June 12, 2010 – Charter Party, Kiwanis Club of Black Diamond/Maple Valley WA (Division 32)
June 19, 2010 – Wedding of Patrick Ewing and Kristina Thalacker (Victoria BC)
June 23-26, 2010 – International Convention (Las Vegas NV)

June 2-6, 2010
The Class of 2010/11 Goes to School
Governor-Elect Frank Morehouse hosted training for his team: the 2010/11 District Chairs and the 2010/11 Class of Lt. Governors.  He worked closely with his excellent training team (Pamela Smith, Claudell King, and Dan Ver Heul) and our outstanding District Office staff (Cleve, Gary, and Rebecca), all of whom invested many, many hours to ensure a positive educational experience for every attendee.

We were very lucky to have International Counsellor Randy Delay attend the training session and provide insights and encouragement; has been a truly excellent trustee.  While Key Club Governor Caitlin Snaring unfortunately had to send her regrets, Governor Alan Lo dropped in to represent CKI, along with past CKI Governor (and current Kiwanian) Helen Mak.  I attended as Frank’s Team Leader for the Membership Team as well as to show my support for Frank and his coming year as Governor.

The training session was held at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp, which keeps costs low, encourages more social interaction, and serves as a great example of what can be achieved when Kiwanis clubs work together.  It started out a soggy week, but the enthusiasm of the attendees was ignited, not dampened, by the experience.  The sun and blue sky that emerged on Saturday gave us new energy, and the graduation ceremony and dinner at Timberline Lodge made the weekend complete. 

We have great Lieuteannt Governors and District Chairs this year, and from this past week it looks like next year’s team will be just as positive, dedicated, and enthusiastic.  Many times we fail to truly appreciate just how lucky we are to have such great leaders as these in our organization, willing to invest their time and energy to help club leaders be successful.  The pay is non-existant; all we can say to them, and to all the club leaders and members serving in their local communities:  

“Thank you for everything you do; thank you for making time to make a difference.”

First Lady Kristina and I very much enjoyed touring our most northern region, Zone A, which consists of Alaska and the Yukon Territory.  The tour was 1,300 miles, though, so we were thankful to have Pamela and Greg Smith to help share the driving and keep the conversation going on those long drives!

Anchorage is a beautiful city, and Kristina and I had a couple of days to explore, including a drive from Anchorage to Portage that every PNW member should do at least once in their lifetime.  On Tuesday, May 18^th, we attended a special guest meeting in Anchorage which featured a motivational speaker. 

The next day we drove to Fairbanks where we helped the Borealis Club with a service project at a local rescue mission.  Borealis is a very hands-on club, and often holds a work party rather than a club meeting during the warmer months of the year.  Knowing how limited my skills are in construction, Kristina was amused to watch me on top of one of two large steel containers, helping to install roof trusses that would provide storage and working space for the mission’s recycling program (a fundraising activity of the mission).  I believe it is important in a service organization like ours to show that leaders are volunteers to, and equally willing to roll up our sleeves and pitch in, no matter how unskilled we are.  We did get the trusses up — despite my assistance!

On Thursday we drove to Beaver Creek, just 25 or so kilometres past the Alaska/Yukon border.  Beaver Creek is a small town of about 85, but it hosts many tourists in the summer.  Part of the reason for holding the Alaska/Yukon conference there was to establish a club satellite of the Whitehorse Club (the manager of the main hotel in Beaver Creek is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Whitehorse).  The location also provided an opportunity to do a service project at the border crossing, where we did some maintenance work on (and around) a Canada/US goodwill border monument that had been erected by Kiwanis.

The Zone Conference itself was a lot of fun, including a show (Beaver Creek Rendezvous), a contest to come up with the best “beaver” song, a variety of fundraising activities, as well as a variety of educational sessions. 

A highlight of the event was installing three members of the club satellite, which I was honoured to do.  We had a second service project, cleaning up garbage on the main road.  Our activities attracted the attention of the local police, who pulled over to find out just what we were doing.  He was puzzled why people from as far away as Victoria BC and Seattle WA were picking up garbage in Beaver Creek; we made an impression, so maybe he’ll become a member too!

