Greater Port Washington Club Rolls a Membership Strike · report. Officers Reports • Governor Brar reviewed the report he emailed to the board earlier in the week. (View all board

Maybe your Kiwanis club is aging. Maybe you only have afew female members. Maybe your support of local efforts isstagnant or shrinking. Maybe membership in your club is atan all-time low. What follows is the four-month journey ofthe Greater Port Washington Kiwanis Club to increasemembership and rekindle the passion of its existing members.With careful planning and hard work, their formula forsuccess can be implemented in your Kiwanis club, too.

The Greater Port Washington Kiwanis Club hasevolved over its 77-year existence from being a socialclub doing service to a service club reaching out to themany new needs of local families. The Week of the

Young Child in early April, for example, is a localfavorite. For five or six evenings club members read,share crafts and entertain young children and theirparents. This week-long event has seen as many as 300children participate and it grows each year… even asmembership in the Greater Port Washington KiwanisClub continues to shrink.

Club secretary John Sigwart is passionate about theKiwanis mission and wanted to turn things around inhis club. “Since I first joined Kiwanis nearly 30 yearsago I have been interested in membership recruitment,mostly because of what people miss by not joiningKiwanis,” he says. Under his leadership, the GreaterPort Washington Kiwanis Club implemented amembership campaign which resulted in eight newmembers engaged in service to their community – a32% increase over their 25 existing members.

In October, John attended a new club/membershipgrowth training session at which Past KiwanisInternational President Don Canaday inspired membersto “get the ball rolling”. As a result, the club appointedJohn their Membership Chair. Five club members

In This IssueClub News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1, 8-9, 11-12, 16District and K-Family News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Kiwanis International Convention News . . . .13-15Kiwanis International Foundation News . . . . . . . .6Message from the Executive Director . . . . . . . .2, 10Message from the Governor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Message from the Governor-elect . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Message from the Immediate Past Governor . . . . .2Midyear Conference Registration Form . . . . . . . . .3

Greater Port Washington Club Rolls a Membership StrikeBy John Sigwart, Greater Port Washington Kiwanis Club

A campaign to engage community members in a worthwhile project culminated in an “Evening of Opportunity” which netted eight new Kiwanis members.

…continued on page eleven

020314Kiwanews_Layout 1 2/24/14 1:56 PM Page 1

Page 2 February/March 2014 KIWANEWS

The following items werediscussed and or approved at theFebruary board meeting:

• The minutes of the October 19and December 12, 2013 boardmeetings were approved.

• Mark Finger presented theDecember 30, 2013 financereport.

Officers Reports• Governor Brar reviewed the report he emailed to theboard earlier in the week. (View all board meetingreports at www.box.com.)

• Immediate Past Governor Messer announced theclubs that were Distinguished for the 2012-13 year.He also mentioned that he has taken over most of theresponsibilities of the Autism Project. They are in theprocess of designing a new website for the project.

• The Lt. Governors reported on what has beenhappening in their divisions since the October boardmeeting. Most mentioned their progress on getting aNew Club Builder and Club Advisors. They alsotalked about the clubs that are struggling.

• Executive Director Mark Finger presented the AuditReview that was done by CPA Ken Folberg fromRipon, Wisconsin. Mark mentioned that although the

report was done, the auditor has not had time to enterthe year-end adjustments in the District’s QuickBooksprogram. Therefore the year-end finance reportnumbers have not been adjusted. Mark was alsoconcerned about the number listed for theConvention reserves and will meet with the auditor toreview that number. Governor Brar had somequestions about some of the numbers and would liketo meet with the auditor. The Audit Review reportwas approved.

• Mark Finger reviewed the schedule of events of theMidyear Conferences and that all Lt. Governorshave time and space available for a Division Councilif desired. There was some discussion as to thetiming of the Division Caucuses/Councils and thatthey were too early. Mark responded that not allhave to attend the Division Caucuses/Councils andcould come later for the opening session. Mark alsomentioned that he is looking for the Lt. Governorsto help with the Growth Track workshops. A copy ofthe powerpoint presentations will be sent for the Lt.Governors to review.

• The Budget for the Executive Director to attend theJapan International Convention was reviewed. Markreported that he originally was not planning onattending the Japan International Convention but hadchanged his mind mostly to be there to help with

M E S S A G E F R O M T H E E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R

Much Accomplished at February District Board MeetingBy Mark Finger, WI-UM Kiwanis District Executive Director

Mark Finger

M E S S A G E F R O M T H E I M M E D I A T E P A S T G O V E R N O R

Kiwanis Autism Project Has New Web Site, Giving ModuleBy 2012-13 WI-UM Kiwanis District Governor Lynn Messer

The Kiwanis Autism Project isalive and well and is continuingthrough another administrativeyear as the WI-UM KiwanisAutism Project. The new websiteis www.kiwanisautismproject.com.It has a new look and should beeasy to use.

There is also a new option forpeople who want to make anonline contribution called

“GivingUnited”. Anyone can register. All individualsthat register can communicate through the site forum,for example posting club events similar to Facebook.

New clubs are contributing to the project. There are afew clubs that have decided not to participate becausethis is an individual recipient project. I can accept their

decision, but I want members to know that to date over500 children in the District have received iPads whichhas had a major impact on their lives.

The online fundraising portal “GivingUnited” is easy touse by following a few simple steps. Why register? Toreceive important updates from the Kiwanis AutismProject. Only registered users can comment on forumposts and interact with website users.

How to register:• Go to www.kiwanisautismproject.com;• Click on “register” tab and remit required info;• Once you’ve registered click on “log in”;• Check your email to confirm your registration.

