TSS Issue 3

Meet a Key
Clubber
Endowment
Fund
Trick-or-Treat
For UNICEF
1

In this issue...
Content Page
Editor’s Message 3
Governor’s Message 4
Key Goes Green 5
Your Executive Committee 6
District Updates 7
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF 8-9
Service Spotlight
Manatee High Key Club
10-15
14-15
Meet a Key Clubber
Rustic Pathways
16-17
17
Working Together 18
FLOF/YOF 19
Endowment Fund 20-21
DCON Promotion 22
Kiwanis DCON Recap 23
A Few Key Points 26-27
Contact Information 28
Page 17
Page 7
Page 18
Page 15
Page 5
Page 10
2

Editor’s Message
Hi, Florida District!
I hope you all have had a spectacular start to your school year! If you aren’t already,
please be sure to follow the Florida District on social media and to create
accounts for your own clubs in order to show your club’s impact and to document
the service you do. Please do your best to implement the hashtags
#KeyGoesGreen for the Governor’s Project (page 5), #BeTheKey, #Elimin8 for The
Eliminate Project, or #FLKeyClub. (page 11)
Additionally, some of my responsibilities entail assisting club editors, managing the
Florida District’s social media accounts, creating and editing newsletters, and designing
this bimonthly publication, The Sunshine Source. If you haven’t received
any monthly emails from me and you are a club president, editor, faculty advisor,
or Kiwanis advisor, then make sure your OIF is up to date! If you ever find yourself in
need of help, feel free to contact me; I’d love to help any way I can.
Also keep in mind that you have the opportunity to send me any pictures of Key
Club service that your and your club may do. Everyone has the opportunity to be
featured in The Sunshine Source, and I’m always looking
for new material!
Yours in friendship and service,
Carly Berthiaume
District Editor
Florida District of Key Club International
Editor@FloridaKeyClub.org
561.445.9119
3

4

Mater Academy
Charter Key Club
built a garden
using old tires as
planters.
Organize a recycling program at your school
-Caps of Love
Collect trash during lunch
Hold a bag/box drive: donate them to local charities, organizations, or
supermarkets to reuse for their own purposes
Do a beach/park cleanup
Create and maintain a community/school garden
Build birdhouses or bird feeders
Establish a butterfly garden
-On your school campus
-At an assisted living facility
Support environmental awareness programs
Educate elementary/middle school students about environmental conservation
Team up with a local Circle K to eliminate any invasive plant species
NOTE: Volunteering at animal shelters is NOT a Key Goes Green project!
5

Your Executiv
Governor
Secretary
Treasurer
Shane Meagher
Webmaster
Jose Leoncio
Editor
Palak Shah
Executive Assistant
Caleb Neale
DCON Chair
Carly Berthiaume
District Administrator
Gabriela Charlot
Assistant D.A.
Matthew Bonachea
Donna Parton
David McCampbell
6

e Committee
What’s new with the District Board?
The District Board of Trustees voted at the August Board Meeting in Orlando to update
the previous District logo with new logos. While there, the Board met Florida’s
International Trustee, Amy Jiang, heard committee updates, attended workshops,
and bonded with each other. The Board also participated in a Key Goes Green project
in which used T-shirts were ripped apart and braided together to make dog
toys, which were later donated to the Tampa Humane Society. (See photos below.)
New Logos
Old Logo
August Board Meeting
7

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
WHAT IS THE ELIMINATE PROJECT?
As part of the Kiwanis Family we work together with UNICEF in order to
completely eliminate maternal/neonatal tetanus.
Maternal/neonatal tetanus is a disease contracted during childbirth as a result
of unsanitary births to unvaccinated mothers.
It is easily preventable with only contributing $1.80.
The Kiwanis Family helps provide necessary health education and vaccinations.
All funds from Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF will go directly to The Eliminate
Project.
WHAT IS TRICK-OR-TREAT FOR UNICEF?
A fundraiser to raise money for The Eliminate Project.
It spreads awareness about The Eliminate Project while having fun!
HOW TO GET INVOLVED:
Order collection boxes
Hold fundraisers
Participate in Trick-or-Treat for UNIICEF week
Partner with your local Kiwanis club to get involved
FLORIDA DISTRICT RAISED LAST YEAR:
$84,526 for The Eliminate Project
AWARDS:
Club banner patch: for each club that raises at least $250+ by December 31 st
Elimindallion: for individuals who donate $625+ within 1 year
PROJECT IDEAS:
Haunted House
Pie Eating Contests
Pumpkin Decorating Contests
Class Contests (which class raises the most money wins)
FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ONTO:
http://floridakeyclub.org/the-eliminate-project/
http://www.keyclub.org/service/TheEliminateProject.aspx
By Alyssa Frank
8

