WHAT, HOW, & WHY

As I make my way around our great district, my message is focused on how

important it is for us to grow our number of clubs AND strengthen our

existing clubs. Whether we’re opening a new club or adding members to

our own clubs, it all comes down to making the “ask”. Rarely do we attract

members through an ad in the newspaper. We attract members because we

ask them to join us.

And making the ask is easy when we tell/show “why” we belong to this

great organization. We frequently talk about “what” we do and “how” we do

it, but it is the “why” that is so important. People will join us when we

articulate the “why”.

A couple evenings ago, I was sitting at my PC reading through a tall stack of

scholarship applications from Key Club members of the Dallas Center-

Grimes Key Club. I want to share with you what a Key Clubber expressed

about her Key Club experiences. And, more importantly, why these

experiences have changed her life, both now and in the future.

This, folks, is “why” we belong to Kiwanis.

"Volunteering has taught me to be grateful, listen, learn, help whenever

you can, and to love

always. You don’t realize what you have until you meet someone who

can’t do everything you can do. There are people who can’t walk, and I’ve

never met anyone who is incredibly grateful that they can. The kids at

(Kiwanis) Miracle League taught me this. I was paired up with a young

boy who couldn’t swing that bat by himself. Admittedly I’m not the best at

baseball, but I’ve never needed help to at least swing that bat. Being at

Miracle League made me realize that there’s so much I can do that I

should be way more grateful for than I am. I’ve learned that not

everything is about me and the struggles that are happening in my world.

There are much bigger things going on in the world. I’ve never

experienced the effects of tetanus, nor known anyone who has. My first

time participating in Trick or Treat for UNICEF, I had no clue what I was

raising money for. But as my Key Club learned more and more about it,

we realized just how lucky we are to live where we live and have the

resources we have. Tetanus is a huge problem in other countries, and we

had no clue of its effects. Now we know what UNICEF (and Kiwanis

worldwide Eliminate project) is raising money for and helping pay for

WHAT, HOW, & WHY

something that could potentially be life saving for a total stranger across

the world is worth it. We know we’re saving lives, despite being across the

world. Being involved in service has shown me, again and again and

again, that life is not always kind to everyone. I used to believe that

I’m just one person, I can’t make a difference in the world. But

volunteering to help with Miracle League, Trick or Treat for UNICEF,

Make A Wish foundation, and many others, has shown me that I may be

just one person, but if one person can help one person, that makes all the

difference. Volunteering has taught me to be a better person. I realize that

I am fortunate and loved and I know that I should give back to the world

that has allowed me to live and thrive by helping others live and thrive."

What is YOUR “why”?

Jan Burch, Governor, 2017-18

FORMULA REPORT

The Formula for strengthening Kiwanis is to Love IT, Share IT and Live IT!

Kiwanis international has provided extensive tools to help clubs implement

strengthening strategies. These tools are available to everyone and easily

accessible through the www.kiwanis.org website.

To access them, follow these steps:

1. Log into www.kiwanis.org.

2. When the Front page appears, look at the top right to find “Member

Resources” (Just above the word “Featured”) and click on it.

3. When the “Member Resources” page appears, scroll down a bit to

the large “FORMULA” box and click on it.

4. Now you will see the “Formula” page with the following headings:

5. Put your mouse over “Strengthen a Club” and a whole list of resources

comes up, among them:

• Achieving Club Excellence

• Tips and Tools for Inviting Others

• Retaining Members

• Membership Committee

• Building Leadership

• Hosting a Membership Drive

FORMULA REPORT

6. Now, pick “Hosting a Membership Drive” and another list of

resources appears on the right “One-minute Speech; Club Brochures;

Strengthen your club; and Achieving Club Excellence tools.” As you

can see, Kiwanis’ Formula website uses a lot of cross-referencing to

provide access to the Formula tools.

7. But the directions you are after here are the specifics for “Hosting an

open house.”

• Follow the instructions and download the “Hosting an Open

House” tool.

• The tool gives specific steps to take for each of the three major

steps:

i. Prepare – planning and ordering or creating club

brochures

ii. Invite – Conducting a “roster analysis”; creating

invitations (Tip: See Tips and Tools for Inviting others…to

your Open House)

iii. Follow-up – making the ask, and involving new members

8. I promise that if you do these steps, including the follow-up, you will

be successful in adding new members. Furthermore, you will have so

much fun doing it, that it will become a regular exercise, perhaps

quarterly or at least annually.

