THE
Sunshine
Source
Inside the Kiwanis project,
EVERY CHILD A SWIMMER
August 2013 www.floridakeyclub.org
Volume X Issue 2
Meet a Key Clubber... Page 3
Governor’s Message... Page 4
KCKC... Page 6
KCKC Schedule by Zone... Page 7
Children’s Miracle Network... Page 8
IN THIS ISSUE
Greetings, Florida District!
It has been an exciting pleasure seeing all of the efforts every single
member of our organization is making toward service during this season! Recently,
Key Clubber’s from across the globe were set to meet one another
at the International Convention this past month. Seeing everyone gathered
together - especially during the extraordinary service project “Kids Against
Hunger“ - really reflected how strong of an organization our club truly is.
I hope everyone has been having a wonderful summer, but never forget
your Key Club values of service, leadership, character building, and
inclusiveness, no matter the vacation. Serving has no vacation!
At the Washington Monument
With Spongebob at ICON
Recapping ICON... Page 10
Trustee’s Message... Page 14
Every Child’s A Swimmer... Page 16
Tips for Meetings... Page 18
FLOF vs. YOF ...Page 20
Yours in service,
District Editor Sabrina Moore
editor@floridakeyclub.com
MEET A KEY CLUBBER: ZACH ZAYAS, BLAKE HIGH SCHOOL
1) Why did you join Key Club?
My father was in Key Club in High School.One
of my best friends at the time was in Jesuit’s Key
Club. He told me about it and I was hooked.I always
wanted to do volunteer work, but never found
a way to do it until I joined Key Club.
2) What’s your favorite way to serve your
community?
Anything that has to do with kids. We once volunteered
at a local elementary school and helped with their after
school program. We played games with the kids, helped
them with homework, or colored with them.
3) How has Key Club changed your life?
It helped me discover who I am as a person and
I now want to devote my life to helping others.
Also, I’ve made some great friendships through
Key Club.
1 • District District • 2
GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE
Leaders,
I hope everyone had a great summer, full of fun and service! School is
starting, which means it’s time to do membership recruitment! This is the
best time of year to recruit for the 2013-2014 year. The larger your club
is, the more service you can do. I challenge each member of your club
to invite one person to their first Key Club meeting. When advertising
your Key Club, make sure you are targeting different groups of students.
You should try to make your meetings fit as many member’s schedule as
possible. Key Club’s should be diverse in membership and attract a wide
range of students. One of our core values is inclusiveness, so make sure
you are taking that into consideration when inviting potential members
to the meeting.
After recruiting your members, you need to make sure they are educated
about Key Club! Key Club is not just a service club; it has a mission,
values, and objects that serve as its foundation. Key Club is an international
student-led organization that provides its 265,000 members with
opportunities to provide community service, build character, and develop
leadership skills.
It’s important that your members know all the facts; we want them to
understand why they should stay in Key Club. Being a Key Club member
is a special thing and it’s your job to make sure they feel like they are just
as important as the other 265,000 members. That is the key to membership
retention.
If you have any questions about membership recruitment, retention,
or would like to know more about what it means to be a Key Club
member, contact your Lt. Governor. If you have any questions about my
Governor’s Project, or you don’t know how to get in contact with your Lt.
Governor, email me at governortrina@floridakeyclub.com!
Yours in service,
District Governor Trina Sessions
Protect the connection.
3 • District District • 4
It’s time for
KCKC!
(Key Club Kick Off Conference)
With the school year just beginning, the excitement of new
members and officers is most likely at its highest point. Luckily,
there is a place where all of this enthusiasm can be put to great
use: your Zone Key Club Kickoff Conference!
KCKC is the first big opportunity of the year to see a whole
new level of Key Club International. It proves that Key Club is
more than just a club at any school; it is an organization, with
people all around the world supporting it!
Alongside members from all over your Zone, you can attend
workshops to build your leadership knowledge and gain ideas
and experiences to use toward a productive year of service.
New officers will discover exactly what their roles in their clubs
are and how they can make a lasting impact.
As if it is not already enough, KCKC will also provide a small
glimpse of what to expect at this year’s District Education and
Leadership Conference! A formal “Call to DCON” will be given,
revealing this year’s theme and other thrilling details.
