Key to Caring
Official Bulletin of Wisconsin-Upper Michigan Key Club
Issue 2 October 2015
In This Issue…
Trustee’s
Introduction
Membership
Recruitment
Ideas
DCON Theme
Reveal
Table of Contents
Welcoming Warriors at Wausau West: Page 3
Elevating Your Key Club Experience: Page 3
Recruiting and Retaining Members: Page 4
Time Management 101: Page 5
Youth Opportunities Fund Information: Page 6
WIUM Grant Information: Page 6
International Trustee Introduction: Page 7
Reward Your Club With Banner Patches: Page 8
ICON Preview: Page 8
Key Club International Partners: Page 9
Banner Patch Promotion: Page 10
DCON 2016 Promotion: Page 11
District Board Contact Information: Page 12
Page 2
Welcoming Warriors at Wausau West
August 26 th was open house night at Wausau West, or better known as Warrior
Welcome night. It is mainly for welcoming incoming freshmen and newcomers to the
school. A huge part of that night is to promote and persuade the freshmen to join clubs
and sports. Key Club, of course, took part in this and set up a booth in the Commons as
we do every year. Pictures of past events were displayed, along with bowls of Dum
Dums! As the rest of the officers and myself sat behind the table, it was hard to get the
attention of most of the freshmen. Eventually, they came over to our table and we told
them all about the club, since most did not know what Key Club was. Most freshmen
were persuaded to write their name on our sign-up sheet, which gave us the
opportunity to send them monthly calendars. We also had flyers for coming to the
informational meeting on September 8 th to learn even more about the club and to see
if Key Club is right for them. In addition, these flyers were posted on every floor of the
school.
Sitting there, I couldn’t believe I was one of those freshmen last year, although I
do remember being nervous about a new school and new people. But later I found out
Key Club is filled with the nicest people I have ever met. I would have never thought
that I would become an officer of Key Club that following year.
Warrior Welcome night is a huge part for promoting Key Club at our school. It
keeps the club fresh with new members and therefore, new ideas and energy. In this
way, I know the club will be successful once again. As members, we are volunteering
and making a difference.
By Olivia Lemke, Wausau West Key Club
Elevating Your Key Club Experience
Key Club International may be global, but we are still growing, as shown with the
addition of Saudi Arabia as the 36th nation this past week. This growth as an
organization can also be replicated by individual members, although it can look very
different from person to person. In order to set goals, you need to prioritize what is
important to you. While some goals may seem very small and insignificant to
somebody, they could be the most rewarding for somebody else. No goal is more
important than another. They simply accomplish different tasks. For example, your goal
may be to volunteer more this year than you have in past years. Another goal could be
running for a board position on the club, district, or international level. By volunteering
more, you have more opportunities to positively impact your club and the people you
serve. By running for a board position, you also have the opportunity to make positive
impacts by both volunteering and helping to make decisions that will benefit the
members you serve. If you accomplish your goals, great! Be proud of what you
achieved and seek out what else you can do. If you don’t accomplish your goals, don’t
be discouraged! Be proud of what you have done and set new goals! Key Club is very
rewarding, and it is up to you as to what you will take from it.
By Jason Shebilske, District Bulletin Editor
Page 3
Recruiting and Retaining Members
Each year in Key Club is a cycle. As a high school organization, our members
typically enter somewhere around freshman year, grow through the system, gain
leadership roles, and move on to the next stage of the K-family. As straightforward as
the system seems, there are two crucial factors in making the system flow: retention
and recruitment. Both factors play a crucial role in allowing Key Club to maintain its
strength, and you bet I'm going to take the extra paragraphs to tell you why.