Our circle tour of Alaska and a piece of the Yukon was a great experience.  We saw bears, moose, elk, trumpeter swans, and other local wildlife.  With just a month to go before summer solstice we didn’t see much darkness while we were there, but we got to spend quality time with wonderful Kiwanians from the land of the midnight sun.

Spokane hosted the 2010 Pacific Northwest District Conference for Aktion Club, the organization for adults whose developmental disabilities are not barriers to providing service to their communities. Members attended from throughout the Pacific Northwest, including from clubs that had never attended a district conference before. This was my second Aktion conference and only the 4th to be held in the Pacific Northwest.

Some of the workshop topics were fire prevention, Sleeping Children Around the World, Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN), and the humane society.  Social activities included karaoke, riding Spokane’s carousel, and a live band. Attendees received great conference T-shirts as well as photographs of themselves in front of the conference banner.

District Administrator Lee Chic reported that the attendees’ evaluations were very positive. I would like to commend her and her conference planning team for putting on a great event, and the sponsors and advisors/support workers who helped make it possible for so many Aktion members to attend.

As mentioned in a previous post, over several days around the Easter long weekend, First Lady Kristina and I travelled over 800 miles touring central Washington State, including visits to Maple Valley WA, Richland WA, Ephrata WA, and Wenatchee WA.

More recently, over a period of 10 days (April 16-25), Kristina and I (with First Dog Sasha) drove over 1,800 miles making 15 official visits to Kiwanis Clubs in western Oregon and other locations in the southwest section of the Pacific Northwest. Official visits included Zone Conferences in Vancouver WA and Yreka CA; “meet and greets” in Ilwaco/Long Beach WA, Tillamook OR, and Lincoln City OR; club visits in Salem OR, Corvallis OR, Florence OR, and Springfield OR; a 20th anniversary party in Fern Ridge-Veneta OR; a dinner in Weed CA; and other stops to tour Kiwanis projects (Astoria OR, Warrenton OR, Seaside OR).

Later in May Kristina and I will be flying to Anchorage and then driving to Fairbanks AK and Beaver Creek YT, for two official visits and a  Zone Conference.  This Alaska/Yukon trip works out to over 1,400 miles of driving once the drive to SeaTac is factored in, and that doesn’t include all the miles in the air.

Just for these three trips alone (three trips out of many), Kristina and I will travel over 4,000 miles driving. Sometimes I refer to being Governor as the Iron Butt Marathon – reflecting many hours and many long miles on the road. I enjoy travelling to places, but I will admit there are times – such when I’m in a long line at the border or when I miss a ferry – when I just wish I had a teleporter that would transport me home at the end of each visit.

Despite the many miles, the fact is that I enjoy getting out and meeting with Kiwanis members throughout the Pacific Northwest. It is the people who make this organization what it is, and they are wonderful. Whether it’s the song-writing, guitar playing, president of the Western Hills-Corvallis club, the club delegate who takes me aside at Zone Conference to tell me about their Governor’s Project activity, or the new members I get to install, it is a joy to meet with the good men and women of Kiwanis. As I travel I provide information about district initiatives and answers to their questions, but more importantly I offer my thanks and appreciation for all their service to their club, their members, and their communities.

My goals for the visits this year (and in my years as Governor-Elect and as Governor-Elect candidate) have been to educate, encourage and inspire, and to bring the District a little closer to clubs and divisions throughout the district. Governor-Elect Frank Morehouse shares my goals, and has been travelling the district extensively as well.

I am very proud of this district and its members. The attitude of members and clubs is almost universally positive. While there are challenges (such as growing our membership), there is also great pride in our organization and a wealth of terrific new and continuing service projects that truly are making a difference for children, for seniors, for the disabled, for the disadvantaged, for families, and – yes – even for dogs, right here in our beautiful Pacific Northwest.  It is an honor to serve you as Governor, and a privilege to visit with you in all parts of this great district.

