As I write this, the winter landscape outside my window looks bleak. I can recall my dad saying we must have half our hay and half our firewood left by the end of January if we were going to make it through the winter without problems. This only means that we still have a bit of winter ahead of us.
I googled "Beating the Winter Doldrums" and came up with over 200,000 suggestions. For those of us who are looking forward to spring, there are a ton of opportunities out there. On the top of my list is to step up and rededicate myself to Kiwanis activities. I encourage everyone to consider how they can improve their Kiwanis experience. Do more than just attend the weekly meetings. Volunteer to serve on a committee, explore a new fund raiser or service project. Attend the meeting of our sponsored programs. Circle K, Key Clubs, Builders Clubs, K-Kids and Aktion Clubs are honored to have you attend their meetings. Be sure to invite them to your Kiwanis Club meetings and include them in any activities your club has planned.
Now is the time to invite a friend or neighbor to a club meeting. It may take some coaxing, but once they are there they will enjoy the experience and will gladly come back again. Plan to do some interclubing this month. We always come back with new ideas and new insights after visiting a neighboring club.
International President Paul Palazzolo reminds us that the time frame between the months of January and July are the most productive months for Kiwanis growth -- both for new Kiwanis Clubs and existing clubs. Our District is working in several communities to form new Kiwanis Clubs. Now, more than ever, every community needs an active Kiwanis Club to address their needs during these hard economic times.
We do have some encouraging membership reports from clubs out there. The Downtown Rapid City Club set a goal of 12 new members this year, and they have reported they are already half way to their goal, and have three more members they will install this month. Congratulations to them! The Red Wing Golden K Club formed a club satellite at the boys correctional facility in Red Wing and recently installed 9 new satellite members there. A new club is being built in Tea, SD, and they are already meeting bi-weekly and planning some service projects. The West St. Paul Club has a club satellite in Apple Valley, and this group has made a goal of being up to charter strength by May. Clubs are being considered in Champlin, MN; in Marshall, MN; and Belle Fourche, SD. We have a great Lt. Governor team that is looking for even more opportunities of club building. Be ready to step up when they ask for help. Every community needs a Kiwanis Club!
Our hearts are saddened by the recent catastrophe in Haiti. The pictures on our television screens are almost too tragic to imagine. We hope every club in our District is addressing the needs of this tragedy as best they can. The Kiwanis International Foundation has provided a grant from its disaster relief fund to UNICEF to help in its effort to provide relief aid to Haiti. Contributions currently are being accepted by the foundation for its disaster relief fund, or you can send your contributions directly to UNICEF. To contribute to the foundation, go to
www.kiwanis.org/foundation and click on the "Give Now" button. To contribute directly to UNICEF, go to www.unicef.org.
Saturday, April 10, is Kiwanis One Day. This is an opportunity to plan a service event in your community and show your friends and neighbors what Kiwanis Clubs can do and how much fun they can have doing it. I hope every club in our District is planning an event, and including their sponsored clubs in the activities.
We have another opportunity this year on April 10, since that is also the day that our International President, Paul Palazzolo will be visiting our District. President Paul will be arriving in Mankato, MN that afternoon to participate in a District service project, packaging food in a Kids Against Hunger facility. That evening will be a banquet, where Kiwanians from our District can meet our International President in a more formal setting and hear his message. Good food, good fellowship, great entertainment and an inspirational message from President Paul promises to make the evening a great event. Learn more about the event CLICK HERE. Your club presidents will be receiving all the details very shortly. There will also be more information about the event in the March MINNEKOTAN.