A school year progresses and graduating high school students head off to college
(at least most of our amazingly intelligent Key Club members do). In a situation like
this, it might seem like a tragic loss to have 1/4 of our membership base move away,
but, it is no loss if a whole class of young, freshman students is consistently replacing
those fleeing seniors. Recruitment is great because it brings new minds to the table,
either matching or growing upon the group of students who came before them. With
great recruitment, a club will never shrink! It is a very simple task to perform. To
improve your club's recruitment rate, pass out fliers to incoming freshmen, host
sessions at nearby primary schools/middle schools promoting the ideals of Key Club, or
simply host a stand at your school's registration.
While recruitment draws in new members to replace those who have moved on,
retention is vital to maintain the motivation of those who are currently members of the
club. This task may not always seem easy. Each club has its slow times of the year
where there is a sizeable gap between one project and the next, but it is our duty to
make sure our members don't lose interest. Most members joined because they want to
provide a helping hand when possible, so the best way to satisfy that interest is by
scheduling as many projects as possible! Obviously this isn't always a possibility, but
there are still many ways to beef up Key Club. One possible way is by making club
meetings interesting by bringing food and snacks to meetings when possible or have
members build chairs, make blankets, or perform physical service at the meeting so
they are busy and involved. You might even want to take a survey to see what
members are looking to do in your club. To say it plainly: always try to keep the crowd
on their toes.
By Samuel Simon, Lieutenant Governor-Division 9
Submitting Key to Caring Articles
Are you interested in writing an article for the Key to Caring? If so, don’t hesitate to
submit an article! They can be about a wide variety of subjects, such as outstanding
individuals or success in either your club or your Division! If you have any other ideas
for subjects to write about, feel free to submit it! Your article will be featured in an
issue of the Key to Caring and could be inspiration for another Key Clubber to take a
step in the club! Articles can be submitted on the WIUM Key Club website. If you have
any questions on writing articles or if you would like to brainstorm ideas for articles,
feel free to contact Jason Shebilske anytime. His contact information can be found on
the final page of this issue.
Page 4
Time Management 101
How does the average high-schooler spend 24 hours in one day? Well, about 8.1 hours
are spent sleeping (or in my case, dreaming about becoming the next Beyonce), while a
combined total of 8.4 hours are spent on leisure/sports activities, travel, grooming,
eating, and working. That leaves about 7.5 hours for school-related work, which in
reality isn’t that much when you look at the fact that a majority of that is spent at
school. With all that said, how in the world is one to successfully manage his/her time
in a way that efficiently balances important tasks like homework with fun things like
watching the newest episode of American Horror Story on Netflix?
A good first step to take is to find some time where you can sit down for a while and
simply jot down all the work, conversations, and activities you experienced in the past
week. This way you can visualize how much of your week is spent doing things that
produce effective results. You can then prioritize and physically schedule when and how
much time you spend on these important tasks. A simple to-do list can only do so
much, because you’ll see what needs to be done, but what you may not see is that the
first task on your list could eat up hours, rather than minutes. Once you have a general
plan about how much time to spend on important things, you should also schedule time
for interruptions; plan time to be pulled away from what you’re doing. Everyone needs
bathroom breaks and nap times (assuming you’re not a robot…), so leave time in your
schedule for them.
Every morning, leave some time (10 to 15 minutes would be ideal) to carefully go
through everything you plan to accomplish that day. Do you take showers in the
morning? While you’re lathering up, you could use that time to plan out what you want
to wear, go through some quick facts for your quiz first hour, estimate what time you’re
going to pick up your little brother from soccer practice, and approximate the time you
can start on your homework after coming home from play practice. If you plan your
time out carefully, you’ll even leave a few minutes at the end to belt out a couple notes
of Sam Smith’s latest song.
Still finding that you have difficulties resisting the lure of procrastination? Here’s a tip
from my personal experience. I love listening to music, but I found that I can’t work
very efficiently if music is playing while I try to do my homework. Here’s how I solved
my dilemma: I told myself, “Ok, you’re going to do the first 10 problems on this
Chemistry worksheet, then you can listen to one of your favorite songs.” I kept doing
this until I finished the whole worksheet. I have found over time that this method has
really helped me work faster, because as humans, incentives really can serve as
motivators to work harder. One important side-effect to avoid would be rushing.