On Wednesday March 31st, Kristina and I set out on a 800+ mile circle tour of Washington State.  We spent Thursday recruiting for a club that is being built in Maple Valley/Black Diamond by the very dedicated New Club Builder Rita Schroeder.   We spent Friday in the Tri-Cities – a lunch at the Tri-Cities Industry club that was very well-attended by clubs in the area.  Late that day, Lt. Governor Jerry Greenfield and his wife Corky hosted a small gathering at their home.  On Saturday, Kristina and I headed up to Ephrata to meet with clubs in the area, in conjunction with an Easter Egg Hunt.  Our last stop was in Wenatchee, where Lt. Governor Janice Irle, Convention 2012 Chair Margie Wilson and Division 52 hosted a meet-and-greet.  After the meet-and-greet, Kristina and I sold programs at the Wenatchee Wild hockey game (a fundraiser for the Governor’s Project) before sitting down to watch the game (the Wild won).  We made it home on Sunday evening.  I had been suffering a miserable cold since leaving Victoria, but luckily Easter Monday was a holiday for me so I had a day to recover.  Despite the many hours of driving and all the typical cold symptoms, it was a tremendously positive experience.  Kristina and I would like to thank everyone who was so kind to us, who opened their homes and made us feel so welcome.

We have a big district, and it is a near impossible task to see it all, especially when working full time.  I was reminded on this trip how important it is for leaders to take time to get out and meet with the people they have been elected to represent.  No amount of email exchanges can take the place of meeting with people in their own communities.  While I cannot visit every club in the district, or every town, by the end of this Kiwanis year I will have visited a large cross-section of this district – from as far north as Fairbanks Alaska to as far south as Yreka CA and as far east as Coeur D’Alene ID.

When it comes to visits from leaders, the Pacific Northwest has been particularly fortunate this year.  We have seen multiple visits from International President Paul Palazzolo, International President-Elect Sylvester Neal, Immedia Past International President Don Canaday, and International Trustee Randy Delay.  I know I and many others in our District appreciate their leadership and their willingness to travel long distances to support the efforts of Kiwanians throughout the Pacific Northwest.

While Governor-Elect Frank Morehouse attended the Zone E Conference  in Mt. Vernon, I attended the Zone G Conference in Kent.   The Kent Seniors’ Center was packed with attendees, and a highlight was a presentation by five members (two of the canine variety) of Guide Dogs of the Desert, an organization that trains assistance dogs for people who are legally blind. 

PNW CKI “BTR” in Seattle WA

I was able to sit in on a portion of the new/old Board Training Retreat for PNW CKI known as “BTR” (pronounced “beater”).  PNW CKI has lost several clubs over the years, and I spoke with Governor-designate Alan Lo about the possibility of establishing a “10 Most Wanted” list of locations to target for building (or re-building) CKI clubs. 

After the meeting ended, First Lady Kristina and I went roller-skating with the CKI members (which was fun but demonstrated that I am uncoordinated enough on shoes, let alone skates!) before joining some other Kiwanians at a party Jim Nannery was hosting.

The Pacific Northwest District of Kiwanis International does not have one mid-year conference but 13 regional conferences.  The full schedule of Zone Conferences is posted online.

While Governor-Elect Frank Morehouse represented the District at McMinnville OR, I represented the District at Tacoma WA.  Our presentations at the Zone Conferences focus on:

• Governor’s Theme (We Love to Serve) and Governor’s Project (Project K-9);
• Growth Incentives (traditional ones such as banner patches and new fun ones too);
• May Membership Campaign information and membership growth resources;
• Information about issues that will be addressed at District Convention, including bylaw amendments and a dues-related resolution; and
• A new Kiwanis Decal Fundraiser that will help clubs raise funds for youth-related service projects.

The Zone Conference in Tacoma featured International President-Elect Sylvester Neal, past Kiwanis International CEO Rob Parker, Area Director Jim Courtright, and several break-out sessions on a variety of Kiwanis-related topics.

Next week (March 20, 2010), I will be in Kent WA to attend the Zone G Conference (followed by attending the PNW CKI Board Training Retreat in Seattle), while Frank will be representing the district at the Zone E Conference in Mt. Vernon WA.

