Pennsylvania District of Kiwanis International

Meet Your Governor 2009-2010

Ethan is a member of the Norlanco-Rheems Kiwanis Club in Division 16.

Ethan and his wife, Doris are charter members and very active in the their club, with Ethan having 30 years of perfect attendance (12 years Kiwanis Club of Elizabethtown) and Doris 18.

Both serve as distinguished presidents and secretaries. They have been distinguished members of Kiwanis International and the Pennsylvania District.

They both have attended many International and District Conventions of Kiwanis, Circle K and District Key Club Conventions. Both are Diamond Hixon and Heritage Society members.

Ethan has held most chair and officer positions and has served as a board member 27 of his 30 years.

Ethan was instrumental in reviving the Donegal High School Key Club and in starting the Builders Club and K-Kids in the Donegal School District. He serves as coadvisor for these clubs.
Pennsylvania District

* Two-time Division 16 Lt. Governor
* District Chair for Children's Miracle Network, for four years
* Co-District Chair for Midwinter conference at Willow Valley
* Led or assisted in building eight Kiwanis clubs
* District Life Member
* Ten-year Distinguished Kiwanian
* Attended 25 District Conventions and 12 Midwinter Conferences

Kiwanis International

* Has been trained in new club building
* Has trained as Growth Team Coordinator for 2008-2009
* Attended 16 Kiwanis International Conventions
* International Life Member
* Legion of Honor Recipient (30 years)
* Ruby K Award recipient (30 years)
* Distinguished International Kiwanis member

Last year Past Governor Mary had us “share our story.” This year Governor John had us “grow our story.” Next year I am asking you to continue our story and “make time to make a difference.”

There are many ways in which we can “make time to make a difference.” We can “make time to make a difference” by inviting people to join our clubs, by sponsoring new Kiwanis clubs, by working with our sponsored leadership programs, and doing service in our communities. All of our clubs, I am sure, are doing service within our communities.

Some examples are as follows:
Carolyn Trump made a difference by reading Green Eggs and Ham to over 50 children at Quakertown Library in honor of Dr. Suess’s birthday.

State College took time to make a difference by helping the Centre County Special Olympics by donating time and money.

The Kiwanis Club of Stroudsburg took time to make a difference in the lives of 12 area high school students at their scholarship luncheon.

The Kiwanis Club of Sheraden made a difference by collecting soda tabs for the Ronald McDonald House.

My own Kiwanis Club, the Kiwanis Club of Norlanco-Rheems made time to make a difference by fingerprinting over 300 children in the Mount Joy area with the assistance of two local police departments.

Many Kiwanis Clubs made and continue to “make time to make a difference” by sponsoring leadership programs which are Circle K, Key Club, Builders Club, K-Kids, and Aktion Clubs.

Many of our clubs “make time to make a difference” by selling roses to support community projects and at the same time helping out the Pennsylvania District Kiwanis Foundation. These are only a few of the many examples that could be given.

The other week Doris and I had the privilege of attending the Aktion Cub Convention. I will never forget that when they gave the awards for posters the one young lady from the Aktion Club of Erie who came in third broke down in tears as she went forward to receive her certificate. It didn’t make any difference that she came in third, she was just excited to be recognized.

Perhaps we don’t always feel we get the recognition to the degree we think we deserve but the satisfaction we have in knowing we made a difference is recognition in itself. So let’s continue to “make time to make a difference.”

The question is asked, “What is my governor’s service project for the year 2009-2010?” My project is for each club to continue and improve on what you have been doing as you continue to “make time to make a difference” in your communities.

If your club doesn’t have a project or needs a new one, I am asking you and your club to get involved with your local child abuse organizations. There are thousands of children being abused each any every day.

If each of us “make time to make a difference” we can lighten the load for someone else. In 1924 a man had an inspiring encounter with a small and physically weak lad carrying a baby and struggling toward a neighborhood park. “Pretty big load for such a small lad,” he said as he met him. “Why, mister,” the lad smiled, he ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.”
The man was Roe Fulkerson, the first editor of the Kiwanis magazine. He wrote the article entitled, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” which appeared in the September 1924 edition thus inspiring the song of the same title, first recorded in 1969 by the Hollies and later became the signature song for the Osmonds on the Children’s Miracle Network.

The clock is ticking. We must all “make time to make a difference” whether you are here tonight as a Kiwanian or a guest. In closing, I am asking each of you to take a star fish from the table, hold it in your hand, and look at it as I read the legend of the starfish.
The Starfish
There was a young man walking down a deserted beach just before dawn. In the distance he saw a frail old man.
As he approached the old man, he saw him picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea.
The young man gazed in wonder as the old man again and again threw the small starfish from the sand to the water.
He asked, "Old man, why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time."
The old man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun.
"But there must be thousands of beaches and millions of starfish!" exclaimed the young man. "How can you make any difference?"
The old man looked at the small starfish in his hand and as he threw it to the safety of the sea, he said, "It makes a difference to this one!".
-Author unknown

I ask you to take the starfish that you are holding along home with you and put it somewhere where you will see it often to remind you to “make time to make a difference.”