Connection is Key
Follow the social media accounts below in order to stay up to date on what’s
going in Key Club and with The Eliminate Project! Also, consider creating social
media accounts for your own clubs! Remember hashtags, too! (#FLKeyClub,
#Elimin8, #BeTheKey, #KeyGoesGreen)
International: @KeyClubInt
Florida: @FLKeyClub
International: Key Club International
Florida: Florida District of Key Club
International
Eliminate: The Eliminate Project
International: @KeyClub
Florida: @FLKeyClub
Eliminate: @EliminateMNT
International: Key Club International
Florida: FLKeyClub
Eliminate: The Eliminate Project
More Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Fundraising
A full list of fundraising options is available at this website, but here are a few
ideas:
Car wash
Trunk-Or-Treat
Dodgeball tournament
Organize a walk/run
Bake sale
Scavenger hunt
Costume contest
Penny Wars
Organize pumpkin donation for Pumpkin Smash
9

As a Key Club member, you have an infinite variety of service and fundraising
opportunities to consider. Here are some of the Florida District’s best examples
of leadership through service; hopefully, you may find a project that your own
club would be interested in!
Share your own service experiences with the District by completing all of your
pride reports and using #FLKeyClub on your social media accounts!
Club: Hialeah High School
Division: 25A
Zone: K25
This Key Club organized a school beautification
project and campus clean-up;
they raked out the old dirt, leaves, and
weeds, then spread mulch.
Club: Mater Academy Charter
Division: 25A
Zone: K25
This Key Club planted a garden on campus using old
tires; they also implemented an Elkay water bottle filling
station in order to reuse bottles and reduce waste.
10

Club: Boyd Anderson High School
Division: 23B
Zone: J
This Key Club organized several recycling projects
for items like bottle caps for Caps of Love, aluminum
cans, plastic bottles, and soda can tabs.
Club: Leon High School
Division: 3
Zone: B
This Key Club created Cyber Senior, an event at the Tallahassee Senior
Center where a presentation was held focusing on the use of new technology
today. High schoolers sat down with the elders took the time to answer
any questions about phones, tablets, or any other devices by the seniors,
as well as hashtags and social media.
Club: Everglades High School
Division: 24B
Zone: J
This Key Club set up a table at their
school’s freshman orientation and publicized
their Key Club. They handed out
flyers and encouraged the new students
to join.
11

Club: Somerset Academy Central
Miramar
Division: 24B
Zone: J
This Key Club repainted their school’s elementary
school playground.
Club: Mulberry High School
Division: 15A
Zone: F
This Key Club repainted all of the paw prints
(from their school mascot, the Panther) in their
school.
Club: Trinity P reparatory School
of Florida
Division: 10A
Zone: D
This Key Club sorted over 7,000 items
to donate to homeless children in
schools within the Seminole County
area for the Families in Transition
Clothing Drive.
12

Club: South Plantation High School
Division: 24A
Zone: J
This Key Club sold art before the showcase at Nova
Southeastern University. Members also assisted
someone from the Ann Stork Center with selling
raffles and concessions.
Club: Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High
School
Division: 12
Zone: E
This Key Club collected over 30 backpacks
that were stuffed with supplies for children
in need at Lewis Elementary School.
A Message from the Editor
Thank you to these outstanding clubs; keep up the amazing work! Continue
including pictures in your pride reports, and I might just include them in
the next issue of The Sunshine Source.
The next two pages of the Service Spotlight have been dedicated to
Manatee High School Key Club, which went above and beyond expectations
to build a playground for handicapped children. I highly encourage you to
read it! It’s a very inspiring story and is sure to brighten your day.
13

