A Publication of the Texas-Oklahoma District of Kiwanis International
December 2024 (Issue NO. 38)
KI-NOTES
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Governor: Bobby Quinten Immediate Past Governor: Dr. Kathy Culbertson
OUR STORY
KI Notes Staff
The first Kiwanis Club in what is now the Texas-Oklahoma District, was officially completed February 10, 1917, at Dallas, Texas, with a membership of 200. Due to the increasing number of clubs across the country members realized the need of setting up the District organization. In October 1918, the Dallas Club selected one of its members to serve as interim Governor of the Texas-Oklahoma District until an organization conference could be arranged. The first meeting was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and on February 10, 1919, the Texas-Oklahoma District was organized.
4 Governor's Message 8 Events 12 A Look at Clubs 24 ICON Planning 25 CKI Update 26 Santa's Helpers 28 In Loving Memory 29 Editor's Message
www.instagram.com/texas.oklahoma.kiwanis/
Contents
www.txokkiwanis.org
https://twitter.com/txokkiwanis
24-25 District Officers
Editor: Evelyn Herrera District Marketing Chair: Marshall Kregel
txokdist@swbell.net
texas oklahoma district
www.facebook.com/texasoklahomakiwanis
P. O. Box 820945, North Richland Hills, TX 76182
817-640-7711
A gift from John Cano
A website goodie!
Do you ever struggle keeping track of all our events? Feel scared of missing out? Tired of digging through emails to find out? Well check out our new district calendar! Our very own John Cano worked hard to put together this calendar for our website. Now Kiwanians can check out our webpage and see what we have going on. Click on the image above to be redirected to the district calendar.
Texas Oklahoma Kiwanis District Governor's Message Bobby Quinten
KIWANIS LEADERS: HANDS FOR SERVICE AND THE WILL TO LEAD Individual members are the foundation of the century-old Kiwanis movement. Diverse human beings who sacrifice their time and resources to improve their community are the glue that holds Kiwanis International together. Our local volunteer armies may be small or large, but every club is mighty in potential and capabilities. Kiwanians join to serve. However, Kiwanis Clubs also rely heavily on leaders stepping up to guide and support them for maximum impact. To accomplish all that we want to do and need to do for children in Oklahoma and Texas, we constantly must raise up new servant leaders to lead our clubs, regions, divisions, and District. We urgently need members willing both to serve and to lead. Leadership development is my heart. I trained leadership principles for more than 25 years in corporate settings. As Governor, I will use my experience to encourage and equip more Kiwanis members for servant leadership at all levels of the organization. To raise a new generation of leaders, we must encourage the will to lead. Kiwanis International has terrific training opportunities available for new leaders. We do an excellent job of laying out roles and responsibilities for each leadership position. Kiwanis has Club Leadership Education, Lieutenant Governor training, Youth Protection Training, and Kiwanis Amplify. We can train. However, all the training and resources in the world are worthless if no one has the will to lead. Who has the will to lead? At the club level, we need newer members willing to serve as presidents so that the president’s position no longer rotates among two or three longtime members. Clubs need assistant aecretaries and assistant treasurers to learn the ropes and assist. Clubs need newer members with fresh ideas and different perspectives to step into director positions. Every club needs someone willing to raise their hand to be a membership chair who will drive club growth initiatives throughout the community. At the division level, we need members with a little time and flexibility to lead as lieutenant governors. Trust me - lieutenant governor is the best job in Kiwanis! You visit other clubs in your division and become their trusted advisor and resource. You also support the Governor in all their initiatives. I agree with KI President Lee Kuan Yong who believes that engaged lieutenant governors “have the power to increase every club’s capabilities to meet needs in their community.” At the district level, we need Kiwanians willing to lead our operations side as a