CKI
Circle K International
El Camino College
May 2013 Issue 1
FELLOWSHIP/Leadership
Table of Contents
Letter from the
Editor
INTRODUCING: 2013-2014 Board
SERVICE
Pledge/Members of the Week
Shout outs!
Contact Information
Hello Everyone!
It is my pleasure to present to you El Camino Circle
K’s first ever newsletter! I hope you enjoy reading
these throughout the year and I will do my best to
get one out to you each month on time!
I’m so excited to start the new term with my fellow
board members; we’ve got a lot planned
for you this year!
I encourage you to please submit your
articles, even if you don’t get published it still
counts towards MRP awards. It’s fun to let your
fellow club members know what you’ve been up to!
Stephanie Munson ECC CKI Public Relations Chair
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Letter from the Editor
Introducing 2013-2014 Executive Board
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Yoandra Vasquez:
Vice President of
Administration
Major: Microbiology Year in CKI: 3rd Random Facts: 1.I listen to Fall Out Boy and Paramore. 2. I go to Starbucks more than my own house
Ramon Esquivel:
Secretary
Major: Biological Anthro Year in CKI: 2nd Random Facts: 1.I love cooking! You name it, I can cook it! 2.I am super spontaneous! ABOOGAABOOGAABOOGA
Martha Torres-Poblano
Vice President of
Service
Major: Psychology Year in CKI: 3rd Random Facts: 1. I can make people laugh! 2. I am unafraid to try new things.
Nanci Torres-Poblano
President
Major: Environmental Engineering Year in CKI: 3rd Random Facts: 1.I’m very ticklish! 2. I can be demanding, especially when I want things done.
Axel Mejia-Juarez
Treasurer
Major: Music(Vocal Performance) Year in CKI: 3rd Random Facts: 1.I sleep with a bright-green frog pillowpet, named Stalin. 2. I still freaking love watching Spongebob
Introducing 2013-2014 Appointed Board
Esther Park:
Historian
Major: Nursing Year in CKI: 1st Random Facts: 1. I'm a bookworm. 2. I have more injuries than I can count
Dalena Tran:
MRP Chair
Major: Psychology/ Anthropology Year in CKI: 2nd Random Facts: 1.Adventure Time is my favorite cartoon Show. 2. I like any and all types of martial arts.
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Stephanie Munson:
MRP/Public Relations
Major: Communications Year in CKI: 3rd Random Facts: 1. I’ve been in the Kiwanis family for 7 years. 2. I am a triplet.
Dercy De La Cruz:
Service/K-Fam Chair
Mejor: Biology Year in CKI: 1st Random Facts: 1. I like the smell of grass 2. I enjoy people watching
Appointed board Continues
… Jaime Morales:
Fundraising Chair
Major: Automotive Technology Year In CKI: 1st 1. I LOVE swimming and running cross-country! 2. I enjoy reading books with dark, suspenseful stories.
Ryan Perry:
Social/Spirit Chair
Major: Communications Year in CKI: 1st Random Facts: 1 .My favorite singer is Akon. 2. I will randomly break out dancng to liven up or lighten the mood.
Nick(Dark) Castro:
Tech Chair
Major: Year in CKI: 1st Random Facts: 1.Best daddy in the whole outside space. 2. I’ll huff and puff your sadness away
Notice Something:
Everyone’s names are a
different color?
These are representative
of their colors of
mushrooms chosen on
the MUSHROOM BOARD
of 2013-2014. 4
Members of the week!!
Pledge:
I pledge on my
honor to uphold
the objects of
Circle K
International,
To foster
compassion and
goodwill toward
others through
service and
leadership,
To develop my
abilities and the
abilities of all
people,
And to dedicate
myself to the
realization of
mankind’s
potential!
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Jaime Morales
Kevin Castorena
Nick (Dark) Castro
Sara Ro
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Jaime Morales Fundraising Chair
To begin with, as a recent member of Circle
K International (CKI), I highly appreciate the
opportunities of this organization, which provides
social, learning, and life strategies, and in
acknowledgement to CKI, I see myself in the future
as a benevolent leader in our community.
Moreover, one of my most favorite CKI
events is the Spring Training Conference (STC),
taken place at the Orange Coast College on May 11,
2013. At first, I did not know what to expect from
this event hence all events are relatively something
new to me. As I entered the workshops in each
classroom, I was greeted and introduced to many
CKI members in different divisions, from different
schools, of different backgrounds, and made friends
with some of them. As I grabbed a seat with my new
friends, I focused my attention to the enthusiastic
presentations hosted by other members of CKI.