By Manatee High School Key Club Editor Sydney Johnson
[BRADENTON, FL] – On Wednesday, September
9, Manatee High Key Clubbers came
together at the Bradenton Riverwalk to host
their Equal Play Playground’s grand opening
and dedication ceremony. This wheelchair accessible
pirate ship is the city’s one and only
playset for handicapped children.
“Several years ago, we were doing a project with
Miracle League – an organization that helps
handicapped children play baseball,” says Kendall Mackey, one of the project managers.
“We asked them, what is one thing that you don’t have access to? And they said, a playground
for our children in wheelchairs.”
Andre Sanchez, now a former Manatee High student, came up with the idea to build a
playground for just that reason. Sanchez graduated before the project truly began, so he
passed the idea and all its potential down to Kris Gerry, current Key Club president at
MHS, and Kendall Mackey.
Since 2014, the amount of dedication and hard work put into this project has never
ceased. Students met with Joe Miller – an ADA equipment specialist, the Downtown
Development Authority, and an artist who all helped choose equipment for and sketch
the playground’s layout, as well as locate a construction site. The site chosen is adjacent
to the existing playground at Riverwalk.
“What I like about this project is that it’s being built right next to the other playground,”
says Charlie Mills, Manatee High’s Key Club Advisor. “Wheelchair-bound
kids can come and play alongside their friends as equals.”
14

The group presented their plans to the Bradenton city council, where it was unanimously
received. With the city’s approval, fundraising the $35,000 to cover project expenses
began. Manatee High’s Key Club reached out to members and family for donations
and sought out sponsors throughout the community. John Vita, the club’s Kiwanis
Advisor, spoke with fellow Kiwanians for further funding. Well over 60 individuals
stepped forward with their support, including major sponsors. These contributors were
honored with a plaque that was secured to the playset after construction was completed
this past August.
Joe Miller (left) and Mayor Poster (right)
shake hands at dedication ceremony.
When asked about why this project meant so much to
the community, President Kris Gerry said, “In order
to build this playground, our members, our families,
and our community had to come together as one. Together
we chose to make a difference, and because of
that we have bettered the lives of so many children.”
Members of the Manatee High Key Club were
joined by Bay News 9, METV, Kiwanians, Bradenton
Herald reporters, a Pittsburgh Pirates representative,
and many more for the playground’s dedication
ceremony on September 9. A $31,834.53
check was presented to Mayor Poston and the city of
Bradenton, and the ribbon was cut.
Manatee HS Key Club attending the
ribbon-cutting ceremony.
15

Meet a Key Clubber
Sam Gallahan
Meet Samantha Gallahan, a junior at
Pine View School and avid Key Clubber. She
joined the organization after serving as vice president
of her Builder’s Club in middle school
and has been a member since her freshman
year, now serving as Club Secretary. She decided
to take her love for volunteering to the next level:
specifically, to the Dominican Republic with
Key Club International’s co-sponsor Rustic
Pathways on their nine-day Mountain Air and
Village Service trip.
“I first heard about Rustic Pathways at
DCON and immediately knew I wanted to get
more involved. I had never been out of the
country,” she said, “and doing community service
in another country sounded like such an
amazing experience.”
While abroad, she and the other students
stayed in a ranch house that served as a
home base for their day-to-day operations, aside
from one night spent in a beachside hotel. During
their free time, they swam near waterfalls,
travelled into town for ice cream, visited a beach
in Sosua, toured Santo Domingo, and went
white water rafting.
Much of the trip was primarily centered
on community service, though. The first project
they worked on was a black water treatment system
at a local environmental college. First, they
constructed a filter system for sewage water so
that contaminated water couldn’t run back into
the rivers and pollute them. The treatment system
consisted of layers of rocks and stones covered
in certain plants that filtered out bacteria.
They worked for about six hours each day moving
rocks, gravel, sand, and planting at the end.
Gallahan also participated in several other
projects like constructing an aqueduct system
to benefit a local village called Manabao. They
dug trenches, lay down pipes, then buried
them; these aqueducts will now provide clean
water to a town of over 1,000 people. They also
organized and ran a one-day summer camp for
around 40 kids from a local town. The volunteers
did different activities with them such as
teaching English, coloring, sports, and games.
She said that though the service was challenging
both physically and mentally, it was immensely
rewarding.
16

