April 2009 - Circle K International!

CKI
MAGAZINE
www.circlek.org
April 2009
A Kiwanis-family publication
Meet up in the
Magic City
Join CKI members at
the Circle K International
convention in Birmingham
inside
2008-09
CKI Board OF
REPRESENTATIVES
president
Kristen Reed
Singing CKI’s praises
State University
of New York, Potsdam
president@circlek.org
vice presidnt
Ricardo Torres
Pennsylvania State
University, University Park
vp@circlek.org
representatives
by kristen reed n cki president
W
marathons to benefit the Six Cents Initiative,
hat do you do when you hear your
club socials that have built friendships, and
favorite song? Maybe you tap your toes,
promotion of our motto “Live to Serve, Love
sing extremely loud in your car by yourself
to Serve” by helping out local causes.
or bust out a few select moves on the dance
I hope you realize the
floor. Whatever avenue of
This
year
has
been
long-lasting impact CKI has
expression suits you best, it
is always a happy moment
one for the record had on the world, and I sincerely thank you for all your
when a favorite song comes
books, with more hard work and selflessness
on the radio. Let me tell you,
the world has heard CKI
people every day this year.
Please take the time now
loud and clear this year.
making CKI their to enjoy
everything this isWhile serving as Interfavorite song.
sue of CKI Magazine has to
national President, it has
offer. Whether it is learning
become very apparent to
a new service project idea or gearing up for our
me that this year has been one for the record
54th Annual International Convention in the
books, with more people every day making
“magic” city of Birmingham, this publication
CKI their favorite song. Together, we have
is sure to leave you dancing with ideas to share
grown, adding more and more collegians
with your club.
whistling the CKI tune of service and catching
Thank you again for making CKI your
the passion that burns within all of us to help
favorite song! Keep tappin’ your toes, groovin’
others and to change the world. to the beat of service. I can’t wait to see you in
How, you ask? This year, CKI members
Birmingham!
have done the extraordinary, through dance
What’s happening with CKI Magazine?
Even though this is the
only issue of CKI Magazine
this year, you can still stay in
touch with CKI in other ways.
Here’s how:
Visit often. Log on to
www.circlek.org for club and
project highlights, updates,
convention information, videos, feature stories, tips, tools
and more.
Put in Face time. Join the
Circle K International group
on Facebook and interact
with CKI members from
around the world and
Kiwanis International staff.
Stay tuned. Announcements
about new ways to stay
on top of CKI information
are coming soon and will
be communicated on the
official CKI Web site,
www.circlek.org, and the
official CKI Facebook
group page.
onthecover
CKI members from the University of Alabama, Birmingham show off the city’s
Vulcan Park and look forward to the Circle K International convention. They are
(clockwise from bottom left) Veerendra Jadhav, club secretary; Patrick Yelding,
Alabama District governor; Kelli Boggan and Meredith Pringle.
Photo by University of Alabama, Birmingham, student Benjamin Muranaka.
2 April 2009
Tracy Meyer
University of Washington
subregiona@circlek.org
Sarah Foley
Arizona State University
subregionb@circlek.org
Tiffany Hansen
Wayne State University
subregiond@circlek.org
JJ Sadler
Illinois College
subregionc@circlek.org
Christa Fry
Concord University
subregione@circlek.org
Eric Hotchkiss
State University
of New York, Potsdam
subregionf@circlek.org
Kathryn Geiger
Clemson University,
subregiong@circlek.org
Magazine staff
cki director/editor
Erin Fischer
cki program specialist
Kandra Sejas
executive editor
Amberly Peterson
art director
Maria Malandrakis
contributing editors
Jack Brockley
Alyssa Chase
Dick Isenhour
Joedy Isert
Kasey Jackson
chief marketing officer
Carolyn Mosby-Williams
CKI Magazine was
established to promote
the Objects of Circle
K International. As its
official publication,
CKI Magazine includes
articles promoting the
service initiative of Circle
K International and articles of general interest
to college students.
CKI Magazine (ISSN
0745-1962) is published
once a year by Circle
K International, 3636
Woodview Trace, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, a
collegiate organization
incorporated not for
profit under the laws of
the state of Illinois and
representing all Circle K
clubs in North America,
Colombia, Panama and
the Caribbean area.