Immediate Past Governor and Kiwanis Autism ProjectChair Lynn Messer can be reached by email [email protected] or by phone at 920-946-0652.

Lynn Messer

…continued on page ten


KIWANEWS February/March 2014 Page 3

2014 Midyear Conference Registration FormOne person per registration please • Registration Deadline Two Weeks Prior

$15 per person (includes lunch)/$25 after Deadline

March 22, 2014 – Bay de Noc Community College, 2001 N Lincoln Rd, Escanaba, MI 49829March 29, 2014 – West Bend Mutual, 1900 South 18th Avenue West Bend, WI 53095

April 12, 2014 – Camp Wawbeek, 1450 Highway 13, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

Tentative Schedule7:45 Registration 12:00 – 1:30 Lunch (included with registration fee)8:00 Division Councils 1:30 – 4:00 Club Leadership Education

9:00 – 9:45 Opening Session 1:30 – 4:00 Track 1 Workshops10:00 – 11:45 Track 1 Workshops 1:30 – 4:00 Track 2 Workshops10:00 – 11:45 Track 2 Workshops 1:30 – 4:00 Track 3 Workshops10:00 – 11:45 Track 3 Workshops 4:00 Wrap-up

Choose a Workshop Track that best fits your interests and go to that room; the workshop presenters will come to you. We are alsooffering a Club Leadership Education Session in the afternoon for Presidents-elect.

Workshops Track 1Service Leadership Programs/

Service Opportunities• Circle K, Key Club, Builders Club,K-Kids, Aktion Club

• Key Leader• Advisor Training• Youth Protection Manager• KDF/KIF• The Eliminate Project• Autism Project• Governor’s Project

Workshops Track 2Club Leaders

Presidents, Secretaries, Board Members• Youth Protection Manager• Risk Management • Marketing and Public Relations/Using Social Media

• Online Resources• Share the Good Things Your Clubis Doing

Workshops Track 3Membership Growth

• Campaign for Growth:Formula for the Future

• Recruiting in the 2st Century • Retaining: Until Death Do Us Part • Club Assessment and MemberSatisfaction

• Community Survey/Project Analysis• Goal setting: planning club success • Fundraising Ideas• Celebrating Success

Please indicate the session you would like to attend so we can plan for meals and room requirements.Please check if you are attending Club Leadership Education and select the workshop track you will attend.

� March 22, 2014 Escanaba, MI � March 29, 2014 – West Bend, WI � April 12, 2014 – Camp Wawbeek

� Club Leadership Education (Club Presidents-elect)

� Workshop Track 1 SLP/Service � Workshop Track 2 Club Leaders � Workshop Track 3 Membership Growth

__________________________________________________________________________________________________Member Last Name First Name

__________________________________________________________________________________________________Phone Number (day) E-mail

__________________________________________________________________________________________________Division # Kiwanis Club 2013-14 Office Held

Charge Card Authorization � Master Card � Visa � Discover

Account Number___________________________________ Exp Date __________

Name on Card (Please Print) ____________________________________________

Zip Code_______________

Mail registration to: WI-UM Kiwanis District

571 Center StreetBerlin, WI 54923

Fax registration to:920-361-218

Email registration to:[email protected]



M E S S A G E F R O M T H E G O V E R N O R

Spring is Around the Corner… Spring into Kiwanis ServiceBy Gurdip Brar, 2013-14 WI-UM Kiwanis District Governor

Spring is around the corner.Before long, crocuses will beblooming, followed by daffodilsand tulips. What a great time toplan a club social and invite yourfriends, colleagues, communityand business leaders to showthem what great things yourclub, our district and KiwanisInternational are doing.

I recently visited the ManitowocGolden K Club to award four

Walter Zeller Fellowships, bringing the total of ZellerFellows in their club to six. This $6,000 donation toThe Eliminate Project will save over 4,000 lives.Congratulations!

District membership is growing. As of January 31,membership increased by 47 members. Congratulationsto all the club Presidents and to Lt Governors JohnCollins, Melissa Histed, Charles Price, Jim Buskel andGordon Drake for achieving positive membershipgrowth. Let us ALL work together to make ourmembership and our service to our communities rise.

Service Leadership Programs (SLP) – Key Clubs,Circle K and Aktion Clubs are growing: Two Keyclubs were recently chartered; paperwork was filed forone Circle K club and one Aktion club is about to start.

Congratulations to SLP leadership.

Governor’s Project: Ken Saville is chairing the effortto raise funds to build an accessible pool at CampWawbeek. Thanks to all the clubs for their donations.The Monroe Club, by donating $2,000 to this project,is challenging other clubs to meet or beat their donation.

To qualify for Distinguished Club status:a. Increase club membership by one or more members;b. Sponsor a new Kiwanis club – jointly sponsoring anew club with other clubs is encouraged;

c. Participate in Club Leadership Education at theMidyear Conference or the District Convention;

d. Sponsor Service Leadership Programs and provideservice projects for children;

e. Support The Eliminate Project, the KiwanisInternational Foundation and the WI-UM KiwanisDistrict Foundation.

Visit from the Kiwanis International President:Kiwanis International President Gunter Gasser will bein Milwaukee on May 2 and Middleton on May 3.Please plan to attend.

The Kiwanis International Convention will be heldin Chiba, Japan, July 17 to 20 where Past DistrictGovernor Fred Dietze is running for InternationalTrustee. Please plan to attend and support Fred.

The WI-UM Kiwanis District Convention will beheld August 15 to 17 in Middleton. If you have anysuggestions for the convention, please contact theDistrict Convention Chair, Kathy Nieber-Lathrop.