These presentations were not just to entertain but,
also, to educate other CKI members the different
tactics, regarding professionalism, that one can
adhere to their journey for success. For example, the
first workshop I attended taught me a few tips on
how to behave professionally when my boss and I
are having dinner. At the dinner table, it is important
to use the dining equipment correctly as well as
engaging into the conversation while maintaining
your space properly organized. Furthermore, these
workshops also taught me how to act professionally
online, how to manage my time by prioritizing, and
how to become a great historian through defining
its duties and abilities. With all the knew
knowledge, I feel that I am a step closer to
demonstrating leadership and that one day I will
reach success. Towards the middle of the event, I
felt much more comfortable with my new crowd of
collaborators and we went out for lunch. During
lunch, I made connection with a few more
members. As we sat down and ate, I learned more
about CKI and about the members, and the reasons
why they joined such great organization. Their
reasons were relevant to mine; to endeavor
something new, to provide a ‘helping hand,’ to
make new friends, to change lives, etc. After every
CKI member welcomed me into their family, by
the end of the day, I realized this is where I am
meant to be; the place where I will learn to
demonstrate service, unity, honor, and leadership.
STC-South
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Nick (Dark) Castro Tech Chair
Hello peeps, this is Dark (or sometimes specially called “D-money”) and I went to the beach last
Saturday. Coming from someone who would much rather explore the great indoors where their couch
and refrigerator is at, this is a “big deal.”
I think everyone tried to make a go at it to the ocean, but SOME of us just decided to play Tag
with it (*coughs* GIRLS *coughs*). The “guys” went way past me, winning the fight with the waves. I did
my best to give my reinforcements but as soon as I made any distance I was knocked
back against the tides putting me right where I started.
Eventually, we all just decided to be lazy. For summer weather, the
clouds sure didn’t get the memo. I decided that after having a swim, we should all
try to get some more sunscreen on so that we don’t roast, E-Bunny interjected to that
with a scream. No one else seemed to want it either for some reason (including me). I
guess we all came for some sun so we’re going to get it, not letting anything
(sun)block it from us.
I then saw Esther get some seashells and I decided to assist her with it
while finding some for my own to get Ryan help me make a seashell necklace for
my best friend. Then I came to the idea that I could get buried while
excavating for it. Everyone pitched in, complimenting me about my
“gangsta” bubbly butt. What I didn’t expect was some of others I couldn’t
see playing hopscotch and Jack Jumps Over The Sandy Back game.
The day soon came to a close, but we all decided to make one
final picture day. We decided to try and pull of some gymnastics. All in
all, I have no regrets and am going to be so jealous over missing the bon fire. Love you guys.
Board retreat
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Jannette Alvarez ICC Rep
Banquet season is a time for tears, for remembrance, and for reflection. It is a time when we get together and reflect on the past year. The good, the bad, and the hilarious; it is never a dull moment at a CKI banquet. It is also a time where we bid farewell to the old officers and install the new board. This event helps members appreciate the time and dedication their officers put into their Circle K term as well as acknowledges the members who have gone above and beyond the others.
Metro Banquet was the culmination of all the banquets. It was a day when people from all the different schools in the division come together and celebrated the accomplishments of the whole division. This year Metro Banquet took place at CSU Dominguez; and even though our now past LTG, Sean Nguyen, did not cry it was a very enjoyable banquet. From the auctioning of members from each school to the end of the year speech given by Sean, it was a very fun day. The superlatives were very surprising, I did not expect to receive Super Star of Service, although Stephanie Munson’s American’s Idol award was very obvious ^_~. And congratulations to her for also winning Metro President of the Year! It was also heartwarming to see George Barron receive Most Spirited and Metro Member of the Year. It goes to show that even when you leave, you are still remembered and appreciated by your peers in CKI.
Banquets are the time of change. As one board steps down, another steps up to further the accomplishments of the past year. I am so excited for all the new boards in Metro Division. Each school has elected a group of amazing individuals, and I am certain that this year’s board will not only meet the goals set by their predecessors, but also surpass them in every level. These boards are train and ready to excel, I cannot wait to see how much more Epic Metro Division will become.
It’s banquet
season!!
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Dercy De La Cruz Service Chair, K-Fam Chair
One of our recent service events was a visit to the LA Food Bank. It was a
very rewarding experience for all who attended. Not only did we help to pack 3,000 bags of fruits and vegetables for elementary school children, but it was another opportunity for the club to interact with each other in an informal setting. We “fought” for the last carrots in a bin and dodged rogue flying rotten apples. I think that this adds to the spirit present at each and every CKI meeting that takes place at ECC. This is the spirit of strong camaraderie and affection for each other. That spirit is unique, in my opinion, to our club which is why there are
always new faces at the club meetings.