Although you’re motivated to finish in order to receive the incentive, you may work
faster and with less care. To bypass this problem, simply move away all watches and
clocks until you’re done with your work.
By Phoebe Hu, Lieutenant Governor-Division 14
Page 5
Youth Opportunities Fund Information
Do you have a project that you are passionate about, but don’t have the funding to
make it happen? Look no further! The Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) is a grant that
is available for all Key Club members to qualify for. This grant ranges from $100 up to
$2000, so you can make just about anything happen, large or small. Applications will
be accepted up until October 15th at 11:59 PM, so if you have any ideas, make sure to
start thinking about if the Youth Opportunities Fund can help you! The application can
be found on the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan Key Club website under the ‘resources’ tab
and within the ‘grants’ page. If you are unsure about ideas to utilize the grant, a few
examples can be found here. All applications will be viewed and approved by the Key
Club International Board and the grants will be given out in October. Guidelines for
filling out the application can be found in the Key Club guidebook under ‘board
policies’. If you have any questions about the YOF, you may feel free to contact your
Lieutenant Governor or another district board member. Applications can be mailed,
emailed, or faxed to Nicole Harris and must be received by October 15th.
Where to send the YOF grant application:
Email: yof@kiwanis.org.
Fax: 1-317-879-0204
Address: 3636 Woodview Trace, Indianapolis, IN 46268-3196, USA
By Keegan Downham, Lieutenant Governor-Division 10B
WIUM Grant Information
Has your club ever come up with a great service project idea, but didn’t have the
funds to follow through on it? One of the coolest and lesser known things about the
WIUM District Board is that they accept applications four times a year for grants!
Grants provide financial assistance of up to $200 to Key Clubs that can be used for service
projects. Clubs can apply for grants before the service project by estimating the
cost of the project to receive funds and submitting receipts later, or apply for grants after
the service project happens to be reimbursed for the costs. The application is easy
to find on the WIUM website under the “Resources” tab and easy to fill out. Once
you’ve typed all of the necessary information into the grant application (all information
has to be typed, not handwritten!), you submit it to the WIUM Key Club District Administrator
Kathy Gillis who has her contact information listed at the end of the application.
It’s a simple way to host some fun, cool, new service projects in your club. Start brainstorming
today; the possibilities are endless!
By Leslie Kent, Lieutenant Governor-Division 11
Page 6
International Trustee Introduction
Hello, Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District! My name is Kacie Hines, and I have the honor
of serving Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District for the 2015-2016 school year as an
International Trustee. I am an upcoming senior at Vestavia Hills High School in
Alabama. Along with serving my home, school, and
community, I am an avid Netflix watcher and eno
swinging enthusiast.
My Key Club journey began long before most. My mom
became a faculty advisor when I was two years old, so
Key Club was in my life long before I was ever allowed to
be a part of it. I’ve gone from District Webmaster for half
a year, to District Media Tech to District Governor, and
now I’m here- serving as an International Trustee. Key
Club has given me a way to channel my passion and I
could not be more thankful to be a part of this amazing
organization.
What exactly is an International Trustee, and what is the importance of an International
Board? That’s a very good question! An International Trustee is liaison from the
International level to the district level. We work in trying to make the service year the
best for every single members; we also work on various committees. This year I will be
serving on the Executive Committee with International President Rip Livingston,
International Vice-President Addie Clipfell, Trustee Heather Farley, and Trustee Hojin
Yoon, as well as the International Development Committee, chaired by Trustee
Anastasia Slepukhova.
If you have any questions about International or just want to talk feel free to contact
me!