Investing some time to do the necessary pre-work, will pay off with a

stronger, more appealing club. But, as in last month’s tip on Creating

the Purpose, Hosting an Open House does require a willingness to

invest the time and energy it takes to make it successful. So set aside

a special time to do only this:

• Volunteer to chair the committee, or work with your club’s

Membership Chair.

• Recruit the right members to be on this team (two or three

others who Love your club and want to Share it);

• Print off all of these resources, and

• Hold a special meeting of this committee to create your plan.

• Hold as many follow-up meetings as necessary before you roll

out your plan to the club.

FORMULA REPORT

9. Walla!

• Work your plan, and

• Celebrate your success!

10. Next Month: Retaining Members

Kiwanis: Love IT, Share IT and Live IT!

Bob Mitchell, Formula Chair, NE-IA District

Nebraska-Iowa Key Clubber Runs for International Trustee Let’s Help!

This summer K’lena Schnack is running for a Trustee position at the Key

Club International Convention held in Chicago this July. She stepped onto

our Key Club District Board last year when we needed help. She did a great

job and wants to serve at a higher level next year.

Our Key Club members across the district do some amazing things. They

are full of energy and the passion to help others. I’ve been working with

Key Clubbers for over 20 years and I can guarantee you that the best thing

that Kiwanis does is provide these fabulous kids the opportunity to learn,

grow and discover the joy of service.

The Key Club International Convention (ICON) is usually an expensive

adventure for a high school student; usually over $1000. This year the

travel won’t be quite as much since Chicago is close. But it will still cost just

under $1000 to attend. We want to have as many kids as possible attend to

support K’lena but that’s a lot to ask of a Key Clubber. That’s where you can

help.

My two clubs (Marion Metro & Hi-CREW) have both stepped up and

donated $300 apiece to the trip to sponsor Key Club members from the

Cedar Rapids metro area. That’s generous and I thank them very much.

Hi-CREW sponsors the Cedar Rapids Kennedy Key Club and Marion Metro

hopes to sponsor a Key Club in the future. If your club sponsors a Key Club

or just wants to promote the efforts of Key Club, please send a donation to

me to sponsor a deserving kid. I hate to see kids excited about going and

then have their enthusiasm crushed by the amount it costs to make it

happen.

If all the Kiwanis clubs reading this sent in $20 I could reduce the total

costs by over $3000. That would be a HUGE help. Now I know that not

Nebraska-Iowa Key Clubber Runs for International Trustee Let’s Help! everyone is going to do that, so I’m asking the successful, generous clubs

(you know who you are) to consider a larger amount much like my clubs.

The deadline for the kids to sign up is June 1st so I can finalize the rooms

and travel arrangements. I would love to be able to lower the costs for

them. I’ve reached out to other districts to share rooms and travel costs,

but my budget must balance at the end of the day, so I would really

appreciate any help the clubs or members can give. Please reach out with a

pledge or donation today. Let’s help get K’lena on the International Board!

Byron Tabor, Asst. District Administrator

btabor12@mchsi.com 319-310-7821(cell)

2016-17 NE-IA District Award Winners

FELLOWSHIP/INTERCLUB AWARD Award winners:

Emerald Division (31-45 members) 1st Place: Ames Town & Country 2nd Place: Alta Kiwanis

Ruby Division (46 to 75 members) 1st Place: Lincoln Northeast 2nd Place: Iowa City Old Capitol

Diamond Division (over 75 members) 1st Place: Ames Golden K

EXEMPLARY CLUB AWARD

Award winners:

Hy-Noon Kiwanis, Spencer

Old Capitol Kiwanis, Iowa City

Lincoln Northeast Kiwanis

OUTSTANDING SECRETARY AWARD

Award winners:

Virgil Wahlman, Milford (IA) Kiwanis, Div 3

Joe Melcher, Nevada Kiwanis, Div 11

John Green, Old Capitol Kiwanis, Iowa City, Div 14

Lenora Hanna, Lincoln Northeast Kiwanis, Div 21

Rex Cross, North Platte Kiwanis, Div 24

SIGNATURE PROJECT AWARD

Dobytown Kiwanis, Kearney, Back 2 School Link Backpack

Project

Jim Dane, Governor 2016-17

CONGRATULATIONS, TASNIA IQBAL!