Your KCKC is coming up soon! Contact your LTG for specific
details, and be sure to advertise to your members and officers.
Attending the Key Club Kickoff Conference is the only way to
ensure that your club is ready for a brand new year of service.
See you there!
~DCON Chair Devon Mims
Zone G: Saturday, September 7, Jensen Beach HS,
2875 Goldenrod Road, Jensen Beach, FL, 34957, time TBA
Zone J: Saturday, September 7, Nova Southeastern University,
Health Professional Division Terry Building, 3200 S. University Drive,
Ft. Lauderdale, 33328 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Zone D: Saturday, September 14, University of Central Florida,
4000 Central Florida Blvd. Orlando, Florida, 32816, 9:00 a.m. -
1:00 p.m.
Zone C: Sunday, September 15, 8am start registration,
8:30 program starts, location TBA
Zone B: Saturday, September 28, location and time TBA
Zone E: Saturday, September 28, Keiser University,
5002 W. Waters Ave, Tampa, FL, 33634 9:30 a.m. – 2:00p.m.
Zone F: Saturday, September 28, Mulberry HS,
1 Panther Place, Mulberry, FL, 33860, 2:00 p.m. - TBA
Division 2A/2B: Saturday, October 12, location and time TBA
Zone I: Saturday, October 12, Hodges University, 4501 Colonial
Blvd., Fort Myers, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Zone K: Saturday, October 12, La Salle High School, 3601 S
Miami Ave Coconut Grove, FL 33133 from 8:30am-1:00pm.
Division 1A/1B: Saturday, October 19, Gulf Breeze High School,
675 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, 8:30 a.m. - 1 pm
Zone H: Saturday, October 19, Sarasota HS, 1000 S. School Ave,
Sarasota, FL, 34237, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
5 • District District • 6
What is the Children’s Miracle Network?
The Children’s Miracle Network’s mission is to create healthy tomorrows for all children
of all ages. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals are celebrating their 30th
anniversary this year and have raised more than 4.7 billion dollars to support Children’s
Hospitals who treat over 17 million patients a year. They also provide
support for children who need it most that are admitted to these hospitals. Not
only does Children’s Miracle Network help families financially but they also help
provide education to families about children safety, seatbelts, bike safety etc.
However the most important thing about Children’s Miracle Network is that they
are the only national children’s charity committed to having 100% of the funds
raised stay local to support local kids. That is amazing and that means even more
children are helped every day because of the great works of Children’s Miracle
Network.
Did you know?
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals...
• treat over 17 million patients each year.
• treat 98% of all children needing heart or lung transplants.
• treat 88% of all children with cancer.
• treat 76% of all children with cystic fibrosis
• treat 90% of all children with sickle cell anemia.
• treat 72% of all children with pediatric AIDS.
• train 60% of all pediatricians and 80% of all pediatric specialists.
How can Key Clubbers help?
Key Clubbers can Donate- online, by check, in honor/memory of a loved one; we
can even donate vehicles etc.
Key Clubbers can Volunteer- At your local All Children’s Hospital and truly make
the day of a child who needs it the most.
Key Clubbers can fundraise - dance-a-thons, telethons, radiothons, participating in
IHOP National Pancake Day, Miracle Jean day, or Miracle Treat day.
However, the most important thing that we as Key Clubbers can do is to educate
others about this great organization. Educate yourself even more by visiting www.
Children’sMiracleNetworkHospitals.org!
~ Service and Major Emphasis Committee
8 • Service and Major Emphasis Service and Major Emphasis• 9
HERE WE COME TO SERVE THE WORLD
A note from your 2013 ICON Chair
Few of us who attended the 2013
International Convention this year
cannot forget the insightful workshops,
famous sites, Lieutenant
Governor Michael Risola dressed
up as Wonder Woman, or the
homemade ice cream at Larry’s
Ice cream shop. Bottom line? This
year’s International Convention
was a blast, and next year’s in
Anaheim, California should be no
exception!