regional trustee. Our Board of Trustees review the District’s finances, maintain our Bylaws and Policies, and make business decisions in concert with District Officers. Trustees serve three-year terms. We need Kiwanians with a business mind willing to lead as regional trustees. Who has the will to lead? Our growth and maximum local effectiveness depend heavily on more Kiwanians raising their hand with the will to lead. Even more than time and money, a scarcity of servant leadership in critical roles will cripple our Kiwanis mission. We need more of the will to lead, much more. There was a time when holding a leadership role in a service club, nonprofit, or charitable organization looked good on a resume. This can still be true if we market that fact to our corporate partners and the community at large. Many businesses and government agencies have up-and-coming, high-potential employees who can learn leadership by joining Kiwanis. They provide an additional set of “hands” for service. In return, we give them the safe space to learn basic leadership skills in a rewarding environment. Win-Win! Holding a leadership position in a volunteer organization once seemed universally attractive to club members. Today more and more members say they do not have the time or want the hassle and the politics of leadership. We must reduce the hassle and politics so that our servant leadership roles are attractive and fun again. Kiwanis International magnificently develops leaders in Aktion Club, Key Club and Circle K. If you attend a Key Club or CKI District Board meeting, you must remind yourself that these impressive, organized, thoughtful, respectful, willful leaders are still high school and college students. We know how to create and develop leaders! Our mandate is to cultivate the will to lead in a new generation of adults. Let us grow more leaders in our Kiwanis Clubs. Our future depends on it. Thank you to all our servant leaders who stepped up this year! You have the will to lead. Proudly I work together with you for the children to make their world a better place. Bobby Quinten TX-OK Kiwanis Governor
Governor's Brief November 25, 2024
A few notes from the TX OK Governor in kicking off this holiday season: Once the New Year arrives, we will be ramping up our Club Opening projects as well as Club Boosts. On Club Boosts, priority will be for clubs that specifically ask for a boost, as well as clubs with 10-14 members so we can help them get back to Charter Strength. We also start building toward our four big conventions, CKI in February, Key Club in April, ICON in June, and DCON in July. Much to do!! The December Governor’s Leadership Team meeting is Monday, December 2nd at 6:30 PM on Zoom. Please attend if possible. New LTGs, your PLGA mentors will be discussing service projects with you in your final session of the year. My Mentoring Guide went out last week. Please have your session and report to me by December 31st. Division 14 has a new Lieutenant Governor, Nancy White of Nacogdoches. Nancy fills the unexpired term of Lorraine Simoneau who recently resigned. Welcome, Nancy, to the Governor’s Leadership Team! Panhandle Region 4 has a new Trustee, Dr. Mark Crouch of San Angelo. Dr. Crouch has been elected to a full three-year term by the District Board to represent Divisions 7, 17, 18, and 33 in District business. Thank you, Mark, for stepping into this position! CLUB VISITS SCHEDULE Here is where I will be between now and Christmas / New Year’s. Elk City - November 26th Weatherford OK - December 3rd Robson Ranch - December 6th Oklahoma City - December 9th Division 5 Council Meeting, San Antonio ARC - December 14th Durant - December 18th At this Thanksgiving, I am so thankful for all of you who support the clubs and SLPs in the Mighty T-O District. Thank you for all that you do on behalf of children in Oklahoma and Texas. I wish you and your families a peaceful, restful, safe, fun, and a blessed Thanksgiving season.
OUR DISTRICT KIWANIS TEXAS-OKLAHOMA DISTRICT
Enid Kiwanis club will be providing rides at Meadowlake Park for Christmas in the Park event this Saturday the 14th. Rides will open for $1-$2 a ride. Other free fun stuff included!
Join the Kiwanis Club of San Marcos and enjoy Pancakes with Santa at 129 W. Hutchison St. San Marcos TX 78666 on December 21st. Everyone is welcome! Free pancakes and sausage will be provided to attendees.