New Appointments:a. Former Governor Dale Vannes, a member of theAppleton 3-2-1 Club, has accepted the YouthProtection Chair position;

b. Ron Soellner, a member of the Western KenoshaKiwanis Club and former Kiwanis District Trustee, isChair of the Community Services Committee;

c. Kathy Nieber-Lathrop, a member of the MiddletonKiwanis Club, is the new District Convention Chair.

I encourage all clubs to plan a spring membershipdrive. Each new member brings new ideas andincreases service to your community. I would bedelighted to come to your membership socials.Together we will take WI-UM district to new heights.

WI-UM Kiwanis District Governor Gurdip Brar can bereached by email at [email protected] or by phone at608-831-4075.

Gurdip Brar

2013-14 WI-UM Kiwanis District Goals• Positive Membership Growth in all Divisions• Build at least one new club in each Division• Increase visibility for Kiwanis Family• Increase club participation in Eliminate Project

Governor’s MottoFun, Fellowship, Service

Governor’s ProjectHelp build accessible pool at Camp Wawbeek

(Wisconsin Dells)

Kiwanis International 2013-14 Motto: We Build Bridges for Children to the Future



M E S S A G E F R O M T H E G O V E R N O R - E L E C T

Governor-elect Asks Pivotal Questions of Kiwanis ClubsBy Anna Bruhn, 2013-14 WI-UM Kiwanis District Governor-Elect

Last time, I shared a little aboutGovernor-elect training. I’vesince gone through the rest ofmy training, which took place atthe Service Leadership Program(SLP) Conference and haveattended the Key LeaderConference, both in January inIndianapolis. It seems to me thatit is not possible to drive toIndianapolis unless it’s snowing.

The Governors-elect spent most of the training time onthe Campaign for Growth – the “Formula for the Future.”As you may know, we are bleeding membership. Thiscampaign, if we work at it, should leave every divisionin the district with the capacity to grow new clubs,sustain existing clubs and lend a helping hand to thoseclubs who desire assistance. Your Lt. Governor mayhave asked you if you are willing to serve as thedivision’s new club builder or as a club counselor. Evenif you cannot do it this year, if you are interested inbeing “on the list” for subsequent years, let your Lt.Governor know. These are three-year terms and we willneed to have a steady stream of willing volunteers tosucceed. We do know how to measure success: everyclub has a net gain of at least one member and everydivision adds one new club by the end of the year.

Other parts of the SLP Conference were also good!We have a few issues that all the SLPs, along with thedistrict, need to work on. How do we adequatelysupport an SLP that doesn’t have a sponsoring KiwanisClub? Can we get more people interested in spreadingthe word about SLPs in their area? Exactly what is theSLP track going to look like at our Midyear Conferences?How are we going to deal with the new YouthProtection Guidelines? And is it possible to get enoughsleep at one of these conferences? I will tell you this,after going to this conference as Builders ClubAdministrator and listening to the presentations, Iwonder how long it will be before a Kiwanis Club isalso seen as a Service Leadership Program for adults! Ifthe point of an SLP is to put our target groups into asituation where they learn to create solutions for localproblems and where they learn to lead others, are wereally any different?

The Key Leader Conference was very interesting.Having served as a chaperone at our WI-UM event formany years, I went to hear what kinds of marketingother districts were doing. Our District needs to refreshwhat we do... maybe another district has a good idea wecould implement. I heard about a few of them, and you

may see them implemented in our district in the future.In the meantime, please note that our Key Leader eventis in September, that your students can register now,and that if you don’t have a student between the ages of14 and 20 to send, you can make a scholarship or grantto send a student who needs one. You do not need aKey Club to find a student; you only need a high schoolin your community!

In the end, I think I have more questions than answers!And I have a question for you. Do you want to becomeinvolved at the District level? Over the next few months,I need to ensure that all District positions are staffed bypeople who want a piece of the action. If I’m talkingabout you, send me an email, give me a call or catch meat one of the Midyear Conferences and we’ll chat!

WI-UM Kiwanis District Governor-elect Anna Bruhn canbe reached at [email protected] or 608-393-6811.

Anna Bruhn

Revitalize Your Club’sCommunity Service EffortsBy Ron Soellner, Community Services Chair

The holiday season was an ideal time to dedicateyourself to the spirit of contribution. Helping thosein need can be a transformative experience that cankickstart your growth in Kiwanis in the new year.

Your club’s Community Services committee shouldimplement projects on the arts, business affairs,citizenship, civic improvement, communitybeautification and conservation. Other possibleprojects are health and literacy, Prayer Breakfast,Public Relations and Young Children Priority One.

One thing stands clear – regardless of stature, onlythose who have learned the power of sincere andselfless contribution experience life’s deepest joy –true fulfillment. When we contribute to the lives ofothers, we are really celebrating the full value of ourown Kiwanis identity. Whether you contribute timeor money, you are investing in an empowered senseof Kiwanis and personal identity. As Kiwanians weneed to focus on the needs of our communities andyouth. As Community Services Chair I urge you torevitalize this area in your club!

I will be presenting a workshop at the MidyearConference in West Bend or you may contact meby email at [email protected].



Foundation Changes Annual Giving Recognition ProgramBy Fred Dietze, 2013-2014 Kiwanis International Foundation District Chair

The Kiwanis InternationalFoundation launched a newrecognition program on October1, 2013 based on the combinedgiving of individuals and clubs.Corporate gifts and gifts fromprivate foundations will beincluded in the overall total.

