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The Official Publication of the New York District of Circle K
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For more on LSSP
and ICON, check
out pages 5-6
IN THIS ISSUE
The
Thick with
NYCK
z
…..
Table of Contents
On the Cover:
LSSP Recap by
Lauren McCarthy
Page 6
Governor’s Note………...……..3
Letter from the Editor………….4
International Service
Spotlight…………………...….…8
Member Spotlights………….…9
Club Spotlights…………………9
Service Project Spotlights…….9
Op-Ed Pieces……………….…12
Upcoming Events…………….12
What’s a Service Hour?
Secretary Sharmila has all the best tips
on making sure you get the most of
your service hours! Page 7
Governor’s Note
Happy summer NYCKI!
As summer is coming to a bittersweet end, I would like to welcome you to the new
academic year by sharing Lena’s story about her first day of service with the Queens
College Circle K. We began our day by working alongside the Boy Scouts with a bay-
side clean-up. A group of us were working off the trail, down by the rocks for a little over
an hour. When I walked back onto the trail, I saw a familiar face. Looking very tired and
lost, she told me she was trying to find us for nearly an hour. After apologizing for not
finding her sooner, Lena joined us in filling up over ten garbage bags worth of trash. In
spite of her rough day, later on that night Lena joined us in volunteering at a walk. The
whole time I was a nervous Club President because I didn’t know if she was enjoying
herself because she was so quiet.
Why am I sharing this story? Because nearly three years have passed and Lena is
now serving as club president. All I can think is, “What if she just went home and gave
up trying to find us on that day?” She could’ve gone home and given up on Circle K,
but she didn’t. Over the past three years I have watched her grow into a Circle-K-loving
servant-leader who even got her mom to join Kiwanis and become president! It’s these
smaller cleanups and rising leaders that make me love Circle K. The start of the year is
always so exciting, which is why I’m excited to see what happens this year.
As always, I would love to share stories with you. How was your summer? What are
you most excited about for the fall? Contact me at 718-757-5687 or
[email protected] to chat!
Yours in Service, Leadership and Fellowship,
Kelly Chan
Kelly Chan
District Governor ’13-‘14
Event Recaps:
Spring DLSSP
Have you ever been to DLSSP? Are you thinking about joining Circle K? Are you worried that it may not be fun? At Spring DLSSP this past April, we arrived at SUNY New Paltz early in the morning, ate breakfast, and got the materials for our first project, which entailed cleaning the sides of the streets. It was quite an adventure; we found all sorts of cool things cleaning up the area! Next we went to a local and privately-owned animal rescue where we helped clean the place a bit, plant flowers, and play with the animals. OUR JOB WAS TO KEEP PUPPIES COMPANY! The woman who organizes Adopt-a-Pet kept kittens, horses, a rabbit, and lots of adorable puppies, and we played with all of them in order to socialize them for future owners…obviously the job was done with absolute precision. Once we were done, we headed back to the campus, hung out with Circle K’ers from different clubs, shared our stories, and made chew toys for dogs! Now you might think that I’m lying about how awesome this event can be, because Circle K is indeed too good to be true sometimes, but I challenge you to prove me wrong; but in order to do that you’ll just have to come to our next DLSSP in September!
V
Event Recaps:
LSSP & ICON
LSSP in Vancouver was the greatest community service experience I had in Circle K. Not only was I able to serve
outside the country, but I was surrounded by Circle K’ers from all over the world! Fellowship, leadership and, of
course, service were part of each and every day. Being able to do service in a completely new area, and in another
country, was amazing. It shows how no matter where you are there is always the ability to help others: Doing good
for others is one of the best feelings in the world.
The service projects ranged from planting gardens, to cleaning a Ronald McDonald House, to building two entire
playgrounds from scratch. Every single person who attended LSSP had a hand in helping construct the handicap
friendly playgrounds at two Vancouver schools. Landscape Structures was the partnering company that provided
us with the materials and guidance. With our volunteering and their tools, we built playgrounds that will withstand
many school recesses to come. I would have never imagined being able to put a playground together; but piece by
piece with other awesome Circle K’ers, we conquered the rain and assembled the playground! It is the best feeling
to know that the kids of the elementary schools will be able to use that playground for years to come. Our small act
of kindness will produce years of smiles and laughter.
LSSP allowed me to branch out and meet new Circle K members and forge new friendships. We put our heart and
soul into the service we were doing and each and every one of us regard Circle K as a family. We laughed, we
smiled, we got soaked by rain, and we served. With our dedication and volunteer work we were able to renew
community areas in Vancouver. Service for others shows how much compassion, care and respect you have for
other human being. Circle K lets you meet so many new people and help others in ways you would have never
imagined. After just one LSSP, I’m hooked and can’t wait for the next!