The task given to us at this event was to fill bags with thirty carrots and four apples each. Thirty carrots seemed like a rather large number until we saw the size of the
carrots; they were really scrawny. Then we were given a station where we had to separate bad apples from the good
ones so that we could start packing. The people in charge played music to make the time fly by a lot faster.
When we finished our event we went to eat lunch at In-N-Out. We felt a bit guilty since we had just packed healthy
snacks for children. But once the burger was in front of us, the guilt magically dissipated.
I normally try to take away something from everything I do and this time was no exception. We are a service club, but we are also just college students who want to serve the world in any task however small while also having fun.
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Martha Torres-Poblano VP of Service
How do you feel after a service event? I for one, feel great because I’m contributing my own time to doing something good and helping out the community.
Our task in Crenshaw Pride day was to paint a house that was assigned to us. Some of us were assigned to paint the outside of the house and others were assigned to plant flowers.
I liked this event because it was fun working with the most amazing people in El Camino Circle K. Not only that, but we also got to interclub and meet the Foothill Division schools, LACC and CSULA. I really enjoyed this event because although it was fun painting the house, it was also fun to paint each other. At the end of the day we all had happy faces and handprints on all of our shirts. Some of the benefits of attending the service were the free lunch provided and a certificate awarded to our club for volunteering.
This event was one of my favorites because we collaborated as a team to paint the house. Not only that but because I was working with the most amazing people and I love them all. I hope we can do this event again because I had a lot of fun and our members liked the food provided for lunch.
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SHOUT OUTS
“I want to give a special shout out to Dalena Tran,
Maricris Saker, Shannon Lopez, Jennifer Bass, Daniel
Gonzales, Dalia Tafolla, Jannette Alvarez, Kenny
Hooper, and Joslin Gates. I am happy that all of
you are going to transfer in to even bigger schools
and are one step closer to achieving your dreams.
But I will also miss each and every one of you. Please
know that you will always be a member of ECC
CKI!”
-Yoandra Vasquez
Giving a shout out to mine and everyone’s
favorite Bruin, Ismael! Homie’s been there for
me through so much in a short amount of
time. Circle K wouldn’t be the same without
you and I’m pretty sure everyone feels the
same. Thanks so much man, I’m excited for
the day I get my acceptance later and we
raise all kinds of (HOLLA) at UCLA!!
-Ryan Perry
Hey Circle K-er's! I would just like to say that in the year that I have spent in this club, I've made so many friends so far. As a general club member, it's definitely fun to attend meetings when possible and join in on the fun, but you can make so much more out of this club and experience a lot being a community college student.
Being a part of this international organization will benefit you greatly. Not only will you be able to make friends on campus, you'll have friends from all different colleges and universities in California, Nevada, and even Hawaii! Now it may sound like community service is free labor, but that's not we're about. Yes. We do work for free sometimes, but it's always for a good cause. Many clubs are able to raise money for our district fundraising initiatives as well. Although we are pretty fun-loving and spirited club, there's a pretty professional side to it too!
So there's more than meets the eye in this club! Try to make the most of this experience by being a board member, or just showing up and helping at events! -Dalena Tran
A shout out to the new Board for
such an amazing start to the new
CKI year! I know you will all do an
amazing job! If you have any
questions about CERFs do not be
afraid to ask. :P
-Jannette Alvarez
HAVE LOTS
OF FUN FOR
ME AT THE
BONFIRE!!
-Dark
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO
MADE THIS FIRST NEWSLETTER
POSSIBLE! :D I LOVE YOU ALL! (it
may not be the best, but I’ll get
better!)
-Stephanie
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Contact
Information
Executive Board
Appointed Board
Nanci Torres-Poblano President
Martha Torres-Poblano VP of Service
Yoandra Vasquez VP of Administration
Ramon Esquivel Secretary
Axel Mejia-Juarez
Treasurer [email protected]
Nick Castro – Tech Chair [email protected]
Dercy De La Cruz – Service Chair/K-Fam Chair [email protected]
Jaime Morales – Fundraising Chair [email protected]
Stephanie Munson – MD&E/PR Chair [email protected]
Esther Park – Historian [email protected]
Ryan Perry – Social/Spirit Chair [email protected]
Dalena Tran – MRP Chair [email protected]
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“Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world; indeed it’s the only
thing that ever has.”
-Margaret Mead
El Camino College
Circle K International