What prompted the change fromseparate recognition programsfor individual and club giving,

which had existed for many years, to a new approachthat recognizes individual and club giving together? A comprehensive review of recognition programsinitiated by the Kiwanis International FoundationBoard in 2012 reached two conclusions. The programswere complex and they were costly to manage. Asignificant portion of time was spent on the club/districtrecognition system (which focused mostly on honoringdivision and district leadership) and several attempts totweak the existing incentive program and fundingappeals over the years have not slowed the decline inthe current Annual Club Gift program fundraising.

Will there be less emphasis on annual club giving?The real growth in the funding capacity for ourfoundation will come from gifts made by individuals.Combined recognition programs result in increased,sustained annual giving by individuals. Annual giving byclubs will continue to be important and stronglyencouraged. Clubs that have been loyal annual donors,year after year, will be recognized for their sustainedgiving in the same manner that individuals will becelebrated for consecutive years of giving.

For years, the suggested annual gift from clubs hasbeen $5 per member. Now the Kiwanis InternationalFoundation is asking us for $25 per member?Yes. Remember that every gift from individuals in yourclub counts toward this total. Over time, the idea of anannual gift from your club evolved into a request forsupport through the Annual Club Gift program. Whatwas started as an appeal for an annual philanthropic giftfrom your club evolved in many cases into just anotherexpenditure budgeted by your club’s board. For manyclubs, it became less a desire to help our foundationhelp children and more a traditional budget item.

What, exactly, does my club need to do?1) Your club is encouraged to continue to make anannual gift to the Kiwanis International Foundationfrom the club’s treasury. 2) Share with your membersthat it has made a gift and why. 3) Promote the Skip-a-Meal Program each April. 4) Encourage your clubmembers to support Kiwanis Children’s Fund appeals.

Gifts by both your club and its members will counttoward recognition from the International Foundation,toward the funding of potential grants to our District.

Do gifts to The Eliminate Project count towards thistotal?No. Gifts to The Eliminate Project count towardall global campaign recognition. Planned gifts (e.g., agift through a will or trust) are also not counted as partof the combined recognition program. There is aseparate recognition available and you can find more atwww.kiwanis.org/foundation.

How will we know where we stand in total giving?The Kiwanis International Foundation will send areport of the combined individual and club givingoverall and an average gift per member based on yourclub’s paid membership on September 30, 2013. Theinformation will be available to Lt. Governors to sharewith clubs.

Could you provide an example of how the per memberaverage will be figured?Yes. Say your club plans to make an annual gift to theKiwanis Children’s Fund of $500. During a regular clubmeeting, you collect $250 from members for the Skip-A-Meal Program in April. Joe Kiwanian makes a $100gift to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund as the result of adirect mail solicitation from the foundation, and clubmember Betty Kiwanian makes a $200 gift to thefoundation’s Disaster Relief Fund following a tornado.

Club Annual gift to Kiwanis Children’s Fund $ 500

Club gift to Skip-A-Meal Program $ 250

Individual gift by Joe Kiwanian $ 100

Individual gift by Betty Kiwanian $ 200

Total gifts associated with your club $1,050

Divide $1,050 by certified membership on September30 of 27 members.

$1,050 divided by 27 = $38.89 average gift per member!

Where do I turn for additional information or if Ihave a question?Contact Your Kiwanis International FoundationDistrict Chair, Fred Dietze, at [email protected] call him at 715-38-0038 or contact the KiwanisInternational Foundation at [email protected].

Fred Dietze



New Kiwanis InternationalYouth Protection GuidelinesBy Dale Vannes, Youth Protection Chair

By now all club secretaries have received a letter formKiwanis International regarding the new YouthProtection Guidelines. All clubs are expected to informand educate its members on these guidelines, bestpractices and what individuals must do when aware ofpotentially harmful situations.

This education must occur annually, includingproviding a copy of these guidelines to every member.There will be a brief information session and a trainingsession at each of the Midyear Conferences. For moreinformation or questions please contact me at 715-851-1038 (cell) or [email protected] anytime.

Key Leader Registration is Open!

YEAR TENSeptember 19-21, 2014

Camp Wawbeek, Wisconsin Dells

$25 Late Fee charged after September 5, 2014Registration closes on September 16, 2014

As a part of Kiwanis International’s ServiceLeadership Programs, the WI-UM District KeyLeader programs are open to all high school and

college students through age 20. The cost will be $200per student or $175 per K-Family student.

Details are available at www.key-leader.org orcontact Gail Pachucki, Key Leader Coordinator,5646 Parliament Lane, Delavan, WI 53115,

(262)728-3711, [email protected] by Kiwanis International, the Kiwanis InternationalFoundation, the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan Kiwanis District

Foundation and Runzheimer International.

Kiwanews Ad Sales Are UnderwaySolicitation of Kiwanews ads has begun with a goal ofselling 40 ads to cover the cost of printing and mailingall six issues. The standard ad size, shown above, is 35⁄8 x17⁄8". Advertising rates set by the Board of Directors are:$900 annually for non-Kiwanis member businesses;$600 annually for Kiwanis member businesses; and$50 for a club for a standard ad in a single issue.

If you would like to purchase an ad or know someonewho might, contact Kristy Sadlon at [email protected] or leave a message for her at 920-748-7771.

Experience a vacation in Asiawhile attending the Kiwanis

International Convention at anamazingly affordable price!

InConTra and Pacific Delight Tours presents an inclusive conventionpackage for Kiwanians, with incredible trips available throughout Asia.With prices starting from just $1,595 per person for roundtrip airfare,four nights’ hotel accommodations, transfers between the airport/hotel, an exclusive hospitality desk, and transportation between thehotel and Convention Center.