I’ve seen so many wonderful projects by various Kiwanis Clubs over the years; y’all deserve a pat on the back for your dedication and service to the youth. Inspired by Landscape Structures displayed at the 2019 Kiwanis International Convention in Miami, the University Kiwanis Club of Wichita Falls began investigating the possibilities of improving the playground facilities at the nearby University Kiwanis Park. Twenty years of collecting funds had given our club $100,000 to leverage additional grants and donations in the amount of $110,000. Plans were finalized, and the equipment was ordered to be delivered on December 29, 2020. Installation of the playground equipment began soon after and was completed on February 13, 2021, with the dedication being held on March 27, 2021. Whirlix Design of Dallas, TX (representing Landscape Structures locally) was instrumental in support for the design and implementation of the playground. Aside from having a sturdy and durable structure designed to last many years, we also included some special space. There’s a little dome that autistic children can enjoy safely. Additionally, the ZipKrooz, the “little butterfly,” and swings have safe buckets with seat belts for physically handicapped kids. While full wheelchair accessibility is not available, children can be lifted into the seats and strapped in. You can often see small children and their families, as well as teachers with their students, enjoying the playground. But this next phase will certainly appeal to larger kids. Not pictured are all the hours our sponsored Key Clubs have put in to keep the area clean and support in maintenance. Our club continues to improve the playground area of the park and has recently taken delivery of a new, larger zipline, 66 feet long with 3 separate runs and strong enough for bigger kids. This will likely be installed in December of 2024, and, as funds permit, we will continue to improve the playground. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Seasons Greetings to all!! The photos tell the story of the playground being built.
Service project spotlight
Playground Installation Submitted by Keith Rice,Texas-Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Division 18 2024-2025
Playground Installation
Creating massive impact one project at a time.
A Look at Clubs
Brownwood Kiwanis celebrate 72nd pancake supper with large turnout Featuring The Brownwood Kiwanis Club
The Kiwanis of Brownwood recently held their annual pancake supper fundraiser for the 72nd consecutive year. The event was held on November 5 at the Brownwood Coliseum and served several thousand pancakes to almost 2000 residents. The supper is the primary annual fundraiser for the Kiwanis organization that promotes and supports youth activities and organizations in the area. “We had a really great year with a good turnout and a fantastic group of volunteers,” said Nathan Smith, club president. “We really couldn’t do this event without our club members, youth organizations, sponsors, and Howard Payne University. Troy Drummond and everyone at HPU made this thing possible this year. They support us with the setup and teardown of tables and chairs, and we cannot thank them enough.” Volunteers with several Brown County organizations lend a hand to pull off the event. “We had the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Key Club, Builders Club, the U-Team from United Supermarket, the Brown County Youth Fair queen contestants and ambassadors, plus about 40 of our core members’ help to get this thing accomplished.” Event sponsors include Bruner GM, Hendricks, Citizens National Bank, KOXE, Prosperity Bank, Wendlee Broadcasting, MC Bank, Howard Payne University, Texas Bank, Big Country Ford, and Pecan Bayou Nursing and Rehab. The event seeks to raise operating funds used to give scholarships and support youth events throughout the year. The Brownwood Kiwanis support youth education and growth programs through partnerships with many organizations across Brown County. To find out more information about Brownwood Kiwanis, visit their Facebook page.
Kiwanians Jennifer Hass, Ben Gonzalez, Gail Jay, Nancy Baker, and Wayne Baker delivered coats from the Coats for Kids coat drive. In the photo to the right are Ben, Gail, Jennifer, and Jaime Aleman, Counselor at Stafford Elementary. 63 coats and a vest were delivered to Stafford elementary. Nancy and Wayne Baker delivered 11 new coats to the Long Early Learning Center. Counselor Melissa Martinez was on hand to help unload the coats. Thanks to all the members who donated money and coats for the kids! And thanks to the Kiwanians who went shopping for new coats! And special thanks to Jennifer Hass for organizing the coat drive.
COATS FOR KIDS
Kiwanis club of greater Abilene
STAFFORD ELEMENTARY KIDS HAVE FUN AT BUGS Featuring The Greater Abilene Kiwanis club
The club's first BUGS program was Thursday, November 20th, at Stafford Elementary, N. 10th and Pioneer Drive. BUGS stands for Bring Up Grades and helps students achieve higher grades each semester. The students who bring up their grades are entered into a drawing for a special prize at the end of the school year. President Gail gave highlights of their BUGs (Bringing Up Grades) presentation at Stafford Elementary yesterday and showed pictures of their school’s Turkey Trot. Greater Abilene supplied 12 pumpkin pies to help the winners of the races celebrate. It was such a good feeling to see the excitement on the kids faces and know that Kiwanis helped in it all. The club learned that these underserved children need pants and leggings in addition to coats.
