Kiwanis celebrates service, fosters leadership at annual convention

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — More than 5,500 member-volunteers, families and guests from around the world will gather this week in Nashville, Tenn., for Kiwanis International’s 94th annual convention. Members will elect new international officers, celebrate their compassionate commitment to help children and communities, and enhance leadership skills.

Kiwanis International comprises 600,000 adult and youth members in 70 nations who annually give more than six million hours and US$100 million to help change the world one child and one community at a time.

During the June 25-28 convention, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean will welcome members who then will hone their skills working with volunteers, share best practices to go from good to great and discuss recruiting and retaining members. Members also will learn about succession planning and working with youth through Kiwanis programs such as Key Club and Circle K, Kiwanis initiatives on high school and university and college campuses.

“Kiwanis is planning a dynamic program this year, with targeted educational tracks and specialized sessions on topics such as member retention and growth, but we aren’t forgetting the important elements of fun and fellowship,” said Rob Parker, Kiwanis International CEO.

“We kick off the celebration of service with a members’ event in the Nashville Convention Center Thursday, enjoy the sights and sounds of the Grand Ole Opry Friday during Kiwanis Night at the Opry, and then join in the Saturday Night Stampede at the Wildhorse Saloon, where we expect to see a lot of boot-scootin’ Kiwanians on the dance floor.”

Held at the Nashville Convention and Sommet centers, the event will reflect key Kiwanis themes of service and leadership through educational forums and guest speakers such as Judson Laipply, an American motivational speaker and comedian from Bucyrus, Ohio, whose “Evolution of Dance” is among the most viewed videos of all time on YouTube. Jeff Wolf, one of America’s top executive business coaches and author of, Roadmap to Success, with Ken Blanchard and Stephen Covey, will also present at the convention, as will Kent Keith, chief executive of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership and author of The Paradoxical Commandments and The Case for Servant Leadership.

Denver & the Mile High Orchestra, a horn-driven band from Nashville, will also perform for the convention. The group, formed by friends at Nashville’s Belmont University, has performed at churches, conferences, festivals—even the Olympics.

Other highlights of the 94th annual convention include:

• Presentation of the Kiwanis International World Service Medal
  • The Kiwanis World Service Medal, established in 1985, recognizes individuals who devote a significant part of their lives to meeting the needs of others.  One medal is awarded each year and the Kiwanis International Foundation adds a US $10,000 grant to assist the honoree in furthering his or her service work. Winners have included Mother Teresa, Audrey Hepburn and First Ladies Nancy Reagan and Rosalynn Carter.

• Election of international officers
  • Delegates to the convention from Kiwanis clubs worldwide will elect the new president, president-elect and vice president of the organization. The current president is Don Canaday, of Fishers, Ind.

• Presentation of the Robert P. Connelly Medal of Heroism
  • The medal honors Robert P. Connelly, 34, a Kiwanis club member from Illinois, who died in 1966 while trying to save a disabled woman who had fallen into the path of an oncoming train. Sadly, both died, but Connelly’s selfless act inspired the Kiwanis International board to establish an award in his honor, marking service “above and beyond the call of duty.”

• Surprise announcement
  • Kiwanis International will make an announcement during convention of a special project plan. Further information will be available at and after convention.

 
“This is an exciting time for Kiwanis,” said Parker. “We are proud of the help provided by so many member-volunteers over so many years, but we are excited, too, by the energy, enthusiasm and innovative ideas we are seeing and what it holds for the future – of Kiwanis and for the children we are committed to help everywhere around the world.”