1-800-338-7673 or 1-800-221-7179 – Ask for the Tokyo deskwww.incontra.com • www.incontrakiwanisjapan.com

KDF RequestsGift Basket Donations

Your Kiwanis District Foundationwill be holding basket raffles at

each of the Midyear Conferences.Success depends on your basket donations. All funds

assist clubs with matching scholarships for ouryoung people and grants for special club projects.Your District Foundation appreciates your support!

Key Leader 10th AnniversaryBy Gail Pachucki, Key Leader Coordinator

September 19-21, 2014 marks the 10th anniversary forKey Leader within the Wisconsin-Upper MichiganDistrict. 516 young people graduated from the programand moved on to become quality service leaders. Severalof their names have shown up as WI-UM DistrictChairs and many now serve on our Key Leader SiteCommittee. One of our graduates moved on to becomethe Key Leader District Chair for the Illinois-EasternIowa District. Because we are considered a “well-oiledmachine,” we’ve had students attend from Minnesota,Michigan and Illinois, along with men from El Salvadorand the Grand Cayman Islands who needed to see “howit’s done!”

The YMCA, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, home-schooled students and others show support for our KeyLeader program. Schools are not the only place to findpotential Key Leaders. Remember: even if oneorganization/school is unresponsive, there are manyothers in your community! As more students attend,Key Leader will be better known in your communityand more organizations will be interested in supportingthis amazing opportunity. Strengthen your communityby strengthening tomorrow’s community leaders!

Help celebrate our young people and our 10thanniversary by supporting Key Leader in your club!



Governor Gurdip Brar has chosen fund raising to buildan accessible pool at Camp Wawbeek as his Governor'sProject. The new pool will replace the old WI-UMKiwanis pool built in the 1950s which was in a sad stateof disrepair. Jim Glessner recently presented a $2,000check from the Monroe Kiwanis Club to Ken Saville ofEaster Seals for the new pool. The Monroe KiwanisClub has issued a meet or exceed challenge to otherclubs in the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District. Pleasemail your contribution for the Governor’s Project toWI-UM Kiwanis District Foundation, Inc., 2380 StateRoad 44, Suite H, Oshkosh, WI 54904. Please makeyour check payable to “WI-UM Kiwanis DistrictFoundation and write “Swimming Pool” in the memo.

Left to right, Ken Saville of Easter Seals and Kiwanis Governor GurdipBrar accept a check for $2,000 from Jim Glessner, treasurer of the MonroeKiwanis Club.

Monroe Club Challenges You to Support Governor’s ProjectBy James Glessner, Monroe Kiwanis Club

Greater Sheboygan KiwanisPuts Emphasis on ReadingBy Jon Keckonen, Division 6 Lt. Governor

The Greater Sheboygan Kiwanis Club is in its fourthyear of working with Longfellow Elementary School inSheboygan on the Bringing Up Grades (BUG)program. Teachers there pointed out that the schoolwas trying to determine how first graders could beencouraged to read more. Working with school staff,the Sheboygan Kiwanians developed a program whichawarded students for reading a certain number ofminutes each month. Students who reached themonthly reading goal would be presented with theBUG Award during a special presentation each monthin the school library. Each student receiving an awardwould also select a book they could keep. Kiwaniansalso met with certain students to monitor their readingeach week. The school documented the overall readingimprovement of the classes which participated in theBUG program, which was a major success.

First grade teacher, Duane Steen, sings “Read a, Read a, Read a, Read aBook to Me” to students at the BUG awards ceremony at LongfellowSchool in Sheboygan.Appleton Golden K Club

Honored by Blood CenterBy Rad Radke, Appleton Golden K Kiwanis Club

Dick Lee is the Kiwanis Blood Run Coordinator forthe Kiwanis Club of Appleton Golden K. He seeksand schedules drivers and pick-up points movinglife-saving blood across the state. Dick says, “itskind of a pony express but with much greaterurgency.” The relay begins at Good SamaritanCenter in Merrill, with Merrill Kiwanians taking itto Stevens Point, where Waupaca Kiwanians takeover the second leg of the cross-state journey tomeet Appleton Kiwanians who deliver it to theBlood Center at the end of the 120-mile trip. Theclubs have provided this service since 1998.

The Appleton Community Blood Center honoredthe Kiwanis club at a Donor Recognition event. Mr.John Hagins, President of the Blood Center, praisedthe Kiwanis members for transporting the preciouslife-saving blood. Mr. Hagins presented theengraved award to Dick Lee and Frank Ossian.

Kiwanians Dick Lee and Frank Ossian accept the engraved awardfrom John Hagins, President of the Community Blood Center.



Baraboo Kiwanian Turns 99By Ben Bromley,Baraboo Kiwanis Club

Jay Henke, a longtimemember of the BarabooKiwanis Club, celebratedhis 99th birthday recentlywith a special cake duringthe club’s weekly lunchmeeting. Henke dutifullysets up every club meetingand is a former recipient ofthe club’s communityservice award.

Kiwanians Build Fish Cribsfor Janesville Kiwanis PondBy Kevin O’Leary, Janesville Kiwanis Club

Janesville Noon Kiwanis, Boy Scout Troop 539 andthe City of Janesville worked together with the Cityof Janesville Parks Department to fabricate four fishcribs. The cribs will be submersed in Kiwanis Pondin Janesville and will provide good habitat for alllevels of the water food chain.