The trip began on July 3rd
when tons of Key Clubbers from
all parts of the country, and the
world for that matter, filled up
Ronald Reagan International
Airport. Gathering up into Super
Shuttles, we eventually settled
into one of the most popular and
highly renowned hotels in all of
Washington DC, the Washington
Hilton! It did not take long for us
to feel comfortable and get excited;
right after the opening ceremony,
it became clear that where
you came from did not matter to
us Key Clubbers! Every inch of
open space became filled with Key
Clubbers chatting, laughing, eating,
smiling, and discussing International
Candidates! By Friday, July
5th, International Convention was
fully up and running! Everyone
was revitalized and stunned by the
gorgeous fireworks we saw right
outside of our windows the night
before, and we were geared up for
a jam-packed day! It started with
some great workshops and a special
Eliminate Project Luncheon; it
ended with awards and a speech
given by none other than Elizabeth
Smart! It is my absolute pleasure
more than anything, though, to
share how much the Mighty Mighty
Florida District was recognized that
day! At the Eliminate Luncheon,
our very own District Governor, Trina
Sessions, was even commended
for her work with The Eliminate
Project and gave a rousing speech
about ways to work towards
reaching The Eliminate Project’s
goals!
Saturday, though, proved to
be bittersweet. ICON 2013 was
slowly coming to an end, and so
many of us had just experienced
it for the first time! At the House
of Delegates, delegates voted on
our next International President,
Raeford Penny from the Capital
District, and our next International
Vice President, Rachel Benoit from
the LA-MISS-TENN District, as well
as 13 new International Trustees!
By night’s end, the Closing Ceremony
had us listen to an unbelievable
speech by our outgoing
International President, Rebecca
Riley, see the Florida District receive,
literally, countless Robert
F. Lucas Awards for our Immediate
Past Lieutenant Governors,
and witness the induction of the
brand new International Board!
Even though International Convention
was all it could ever be
and more, the Florida District had
another amazing journey in store
for its delegation, a 3 day Florida
District Tour of all of Washington
DC’s greatest sites! Florida attendees
were given the freedom to
see nearly every nook and cranny
of nation’s capital, and with Metro
passes paid for by the
Florida District, On Tuesday, July
9th, the Florida District Tour ended.
On an even on a more sentimental
10 • International International • 11
note; all of the Florida District gathered
together to visit the grounds of
Mount Vernon, the home of George
Washington! Walking through the
tranquil gardens and touring the
historic manor, not one attendee
could avoid being overcome by the
beauty, preparing him or herself for
our departure from Washington DC
the very next morning!
Despite the grand sites, ICON
2013 was not a life-changing experience
because of the places we
saw or the city we were in; it was
life-changing because of the people
who were there! The Florida
District had over 100 people at this
year’s International Convention, 78
on the Florida District Tour! This
year saw the second largest Florida
delegation to International Convention
in history, and all of our
attendees represented our district
admirably! That pride we discovered
within ourselves as District
and that newfound family we made
with people all over the world are
the two things that should be most
remembered about ICON this year.
I would dare anyone to look on the
Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, or
Instagram photos of anyone who
was at International Convention
this year and not find any pictures,
posts, or videos from Washington
DC! Please remember that ICON is
not a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Next year, the Florida District will
be travelling to Anaheim, California
for ICON 2014, and we want you
there! If the laughter, tears, and
memories that were built at this
year’s International Convention are
any indicator, ICON should be an
event that every Key Clubber goes
to at least once in their high school
careers! As a proud Lieutenant
Governor in the Mighty Mighty
Florida District, I am so overjoyed
with having played a role during
this year’s International Convention!
Quite simply, I just cannot wait to
see everyone again next year, in
Disneyland’s backyard!
~Dillon Perez
ICON Chair
A special “thank you!“ to Dillon
Perez, our 2013 International
Convention Chair. He assisted
District Adiministrators in
planning and served the Florida
District as as a “tour guide”. His
hard work and dedication
toward ICON
is reflected in
the smiles of
the attendees.
Thank
you, Dillon!
congrats, florida!
CONGRATS, FLORIDA!
The following immediate-past board members of the Florida District won an award at ICON!