Opinions expressed are
those of the authors and
not necessarily those of
the editors or Circle K
club members. Contents
may not be reprinted
without written permission. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to CKI
Magazine, 3636 Woodview Trace, Indianapolis,
Indiana 46268-3196.
Copyright 2009 by
Circle K International.
Printed in USA.
CKI
job market
Give thanks
When interviewing, don’t forget the
thank-you note.
Sending a thank-you letter after your interview is still your best shot when it comes
to landing the job.
Only 10 percent of job
seekers take the time to
send notes of appreciation. Doing so makes
you really stand out
from the crowd.
Plus, it:
• Shows how
much you respect
others’ time and
energy—most
specifically theirs
• Provides you an opportunity to remind them of your interest in
the position
• Demonstrates that you’re a “people
person”
• Leaves them with a favorable impression
of you.
— Judy Bailey
Ace the test
3 thank-you tips
1. Just do it. E-mail thank-yous
have become customary, but
traditional mail and phone calls
are still acceptable. The important thing is to get it done.
2. Tailor your message. Your
tone and style should reflect the
company’s philosophy. Where
appropriate, send a hand-written
note that’s friendly, yet businesslike. If the company is more formal, use a crisp business style on
a neatly typed letter that keeps
to the point.
3. Keep it simple. Let them
know you appreciate their time,
remain interested in the position
and with your ______ (fill in one
or two of your top qualities) and
experience with _______ (skills
that apply), you believe you’re
the best person for the job.
How to breeze through
pre-employment exams
Sorry, but test taking doesn’t always end
with college. Many employers require preemployment testing as part of the job-application process.
Most pre-employment testing tackles
either skills assessment or personality type.
The skills assessments measure the test-taker’s
knowledge of objective information and
skills specific to the job. Personality questionnaires evaluate less tangible traits such as
strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes,
stress factors and character. Either way, preemployment tests help companies dig deeper
into the job-seeker’s psyche. When it’s time
to take your own test, keep these tips from
George Washington University in mind.
• Respond to questions honestly.
www.circlek.org
How to breeze through
pre-employment exams
• Listen for verbal instructions and read the
written directions carefully.
• Skim the entire test before you begin. Then
you’ll know what to expect.
• Don’t hurry. Work at a consistent yet
comfortable pace.
• Work smart. Answer questions you know
first. Then go back and reply to those that
require additional thought.
— Karen Pyle Trent
Steer your career
Still need more advice for landing
your first job? Visit www.circlek.org for
suggestions on turning job fair visits
into job offers.
Good moves
7 toways
nail a
job search
Looking for a job is as
much about what you do
wrong as it is about what
you do right. Here are
seven ways to nail it:
1. Be ambitious. Depend
on many sources for
job leads. Check out
the Internet, newspapers, job boards and
always be networking.
2. Take good advice.
Listen to people who
know what they’re
talking about.
3. Treat each job
opening differently.
Personalize your
approach and information to match what
the potential employer
is seeking.
4. Follow directions.
Pay attention to the
employer’s instructions
when applying
for a job.
5. Use spell check.
Spelling, grammar and
punctuation count on
résumés and cover
letters.
6. Prep for the interview.
Learn everything you
can about your potential employer.
7. Dress for success. First
impressions are important. Look the part of a
true professional.
— Karen Pyle Trent
April 2009
3
Jeffrey Greenberg
indepth
(Clockwise from left) Kelli Boggan,
Patrick Yelding, Meredith Pringle
and Veerendra Jadhav, CKI members
from the University of Alabama,
Birmingham, visit Vulcan Park,
a must-see attraction when
you’re in town for convention.
photo by benjamin muranaka
4 April 2009
CKI
indepth
Birmingham, Alabama—known as the “Magic City”—will amaze and
delight members who attend this year’s Circle K International convention
Plan to attend the 54th Annual Circle K International Convention August 5-9
and let Birmingham cast its spell on you. Historic sites, civil rights landmarks and culinary delights
pepper the city. Dana Lackey, Alabama District editor and a member of the University of Alabama,
Birmingham is situated in the
rolling foothills of the
Appalachian Mountains.
www.circlek.org
April 2009
5
photo by jeffrey greenberg
Birmingham’s CKI club, told Kimiko Martinez about the city’s Top 10 places to see. Check them out!
photo by jeffrey greenberg
indepth
1. Iron out the details
Vulcan is the one thing you just have to see while
in Birmingham! Newly restored in 2003, the world’s
largest cast iron statue is of the Roman god of fire
and forge. Vulcan Park and Museum is only about
five miles from the convention site, and can be
reached by public transportation.