Dutch Kiwanian in JeffersonBy Vicki Schicker, Jefferson Kiwanis Club

On January 16, the Jefferson Kiwanisheld their annual holiday party. As theirspecial guest, Anne van Zanten fromWest-Friesland, the Netherlands, wasin attendance. Anne arrived in Jeffersonto visit his son. As a long-time memberof Kiwanis in his own country, Annewanted to attend an American meetingand meet his fellow Jefferson Kiwanis.

Anne has been involved in Kiwanis on an Internationallevel. He was president of his club, Kiwanis Governor ofthe Netherlands District and President of the KiwanisEuropean Federation. Anne spoke to the club, stressingthe importance of Kiwanis helping children worldwide.He noted that though separated from Jefferson by 6,000miles, we were still very similar in focus… helpingchildren around the world is our first priority.

Anne van Zanten

The Kiwanis Club of SheboyganFalls is launching its annual ‘Ton ofFood’ drive from March 8-22. Theclub will work to reach the goal ofcollecting one ton of food to helpstock the shelves of the local foodpantry. Members of the SheboyganFalls Kiwanis, the Key Club andGirl Scout Troop #8059 will makedoor-to-door solicitations.

‘Ton of Food’ Drive BeginsBy Mike Payne, Sheboygan Falls Kiwanis Club

On March 15 the Stoughton Kiwanis Club will hosttheir 14th annual Pancake Breakfast. Attendees willenjoy all the pancakes they care to eat, plus eggs,sausage, applesauce and beverages. The world famousStoughton High School Norwegian Dancers will beperforming at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. “We are pleasedthat the Norwegian Dancers will be joining us thisyear,” said Glenn McNaughton, Kiwanis President.“They are generously donating their time, talent andenergy, and we are so excited to have them be a part ofour event,” he said. “We always have fun at this event,which is also our main fundraiser. All of the proceeds gotowards our community service projects. Last year weraised over $6,500 dollars,” said McNaughton.

Stoughton Club Hosts Norwegian Dancers, Flips PancakesBy Glenn McNaughton, Stoughton Kiwanis Club

The World-famous Stoughton High School Norwegian Dancers willperform twice during the pancake breakfast on Saturday, March 15.



Much Accomplished at February District Board Meeting… from page two

Fred Dietze’s campaign for International Trustee.Governor Brar had some concern that his budget forthe Tokyo convention was not going to be enough.The board approved to budget $3,500 for theExecutive Director to attend the Internationalconvention in Tokyo and the money to come from theRestricted Reserves and that the Governor’s budget beincreased to $3,500.

• Mark reported that it was a busy January with boththe District Secretary’s meeting in Indiana and theState School Board convention in Milwaukee takingplace. Mark also discussed the use of www.box.com toplace important documents for the board for them tohave access to. The consensus was that this continuesto be a good idea.

Reports • Administration Chair Charles Price reported that hiscommittee will be working with the Operationscommittee to update the Chair job descriptions.

• Community Services Chair Ron Soellner was not inattendance but submitted a written report.

• Education Chair Jean Long Manteufel noted that sheand others are available to put on Club LeadershipEducation seminars any time the Lt. Governors areable to get a group of clubs interested in attending.

• Eliminate Chair Marv Amundson reported on hisefforts to encourage clubs to participate in TheEliminate Project. KI is looking for the District togive 100 Walter Zeller Fellowship Awards by theInternational Convention in 2015. We have 46 so far.He and others are available to work with the clubs tohelp raise the level of awareness.

• The board approved Melissa Histed’s proposal for a t-shirt sale for The Eliminate Project. The T-shirt is tosell for $16 with $6 going to The Eliminate Project.

• Kiwanis Family Chair Justin Hahn was not inattendance but provided a written report.

• The board approved the proposed K-Family Brewersbaseball game. The district will provide the frontmoney to reserve the tickets so that 100 can beordered at a lower price.

• The board approved the K-Family Day at the Zoowhich Justin Hahn coordinated. Due to a concern ofmany high school graduations being held on May 31stit was suggested that a different day be chosen.

• Membership Chair Gurdip Brar noted that most ofhis report had been discussed earlier on the agenda.

• Marketing Chair Barry Hersh was not in attendancebut provided a brief written report. Gurdipencouraged the Lt. Governors to look for others whocan help with the Marketing committee. Kevin Bauerasked to review the Powerpoint presentation that willbe used for the Midyear workshop.

• Circle K Governor Lena Scheibengraber reviewedher written report.

• The board approved the proposed Policy Codechanges to be presented and approved at the Circle KDistrict Convention.

• Key Club Governor Connor Sawyers reported. • Key Leader Committee Chair Lynn Messer reviewedthe written report his committee produced on theplans for promoting the upcoming Key Leaderworkshop. Kathy Vorpahl noted that the Key Leaderprogram is now under the International Key Clubumbrella. This will help monetarily and to have morematerial available on the Key Leader website

• International Convention Chair Mark Fingerreviewed the package that Incontra has put togetherfor the Tokyo convention. Mark noted that all of theairports in Wisconsin that serve American Airlines areincluded in the package price.

Old Business• Round Robin Award was discussed. There was aquestion about interclubs to Circle K clubs countingtoward the Round Robin Award. Mark felt thatinterclubs to Circle K meetings should count towardthe Round Robin.

• Discussion on the Kiwanews was tabled indefinitely.

New Business• Mark Finger presented the comments from KiwanisInternational regarding our Bylaw amendmentapproved last August regarding a dues waiver forveterans. The Kiwanis International Board ofDirectors approved our amendment but suggestedthat we use the word “waived” instead of “suspended”.Since it was considered a grammatical change, theboard approved the change in Bylaw wording.