Robert F. Lucas
Outstanding Lieutenant Governors
Morgan Bechtle, Division 10B
Lauren McAllister, Division 14A
Courtney Crump, Division 7
Shane Meyers, Division 20
Sean Valdivieso, Division 24A
Alexandra Franklin, Division 25B
Chizoba Ezenwa, Division 24B
Avery Smith, Division 3
Freddy Jimenez, Division 14C
Sarah Brickman, Division 18
Kimberly Santos, Division 25C
Lena Ho, Division 10C
Emily Hughes, Division 22
Rashon Murph, Division 19
Tyler Johnson, Division 11
Alexis Berry, Division 26B
Distinguished Secretary
Robert Brown
Distinguished Treasurer
Krtisten Ho
Distinguished Bullletin Editor
Micheala Oglesby
12 • International International • 13
MEET YOUR
INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEE
ERIC YOON
CAPITOL DISTRICT
Hello, everyone!
My name is Eric Yoon, and I am absolutely honored and
privileged to have the opportunity to serve as your 2013-14
International Trustee! I have been in Key Club since my freshmen
year and I enjoyed every moment of it through service,
friendships, and the experience. I consider Key Club my family
where we can share the passion and vision to serve our homes,
schools, and communities.
To briefly introduce myself, I will be a senior at Oakton High
School in Virginia. I love playing the piano and listening to
classical music. Two interesting facts are that I moved to the
U.S. three years ago from South Korea and I have a naturally
spiked hair. It defies gravity!
As your liaison to the international, I will do my very best to
keep you updated on the workings of international through
personal calls and email updates. And by providing the necessary
resources, I hope to make your leadership experience rich
and fun. I will be serving on the communications committee to
bridge the gap between various levels of our organization by
examining the content and practicality of resources, Key Club
App, webinars, monthly updates to members, and more.
But above all, I cannot wait to start working with you all.
Should you have any questions or concerns throughout the
year, do not hesitate to contact me at any time. I am here to
serve you!
Together, let’s have an amazing year!
International Trustee
Eric Yoon
571.346.0745
trusteeyoon@gmail.com
14 • International International • 15
Palatka High School Key Clubber’s
instructing children the arm motions
of swimming during their session of
Every Child A Swimmer.
“Every Child A Swimmer
is precisely that. Learning to swim is a very
important skill, and, [if it’s] taught at a young
age, can be life saving—especially living in
Florida. This project teaches children of all
ages how to conquer their fear of water and
how to swim, safely. The purpose is to give
these children the experience of swimming
lessons completely free of charge.”
~Kimmy Beers, Seminole High School President
Annually, nearly 8,000 people are victims of drowning within the
United States, alone, and more than 80,000 near-drownings occur every
year in which victims are severely injured. In an attempt to prevent any
more of these senseless incidents from occurring, a program known as
“Every Child A Swimmer”, which focuses on instructing children to swim
in order to save lives. This program is a “learn-to-swim and water safety”
project sponsored by Kiwanis International and its two sponsored youth
organizations, Key Club International and Circle K International, that utilizes
a station method to teach groups of children how to swim, be safe
around large bodies of water, and have fun all the while.
How can us Key Clubber’s help out? “Key Club members“, explains
Palatka High School Key Club President Katelyn Vogt, “actively participate
and interact with some great kids. Members help lifeguards supervise
and instruct the swimmers during classes. Key Clubbers get to help
the kids with their front and back crawl, bobbing, floating, and even
jumping in the pool.”
The steps to starting a program are simple and few: first, select a
person or persons to meet with local school officials, to discuss making
ECAS a part of their elementary school curriculum. Kiwanians then
become liaisons between private and public educational sectors, and
various other certified programs in the area; second, find a pool that
is available for the lessons; if not one located on school property, then
possibly a city or county owned pool (If you coordinate the program
with your local Red Cross, Y Club or Boys’ Club, you might be allowed to
use their facilities). You will need to acquire a certified swimming instructor
and then, finally, you will advertise for financial and volunteer support
in the schools and in local media. The costs for this exceptional program
are merely those for the swim instructor, pool rental, swimsuits and caps,
ear plugs, towels, sunscreen, pool safety equipment, transportation, and
certificates for achievement awards. ECAS would even be willing to help
by providing public service announcements for local television; ideas for
merit awards, decals, and patches; literature to help trainers and guide
your swim instructor; and ECAS will put you in touch with other
organizations that can help coordinate and support your program.