What it costs: $6 (plus tax) gets you into the museum,
but after the museum closes at 6 p.m., you can take the
elevator to the observation deck for only $3. See the sunset and views of the city at 7 p.m. during international
convention in August. www.visitvulcan.com
Did you know? A group of local radio DJs, Beaner
& Ken, gave Vulcan a voice and a job humorously
forecasting the weather from 1999 to 2006.
2. Monkey around
It started as a small menagerie of exotic animals
collected by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Now,
Alabama’s most popular attraction, the Birmingham
Zoo, draws more than half a million visitors annually
Vulcan, the world’s largest cast iron statue, oversees Vulcan Park
and Museum high atop Red Mountain. Built as Birmingham’s
to view its collection of about 750 animals of 250 species,
entry in the 1904 World’s Fair (he won first place), the statue was
including sea lions, kangaroos and endangered species
cast from Birmingham pig iron in a Birmingham foundry. More
from six continents.
What it costs: $12 six days a week, but it’s half-price
on Tuesdays. It’s open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a
week. www.birminghamzoo.com
Did you know? In 2004, the zoo’s older western
lowland gorilla, Babec, became the first gorilla
to be implanted with a pacemaker due to advanced
than 100,000 visitors a year stand on Vulcan’s elevated platform
for a panoramic view of the surrounding area.
genus, family or group), Gardens of Nature (focusing
on native plants of southeastern United States) and
Gardens of Culture (featuring a particular design style
or aspect of human culture, such the Southern Living
heart disease.
Garden or the Japanese Garden with a traditionally
3. Page Dr. Green Thumb
outdoor sculptures and a two-mile walking/jogging trail
You don’t need to know the scientific names of each
crafted tea house). It also contains more than 30 original
through its gorgeous 67.5-acre grounds of serene paths.
tree, shrub and flower to enjoy the beauty of Birming-
What it costs: Free. www.bbgardens.org
ham Botanical Gardens. Established in 1964, it’s
Did you know? The gardens’ logo is a ladybug
Alabama’s largest living museum, with more than
10,000 different plants in 25 unique gardens, including
Gardens of Collections (focusing on a specific plant
6 April 2009
formed by two mirroring letter Bs (for Birmingham
and Botanical) on a leaf.
CKI
indepth 4. Find inspiration
Whether you’re into Renaissance pieces, French
classics by Mary Cassatt or contemporary artists who
draw outside the lines, you’re bound to discover something you like at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
Founded in 1951, it houses more than 17,000 objects from
cultures around the world and throughout history,
including Asian, European, American, African, preColombian and Native American.
What it costs: Another freebie! General admission
to the permanent collection is free Tuesdays through
Sundays, and it’s within walking distance from the
Did you know? The museum boasts one of the finest
and most comprehensive collections of Asian art in the
southeast. Its Vietnamese ceramics collection is one of
the best in the country.
5. Seek adventure
Home to Magic City USA theme park and Splash
Beach Water Park, Alabama Adventure features more
than 200 acres of amusement park rides, attractions,
photo courtesy of birmingham convention and visitors bureau
hotel. www.artsbma.org
roller coasters, waterslides, concerts and more.
The Birmingham Museum of Art is one of the area’s finest cultural
What it costs: $20 will get you into the park after 4 p.m.
blessings. The museum holds the largest collection of Wedgwood
on weekends, it’s $18 on weeknights.
outside of England, along with impressive African, Asian and
www.alabamaadventure.com
Did you know? Eleven Alabama cities came together
to form the West Jefferson Amusement and Public Park
Authority, borrowing $65 million to build Visionland.
It opened in 1998, and after declaring bankruptcy in
2002 was sold for $6 million.
6. Explore science
contemporary collections. The Birmingham Museum of Art
is widely respected among the U.S. art museums for its
extraordinary exhibitions.
challenge a robot or direct your own stop-action
animation. The center also has an IMAX theater.
What it costs: Museum admission is $11, and a movie
at the theater is $10, but a combo ticket is $16.
