Building the Future for Youth

Though the Kiwanis International convention is over, we are but one third of the way through our annual convention season. Meeting this month in Dallas, Key Club International is celebrating service with workshops, speakers, entertainment, and a service fair and fundraising for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Then in August, the stars fall on Alabama when Circle K International members meet for their convention in Birmingham. During the 2009 convention, Circle K students plan a full range of activities, including a blood drive, service fair and elections. Prior to gaveling their convention to order, students will arrive a few days early to take part in Circle K’s Large Scale Service Project.

This year, Circle K has chosen several projects, and the students’ work will make a difference in the lives of a number of children and a number of agencies and organizations during their visit.

Some of the most important work we do in Kiwanis is building the future for young people through the Kiwanis family of organizations—Kiwanis Kids, Builders Club, Key Club, Circle K, Aktion Club and Key Leader. Through these programs, young people and adults living with disabilities can earn scholarships, experience the fun and fellowship of conventions or help a community through a service project.

I encourage members and clubs to support Kiwanis’ youth programs, to help student members to discover more about themselves and the world by participating in service projects, leadership training and awareness-building experiences such as Key Leader.

By investing your time in their success, you sow the seeds of growth, demonstrating that they will always have a home with Kiwanis. With this, we can harvest that growth—that lifelong commitment of service and caring—for the good of children everywhere.

Support Service Leadership Programs. Charter new clubs and help chart Kiwanis’ future.