• The International President Visits in Milwaukee andMiddleton, May 2nd and 3rd were discussed

• Past Governor Trustee and Chairman of the PastGovernors committee Patricia Brinkman presented adetailed procedure for choosing and awarding theSolberg Award. The board approved the proposedprocedure for the Solberg Award.

• The May 3rd Board meeting will be held in Madisonin conjunction with the International Presidents visitto Madison.

• The board approved waiving the District Conventionfee for the Oconomowoc Golden K Kiwanis Club.

Announcements• Gurdip asked for suggestions about the length of theboard meeting. Most of the concern was regarding thelate start more than the length of the meeting.

• James Burmeister announced that he will be asking hisclub to nominate him for the position of Governor-elect.

WI-UM District Executive Director Mark Finger can bereached at [email protected] or 920-361-9954.



formed an energized Membership Committee whichdecided that the club would hold a Membership Nightin mid-January. Committee members learned from theMembership Growth training that the key to success inrecruiting and retaining members is to choose a“signature project” that the community is passionateabout and to share the opportunity with potentialmembers to partner with the Kiwanis Club in supportof that project. If you can ignite passion for that projectwithin the potential members you recruit, they will beeager to join the club’s efforts.

The committee selected the “Friends of HarringtonBeach Accessible Cabin Project” plan to build the ninthfully-accessible cabin in a Wisconsin State Park justnorth of Port Washington as their “signature project”.They implemented a plan which included:• Advertising locally, featuring “An Evening ofOpportunity to Support the Accessible Cabin atHarrington Beach and to Learn How You Can ServeYour Community Through Kiwanis”;

• Requesting all club members to submit names offriends, neighbors or acquaintances they believewould benefit from Kiwanis membership;

• Interviewing the mayor and school superintendentand asking for a few names of people that they wouldrecommend for Kiwanis membership;

• Inviting a minimum of 85 people by mail to attendMembership Night. And the ball started rolling…

Mailing 85 invitations requesting a response by mid-December via email or phone garnered only sixresponses so over the course of the following month,the committee made follow-up calls, scheduled chatsover coffee and generally networked, resulting in aconfirmed total of 24 who said they would “most likely”attend. And the ball rolled on…

In early January, the Board agreed to:• Budget $300 for the evening;• Plan for a total of 40 to 50 people to attend;• Provide an informal atmosphere with small tablesettings, plentiful hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar;

• Use place mats printed with Kiwanis information andhave membership brochures at every table;

• Encourage attendance of existing club members. Andthe ball picked up speed…

As a result, 15 club members, 11 “Friends of Harring-ton Beach,” 20 invitees and four walk-ins joinedtogether for an inspiring event in a packed house. Fiftypeople learned from and laughed with local Kiwanianswith palpable energy not present at prior membershipevents. And the ball neared the pins…

A couple of weeks after the event, the MembershipCommittee created the following lists:• Those who submitted a membership application –two men and two women who were inducted by Lt.Gov. Jon Keckonen on February 25th;

• Those who could not attend, but showed sincereinterest in Kiwanis – ten people consisting of threemarried couples and four others;

• Those who attended and were interested – ninepotential members who were invited to attend anupcoming Kiwanis meeting – four of whom attended;

• Those who were somewhat interested and “wanted tothink more about it” – six potential members. And theball reached the pins…

The Membership Committee’s efforts over the four-month campaign resulted in:• Renewed spirit towards recruitment;• Twenty people interested in Kiwanis who will beinvited to be on a “Friends of Kiwanis” list withwhom club members will remain in contact;

• Four new members who know a lot about Kiwanis;• A high probability of adding four more newKiwanians to the Greater Port Washington KiwanisClub by spring!

Strike! Perfect ball! And the ball will again startrolling in October 2014…

Division 6 Membership Growth Chair John Sigwart can bereached at [email protected] or (262) 284-4316.

Greater Port Washington Club Rolls a Membership Strike… from page one



Cumberland Kiwanians Help at Food PantryCumberland Kiwanis members helped at a Ruby's Pantry FoodDistribution in December.

Marquette Noon Kiwanis ClubHosts Kiddie Mutt RacesBy Melissa Histed, Division 10 Lt. Governor

Every February, theKiwanis Club of Marquettehosts Kiddie Mutt Races indowntown Marquette,Michigan. The race is heldin conjunction with theU.P. 200, which is anationally recognized sleddog race which starts andends in Marquette. TheKiddie Mutt Race allowschildren to experience thethrill and excitement ofbeing pulled by their familypet (or a borrowed familypet) while riding on aslightly modified dog sledalong a snow-packed trail.Kiwanis volunteers assistthe children and pets withharnesses, sleds and racingtechnique – “just hang onand do not let go until theend.” All children receive aparticipation ribbon andthere is no cost to race.

A child is pulled by her family dogduring the Marquette KiwanisKiddie Mutt Races.

Kiwanis Donates DictionariesBy Anita Bouth, Kiwanis of Alger County

Kiwanis of Alger County has adopted The DictionaryProject, a nationwide non-profit initiative, and donateddictionaries to students in all the schools within AlgerCounty. The target grade level is third grade wherestudents are developing personal study habits and whereaccess to a personal copy of a dictionary will be helpful.A dictionary gives students access to information andunderstanding. It shows them how much they can learn,and, through their speaking and writing, how muchthey have to share. The mission of The DictionaryProject is “to donate dictionaries to children andencourage them to learn new words so that they will beable to use the English language effectively. For moreinformation, visit www.dictionaryproject. org

3rd and 4th grade students at AuTrain-Onota enjoy using their newdictionaries to look up spelling words.