Ever wondered what your face would look like with a
www.mcwane.org
friend’s features? Have an affinity for brainless ocean
Did you know? The Challenger Learning Center was
animals? From jellyfish to giant dinosaur jaws, the
McWane Science Center features four floors of interactive exhibits that allow visitors to indulge their inner
child while celebrating science. Visit a shark hatchery,
www.circlek.org
created in memory of the Space Shuttle Challenger
Flight 51-L crew. The technology-packed environment
immerses students and teachers in a unique space
mission simulation.
April 2009
7
photo by jeffrey greenberg
indepth
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is the centerpiece of the city’s Civil Rights District. Also in the district are the 16th Street Baptist Church,
site of the infamous 1963 Klan-related bombing that killed four young girls, and historic Kelly Ingram Park, where marchers gathered to
organize and pray at the height of the civil rights movement. Kelly Ingram Park also is where police dogs and fire hoses were turned on
demonstrators, an image on film shown around the world, leading ultimately to victory for human rights.
7. Relive history
8. Be an athletic supporter
It’s sometimes hard to fathom that the civil rights
You don’t have to be a jock or an Alabama sports buff
movement happened during our parents’ lifetime.
Walk through the Barriers Gallery at the Birmingham
Civil Rights Institute to see what segregation looked
like just a generation ago, experience the “Bus Ride
to Freedom,” and learn how violence during the 1940s,
to appreciate the rich history within the 33,000-squarefoot Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame. The 35-year-old
institution features six life-size dioramas and interactive
audiovisual touch-screen displays. Plus, the facility is
home to more than 5,000 sports artifacts and memorabilia, including the Heisman trophies won
photo by dilcy windham hilley
’50s and ’60s earned the city the unofficial
nickname “Bombingham.” The museum
is located in the historic Civil Rights
District, surrounded by the 16th Street
Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park and
by Auburn University’s Pat Sullivan and Bo
Jackson and University of Alabama coach
Paul “Bear” Bryant’s houndstooth hat.
What it costs: $3 for students. Groups of 10
the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
or more get $1 off per person.
www.ashof.org
What it costs: $5 with college ID.
www.bcri.org
Did you know? Visitors can touch the
cell bars that imprisoned Martin
Luther King Jr. as he wrote his “Letter
from Birmingham Jail” in 1963.
8 April 2009
Did you know? Five of the 15 all-time
The Alabama Sports Hall of
greatest from ESPN’s list of the Top 100
Fame is a home for heroes,
Athletes of the Century are in the ASHOF:
displaying memorabilia of
Jesse Owens, Hank Aaron, Joe Louis,
dozens of famous sports
Willie Mays and Carl Lewis.
figures with ties to the state.
CKI
indepth 9. Catch a flick
10. Get out(doors)
Movie lovers may leave their hearts behind at the
From hiking to mountain biking, backpacking to boat-
Alabama Theatre, a beautifully restored movie pal-
ing, Oak Mountain State Park offers nearly 10,000 acres
ace. Built in 1927, the 2,500-seat building was built by
of lush green wilderness for all sorts of recreation. Get
Paramount Studios to feature its films and was the first
away from city life to camp, picnic, fish, golf, ride horses
public building in Alabama to have air conditioning. Big
or swim at the lakeside beach.
Bertha, a Crawford Special-Publix One Mighty Wurlitzer
What it costs: $3 on weekends, $2 on weekdays.
pipe organ, once accompanied the silent films featured
on the theater’s screen.
What it costs: Check the Web site for full schedule and
admission prices. The Alabama stages concerts and
www.alapark.com/oakmountain
Did you know? The nearby Verizon Wireless Music Center was once called Oak Mountain Amphitheater.
shows classic movies during the summer.
www.alabamatheatre.com
Did you know? The theater was home to the largest
Mickey Mouse club in the world. Formed in 1933, its
membership climbed to 7,000 by 1935 and peaked at
more than 18,000 before closing 10 years later.
Visit www.circlek.org/convention
to register for the 54th Annual Circle K
International Convention, catch all the
convention details and find out more
about Birmingham, including additional hot spots, a shopping directory
and fun facts.
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Make travel plans now to attend convention
in Birmingham, Alabama, August 5-8, 2009.