“This trip was my first time out of the
country and now I cannot wait to travel more. I
have to say this was definitely the best experience
of my life. It was so fun, eye-opening, and
rewarding... I learned that happiness is really
not dependent on what you have,” she said,
“but rather what you are thankful for. I also
learned that you can do anything with the right
attitude.”
She believes that her experiences in the
Dominican Republic have altered her for the
better and have given her a new perspective on
hands-on, impactful service that she can now
bring back to her home Key Club. She strongly
encourages others to travel abroad with Rustic
Pathways.
“Rustic really embodies the same values
that Key Club does, and travelling with them is
a great way to learn about a totally new culture,
do really meaningful service, and meet some
amazing people. I plan on doing another Rustic
trip next summer, and I cannot wait,” she
said.
How can you get involved with Rustic Pathways?
Visit this site for more information about Key Club’s relationship with Rustic
Pathways and how YOU and your club can get involved with service abroad.
To learn more about the trip Sam Gallahan chose, visit this website, or
email her at samanthagallahan@gmail.com to talk about the program.
17

Key Club would not be where it is today, with over 270,000 members
worldwide, or have the great impact it does without the help of some
key organizations. Key Club International’s preferred charities (UNICEF,
March of Dimes, and Children’s Miracle Network), vision partners
(Nickelodeon and Landscape Structures Inc.), and co-sponsors (Rustic
Pathways and the U.S. Army) have played instrumental roles in all that we
do. We are truly thankful to all of these organizations and look forward to
changing even more lives for the better with your help!
A Message from the Service and Major Emphasis Committee
The Service and Major Emphasis page has been updated! This means
that the 2015- 2016 Service Directory is available as a resource. It provides
links and ways to get involved with service as a whole. Another resource
is the 9 steps to a successful fundraiser, which breaks down the easiest
way to hold a great fundraiser. The page also includes the updated flyers
for Every Child a Swimmer (ECAS) and Preferred Charities including methods
for getting involved with the preferred charities and focus on Kiwanis’
motto: "Children- their future, our focus".
18

Florida Opportunity Fund (FLOF)
Divisions 18 & 19 – Meals of Hope
Jesuit High School – Habitat for Humanity Build
The Florida Opportunity Fund (FLOF) is a grant for service projects available only
in the Florida District of Key Club International. FLOF can give clubs up to 2/3 the
money necessary for service projects; however, schools must provide 1/3 of the
amount they wish to receive. The amount of money you can get ranges from
$100 to $1,000.
Your club must be in good standing, meaning they have submitted most Pride
Reports on time, completed the OIF, paid dues, and are active in service projects
and divisional/district events. Above are two FLOF service grant recipients.
Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF)
The Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) is Key Club International’s grant program for
service projects. You can receive funding for projects between $100 to $2,000
once a year.
Applicants must have an adult advisor, and divisional projects are not eligible
to receive a YOF Grant. Applications are due by October 15th.
Additional Information
For more information regarding service grants, contact District Treasurer Palak Shah at
Treasurer@FloridaKeyClub.org, or visit this website. Also, you can contact the FLOF Committee
at FLOF@FloridaKeyClub.org for any FLOF-related questions.
19

20

21

A Message from DCON Chair Matthew Bonachea
Attend your KCKC to be
some of the first to hear the
theme for #FLDCON16! Last
year’s theme was Stars of
Service.
For 77 years, the Florida District has held an annual conference where
Key Clubbers from all over Florida and the Cayman Islands come together
to celebrate a year of service, make friends from all over the District,
learn better ways to serve their homes, schools, and communities, and
elect the District’s leadership for the coming year. Attendees get to
spend three nights in a four-star hotel, attend two dances and spiritfilled
general sessions, enjoy professional entertainment, hear from a
riveting keynote speaker, and complete the weekend with an elegant formal
banquet. An experience like this is truly unique to Key Club – no
other high school organization offers an equivalent experience.
Start planning to attend one of the most exciting
events of high school, the 78th Annual District Education
and Leadership Conference, now! Contact me
or your Lt. Governor for more information.
Yours in service,
Matthew Bonachea
District Conference Chair
DCONChair@FloridaKeyClub.org
22