International Convention was an awesome Circle K experience. It helped me develop a new love for leadership and also invigorated my love for Circle K. The workshops ranged from “How to Plan Service Projects” to “New Member Retention Strategies.” As well, the workshops for officers were very informative. I came out of each workshop eager to put what I learned to use in the upcoming Fall Semester. ICON as a whole really helps give one a new sense of leadership. The caucus sessions and officer trainings help each participant see how important it is for Circle K to have strong and enthusiastic members eager to make their club the very best. Every member wants Circle K to continue to be great and Circle K wants each member to reach their full potential. The quantity and variety of leadership positions available, and the opportunity to advance for current leaders, allows both the club and the individual to stay great. As the largest collegiate community service club in the world, Circle K is obviously doing something right. Its appeal is the result of its mission and how the club is run, while its success comes down to the type of leader the organization creates. Each becomes a dedicated, enthusiastic, hardworking, and loving leader who wants nothing but Circle K to continue being a club where we help the world become a better place for everyone.
Helpful Hints for
You and Your Club
Why should you pay dues? Well for starters you can tell all your family and friends that you are part of the largest collegiate organization in the world! That’s pretty cool! And as a member you receive an official membership card, which you can proudly display in your wallet all the time. Then you can get discounts for supplies at stores like Office Max and for textbooks by purchasing them online through Better World Books. Are you convinced yet? How about as a dues paid member you can go to district conventions where you attend workshops, listen to candidates running for the upcoming service year, meet new people from all over the state and have lots of fun! It’s a great place to learn about diverse perspectives, make new friends and share ideas. Because Circle K International has more than 500 clubs around the world, members have the opportunity to become friends with college students from all over. You have the chance to network with other college students with similar interest and majors as well as with other members in the Kiwanis family. Circle K’s connection to Kiwanis promotes career networking; so you might just find a Kiwanian who can help you get your future job! Being a member also helps you develop your professional skills. You can apply the leadership, marketing, fundraising, collaboration skills that you work on as a member to your future career. There are so many opportunities to take on leadership roles whether it’s in your club, district or even be a part of the international level. Lastly being an official New York District Circle K Member means that you are part of a community of dedicated individuals who have a passion for helping others and making the world a better place one project at a time. Don’t you want to be a part of that?!
“What is considered a service hour? Does travel time count? What makes a social hour different from a service hour?"
In the past, the determination of what was counted as a service hour was left to the interpretation of every club. For the 2013-2014 service year, the New York District Board made it a goal to specify the definitions of these words to eliminate any blurred lines. In this way, the amount of service completed by members of the New York District for the entire year will be in its most pure and accurate form. A service project is a voluntary act by one or more members of a CKI club for the sole benefit of an individual or group of individuals who possess a basic need for said services. All proceeds raised during a fund-raising activity must be applied toward a charitable entity for the fundraiser to be considered a service project. As a result, a service hour is defined as 60 minutes of unpaid service enacted by one member of Circle K. Another reoccurring component is that of travel time. Due to the issues concerning transportation to a service event, travel time DOES NOT count as service hours. It is concluded that an individual who spends more time traveling in comparison to participating in the actual service project should not be credited with serving the community. Instead, the hours directly contributing to the service itself are counted. A social event is defined as event that is planned and promoted in advanced, open to all members of the club and places an emphasis on the fellowship tenant of Circle K International. Social events are effective in recruiting members early in the semester and can also be held as a end of year ceremony or recognition event. Social events during the semester give members a chance to bond and further increase their awareness and knowledge of Circle K as a whole. The New York District wants to be recognized as a district that is wholeheartedly and passionately dedicated to serving others. It is recognized that every event, meeting, and service project takes up time and money. However, we do not look for rewards of recognition but the simple fact that we as individuals have the power to affect change and that ultimately, measuring numbers cannot compare to the lives we inspire.
Standin’ in
the Spotlight
Member Spotlight: Hudson Valley Division
Marist College blurb by Shannon Kennedy
Member Spotlight: Capital Division
Hudson Valley Community College blurb by Eric Munschi
Do you have a member that shines?
Spotlight them by telling your Lieutenant Governor, or writing an
article and sending it to District Editor Christine Retta at
Club Spotlight: All Capital Division Clubs
blurb by Shane Stuart
Service Spotlight: Niagara Club
1
Summer Service
Opportunities:
It’s Never Too Late in the Season to Serve!
Project 1: Embracing the
Outdoors
Summer is a great time to get out of
the house and serve under the sun!
Call up local nature preserves, state
parks, and beaches for what’s sure
to be an unforgettable experience.