Comprehensive Travel Management Services
including convention airline discounts
33 Years of Travel Management Experience
Air • Tours • Cruises • Hotels • Cars • Worldwide
www.circlek.org
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58 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue
Livingston, New Jersey 07039
Monday-Friday
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973-992-4141 Fax: 973-992-6674
877-LITWACK (877-548-9225)
April 2009
9
indepth
Parlez-vous
A CKI member gains
new perspective on
service in France
By Amberly Peterson
When she was choosing a college,
21-year-old CKI member Andrea Matz
knew she wanted to study abroad. Currently, Matz, a member of the Elizabethtown College Circle K Club in Pennsylvania, is living her dream and spending her
junior year studying political science and
French in Strasbourg, France. But she
didn’t leave CKI behind.
“Helping has always been a part of
my life,” Matz says. “I didn’t see living
in a foreign country as an excuse to not
find some way to help out. Plus, I made
a promise to my home CKI club that I
would do my best to continue to be as
involved as possible.”
During a trip to Salzburg, Austria,
Matz was visiting the daily markets with
her friends when the group came upon
a stall sponsored by Kiwanis. “I was
excited, to say the least, much to the
surprise of my friends, who really had no
idea what Kiwanis was,” she says. “That
also gave me the opportunity to tell them
all about it.”
Energized and back home in Strasbourg, Matz enlisted the help of the
Kiwanis International Web site (www.
kiwanis.org). Through some research, she
was able to find several Kiwanis clubs in
the city.
“The Kiwanis International Web site
became my best friend,” Matz says. “I
spent several hours on that site looking
up clubs and sending people e-mails.”
Before choosing to attend a meeting
10 April 2009
with the Strasbourg, Kléber Kiwanis
Club, Matz was slightly apprehensive.
During her research, she looked on the
club’s Web site and realized all of the
members are men.
That’s when she called her father,
a Kiwanian, for advice. “It was his job
to call Kiwanis directly and find out if
Kiwanis France is co-ed,” she says. “It
sounds silly, but I didn’t want to get
to the meeting and be told I was at the
wrong meeting, or something equally
ridiculous.”
Even after being reassured that
Kiwanis was open to women, Matz was
still nervous. “I had to take several deep
breaths before I had the courage to
enter,” she says. “But I was welcomed
immediately.”
Since there are no CKI clubs in
France, and because of the language barrier, it took some explaining for Matz to
CKI
Kiwanis?
indepth While on a day trip to Austria, CKI member Andrea Matz visited a market with friends and came
upon this Kiwanis booth (left). She is spending her junior year in Strasbourg, France, where she
attended a Strasbourg, Kieber Kiwanis Club meeting and met these Kiwanians.
get the group to understand why she was
there and that she was a CKI member
and not a Kiwanis member. The meeting
involved a special presentation and lasted
four hours, which Matz says would take
some getting used to. All in all, she says
her experience with the Kiwanians was a
good one.
During the Christmas season, she
helped the Kléber club complete its fair
share of a larger service project—running
www.circlek.org
an ice rink in the city of Strasbourg—with
all the Kiwanis clubs in the North Alsace
Division.
“I had the opportunity to help the
Kléber club for two days, which meant
about 24 hours of work,” Matz says.
“It was tiring, but so much fun, since I
hadn’t given my time in that way since
I’d come to France. I’m planning to continue to help the club in whatever events
or socials they have while I’m here.”
Additionally, Matz remains in contact
with five other Kiwanis clubs. “They’re
all aware that I’m still learning French, so
they make that extra effort to make sure I
understand everything and will go out of
their way to help me,” she says.
After graduation, Matz plans to join a
Kiwanis club in the United States. “Both
my father and my grandfather are past
presidents of the Hazleton (Pennsylvania)
Kiwanis Club, and my grandmother currently is on the board of directors,” she
says. “Kiwanis is in my blood.”
Check out Matz’s blog at http://euroadventures-andrea.blogspot.
com/ to read more about her adventures in France. And log on to
www.circlek.org to read a Belgian college student’s winning essay
about how young people feel about Kiwanis.
April 2009
11
spotlight
Proud to be partners
CKI is proud of its partnerships with March of
Dimes, UNICEF, Better World Books and Students
Team Up to Fight Hunger (STUFH). By pairing with
these powerful organizations, CKI members
reach more children.