~District Editor Sabrina Moore
16 • Club Highlights Club Highlights • 17
YOU ARE THE KEY
TO SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS
It is that time of year, again! School is just around the corner, and Key
Club meetings are officially back in session! Hosting successful meetings
is vital to any club. Therefore, implementing the tips below will
help every meeting run smoothly.
Have an Agenda
Making a clear, full agenda for each meeting allows both officers and
members to stay focused. It is not recommended to have the
agenda on a phone - instead, it is beneficial to instead make copies
and pass them out at the door!
Graphic Presentations
One way to keep meetings more enjoyable, and ultimatly successful,
is to use graphic presentations such as PowerPoints, videos, and
photos. Keep in mind that both Key Club International and the Florida
District have YouTube channels filled with great videos to share.
Make meetings fun
Having icebreakers, energizers, and games at the start of meetings
can really help form a Key Club family. It is essential that a welcoming
environment is created. When an officer walks in tired and stressed, it
definitely sets the mood for the meeting, so always be sure that your
officers exude excitement and pride in the work that they do. One
of the best ways to energize everyone at a meeting is to invite guest
speakers!
Professional is Key
Try to keep the meeting as professional as possible. Having items such
as the Key Club Pledge, Pledge of Allegiance, ringing the bell, etc.
can reinforce the fact that every member is part of a larger, more
impactful organization - Key Club International.
Have Scheduled Meetings
Consistent meetings are vital to having strong attendance and high
membership. At the beginning of the year, have a plan, and stick to it.
Try to avoid moving or cancelling meetings out of respect for
members’ time.
Recognize Members
Recognizing members for their hard work lets them know that people
are taking notice of their good deeds! Giving a member a compliment
or birthday wish can make him or her feel important to Key Club.
Additionally, by giving out awards such as Member of the Month or
Year, a member can be officially recognized for their dedication and
commitment to their Key Club Family.
Incorporate a Service Project into Meetings
What’s the primary goal of a Key Club anyway? The purpose, of
course, is to serve its home, school and community! Not only does
having a service project at each meeting accomplish this goal, but
it also draws in members and is a sure fire way to have a successful
meeting.
~Club Advisory Council
18 • Club Highlights Club Highlights• 19
FLOF vs. YOF: What grant is right for your service project?
The Florida Opportunity Fund
(FLOF) and Youth Opportunity
Fund (YOF) can seem daunting
and complicated. However,
upon closer examination clubs
find that these grants aren’t so
scary and can be very helpful
when executing large projects.
“How do the grants differ, how
much can you get from these
grants, what are the restrictions
of these grants, and where can
I find applications” are some of
the most commonly asked
questions.
So what differentiates FLOF
and YOF? The Florida District has
an account for FLOF managed
by the FLOF Committee and
District Treasurer. About $1 from
every member is put into this
account. YOF is managed by a
committee of International Officers
who receive guidance from
Kiwanians.
Both YOF and FLOF have
different amounts of money
that can be awarded. The FLOF
grant will award up to two-thirds
of the cost of a project with a
maximum award amount of up to
$1000 and a minimum of $100
With YOF, you can be awarded
from $100 - $2000 with no
stipulations on the percentage of
the cost that must be paid by the
club.
Both grants have limitations
and restrictions. For the FLOF
grant, absolutely no funds will be
awarded for a fundraiser of any
kind. In addition to the initial application,
clubs must also submit
a follow-up report on the project
that they did. If the project cost
was lower than anticipated, then
clubs are asked to return any
money that was not used. If these
follow up reports are not done
within the specified timeframe,
all money must be returned to
the District. For the YOF grant, all
applications must be emailed,
mailed, or faxed into the
appropriate offices no later than October 15th. If your club has
been approved for YOF, you will pay the expenses of the project
out-of-pocket and will then later be reimbursed for their expenses.
Your expenses are determined by receipts, so be sure to save them!
Clubs can apply for both FLOF and YOF in the same year since they
are independent of one another. Applications for FLOF and YOF
can both be found on the Florida Key Club website under “FLOF
and YOF.” If you need help with these applications, you are highly
encouraged to either contact your Lieutenant Governor or District
Treasurer Shane Meyers.
~Chris Komorov
Liuetent Governor Division 17
20 • Youth Opprotunities Fund Youth Opprotunities Fund • 21
Official Publication of the
Florida District of Key Club International
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