of Honor presentation for Mariko Cross (98), Harker Heights Frost Fest, Harker Heights FD Santa Pal and Harker Heights PD Blue Santa.
Submitted by Blake Swarnes
A letter to the Jones COmmunity
Jones Community, You Showed Up! Even though the Christmas parade had to be canceled due to the cold temperatures, our community didn’t miss a beat—and somehow made it even better indoors! The Jones Kiwanis Club is so thankful for everyone who came together to turn the night into something truly magical. We loved having our State Championship Jones Longhorns there signing autographs and taking photos, along with the elementary kids’ Christmas singing, pictures with Santa, a couple of Grinches and some festive elves bringing the fun, and families filling the space with laughter and holiday cheer. This night was a perfect reminder of what makes Jones so amazing—when plans change, our community shows up stronger than ever. Thank you to everyone who helped make it a success!
Nicoma Park Kiwanis Club Hits the Ground Running Submitted by Briona Lawson
The newly established Nicoma Park Kiwanis Club has wasted no time making a meaningful impact in its community. Under the leadership of President Briona Lawson, alongside the support of dedicated corporate members, the club has already hosted several successful outreach events throughout the holiday season—setting a strong foundation for service-focused momentum. The club kicked things off in October by taking on Nicoma Park’s local Trunk-or-Treat, bringing a safe and fun Halloween experience to local families. In November, the Kiwanis Club provided Thanksgiving meals to approximately 12 families, each with enough food to enjoy leftovers. December brought an especially heartwarming initiative: an Angel Tree program that supplied Christmas presents for 36 children in the Nicoma Park community. To support this effort, the club hosted its first-ever pancake breakfast at corporate member HeavenLee BBQ & Venue, raising roughly $670—enough to cover Christmas for four children—while generous local community members stepped in to sponsor the remaining kids. As the club heads into the new year, excitement continues to build. The Nicoma Park Kiwanis Club will officially celebrate its charter ceremony on January 26th, marking a major milestone. With a strong start and a growing list of projects planned, the NP Kiwanis Club has much more in store for 2026 and is quickly becoming a powerful force for good in the community.
NEW CLUB ALERT!
Club Charter Anniversary Milestones
Celebrating 50 Years
Midwest City 6/1/1951 Bonham 7/11/1951
Celebrating 75 Years
Lake Granbury 4/8/1976 Cedar Creek Lake 5/17/1976
Celebrating 100 Years
Sulphur 10/7/1925 South Oklahoma City 4/26/1926 Tulia 8/30/1926
Even though the Kiwanis year started only 4 months ago, the Key Club year has only 4 to go. This means the Annual Key Club Convention is fast approaching, where we will celebrate those clubs and club officers who have excelled in their service. Whether it was a club that adopted children in a group home, gathered food to help with food inadequacies, tutored others, worked at animal shelters, helped a sponsoring Kiwanis club, or got recognized by their city for their efforts, we will uplift these accomplishments and more at our upcoming convention. This year, LEDCON is being held in Wichita Falls, April 16-19. You can help clubs and members who want to attend by donating funds or sponsoring a member. Members and thus clubs all benefit from attending the annual convention, where they learn more about the far-reaching impact Key Club has on our world. Also, this summer, the Texas-Oklahoma District has the honor of hosting the Key Club International Convention (ICON) in Dallas, July 1-5. Imagine being in high school and making new friends with other students from around the world. What FUN! As Kiwanians, we are committed to “Changing the World, One Child and One Community at a Time,” and you can easily do this by becoming more involved with Key Club. Now you may be wondering how to do this. Start by contacting Kelly Poland, the District Administrator. She will tailor her suggestions to fit your club, division, and region perfectly. She knows which Key Clubs need the most help and which can assist you. She looks forward to hearing from you.
Key Club: 4 Months to Go
Submitted by Kelly Poland
December +3 Jones +8 Watonga +4 Venus +4 December +10% Venus +21% Watonga +15% Jones +13% January +3 Texarkana +3 Lampasas +3 January +10% Broken Bow +17% Lone Grove +13% Heart of Oklahoma-Purcell +13% Midwest City +13% Amarillo +12% Luling +11% Texas Hill Country +10% YTD Net Growth +4 Robson Ranch +13 Allen +9 Jones +7 Paris +6 Greater Abilene +5 Gilmer +5 Laredo +4 Texas Hill Country +4 Venus +4 San Marcos +4 YTD Percentage Net Growth +15% Broken Bow 40% Robson Ranch 37% Heart of Oklahoma-Purcell 29% Laredo 27% Venus 27% Gilmer 23% Texas Hill Country 22% Amarillo 19% Corsicana 17% Chickasha 17%
Contact Us
Check out the newest clubs and SLP charters. A big thanks to all supporting members! If your club is interested in sponsoring or learning more about how they can lend a hand, contact the district office today. Key Club of Tomball High School with 18 members; sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Cypress Key Club of Edinburg Collegiate High School with 52 members; sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Edinburg Key Club of Sandra Day O’Conner High School with 12 members, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Alamo, San Antonio Key Club of Gene Tomas High School in Richmond, TX with 139 members. No sponsoring Kiwanis Club. Key Club of Lumberton High School, with 37 members. No sponsoring Kiwanis Club.
