K E Y C L U B hunter edition

Official Newsletter of Hunter Key Club in New York District 11

HAPPY 2011!

In this issue…

LTC Preview ................. 2

Service Profiles ......... 3-4

MEETINGS // Thursday Activities, Room 420

Volume 1 Issue 5 January 2011

All the cheer of winter

vacation and new year

celebrations seems to

disappear with the

onslaught of January work:

midterms, grades and this

year, endless snowfall.

Although community

service may not have been

a first priority in January,

there are still simple ways

to help out, such as

shoveling a neighbor's

sidewalk or helping a

friend with homework.

After all, community

service isn't all about

earning service credit.

Despite the lack of club

meetings this month due

to vacation and snow days,

there are still individuals

who make an active

difference in

their community.

I've decided to profile

these exemplary members

in this issue, in hopes of

inspiring you to also

pursue service outside of

Key Club.

I hope you enjoy this

issue and I look forward

to seeing you once again

at our February meetings!

-Ella Cheng

By Ella Cheng

Leadership Training Conference Preview Emma Cheng, Treasurer and Conference Chair

2 HUNTER KEY CLUB // District 11 Newsletter

Logo / Ella Cheng

With the end of the 2010-2011 service year fast approaching, it’s time to start looking ahead to the 63rd

Leadership Training Conference on April 8-10!

At the annual event, Key Clubbers from all over the New York District will gather together to celebrate their

achievements during the service year and to get an early start preparing for the next year in a collaborative and

communitarian atmosphere. As the culmination of all members’ efforts from 2010 to 2011, the convention will

proudly display all the work and gifts of our district’s members through scheduled events like the talent show and

award ceremonies. In addition to such activities, all attendees will be offered a unique chance to meet and socialize

with Key Clubbers from all over the state during the large dinner gatherings, dances, and even during their free time.

Most importantly, though, leadership training conference truly inspires Key Club members every year, offering them

an in-depth perspective of all the accomplishments of the immense organization and opening their eyes to all the

available opportunities.

As this year’s conference chair, I have already had an exclusive inside look at the arrangements for the 63rd

annual convention. The leadership training conference’s new theme, “Broadway,” is sure to keep a lively, fun

atmosphere. Expect a great line-up of new workshops for attendees to participate, such as improve acting,

professionalism, writing college essays, and even quick dance classes! Meanwhile, other more customary workshops,

like successful fundraising, making meetings move, and creating service ideas will undoubtedly continue to help Key

Clubbers prepare for a new, productive year of service and leadership.

While last year’s conference was held in Kutsher's Country Club in Monticello, New York, this year’s locale

has changed to a Holiday Inn in Albany. Having already visited the location, I am proud to say that the hotel is

definitely a step up from all of the previous convention sites. With comfortable rooms, new facilities, and great open

spaces to socialize in, this year’s leadership training conference is most certainly going to be a success, so get excited

as you’re counting down the days!

Ella Cheng

I first came across this organization at a Key Club

divisional in the spring of 2010, in which Mr. Fifer,

the founder of the organization introduced Helping is

Easy and its cause to the Key Clubbers of Division 11

and asking for interest in interning.

A month later, I was an online intern for Helping is

Easy, providing feedback on the website,

helpingiseasy.org, and communicating with other

service organizations or groups about creating

accounts and participating in various projects.

Helping is Easy is also undertaking numerous

painting projects at the Metropolitan Hospital. Over

the summer, I attended a painting project.

I have continued to work for Helping is Easy

through the summer and the school year, preparing

the website for its upcoming launch and spreading the

word about simple projects such as holiday cards and

Valentine's Day hearts.

I am extremely excited for the website's launch but

the launch won't be the end of the story. The website

will continue to be revised and improved and

publicity will always be necessary. Helping is Easy is

still recruiting interns, so if you're interested in

working with this organization as an online intern,

you can e-mail me at ella.2012029@gmail.com It's a

great cause and you'll gain some valuable experiences!

Sera Kwon

I started volunteering at Street Squash during 9th grade,

the same year I joined Key Club. Some recruiters from the

organization came to a club meeting one day, and I got

hooked on it after the first couple of times I went there.

Street Squash is a Harlem-based nonprofit youth

organization. Students in the program receive free

academic tutoring and squash instruction, in addition to

college prep and mentoring.

Something that I think sets Street Squash apart from

other urban enrichment programs is the relationship

between the staff and the students. Staff members in the

classrooms are regularly updated on students’ schoolwork

and progress in both squash and academics. This

information facilitates conversation between staff and

students. It always impresses me that every staff member

remembers each student’s name.

Another thing that makes Street Squash awesome is its

snacks. I love string cheese.

During the school year I usually volunteer at Street

Squash once or twice a week, as a tutor for middle school

students. Lately I’ve been helping 8th graders study for an

upcoming biology test by drawing horrible diagrams on a

board and asking kids to guess the name of the blobs I’m

pointing to. For the past two summers, I’ve also

volunteered as an academic counselor. The curriculum for

Street Squash’s Summer Discovery program is pretty

different from what you’d see during the school year—some

of the topics we’ve covered are how to use the subway,

dining etiquette, and the New York immigration

experience at Ellis Island.

The time I’ve spent at Street Squash has changed me in

a lot of ways. I’m definitely a lot more confident, and

hopefully more patient with others and myself. Street

Squash is definitely a commitment that I want to continue

in the future, and hopefully one that others will want to

start.

3

Service Profiles

K E Y C L U B

Belinda Zhou

Every Sunday I volunteer at the Lower East Side

Preparatory School in Manhattan with an organization called

Chinatown Youth Initiatives. I am part of a program called

Chinatown Literacy Project (CLP) with around thirty other high

school students in the city, and our goal is to teach Chinese

immigrants English as well as learn more about how we can

better the Chinatown community. Although I go there to help

others learn English, I have also become more knowledgeable

about the history of Chinatown and the issues affecting the

people of the community through weekly workshops.

When I first applied to the program, I thought that I would

spend all my time just teaching people how to speak, write, and

read in English. However, after a few weeks, I was surprised to

find that I really came to understand the people I teach—not just

in terms of language, but also in terms of culture and their own

personal stories. I became more aware of the hardships of

immigrating from China and how debilitating not knowing

English could be for some of these people. It was hard to go on

in daily life, living in New York but not being able to speak

English—they all had a hard time with transportation, going to

the hospital, and buying food in the supermarket. Not knowing

English limited many of them to living in Chinatown or other

areas where they were surrounded by a Chinese community,

because they really could not effectively communicate their ideas

in English. Being a part of CLP really made me realize the

importance of language and the impact the classes could have on

the lives of people I teach.

Service Profiles

Find more information at:

6 keyclub.org or nydkc.org

TTHHEE BBOOAARRDD

Nancy Zhang International Trustee

Ben Flikshteyn President

Irek Habrylo Vice President

Sera Kwon Secretary

Emma Cheng Treasurer

Ella Cheng Editor