The Kiwanis Club of Sapulpa annual Pancake Feed Submitted by Kathy Berryhill
The Kiwanis Club of Sapulpa hosted its annual Pancake Feed on Friday, November 15, 2024, at the First Baptist Church in Sapulpa. Nearly 400 attendees enjoyed all-you-can-eat pancakes, bacon, coffee, and juice, with additional orders delivered throughout the community. The club celebrated its 80th anniversary by treating guests to sprinkles and whipped cream to add an extra festive touch to their pancakes. New to this year’s event was the inaugural Pancake Eating Contest, featuring local first responders from the Sapulpa Police Department, Fire Department, and Creek County Sheriff’s Office. The teams competed to see who could eat the most pancakes in a 5-minute timed challenge. Sapulpa High School Key Club members collected contributions to lend team support to each department. The winning team from the Sapulpa Sheriff’s office was to receive a portion of the contributions, but they chose to graciously donate the funds back to the Sapulpa Kiwanis Club. The annual Pancake Feed supports vital Kiwanis initiatives, including scholarships for Sapulpa High School students, the K-Kids Club at Holmes Park and Liberty STEM, Builders Clubs at Sapulpa Middle School and Junior High, and the Key Club at Sapulpa High School. “With budget cuts impacting schools and municipalities, our club is stepping up to ensure children have the resources they need to succeed,” said Sandie Howard, club secretary. “Who knew pancakes could make such a difference?” Ryan Parnell, Past President of the Kiwanis Club, added, “We understand the importance of Kiwanis both locally and globally. This event provides an opportunity for everyone in Sapulpa to invest in the future of our children, and we are deeply grateful for the community’s support.”
A glimmer of hope in the darkness of the natural disaster, Hurricane Helene, came in the form of a team of past and present Kiwanis family members in Texas and Florida. Tami Norton, Club Secretary, received word that many of her coworkers in NC were directly impacted by the storm and wondered if there was something we could do to help. That question was the catalyst for an amazing adventure that started with over 250 children’s backpacks being donated by a local church’s food pantry. Upon receiving the donation, the effort turned to how to get them to those in need. A call to Marshall Kregel, Texas-Oklahoma District Disaster Relief Coordinator, put us in contact with John Hill from the Live Oak, FL Kiwanis Club, who was heading up relief efforts in the southeast part of the country. Marshall also provided $500 from the Disaster Relief Fund to pay for shipping. But how do we get them there? Enter Randy Stevens, a former Key Club president, who volunteered to get the backpacks to Corpus Christi, where Tim Stevens, a former Kiwanian, offered to use his company’s resources to get them to Florida at no charge to our club. Once the backpacks arrived in Florida, John Hill stepped in to supervise the distribution of them to children in need. With Marshall’s approval, the $500 in district relief funds is being used to purchase Christmas gifts for the children of families in Ashville, NC. Special thanks to Mike Clark, past Club President, for his efforts in making this happen.