Whether you’re doing a beach
clean-up, marking hiking trails, or
helping out with an environmental
festival, fun in the sun is the way to
go for a summer service project! Just
remember to bring your sunblock
and appropriate footwear (no
sandals on hiking trails)!
Project 3: Clean Up a Camp
Is there a local school, church, or sleep-away camp in your area? Volunteer with the
camp to clean and organize their facility in anticipation of next summer. They’ll be so
grateful for the help, and you’ll get the chance to make things easier for the camp’s
workers and the children that will utilize it!
Project 2: Build a Backpack
With school just around the corner, start
thinking of kids that can’t always afford
back-to-school necessities like
notebooks and pencils. This is your
chance to call up schools, Boys and Girls
Clubs, Head Start Programs, or summer
camps and find out if there are any
students in need. If that’s the case, build
them a backpack! Go to Office Max
(use your CKI discount!), your nearest
dollar store, or Walmart, and grab a
bunch of effective (but inexpensive)
school supplies, and a backpack to put
it all in! Once that’s done, bring the
backpack to school, camp, etc. and put
the child’s name on it. They’ll be so
happy to pick it up before the first day!
(And let’s face it: Who doesn’t love
school supply shopping?
Let Me Break the Ice
Try using these fun, new icebreakers
for your first couple of club meetings!
Trust us, these aren’t ones that’ll
make your members groan when you
say, “Icebreakers!”
Let me break
the ice, allow
me to get you[r
name] right!
Fruit Bowl
How to Play:
1. Have your club sit in a circle and make everyone go
around and “rename” themselves as a fruit.
2. Have one “fruit” volunteer to stand in the center of
the circle, and another to “go first.” (For example,
“Grape” will go in the center and “Apple” will go
first.)
3. Have “Apple” go first by proclaiming “Apple loves
(another fruit in the group).” While this is
happening, “Grape” has to try to tag “Apple” by
touching their knee before the next fruit says who
they love.
4. The object of the game is to get faster each round
and allow everyone in the circle to participate.
5. If you say the name of the fruit in the center of the
circle, you automatically need to switch places. If
you are caught by the fruit in the center, you need
to switch places.
Why this Icebreaker is Fun:
Members get caught up in the game and find
themselves really invested in getting the names and
fruits right.
By the end of the game, people are screaming and
laughing, creating a solid fellowship opportunity—
after all, you bond best through service, but laughter
is a close second!
Good for Groups of 10-20
Snowball
How to Play:
1. Get paper and writing utensils, pass out one
piece of paper to each member and have them
write a fun fact about themselves and a broad
question for another person.
2. Set a timer for two minutes, crumble up the
paper, and start a snowball fight by throwing the
balls of paper all around the room.
3. When the timer sounds, everyone picks up the
snowball nearest to them and unfolds the paper.
4. Read the fun fact, guess who wrote it, and
proceed to answer the question on it.
5. Recycle your paper when you’re done!
Why this Icebreaker is Fun:
Members have the opportunity to exchange
information about themselves in a nonthreatening
and interesting new way! Plus, it allows for some
interesting detective and guesswork!
Good for Groups of 8-15
Upcoming Events:
Y!
Circle K Stories,
Opinions, Questions
Prior to entering college, I had been part of Key Club (the high school branch of the Kiwanis Family), and so it seemed like a
no brainer that I would be joining Circle K International the moment I set foot into wherever I was going. Interestingly, I
ended up attended the State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo, the home to the oldest CKI club within New York.
Eager to immerse myself into all things CKI, I asked my president about division and district events not long after I had paid
my dues, and she said she would reach out a district officer for more information.
It wasn't until some time later (around November), when finally heard from someone outside of my club. By that time, I had
already immersed myself pretty well with the SUNY Geneseo CKI. I loved our service projects, from our Haunted Hayride
volunteering to our regular trips to the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester, and I knew I wanted to be a part of CKI
throughout my college career. So when I did receive a call from the District Governor asking me to attend a district event, it
only seemed natural to say yes!
I didn't realize it at the time, but by saying yes, I was not only immersing myself in the world of CKI just a bit more, but I had
unintentionally agreed to serving as the Lieutenant Governor of the Central Lakes division (now the Seneca and Iroquois
Divisions). That year became really exciting for me, on a club level and a district level, because not only was I able to really
immerse myself in CKI in a unique way (by joining the district board), but I also discovered the passion and commitment to
service that my home club, SUNY Geneseo, had.
How’d you get involved with CKI?
Immediate Past International President Josephine Lukito shares her story
Fall DLSSP New York Speaking
https://www.facebook.com/events/171787742996787/