T-Shirt Sales to Benefit theEliminate ProjectBy Melissa Histed, Division 10 Lt. Governor

Support the Eliminate Project while looking fabulous!T-shirts will be offered for sale at Midyear Conferencesand an order form will be sent to every club. The costper shirt will be $16 with $6 going towards immunizingmothers against maternal and neonatal tetanus.

Eliminate Project t-shirts will be offered for sale to Kiwanis members at theMidyear Conferences and via an order form.





2013-14 Kiwanews ScheduleIssue Deadline Published MailedOct./Nov. Oct. 30 Nov. 15 YesDec./Jan. Dec. 15 Dec. 30 YesFeb./Mar. Feb. 15 Feb. 28 YesApr./May Apr. 15 Apr. 30 NoJun./Jul. Jun. 15 Jun. 30 YesAug./Sep. Aug. 15 Aug. 30 No

Submit stories to Editor Tonya Alling, 11 Stanton St.,Ripon WI 54971 or [email protected].

SAVE THE DATES2014 Midyear Conferences

March 22, 2014 – Escanaba, MIMarch 29, 2014 – West Bend, WI

April, 12, 2014 – Wisconsin Dells, WI

Visit with Kiwanis International PresidentGunter Gasser

May 2, 2014 – Milwaukee, WIMay 3, 2014 – Middleton, WI

Terry Kirsop, Pewaukee KiwanisPewaukee Kiwanis member, Past President and formerLt. Governor Terry Kirsop passed away in October atthe age of 72. He was a member of Galilee LutheranChurch, a member of American Legion Post #71, amember of the Pewaukee Historical Society, thePewaukee Yacht Club and a former board member andvolunteer of the Interfaith Caregiving Network. Formany years, Terry was active in the communityChristmas Tree Lighting as he played Santa for thechildren. He is greatly missed by Kiwanis.

Jim Kimball, Ishpeming KiwanisJim Kimball, Ishpeming, a 33-year member of theIshpeming Kiwanis Club, passed away Jan. 10 at the ageof 82. He served the club in many capacities, mostrecently as treasurer. Jim was instrumental in a numberof club projects, including chicken barbecues, Adopt-a-Highway cleanups and feeding students at a luncheonfor National Honor Society honorees. Whether it washelping a fellow Kiwanian, assisting someone at theSalvation Army or offering advice to a youngster, Jimexemplified the Golden Rule.

Losses in Our Kiwanis Family




Menominee Club Sends Soccer Balls to Children in AfricaBy Mathew St. Martin, Menominee Area Kiwanis Club

Soccer Balls 4 Senegal is a program that provides muchneeded sports equipment to children of all ages in smallAfrican towns in the Senegalese and Gambian areas ofWestern Africa. Two years ago, Menominee AreaKiwanian Mathew St. Martin went to Africa as a PeaceCorps Volunteer. His original goal was to providehealth education, but after just a few days in a smalltown in Senegal, walking around many neighborhoodsand talking to families, St. Martin was struck by theimportance of the game of soccer to nearly everyone’smorale. Children and young adults play soccer day andnight, in alleys and fields, in roads and in dumps,regardless of weather, water or even access to a soccerball. 90% of children St. Martin saw playing soccerwere using something other than a soccer ball; often ataped together bunch of socks, a deflated ball from thedump, or a foreign object that is spherical in nature, toosmall, or not intended for the purpose of soccer.

St. Martin saw a prime opportunity for his MenomineeArea Kiwanis Club, the WI-UM Kiwanis District andKiwanis International to directly “improve the qualityof life for children and families locally and worldwide”by supplying them with a basic morale-building toolthat has been taken advantage of in most other societiesthroughout the world. These children, who rarely ifever attend school, and rarely eat more than meagermeals of rice, are clearly neglected, and small gestureslike this both show our compassion as Kiwanians and asglobally-thinking American citizens.

It was with this understanding that the MenomineeArea Kiwanis club formulated a plan and applied for theSoccerballs 4 Senegambia Kiwanis International grantwhich was successfully secured earlier this year. Aftermonths of research, club members found the most cost-effective option for a soccer ball provider and the lowestshipping costs, which allowed the club to purchasemore soccer balls for the children. Due to St. Martin’saffiliation with the United States Peace Corps, shippingcosts where greatly reduced as we were able to ship tothe Peace Corps headquarters in Washington D.C.rather than to Senegal, further reducing our shippingcosts by around 75%.

The club received notification that the soccer balls werereceived in Washington D.C. in July of 2013 and wereslated for shipment and distribution in November of2013, coinciding with Peace Corps 50th Anniversarycelebrations in the capital city of Dakar.

Vanessa Dickey is the Assistant Director of Peace CorpsOperations and Training in Senegal and the Gambia.Her latest update told a heartwarming story: “Thepictures are starting to roll in but we’ll have a full reportin December once our 50th Anniversary festivities areover. Our field agent said that before receiving thesesoccer balls the Koranic students would rent a soccerball for 200cf (about 50 cents). Koranic students inSenegal spend the majority of their day begging to payfor their food. They live far from their families incommunal housing.”

The Menominee Area Kiwanis Club sincerely thanksKiwanis International for the grant which will help keepthe Soccer Balls 4 Senegambia program going for thenext three years. It appears that it will be a huge successin the communities that it will provide equipment to.

West African children are able to play with a real soccer ball thanks to thegenerosity of a Kiwanis International Grant and the determination andhard work of members of the Menominee Area Kiwanis Club.


Documents

Greater Port Washington Club Rolls a Membership Strike · report. Officers Reports • Governor Brar reviewed the report he emailed to the board earlier in the week. (View all board