IT TAKES A FAMILY, A KIWANIS FAMILY
Submitted by Glenda Rast, President, Kiwanis Club of Texas Hill Country
KIWANIS CLUB OF GREATER ABILENE JOE MARSHALL KIWANIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD Submitted by Lyndel Cook
Diane Terrell, last year’s Joe Marshall Kiwanian of the Year Award (KOY) recipient, stated the qualifications for the award. We look for someone who not only attends meetings but also Interclubs, Division 35 Council, ICON & DCON, participates in service programs and volunteers, is a committee chair or officer, financially supports our buckets, golf tournament and mission, and invites guests and brings in new members. The recipient is selected by past award recipients. This year’s KOY has been a Kiwanian since 2001, transferred from Key City to Greater Abilene in 2012, and has held the following offices at Key City: was past president, president, VP, and program chair. At Great Abilene, this person was past president, president, board member, foundation past president, president & board member; chair of the Ratliff Scholarship Committee; committee member, Scholarship Committee chair of the Nominating Committee, very successful Interclubs chair, motivating several club members to attend Interclubs at Abilene, Albany, and Sweetwater; very active committee member for the past 4 years for the Golf Tournament. As an avid golfer, this member was instrumental in the planning of our first fundraiser: Special Achievement/contributions—served as club President twice, has recruited more than 5 members to include his wife, and was selected by his peers to become LTG for Division 35; he is currently serving as a T/O District of Kiwanis Region 6 Trustee for a three-year term. He is one of 10 trustees who serve on the T/O Board of Directors. This member was the last club member to receive the KI Walter Zeller Fellowship Award (2020-2021), which was retired by Kiwanis International in 2021; the CT Bush Award (2023-2024); the KI Ruby K Award recipient (May 2022); and the T/O District Governor B’s K Club” recipient for 2021-2022; was the Distinguished Club President (2018-2019) and the T/O District Distinguished Lt. Governor for Division 35 (2020-2021); loves Kiwanis and visited all Division 35 clubs plus Alpine & Colorado City. Our award recipient is married to Sunny for 5 years, has a blended family of 5 children, and 2 grandchildren. Congrats to Joey Parker!!!
The Kiwanis Club of Texarkana recently had the privilege of volunteering at Mission Texarkana, Inc., where we had the opportunity to serve a hot meal to those in need in our community. Our dedicated members worked together to prepare and serve food, feeding 210 people. It was a rewarding experience to be able to give back and make a positive impact on the lives of so many. We are grateful for the chance to partner with Mission Texarkana in this important effort and look forward to continuing our work to support those in need in our community. Thank you to all of our Kiwanis volunteers for their hard work and compassion.
The Kiwanis Club of Texarkana Mission Texarkana, Inc. Submitted by Barbara Walker
Kiwanis Club of Fort Worth & Weatherford Newsletter v.4, I.3 Submitted by Kathy Culbertson
Check out Fort Worth Kiwanis Club and Weatherford's newest newsletter! Click on the image above to read about their latest news.
Rainbow Room Featuring The Kiwanis Club of Robson Ranch
At a recent meeting, the Kiwanis Club of Robson Ranch welcomed Region 3 West Faith-Based & Community Engagement Specialist Myrna Mason, who provided educational information about the Department of Family and Protective Services Rainbow Rooms. Myrna offered valuable insights into the program's history and shared her experiences and involvement over the years. A huge highlight was the members' delivery of 50 Comfort Dolls to the Rainbow Room Coordinator in Denton. The Comfort Dolls will be distributed to caseworkers so they can have them in their vehicles when a removal occurs. Thanks to Myrna, the Kiwanis Club was also able to purchase essential items for the Rainbow Room and Resource Room through an Amazon registry. The Club also provided VISA gift cards to be utilized for children when in need of items not found in the Rainbow Room or Resource Room, such as food items during a transition of the removal process. The Rainbow Room is an emergency resource center located within local Child Protective Services (CPS) offices. The Rainbow Rooms are actual storerooms stocked with emergency and transitional resources. Child Protective Service caseworkers distribute all new items, such as clothing, shoes, coats, diapers, lice kits, hygiene items, and more, for children who are victims of abuse or neglect who are entering foster, kinship care, and other placement options. The Rainbow Rooms are supported by volunteers and are stocked strictly through donations of new items and in-kind giving. The Rainbow Rooms do not accept used items. By donating to the Rainbow Room or Resource Room, you'll make a powerful and immediate impact on a child's safety, health, and comfort. There are currently 220 Rainbow Rooms serving the children of Texas. There are two Rainbow Rooms in Denton County, located at the CPS Offices in Denton and Lewisville. An Amazon Registry has been established for anyone to use, allowing items to be ordered and shipped directly to the Rainbow Room Coordinator. The link to the Amazon registry is https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2RB1UB985QW80.