Yours in Service,
Kacie Hines
International Trustee
Email: khines@alabamakeyclub.org
Page 7
Reward Your Club With Banner Patches
Recognition for your hard work is something many people strive for. Whether it’s
for cleaning the house or organizing a surprise birthday party, it feels good to be
recognized. This year, the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan (WIUM) District Board has created
something that rewards your Key Club for your hard work; banner patches! A banner
patch is similar to a Girl Scout or Boy Scout patch in size and shape, but rewards you
for different reasons. Right now, there are over 10 banner patches your club can earn
over the course of the year! Your club can earn a patch for participating in the
Governor’s Project, the District Project, volunteering over the summer, gaining new
paid members, and going to your sponsoring Kiwanis Club’s meetings just to name a
few! The applications for these banner patches are easy and only take a few minutes to
complete. Decorate your banner this year with the WIUM Key Club banner patches for
the District Leadership Convention (DCON)!
By Jennifer Englebert, Awards and Contests Committee Chair
ICON Preview
Should you be reading this, and did not attend the 2015 Key Club International
Convention, you missed out on the experience of a lifetime. From Kiwanis family
baseball games, to a live performance from hellogoodbye, and to the elections of our
2015-2016 International Officers, the 72nd Annual Key Club International Convention
was one to remember.
For those who don’t know, this year’s ICON was held in Indianapolis, Indiana,
from June 24th-28th. Being a 4 day experience, you would think that ICON would feel
like a lifetime, but it was quite the contrary. When every day is crammed with tons of
awesome offerings, time seems to move at an accelerated rate. Notably, the Keynote
Speaker for the convention was Tim Harris, the best speaker I have ever have the
chance to spectate. Tim is best known for being the only individual with Down
Syndrome to own and operate a restaurant. Of all of the events, one of my favorites of
all of the events that we attended was the Monumental Pancake lunch where-you
guessed it-we got free pancakes! Another offering that was appealing to all, including
myself, was the opportunity to shop for tons of Kiwanis Family Gear at the World
Showcase! I personally purchased some Kiwanis dress shirts, a pair of Circle K shorts,
and a Kiwanis mug!
Another added bonus on top of all of this was that, simultaneous with our
convention was the Kiwanis 100th Anniversary, and as a result there were a ton of
Kiwanis events offered that we were able to attend. One of these said events was the
Kiwanis Firework Night at Victory Field, where we were able to watch an awesome
game, followed by some brilliant fireworks. Members of all the different branches of
Kiwanis were there, and having this K-Family get together at such a great game made
the event really special. Our District also was able to visit the Indianapolis Zoo, spend
time at Navy Pier, and-my favorite-go shopping at the Circle Center.
It would take pages on pages to cover the Convention in its entirety, but
hopefully this summary gives you an idea of what an awesome event ICON was, and
maybe piques your interest in attending the 2016 Key Club International Convention in
Atlanta, Georgia!
By Kai Schmitt, Lieutenant Governor-Division 10A
Page 8
District Project: Camp Wawbeek and Bay Cliff Health Camp
This year, the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District Project is supporting Camp
Wawbeek in Wisconsin Dells and Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay, MI. These camps
provide a safe place for campers with disabilities to become more independent and
have a fun experience at the same time. The District Board has set a goal to raise
$7,500 for these camps by the District Leadership Conference (DCON) in March. As an
incentive, clubs that raise over $800 for the camps are eligible to receive a banner
patch! More information on the District Project can be found in Committee Chair
publications or by contacting Derek Kamin, District Project Committee Chair. His
contact information can be found on the final page of this issue.
Key Club Co-Sponsor: Rustic Pathways
Rustic Pathways has had 30 years of experience leading programs that provide
both international education and service programs for students. They are the global
leader in their field, having over 130 programs in 20 countries. Rustic Pathways has
partnered with Key Club to provide members the opportunity to learn more about other
parts of the world while performing service. In 2016, the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan
District of Key Club will be participating in an international service project in Costa Rica
through Rustic Pathways! For more information about Rustic Pathways, visit their
website. If you’d like more information about the service project in Costa Rica, contact
Kathy Gillis. Her contact information can be found on the final page of this issue.
