Gov. Tom's Message
by Gov. Tom Warner
This was a great start to an even better year coming up in Kiwanis. Our membership is on the rebound after the initial hit in October from clubs purging their roles, and we are down 52 members from the beginning. With a new club organized - Kiwanis Club of Tidewater Young Professionals on January 20 with 27 new Kiwanians, we should be down about 25 at the end of this month.
Congratulators to Lieutenant Governor Amy Thorstad, Past Lieutenant Governor Carla Morin and Past Governor John Tyner for their hard work in getting the third club in the Tidewater area organized in the last six months. The Charter President is Alex Hazelwood. Thanks to all for making Kiwanis a reality to even more young people.
I have had three excellent visits this month. The first was the Governor's official visit to Division 17 where Lieutenant Governor Sharon Joyce hosted Lin and I on January 14. Preceding the visit, the Division 17 Council met with many of the Division Key Club Presidents and Lieutenant Governor Tripti Soni. We had an excellent discussion of long range planning and many of the clubs found out that by involving their members they received some good, solid ideas on what the clubs could be doing in the future.
Over 80 Kiwanians and guests attended the diner. It was highlighted with induction of five new Kiwanians - Eric Hooper from Wheaton-Silver Springs; David Crosby and Carolyn Sieradzski from Leisure World; and George Eaves and Houston Edward Hancock form Rockville. Welcome to these new Kiwanians and many thanks to their sponsors: Helen Williams, Phoebe Clark, George Chako, Stacey Miller, and John Tyner. George Chako received the 50-year Legion of Honor pin.
On Saturday, Lin and I along with Dale Kane, attended the Northern Virginia mid-winter in Manassas. The Kiwanians from Divisions 10 and 20 attended received excellent training. Mike Rind presented his first mid-winter session on Sexual Harassment in the general meeting after lunch. By the questions asked and the attentiveness, I believe this is a session everyone will want to attend in the future mid-winters.
As noted above, on Thursday, PG John Tyner, New Club Chair Carla Morin, and I attended the Organization Night for the Kiwanis Club of Tidewater Young Professionals. They are starting with 27 members and will increase before their Charter Night tentatively scheduled for March 5, 2011.
This past weekend, we drove over to Eastern Shore to Millsboro, Delaware for the DelMarVa midwinter. I had another super day with my favorite people - Kiwanians. I met with the club presidents for almost two hours and covered a lot issues that concerned the officers. Following their Lieutenant Governor elections, the DelMarVa Key Clubbers made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a shelter. While Governor Rachel said they had fewer members, they managed to make over 350 sandwiches. The limiting factor was the running out of bread. In the informal poll, grape beat out strawberry. In a sidelight, the women presented Lin with a 14 layer, Smith Island Cake. Effective October 1, 2008, the Smith Island Cake became the State Dessert of Maryland.
Thanks to all the people who had a part in making our visits a special time.
In looking ahead, I have had to cancel my trip to Indianapolis for the Governor's Council. I had some surgery on my lip and was advised to not travel this weekend.
On Saturday February 5, the District Board, the District Lieutenant Governors Council, and the District Foundation Board will all be meeting in Fredericksburg. The District Board will be considering changes to our convention and conference policies. We need to revisit these policies so that we have our meetings in facilities that will comfortably hold our conventions. The biggest obstacle is having a meeting room large enough to hold our meal meetings and then still have sufficient rooms that are large enough to hold our training sessions.
A second policy we'll be adding is one that covers "social networking." The basis of this policy is not unlike that of the sexual harassment policy. That is, they are guidelines to keep Kiwanians out of potential trouble in the future. Social networks are not as safe and secure as one might believe. In addition, what you put on the Internet might go beyond your intended audience.
Before I close, two questions: For all Kiwanians, have you invited someone you know to join the greatest service organization in the world? For Trustees and Lieutenant Governors, have you found a site and contacted the District New club Committee for help in expanding our outreach to a new group of people? All of us need to work on these things.
Here is my calendar for January 2011 through April 2011
February 5 District Board Fredericksburg
February 5 Lieutenant Governor Council Fredericksburg
February 5 District Foundation Fredericksburg
Februarys 11 Dr John Button Hampton Roads
February 12 HR Midwinter Old Dominion University
February 12 Dr. John Button Division 4
February 18-10 CKI DCON Crystal City
February 19 Instructor Training Crystal City
February 23 2011 DCON Committee Williamsburg
Februarys 26 HOV Midwinter Richmond