Budgeting is a big part of convention planning. Will it cost more to drive or fly to the host city? What’s the price of public transportation? Is the convenience of the Minn-Dak designated hotel worth the sometimes steep nightly fee? After all that, how much will you have left to spend on the fun stuff? Let’s take a detour there. If you really want to experience Pittsburgh next summer, add a line in your budget to step out of the convention bubble to attend one of these tours.* - Black & Ghost Tour and Pittsburgh Ghosts Steel City Haunted Tour are two history tours with a spooky or downright eerie twist. - As you might expect, the Wigle Whiskey Rebellion Distillery Tour and Pittsburgh Signature Guided Brewery Tour include samples and exclude anyone under 21. Other tours focused on adult beverages are Beers in the Burgh: Pittsburgh Brewery Walk and Bikes & Brews Tour: Pittsburgh Brewery Tour. - If you’ve always wanted to try an escape room but can’t escape the confines of your daily routine, plan to check out the Outdoor Escape Room in Pittsburgh–East Allegheny. It’s one part scavenger hunt, one part escape room, and one part urban crawl. - For those who are reluctant to give up the usual hours of streaming, consider Lights, Camera, Pittsburgh—Movie Tour for your film fix. Those are just a sample of the many walking, biking, drinking, and eating tours available. As soon as you finish that convention budget, start working on your packing list: film, camera batteries, good walking shoes… *All tours were found randomly online. Minn-Dak does not receive a kickback if you go on one of them, and you’ll only get a weird look if you try to ask for a Kiwanis discount. The one exception to this will be the Frank Lloyd Wright tour offered on Wednesday by KI.
ICON Planning
Santa's Helpers
Did you know Santa and his elves recruit Kiwanians to help during the holidays? Well, we do! You'll see us out and about collecting donations doing coat drives, and more. Join us by checking out some volunteer activities below.
Meals on Wheels Did you know that 13.5% of US housholds are food insecure? This season partner up with organizations like Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels help deliver food to the elderly, homebound, and disabled people who have difficulty obtaining food on their own. Check them out here https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/. Volunteer at Homeless Shelters Did you know that 10-15% of US housholds are home insecure? Home insecurity refers to a lack of stability, affordability, or safety in households, often leading to homlessness. Around this time of year homless shelters see an uptick in people needing shelter. Packed homless shelters often overwhelm volunteers. This year seek out a homless shelter near you to help their volunteers and assit others. Angel Trees Did you know that 16% of US children experience child poverty? Children who experience child poverty are more likely to fall behind in school, face food insecurity, home insecurity, and more. This holiday season help bring those children some goodies and comfort. Sponsoring families or a child through angel trees is always a good way to do so. Many organizations give you details about your sponsorees' wants and needs. This year try sponsoring those who often get overlooked, like teens.
In Loving Memory
Month
Division
Club
Name
November
39
Arlington, Southwest
Dan Cowell
17
Elk City
Kenneth Hart
24
Northwest Austin
Merlin Darling
October
32
Greenville Golden K, Greenville
Clifford Riggins
IN LOVING MEMORY
"The song is ended, but the melody lingers on." - Irving Berlin
KI Notes submissions can be emailed to txokkiwanis@gmail.com.
Texas Oklahoma Kiwanis District Editor's Message Evelyn Herrera
My recent experience in giving I was scrolling through facebook when across my feed popped up an angel tree list. I teleported back to my youth. A huge smile on my face from the suprise gifts left for me by a local elderly man. A doll, a blanket, and other treats. The warmth of the pink blanket enveloped me. It was what seemed one of the coldest winters. I bundled up in the pink warmth ever so tightly. Suddenly I was yanked back into reality. My husband asked why I was crying. I didn't realize back then how I was one of the children being serviced by holiday programs. In front of me, on my phone, was a description of a little girl who reminded me so much of me back then. A young pre-teen full of creatvity and spark. I feared she would get looked over. At this time I felt torn. Our finances were tight, my schedule hectic... but after a minute of thinking, my husband encouraged me to sponsor the child. We have both been through some challenges throughout our lives, we both always enjoyed giving back. Instead of eating out that week we decided to spend what we had on that little angel. I wrapped the gifts in the most joyful wrapping I could find. I could only imagine the excitement that child will experience this holiday season. That was all I needed for my own Christmas. It is acts like these that make us who we are. Even when we have little to give, we give back to spread kindness in the world. That's what makes us Kiwanians.