Update as of 1/31/2026
New Club and SLP Charters
New Partnership
Disaster Relief Program Video Updates
How to Plan a Club Response to a Disaster
This is a personal video update to the district regarding disaster relief, disaster preparedness, and the coloring book projects. A short video update on our district disaster relief storage unit in Wylie, Texas. This is a short video presentation by our newest district partner, BePreparedBeReady.org and the founder of that non-profit, Coni Meyers. Coni has developed a wonderful program for kids from elementary through high school for disaster relief and disaster preparedness. She had training modules already available PLUS some very cool Kits4Kids that children can put into their school backpacks and have available if a disaster strikes and they are away from home. The button below will direct you to the document, "How to Plan a Club Response to a Disaster." Simply click to view. There are various levels of participation in the district disaster relief program. Take a look at this link and share the information with your club to determine if there is a part of the disaster relief program that your club would like to participate in. In order to expedite the creation of several new coloring books for the district, I am asking clubs to send me color pictures of their favorite service projects. Each club can send up to 5 pictures, and I will choose images that will then be put through a special software filter that will turn the picture into a black/white line drawing perfect for coloring. Images can be emailed to Marshall Kregel at TxOkDistrict@gmail.com. We are looking for coloring book sponsors to help with the art setup and print setups for our new coloring books. We are selling business card-sized ads on the back covers of the coloring books with 10 ads/book. You may sponsor more than 1 coloring book. Each coloring book will be printed with a minimum of 5000 prints. That is only 2 cents / coloring book! We can take up to 50 sponsors for 5 issues of coloring books. Businesses, individuals, or clubs are invited to participate in the sponsoring program. If you want to sponsor, send your ad art or a scan of your business card to Marshall at TxOkDistrict@gmail.com. I will send you an email link that will allow you to use your credit card to pay the district for the ad. Contact me if you want to send a check, and I will forward contact and address information. Thank you! Marshall Kregel Texas Oklahoma Disaster Relief Program Director
Participation Opportunities
Coloring Books
Levels of Participation
Month
Club
Name
November
Kiwanis Club of Shawnee
James Smith
December
Robert Owens
Kiwanis Club of Greater Abilene
Robert Marshall
Kiwanis Club of Capitol Hill High School
Joni Case
Kiwanis Club of Gainesville
Milburn Cravens
Kiwanis Club of Denton Breakfast
Brian Sutherland
January
Kiwanis Club of Guthrie
William "Newt" Cornwell
Kiwanis Club of Nacogdoches
Tim Clipson
The Kiwanis International Convention website is now live at kiwanis.org/convention. Get to Know Manila "For each Kiwanis International convention, one of the most exciting features is the availability of experiences in our host city. For 2026, we’re especially pleased to provide tips and recommendations about this year’s location: Manila, the capitol of the Philippines. " - by Lauren Young
Read More...
In Loving Memory
“Our joys will be greater, our love will be deeper, our life will be fuller because we shared your moment.” — Unknown
KI Notes Submission Deadlines
Issue
Issue's Submission Date
November 20, 2025
January 20, 2025
April
March 20, 2025
June
May 20, 2025
August
July 20, 2025
These dates are subject to change. Please email if you need an extension.
KI Notes submissions can be emailed to txokkiwanis@gmail.com.
Contact TX-OK
Texas Oklahoma Kiwanis District Editor's Message Evelyn Herrera
Defining Community As a nonprofit organization, Kiwanis is one of many that focus their efforts on aiding and uplifting their communities. Every local club resides in the community of which its members consider home. But what is community really? One day I was scrolling online when I came across a video about community building and organizing. As I sat and watched, I was caught completely off guard. "Your community is not your friend group," it said. While I knew this, I sat in shock as I recognized that I didn't carry this perspective with me. I always viewed community relationships as a net positive and, in turn, in a friendly manner. The words sounded harsh and felt coarse, but I continued to listen. The video further explained how our neighbors and the people around us can be, but are not, your friends by default. It focused on the reality that communities are also made up of the people you disagree with, ignore, or dismiss. The more the video went on, the more immersed I was. Discomfort. That was the main lesson of this community-building video. It was a reminder that when you truly try to foster community, you will be faced with discomfort. This is especially true nowadays when you see the political and cultural divisions in the country. Recognizing that discomfort can be a barrier is an important aspect to consider when your goal is to bridge gaps and reach others. It means you must also dedicate energy towards tolerance and understanding. These tools make it difficult to fall into apathy, tribalism, and the alienation of others. At the end of the day, you may disagree with your neighbor, but they are still a part of your local community. With enough understanding and collaboration, you can work side by side with someone you disagree with and still accomplish many community goals. Everyone may not be your friend, but that does not mean they are your opposition.
View KI Leadership
KI Convention
Contact KI
TX-OK Convention
Helpful Links
View TX-OK Leadership