Midwinter Conference 2010 had many high points including:

• Several presentations on the nuts and bolts of recruiting for new or existing clubs, as told by Immediate Past International President Don Canaday, received rave reviews from attendees;
• Hearing from International President-Elect Sylvester Neal and an outing to the Silver Reef Casino and Resort were highlights of our On to International Convention evening, as Kiwanians were encouraged to attend the International Convention in Las Vegas for Sylvester’s installation as International President.
• The May Membership Campaign was revealed and the Kiwanis Decal Fundraiser was officially launched, with the first decals made available for attendees to purchase (see below for more).
• Candidacy speeches from Governor-Elect candidates Pamela Smith and Claudell King.
• A personal highlight was when First Lady Kristina Thalacker said “Of course!” when I proposed to her in front of more than 100 Kiwanian friends at Saturday’s lunch session; we will be getting married on June 19, 2010.

The Board considered a large number of proposed policy and bylaw changes that had been forwarded by the Executive and Finance Committees.   The proposed Bylaw changes will be published online for clubs to see in advance of District Convention in Spokane WA; at the convention, the House of Delegates will vote on all of the Bylaw changes approved by the District, as well as any bylaw changes submitted by clubs.   Please make sure that your club is well-represented at District Convention (August 26-29, 2010).

In light of continuing pressures on District finances (in large part due to declining membership), a number of steps have been taken that could help ease the pressure on clubs’ administration accounts and to bolster the finances of the district.  Actions that could help bolster clubs’ administration accounts include:

• Service Component of District/International Fees: A resolution, passed by the PNW District Board, asks Kiwanis International to allow (but not require) clubs to pay the service-destined portion of their District and International per-member fees (sometimes described as dues) from their service accounts.  While clubs distinguish between service and administration funds as part of their own financial accounting, the PNW District and Kiwanis International do not.   The resolution calls on Kiwanis International to identify how much of the funds it receives from clubs is destined to support service aims – such as supporting Service Leadership Programs, Kiwanis Foundations, or the Worldwise Service Project. 
• 10% Option to Fundraisers:  A second resolution, forwarded by the PNW District Board for consideration by the House of Delegates, would ask Kiwanis International to allow clubs to use up to 10% of their fundraising proceeds to be used to support administrative purposes.  The resolution points to the widespread and accepted use of public funds by charities and non-profits to pay for the cost of the organizations (typically in the 30% range).  Currently, not a single penny of the net proceeds of Kiwanis fundraisers can be used for administrative purposes, which means members shoulder 100% of the cost of the organization.  This is a sensitive issue for many clubs, and it will only be taken to Kiwanis International for its consideration if supported by the House of Delegates in Spokane.

Last year, the 2008/09 PNW DistrictBoard had to carve out $40,000 in cuts to address lost revenue (primarily due to reduced membership).  This represented an equivalent of $4 per member.  The 2009/10 PNW District Board has approved several measures to address the District’s financial pressures, including:

• Expansion of the Membership Team:  The Membership Team was expanded at Midwinter Conference to include Zone Membership Growth Chairs, volunteer leaders who will help with new club building and will help clubs within their regions improve recruitment and retention.  Improving clubs’ membership numbers is vital to bolstering the finances of the district.
• Building Purchase: At the Kiwanis-Family Conference, the Board authorized the purchase of a building for the District Office, subject to certain conditions.  While the right opportunity has not yet presented itself, many on the Board recognized the value of paying our own mortgage rather than someone else’s, benefitting from the appreciation that real estate is likely to take after the recent decline, as well as the opportunity to rent excess space to other tenants in order to offset costs.
• Kiwanis Decal Fundraiser: At the Kiwanis-Family Conference, the Board also approved the Kiwanis Decal fundraising project.  Kiwanis Decals – which allow businesses to associate themselves with the good name of Kiwanis and which come with a subscription to the Builder Magazine - retail for $100.  With a club profit of about $80 per decal, this project has the potential to raise tens of thousands of dollars for clubs’ youth-related projects.  The District’s proceeds in selling the decals to clubs ($20 each when clubs buy 5 at a time) will help address cost pressures within the District.  For more information, contact the District Office.
• Dues Increase:  The Board at Midwinter Conference approved a schedule of $2 annual district per-member fee (dues) increases over a five-year period in order to offset inflationary pressures.  The increases – equivalent to half a cent per day – will be assessed to clubs, and clubs can decide how how of that to pass on to their members when setting Club Dues.  The increases will be suspended if membership increases past 12,000 members.

