How is your club developing youth and adult leaders?

My Kiwanis moment is the day 4 yrs ago.   I went to our high school as a new advisor, and being aware that the facilty advisor had some problems with last years junior

and soph classes   I asked if any Key Club members would meet with me in the office during lunch.   Thinking

this might not be a good idea I waited,Soon 1 Soph. ran out of the hall,stated that she had gone to help our Kiwanis get Christmas trees and had a great time and what were we planning this year.    The next year she included her friends,10 or 12   Her senior year served as

Key Club Lt Gov and is now enrolled in College in my

home town  Does one make a difference???  Yes!!!

About 25 years ago, our Kiwanis Club was approached for a small donation to help put on a Christmas Party for the foster children of Clatsop County.  The next year when the request arrived, the President said he would attend and see what it was all about.  There

Were about 15 families there and they were holding a potluck dinner.  He came and reported to the club and stated “we can do it better” so the Kiwanis Club of Astoria started sponsoring a small party and dinner.  Today we buy all the children gifts and provide a wonderful Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.  One hundred twenty families attended last Christmas.

One young man told me this was his 6th year and that he looked forward to this party all year.  Another became president of our Key Club and now attends Oregon State University.  A young lady 12-13 years old came up to me crying, I asked what was wrong and she replied, nothing is wrong, I am so happy, this is the first time I ever received a Christmas present.

If there is, any food left over us; Kiwanians get a plate and asks if we can join a family while they eat. Christmas before last 2006, our President had her Kiwanis moment, she approached a table with two 5 year old foster children and asked, May I join you? The mother replied please do.  She asked the little ones if Santa is coming to see them.  The little girl said, yes and he is going to bring me this. She held up a picture of a brown and white dog and says, mommy says I cannot have a live one so Santa is going to bring me this. The president did a lot of the shopping and knew there was a stuffed brown and white dog in the gifts, she ate in a hurry and ran over to the Warrenton Key Clubbers who were helping us and told them to find that dog.  The little girl gets on Santa’s lap and when he asked what can I bring you for Christmas she tells him she drew this picture so you wont make a mistake, he took the picture and reached down and handed he the dog, when she opened it she was completely astonished and walked around the room all night loving on her dog.

Several experiences that are more wonderful have come from this.

you have a great site!