Clip these short descriptions and stick them
on your mini-fridge for easy reference. Find more
information about all of CKI’s service partners
by visiting www.circlek.org and clicking on the
Service link.
6777777777777777777777777777777
What it is This nonprofit organization is dedicated
to improving the health of babies by preventing birth
defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
What you can do Register for March for Babies,
the fundraiser typically staged in late April.
Contact your local March of Dimes chapter for support, resources and contact information. To find your
local chapter, visit marchofdimes.com/youth. November is Prematurity Awareness Month.
If you have questions Visit the Team Youth
Web site at marchofdimes.com/youth and click on
“National Youth Council” or contact the National
Youth Program staff at teamyouth@marchofdimes.com.
You can also check out the March of Dimes Service
Partner Activity Book at www.circlek.org.
What it is Better World Books (BWB) is a global
bookstore that partners with more than 900 libraries
and 1,600 college campuses across the United States
and Canada, collecting unwanted textbooks and library
discards in support of nonprofit literacy programs.
What you can do Raise money for CKI by running a BWB campus textbook drive. This can be a great
fundraiser for your club and you can get a discount on
your books. Use discount code: CKI_2009.
If you have questions Visit www.circlek.org and
click on Service, or go to www.betterworldbooks.com.
What it is UNICEF works in more than 150 countries and territories—supported entirely with voluntary
contributions. Through Saving Lives: The Six Cents
Initiative, CKI members can provide safe drinking
water to children. A little cash goes a long way—6 cents
can provide one packet of oral rehydration salts to treat
severe dehydration and diarrhea, a leading cause of
death among young children.
What you can do Set up a fundraising team using
the online fundraising tool at unicefusa.org/circlek.
If you have questions Visit unicefusa.org/circlek
and unicefusa.org/sixcentsonline or contact Kristi
Burnham at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF at
404-881-2700, ext 203 or sixcentsonline@unicefusa.org.
What it is Students Team Up To Fight Hunger
(STUFH) is a U.S. food drive organization, which
partners colleges and universities with local food banks
to collect food for the hungry in their communities.
What you can do Conduct a food drive on campus. Or plan a “food fight” competition to see who can
donate the most food. Other food drive ideas include
Halloween Trick or Eat and online food drives.
If you have questions Visit www.stufh.org to join
forces and help feed the hungry in your area.
12 April 2009
CKI
spotlight
Clean-up crew
At least twice a year, for the fall
and spring leadership training conferences, CKI’s Wisconsin-Upper Michigan
(WUM) District comes together at Easter
Seals Camp Wawbeek in the Wisconsin
Dells to spruce up the camp.
The camp shuts down each winter
and needs to be set up again before summer activities can begin. That’s when the
district steps in and Kiwanians and CKI
members get involved.
“The project is so fun that sometimes
you have to stop and remind yourself that
you’re here for the children and adults
that Easter Seals Camp Wawbeek serves,”
says James Pouliot, governor for the
Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District and
Michigan Tech University CKI member.
“Though this camp is intended to make
people with physical and cognitive disabilities forget their worries, it essentially
does the same for us.”
Pouliot believes the project is successful because of its many social aspects.
“Most people love going to Camp Wawbeek,” he says. “Our club members drive
about 10 hours just to get to the camp.
Each year, it’s a tradition to go around
the dining hall and state how many times
you’ve visited. Some people have been
coming year after year, first as a Circle K
member, and then as a Kiwanis member.”
The Wisconsin Dells community
welcomes CKI and Kiwanis members
with open arms. Local businesses are very
willing to provide donations to help feed
volunteers because of the camp’s great
reputation for serving area families.
In addition to being a popular service
project, the district also uses the opportunity as a fundraiser for the camp. It
raises money through various auctions
and “mini events,” such as the annual
Mr. WUM Pageant, a competition that
celebrates the district’s low male membership. Clubs also are encouraged to raise
money for Easter Seals Camp Wawbeek
all year long. “This year alone we’ve
www.circlek.org
Wisconsin-Upper Michigan
CKI District tidies up a camp
Members of CKI’s Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District complete a variety of clean-up projects at
Easter Seals Camp Wawbeek in the Wisconsin Dells. The district teams up with Kiwanians to shut
down the camp each winter and to spruce it up before summer activities begin.
raised $6,532, which is 128 percent of
the goal we set for ourselves in April,”
Pouliot says.