Kiwanis DCON Recap
By Division 18 Lieutenant Governor Mira Chauhan
From Aug.13-16, Kiwanians hosted their 98th Annual District
Convention. The convention, which was located at the
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort up in the panhandle, attracted
Kiwanians from all over Florida to come together to
learn more about Kiwanis and the Kiwanis Family.
Representing Key Club were 8 district board members: District
Governor Shane Meagher, District Secretary Jose Leoncio,
DCON Chair Matthew Bonachea, Lieutenant Governor of
Division 1 Sophie Kline, Lieutenant Governor of Division 2B
Daniel Wyatt, Lieutenant Governor of Division 11 Sabrina
Spotts, Lieutenant Governor of Division 18 Mira Chauhan,
and Lieutenant Governor of Division 22 Samantha Varela. Also
present at the convention were several district representatives from Circle K International,
including Governor Jessica Cook.
Throughout the convention there were several workshops designed to teach Kiwanians
about a variety of different topics including their Service Leadership Programs
(e.g., Key Club or Builders Club), how to effectively run their clubs, and The
Eliminate Project. District Administrator Donna Parton and District Governor Shane
Meagher hosted a workshop about Key Club. Assistant District Administrator David
McCampbell also hosted a workshop to teach Kiwanians how to speak with young
people. The Key Clubbers who were present recounted positive and negative experiences
they had with Kiwanians.
Describing her own interactions with Kiwanians at the convention, Lieutenant Governor
Sabrina Spotts said, "Kiwanians just want to get to know us, help us and
learn from us."
On Saturday morning, Kiwanians attended the House of Delegates. During the session,
Kiwanians voted for their District Treasurer for the coming year, C. Todd
Smith, and their Governor-Elect, Gary Frechette who served as District Treasurer
this past year. That evening, Kiwanis International Trustee Dewey Smith installed
the new board for the 2015-2016 year was officially installed. This included District
Chairs, Lieutenant Governors and the new District Governor, Dr. Celia Earle, who is
taking the place of Governor Chuck Gugliuzza. The new board will officially take
over on October 1.
Kiwanians, Key Clubbers, and Circle Kiwanis International members all left the
convention with a greater motivation to pursue service and inspired to work more
with the Kiwanis Family. Key Club District Governor Shane said, "If we work together
as the Kiwanis Family, we can accomplish so much more and learn from our
different life experiences. We are not all separate organizations, but one made of
many pieces."
23

A Few Ke
Key Club is the world’s largest and oldest student-led organization, with
over 270,000 members in 36 nations worldwide. It originated in Sacramento,
California, in 1925. Two Kiwanians, who were also administrators,
chose to establish a club to develop leadership in 11 of
the school’s “key boys,” hence the name “Key Club.”
Key Club is one of the branches of the Kiwanis International
Family, in addition to Aktion Club, Circle K International,
Builders’ Club, and Kiwanis Kids. However, Key Club
remains the largest of the organizations.
OFFICER INFORMATION FORMS (OIFs) are to be filled out by the secretary as
soon as possible and should be updated throughout the year. They allow the
lieutenant governor and Executive Committee members to contact club officers
and send information regarding divisional, district, and international news.
PRIDE REPORTS are monthly online reports detailing each club’s service, meeting
attendance, and more. They are to be filled out by the Club Secretary on
the 10th of each month. These reports allow Lieutenant Governors and district
executive officers to track the club’s involvement.
Visit this website to fill out your OIF and Pride Reports:
http://opr.floridakeyclub.com/opr/opr_login.asp
Secretaries and clubs who fill out all Pride Reports are eligible for
awards and recognition at the District Education and Leadership
Conference (DCON) in April!
24

y Points
I pledge, on my honor, to uphold the Objects
of Key Club International; to build my
home, school and community; to serve my
nation and God; and combat all forces
which tend to undermine these institutions.
Caring– Our Way of Life
Key Club is an international, student-led
organization providing its members with
opportunities to perform service, build
character and develop leadership.
Leadership. Character building.
Caring. Inclusiveness.
We are caring and competent servant leaders
transforming communities worldwide.
Learn more about Key Club’s history at: http://keyclub.org/discover/historytimeline.aspx
25

District Governor
Shane Meagher
Blake High School
governorshane@floridakeyclub.org
District Secretary
Jose Leoncio
TERRA Environmental Research
Institute
secretary@floridakeyclub.org
District Webmaster
Caleb Neale
Cooper City High School
webmaster@floridakeyclub.org
District Editor
Carly Berthiaume
Boca Raton Community High
School
editor@floridakeyclub.org
District Treasurer
Palak Shah
Palm Beach Central High School
treasurer@floridakeyclub.org
District Administrator
Donna Parton
admindonna@floridakeyclub.org
Executive Assistant
Gabriela Charlot
Somerset Academy
executiveassistant@floridakeyclub.org
DCON Chair
Matthew Bonachea
Somerset Academy
dconchair@floridakeyclub.org
Contact information for all board members, including Lt. Governors and Zone
Administrators, is available at this website.
26