Tasnia Iqbal, former NE-IA District Circle K

Governor, and now District Circle K

Administrator, has just learned that she has

been accepted into the University of Iowa

Medical School. Kudos to Tasnia!

WAY TO GO, JOHNSTON KIWANIS CLUB!

Johnston Kiwanis Club,

Division 16, just announced

the formation of a new Key

Club at Johnston High School.

The organizational meeting is

set for May 7. Kudos to

Johnston Kiwanis!

SIOUX CITY (NOON) CLUB HOSTS 60TH ANNUAL BANQUET

John Daniels, former president of the Sioux City (noon) Club,

reports that the club recently hosted the city’s SIXTIETH

ANNUAL TOP 5% BANQUET. The club, for the 37th year, has

spotlighted the top 5% of graduating seniors from ALL area high

schools, at an annual banquet. This year, 101 students were

recognized. With the support of numerous sponsors, Sioux City

members plan this affair that shows off the brightest and best!

Kudos to Sioux City Kiwanis!

LINCOLN NORTHEAST

CLUB OPENS K-KIDS

AT MESSIAH LUTHERAN

The brand-new Messiah

Lutheran K-Kids Club

celebrated their Charter

Banquet on Sunday

evening, April 29. The

Club had its first meeting

in February, was

chartered by Kiwanis International on March 12, and currently

boasts 11 members. It is sponsored by the Lincoln Northeast

Kiwanis Club.

RIVER CITY/MASON CITY CLUB UTILIZES I-PLAN & ACHIEVES AMAZING RESULTS Back in fiscal year 2016-2017 the leadership team of my home town club

River City / Mason City IA took on the challenge to create their I-Plan, as

requested by Kiwanis International and the NE-IA District-Formula Team.

From that process they produced a five year I-Plan that is a working

document for the leadership team to reference and update annually, so it

will continue to be a true five-year ongoing strategic plan. The following

comments are examples of how this very active club has utilized their I-

Plan to their benefit.

Inspiration: Membership Engagement

Responsibility falls on the Membership Committee and Board to exercise

the Inspiration by growing the club in a meaningful way. The results are as

follows;

• Grow the club each year by a minimum of 10%, RCKC club growth

equals 35% with 22 new members so far in year 2017-2018. “The

board will need to adjust its goals for membership growth in the

future”. By growing our club, it has brought down our average age

dramatically. The Action Plan is to have a guest at as many club

meetings as possible and a little challenging does not hurt anything

either. It is all about “just asking”!! Starting satellite members in

Clear Lake IA has been a great way to grow our membership, while

expanding our reach into Clear Lake. There are (9) satellite members

currently and the plan is to grow Clear Lake to a level that they can

achieve charter strength. It does not however mean that they will be

totally on their own. They will be Service Partners with River City

Club in both Mason City and Clear Lake. In the future the goal is to

reach out to other small communities around Mason City and Clear

Lake, to encourage membership in both clubs while providing service

to those communities as well i.e. a Regional expectation!!

• Another goal was to start a Builders Club (SLP) at Lincoln

Intermediate School in Mason City. So, an SLP committee was

established and the Club was started and chartered in February 2018

with (15) 5th and 6th grade members. The next step is to reach out to

the Middle School 7th and 8th grades, plus the High School in 2018-

2019 school year. The plan is to have Club advisors for each SLP Club

at a minimum of four RCKC advisors per SLP along with the Faculty

advisor at each of the school levels.

RIVER CITY/MASON CITY CLUB UTILIZES I-PLAN & ACHIEVES AMAZING RESULTS

• Utilization of the Portal Web site capabilities and Facebook for all

members and public, to be informed via electronic communication

and social media sources.

Impact: Meaningful Service

Create a signature project; so, the River City/ Mason City Club encouraged

the Noon Club to join forces to rehab Kiwanis Park in Mason City. Both

clubs contributed to the financial impact of the project based on their club

membership numbers. Then a Park Grant Committee was organized to

raise the additional necessary funds to undertake the total project and to

continue the maintenance on the park in the future. The total project

budget is $120,000.00 which includes a new shelter house, playground,

walking path, basketball court overlay, blacktop the parking lot and drive,

improve the landscaping all around and in the park plus adding safety

features such as lighting. The shelter house has been built, the

blacktopping plus overlay has been completed and now the playground and

pathway will be installed in May with a grand opening in July.