Key Club Vision Partner: Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon has joined Kiwanis International as a vision partner with an
emphasis on the Big Help initiative, which addresses issues in service, education, the
environment, and health. More information on Nickelodeon’s Big Help, their Halo
Awards program, and Day of Play can be found on Nickelodeon’s website.
Preferred Charity Highlight: Yell and Tell
Does your club love working with kids and helping to keep them safe at the same
time? If you answered yes, then Yell and Tell may be the preferred charity for you! Yell
and Tell is a program in which you can interactively teach children how to respond to a
dangerous situation by yelling for help and telling somebody if they don’t know what to
do. If the appropriate action is taken, thousands of deaths of children can be
prevented. Yell and Tell focuses on trying to reduce these misfortunes by educating
children on what to do. More resources to help support Yell and Tell can be found at
wiumkeyclub.com/yell—tell.
Page 9
Banner Patch Promotion
Page 10
Page 11
DCON 2016 Promotion
District Board Contact Information
Name Position
E-Mail Address Cell Phone
Number
Joshua Dvorak Governor
governor.wium@gmail.com 715-803-5539
Daniela Beltran Secretary/Treasurer secretarytreasurer.wium@gmail.com 760-693-2660
Jason Shebilske Bulletin Editor
bulletin.editor.wium@gmail.com 920-419-4345
Taylor Hurst Director of Committees wium.taylorhurst@gmail.com 920-257-6517
Mikaela Hanrahan Director of Technology mikaelahanrahandot@gmail.com 262-888-2712
Daniela Beltran Interim Division 1 LTG secretarytreasurer.wium@gmail.com 760-693-2660
Jessica Korducki Division 2 LTG
ltg.d2wium@gmail.com 262-210-6618
Noah Goetzke Division 3 LTG
div3ltg@gmail.com 608-341-9635
Charlie Deakman Division 4 LTG
ltg4.wium@gmail.com 608-338-2767
Abigail Sann Division 5 LTG
ltgd5abby@gmail.com 715-432-0253
Emily Li Division 6 LTG
lt.governor.wium@gmail.com 414-841-4927
Kristen Navis Division 7 LTG
knavis.wium@gmail.com 920-850-5639
Stevie DeCloux Division 8 LTG
d8ltgstevie@gmail.com 414-416-1138
Sam Simon Division 9 LTG
simon.kc.d9@gmail.com 262-443-2508
Kai Schmitt Division 10A LTG kaischmitt.wium@gmail.com 920-676-0016
Keegan Downham Division 10B LTG ltgd10wium@gmail.com 920-470-9927
Leslie Kent Division 11 LTG
lkent.d11ltg@gmail.com 715-563-2685
Ryan Lucka Division 12 LTG
LuckaLTG@gmail.com 262-689-9194
Tyler Radke Division 13 LTG
radke1800@gmail.com 920-789-9009
Phoebe Hu Division 14 LTG
d14.wium@gmail.com 906-281-0710
Huey Griep Division 15 LTG
huey.key.d15@gmail.com 608-697-8835
Charlotte Strom Division 16 LTG
division16.ltg.15.16@gmail.com 906-420-4349
Shiyue Xie Executive Assistant/ wiumexeassistant15@gmail.com 262-215-4307
Eliminate Chair
Maxwell LaCosse Public Relations/
prlacosse.wium@gmail.com 906-241-6807
Communications Chair
Matthew Jewell
Membership
Development Chair
mattjewellkc@gmail.com 906-280-0869
Abbey Claes Governor’s Project Chair governorproject.wium@gmail.com 906-280-5647
Jennifer Englebert Awards/Contests Chair jaenglebert.keyclub@gmail.com 920-680-7972
Derek Kamin District Project Chair dpc.wium@gmail.com 906-399-3123
Kacie Hines International Trustee khines@alabamakeyclub.org 205-370-8757
Kathy Gillis District Administrator wium.admin@gmail.com 920-475-0500
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