“I think that any club, district or
single person could learn the value of
establishing a long-term relationship with
an organization like Easter Seals,” Pouliot
says. “Because the relationship goes back
so far, there’s a trust that has formed.
We know that Camp Wawbeek will be
there to help support our many training
efforts, and they know they can count on
us to be consistent in our efforts.”
Share your club or district’s
success story and you may be
included on www.circlek.org.
E-mail ckimagazine@kiwanis.org
with the details.
April 2009
13
photo by james wells
spotlight
More than 250 CKI, Kiwanis and Key Club members kicked off their shoes to dance for a good cause at Holiday Embrace—the Illinois-Eastern
Iowa Districts’ annual dinner dance fundraiser for the Spastic Paralysis Research Foundation.
Embracing a good cause
A district-hosted
Kiwanis-family
event is successful
for 30 years
On January 10, more than US$6,000
was raised and about 250 people attended Holiday Embrace—the CKI IllinoisEastern Iowa District’s annual fundraiser
for the Spastic Paralysis & Allied Diseases
of the Central Nervous System Research
Foundation.
Holiday Embrace, which includes
dinner and dancing, is one of the largest
14 April 2009
district-hosted Kiwanis-family events.
For 30 years, the Illinois-Eastern Iowa
District has hosted the event to benefit
the foundation’s focus on spastic paralysis, spina bifida, fragile X syndrome, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s and other diseases.
Holiday Embrace is a chance for the
district to join Kiwanis and Key Club in
supporting this cause.
“We have people attend from all
branches of the Kiwanis family,”says Ashley Schwalenberg, District secretary and
Aurora University CKI member. “Many
of the attendants are from the IllinoisEastern Iowa District, but we also get
attendance from neighboring districts.
And friends from districts all across the
United States fly in to share a night of
fun and memories with their friends here
in the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District of
Circle K,” Schwalenberg says.
The event is open to the public, but
most of those attending have a current or
past connection to the Kiwanis family.
Schwalenberg offers these words of
advice to other districts and clubs looking
to start or grow an event: “Start planning early and share the work,” she says.
“Talk with others who have done big
events and ask them to help or guide you.
Be flexible—things will not always go as
planned. And on the night of the event
make sure you have a good time and
enjoy your work.”
CKI
Annual Report
Circle K International
presents its 2007-08 financial
statement. For a copy of the
audit report, send your written
request to Kiwanis International, Attn: Audit Report, 3636
Woodview Trace, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, or e-mail
your request to finance@
kiwanis.org.
Paid membership Paid Clubs
12,288
2002
475
12,819
2003
494
12,263
2004
485
13,533
2005
522
13,331
2006
512
13,274
2007
507
12,438
2008
484
1.2%Since 2002 1.9%
-6.3%Since 2007 -4.5%
www.circlek.org
Circle K International
Statements of Financial Position
Assets
Cash and equivalents
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities & Net Deficiency
Due to Kiwanis International
Other liabilities
Net deficiency
Total liabilities and net deficiency
Years ended September 30
2008
2007
$71,971
2,260
$74,231
$78,269
18,333
$96,602
$106,692
40,396
(72,857)
$74,231
$139,959
20,078
(63,435)
$96,602
Statements of activities
2008
Revenues
Membership dues
$259,685
Convention fees
74,359
Investment income —
Subsidies from Kiwanis International
235,643
Grants, advertising and other
55,247
Total revenues $624,934
2007
$280,550
81,164
15,535
292,828
52,544
$722,621
Expenses
Governance
$50,325
Convention
85,563
Leadership, education and development
124,823
Magazine
29,553
Membership services
28,700
Marketing
1,458
General and administrative
313,934
Total expenses $634,356
Surplus (Deficit)
$(9,422)
$66,752
78,523
138,386
30,251
37,239
11,320
362,288
$724,759
$(2,138)
NOTE: All Amounts are US dollars.
April 2009
15
.
m
a
h
g
n
i
Birm
.
e
r
e
h
t
e
B
Get down with other CKI members from around
the world at the 54th Annual Circle K International
Convention, August 5-8, in Birmingham, Alabama.
www.circlek.org/convention
CKI members bonded with others who are committed to service
and leadership at last year’s international convention.