Image: Our Kiwanis Image

A marketing committee was established and has made a major difference

in our image here in Mason City and soon to be Clear Lake. Especially

featuring our service projects and fundraisers. It is also easier to gain

business partners to expand our Image not only publicly but with various

business staff members.

Investment: Financial Viability

The Board and Treasurer will share a visual breakdown of where our dues

go, our service project funding account and our non- dues revenue base

sources.

**The RCKC I-Plan is a six-page document that is truly a work in progress

formula for success, for the River City/Mason City Club.

Gary W. Lindgren, Lt Governor (Division 1)

AMES GOLDEN K INDUCTS 100TH MEMBER

Ames Golden K recently reached a new milestone in club membership when

well-known Ames community member Gerri Bugg was inducted as its

100th member. Pictured left to right is Gerri, Golden K President Bob

Sperry and Larry Trede, Golden K Secretary.

Ames Golden K is comprised of an Ames area group of men and women

who subscribe to the Kiwanis mission of "improving the world one child

and one community at a time" by assisting children, young adults, the aging

and the needy in the greater Ames area. Membership is from a widely

diversified professional, educational, public service, industrial and business

background.

The mission of Golden K emphasizes service, fund-raising, education and

fellowship at weekly meetings of the membership. Examples of service are

the "Golden K Listeners" program whereby club members help Edwards

and Sawyer elementary schools’ kindergarten and first graders with

reading, cooperating with other Kiwanis Clubs and Youth Standing Strong

{YSS] in sponsoring TEEN MAZE for 7th graders in Story, Boone, and

Greene Counties, and featuring the Ames Golden K Singers at many church

and community choir events in Central Iowa. Golden K also has provided

more than 500 children's books to the Ames Public Library.

Golden K has several fund-raising projects that support a Charity Donation

program including working as poll workers for elections, cooperating with

other Ames Kiwanis Clubs on Pancake Days, and sponsoring a paper

recycling project that has collected more than one million pounds of paper

and cardboard. Funds are distributed to support 15 local charities totaling

approximately $15,000 annually.

AMES GOLDEN K INDUCTS 100TH MEMBER

For more information about Ames Golden K, please visit the club's website,

www.amesgoldenk.org

Don Muff, Sr., Ames Golden K Kiwanis Publicity Coordinator

Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

It’s rich, ripe, and focused with juicy black cherry and cassis fruit, currants

and hints of mint all tied together with a creamy French vanilla middle and

a finish that lingers. Educated Guess fills all the requirements that a

serious cabernet lover is looking for, while remaining fun, approachable,

and food friendly. Pairs well with beef, lamb, mature and hard cheese, and

poultry. The wine’s ranking is top 2% of wines in the world and top 12% of

wines from Napa Valley. Average price is $21.99

Steve Siemens, KI President, 2005-06

Alaska

In July of

2016, Dick

and I took our

son JJ and his

family to

Alaska. Our

49th state is

amazing! I

enjoy hearing

stories of the

locals and

how a

community

came to be.

Skagway, which is just north of Juneau on the inside passage of our cruise

had a particularly interesting story of one of their most upstanding citizens.

In 1860, Jefferson Randolph “Soapy” Smith was born in Georgia to a family

of wealth and education. He went west to seek riches after his family met

with financial ruin after the civil war. He learned and mastered a trade as a

soap peddling con man during the silver and gold rushes of Colorado and,

after being run out of Denver and Creede, he drifted to Skagway, Alaska.

Soapy’s con was quite clever. He had a gang of about 5 men. He would get

in front of a large group of people and sell bars of soap. Now, back in the

day, a suit would cost $5. Soapy was selling his soap for $5! Here is how he

would do it. Soapy would wrap a bar of soap with a $20 bill, $50 bill, $10,

$5 and $100. All the rest of the soap had $1 bills around them.

He would call people up from the audience and ask them to pick a bar of

soap. It would cost them $5. Slowly, his gang members would approach.

They each got a large amount of cash along with the soap. After the 5 gang

members got the large amount of cash, the crowd wanted in. This is how

Soapy made his money and got his nick name!

In Skagway, Soapy assembled the largest band of thieves in North America.

While Soapy’s gang ran numerous schemes around Skagway, Soapy

appeared as an upstanding citizen. He raised a militia after the sinking of

the Maine and founded an “Adopt a Dog” program for the town’s many

Alaska

strays. He was even chosen as the Grand Master of the 4th of July parade in

1898.