Midwinter Conference was a very full weekend, and was  a great success thanks to your Lt. Governors, District Chairs, and others who volunteer their time to serve on committees, as well as our three District Office staff members who contributed many long hours on evenings and weekends to ensuring a quality experience for attendees. 

I would urge every club to:

1. Attend their Zone Conferences to get more information on District initiatives;
2. Hold a Membership Campaign in May using this easy-to-follow guide (pdf format);
3. Use the Kiwanis Decal program to raise funds for Service Leadership Programs, Young Children: Priority One projects, or Youth Services programs;
4. Attend International Convention 2010 in Las Vegas, and educate yourself about the issues and candidates for office; and
5. Attend District Convention 2010 in Spokane, educate yourself about the issues and candidates for office, and bring a display board abour your club’s best project for the Service Fair.

Dupont was once again the location for the outgoing Key Club District Board (the “outties”) to train the income Lt. Governors (“the innies”).  It was also an opportunity to put final touches on the Key Club Convention, which has been almost a year in the planning.  Governor Sophia Vo is tremendously organized, and presided over the joint board of more than 100 high school students.   Next year’s Governor and other officers will be elected in March, but whoever is elected will already have a trained team of Lt. Governors ready to serve.

Kiwanis was there too, but in a supportive role: Administrator John Jay, Assistant Administrator Suzanne Endroedy, several faculty/club/area advisors and chaperones, as well as a handful of invaluable members of the Silverdale Club (such as Roy and Edna Meyers) who provided the meals for all the Key Club members and guests.   John, Suzanne and I were given opportunities to address the Board, but there is no doubt that Key Club is a student-led organization.  John and Suzanne made sure all the students have transportation to and from the event, provided counsel when asked, and ensured that Key Club members were behaving and following Key Club rules were being followed, but they leave leadership to Governor Sophia and the many outstanding young leaders who serve on her Board.

People who grumble about “Kids today…” have probably never been to a CKI Convention.  CKI may be smaller than Key Club or Kiwanis in terms of membership, but they have great passion and enthusiasm, and the potential to make this world better for their commitment.  We have many colleges and universities in the Pacific Northwest where students are denied the opportunity to join CKI or earn CKI scholarships – perhaps you can be the one to build a new CKI club in your area!

The PNW CKI Convention was held under the shadow of the Space Needle, and members had opportunities not just to learn and take part in the business of the district but also sight-see.  While some chose to go up the tower, I took the opportunity to ride the bumper cars with two other CKI alumni: First Lady Kristina and CKI alum Jason Cammarano.

I have truly enjoyed working with 2009/10 Governor Cale Middleton and his Board.  He attended the full Lt. Governor training session at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp last May, and I have attended almost every one of his Board meetings – even if only for a few hours.  Everyone who attended the Kiwanis Family Conference in October had an opportunity to get to know him a little better when I interviewed Cale and Key Club Governor Sophia Vo.   Cale is serious when he needs to be, but is also able to laugh at himself.   While PNW CKI didn’t reach all of of its goals this past year, they have a number of things of which they can be proud, including racking up a huge number of service hours.  Great convention, and great job, “outties”!

The CKI selected a new Governor and Board for 2010/11.  Governor-Designate Alan Lo is quirky and outgoing at district events – such as choosing someone to sing to in front of all the attendees – but from what I’ve seen he also works hard behind the scenes, supporting others.   While Cale’s Governor’s Project involved working with teens, Alan’s Governor’s Project involves working with the disabled.  Alan shares Cale’s commitment to the success of this district, and I look forward to working with Alan and his Board this year. 

The saddest part of the weekend was the graduation ceremony, when so many wonderful CKI members accepted their graduation medallions from the Kiwanis Club of Cascadia.  The Cascadia Club was created as a district-wide internet-based Kiwanis Club, and one of its first projects was providing these medallions.   While it is wonderful to honor these young people for their service to their campus and community, it is also sad to know that they will not be continuing as CKI members.  I hope that many will join a Kiwanis Club wherever they land after graduation, and in doing so continue to support our great Service Leadership Programs.