A man, Frank Reid, created the “Committee of 101” and tried to show the

corrupt side of Soapy. Soapy’s gang robbed a man of $2,800 in gold dust on

July 8, 1898. Reid insisted Soapy return the money. Of course, Soapy

refused. Reid and his committee gathered on the wharf of Skagway to settle

the dispute. Soapy’s men ran for the hills, but Soapy grabbed his rifle and

went to the wharf to settle things. The gunfight ended both the lives of

Soapy and Frank Reid.

When you do go to Alaska, I would suggest going toward the end of the

summer. The wildlife come down from the mountains to fatten up on the

salmon and other items. The whales are getting ready to head west and

south. It is an amazing place to visit!

Mary Langdon, KI Found. Trustee, 2010-13

To Be, or Not To Be, Second Edition

Every minute of every day we have a choice; to be, or not to be the positive leader, the leader whose behaviors others wish to emulate. Here are some “leader be’s” to work on this month.

Be a great communicator Great communication is the basis for great relationships. Great

communication helps you connect to your cause, to each other and to our organization as a whole.

Here are five types of communication for you to consider on a daily basis: Verbal communication: your sounds, words, language and speaking. Non-verbal communication: your physical ways of communicating

such as your tone of voice, touch, smell, facial expressions, and body motion.

Written communication: writing the words which you want to share as in emails, articles, memos, reports, letters, websites, etc.

Visual communication: visual display of information such as photography, signs, symbols, designs, television and video clips.

Listening and responding: taking the message you think you hear and responding in an appropriate manner.

Have you ever been understood with something you said or something you wrote? How do you communicate via the items above? If you need a little help consider trying these tips this month. STOP: stop what you’re doing, be totally present, and really pay attention when someone else is speaking. LOOK: focus on the speaker, make eye contact, and note the non-verbals that are being shared (be sure to note your own non-verbal expressions as well to make sure they match what you want to be sharing) LISTEN: use your ears as well as your heart to more closely understand the message THINK: be empathetic and THINK about the message with an open mind before responding…how far CAN you open your mind before your brains fall out? RESPOND: reflect, paraphrase, repeat your perception of what was said, clarify, acknowledge the person’s feelings, be patient, fair and objective when responding

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, THINK and RESPOND to more closely ensure the message received matches the message that was sent!

To Be, or Not To Be, Second Edition

Communicate to CONNECT!

So from this moment on be a great communicator….to be, or not to be. The choice is yours.

Jane Erickson, KI President, 2016-17

Why Pay Dues?

It’s one of those perennial questions. Why should we pay our dues to Kiwanis International? We get along fine by ourselves, why do we need to send that money away?

There are lots of good answers, and here are a few:

Dues connect us. Our Kiwanis Clubs and Service Leadership

Programs (SLP) are part of Kiwanis International, and through this connection we receive training, membership materials, the legal right to use the Kiwanis and SLP names and logos and can connect with other Clubs in our own city, the district, the country and internationally.

Dues support us. The dues we pay provide us with annual membership books, training events and information, updates on activities/news, and a way to learn new ideas.

Dues protect us. Dues help pay for the Kiwanis International Liability Insurance program. By paying dues, your club, its members, and the communities we interact with are protected while traveling to, participating in, or supporting nearly any kind of activity your club facilitates. This protection is extremely valuable if there is a claim for damages or injury against a club or individual.

Jim Brewer, Aktion Club Administrator

DID YOU KNOW?

Each year, our NE-IA District receives funds from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund to distribute within the District. The amount received is a percentage of the amounts each of our clubs contribute to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund. Last year, we received 5% or approximately $2,300. Your Board of Trustees determined that the funds should be awarded to Key Club graduating seniors who best exemplify the qualities of a true servant leader. Faculty advisors were asked to nominate their club’s outstanding graduating senior and five awards of $500 each were presented at senior awards nights throughout Nebraska and Iowa.

This year, the Kiwanis Children’s Fund increased the percentage from 5% to 15% which meant our District received $5, 642—again a reflection of the amounts our clubs donated to the KCF.

Thanks to each club who contributed to the KCF in 2016-17, as five outstanding Key Club members will receive a $1,000 scholarship to the school each will be attending. Watch for announcement of the scholarship recipients in next month’s Kiwanian.

Please check to see if YOUR club has contributed to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund for 2017-18. The suggested contribution is $10 per member—and 15% is returned to our District.

Jan Burch, Governor, 2017-18

SAVE THE DATE