Governor

Hi everyone,

Sorry I’m late with my monthly web message but I got caught up in “other things” and procrastinated. Let me fill you in a little about what’s been happening and what I’ve been up to that you might be interested in.

The first few days of the month were centered on reviewing the successful joint Mid-winter Conference and Key Club Convention or ideas that came directly from it. Executive Director Kevin and I agree that it was a remarkable weekend and, judging from the evaluations, emails and phone calls, you thought so, too. We had a huge representation of Kiwanis International dignitaries in attendance and conversations with Vice President Paul Palozzolo, International Trustees Don Sanker and Alan Penn, Key Club Trustee Chuck Black and Circle K International President Amanda Badali indicated they were impressed with the weekend. Once again the PA District has pulled off a coup by being the first district to combine these events and the credit goes to the entire K Family for working together to make the weekend as special as it was.

To show you just how much excitement the joint event created, a day or two after Mid-winter Bill Walters from the Easton club emailed Kiwanis International CEO Rob Parker about an idea that may be a piece of the puzzle that will keep Circle K and Key Club members part of our family when they begin their adult lives. At about the same time as Bill’s email, I was continuing a “CK to Kiwanis” dialog with Circle K Governor Kady, CK Administrator Jason McConney and a few former Circle K members who are now Kiwanians. Add Past Governor Bill and a couple Lt. Governors to the mix and a plan is being formulated that will keep us connected with these potential Kiwanians who would bring fresh ideas and excitement to any Kiwanis club they join. When this plan comes together over the next couple of weeks I will be asking for help from the Kiwanis Committees as well as from clubs that sponsor Circle Ks and Key Clubs to see if we can’t have an impact in keeping these graduates part of our Kiwanis Family.

Right now I am in “sunny and warm Oklahoma” working on Kiwanis “stuff.” David, Roxie the Dog from H--- and I had planned to leave in the Kiwanis Driveway Motel on March 8^th but Old Man Winter changed that. It was bad enough in NW PA but our route took us through Columbus, Ohio where they got 20½" of snow in less than 24 hours! When we arrived in Norman OK late Tuesday night, Maeghan and John got out the Champaign because their offer for a house was accepted that day! They are both very happy here and I guess they’ve “got the red dirt twixt their toes” as an Oklahoma saying goes and are now Sooners through and through.

Some of you may know that this class of Lt. Governors is very active but is often “difficult to control,” when it comes to putting one over on the governor. This time they really caught me off guard. Not only did they put an ad in the program booklet but they had flowers delivered to my room, baked a cake (with so many candles we couldn’t light them all because it would have set off the sprinkler system), and presented me with a cherished birthday gift – a Chia Head AND a Chia pet! There’s a long story behind this that began 15 years ago when our teenage son and daughter and my husband, the instigator, bought me a Chia Head for Christmas. Money was a little tight and I was not happy that they spent so much on a joke gift and I have reminded them of it ever since. In August when Maeghan was home for my installation she told the LTGs about this and that was all it took for the rest to be history. No doubt the Chia Head will surface at another time but right now Chia Pet is making his (or her) way around the district and is even going to club meetings in Oklahoma. I’m going to ask Dale Brackin, who manages my web updates, to set up a new page titled “Where in the World is Mary’s Chia” so that all of you can see pictures of his (or her) travels.

This class of Lt. Governors, that I am so proud to be associated with, deserves much more than just a mention. They have been continually working hard to make sure that this district is tops in Kiwanis International. Please help them out by getting your reports are in on time, fulfilling your responsibilities to your Service Leadership Programs, contributing to the PA District and Kiwanis International Foundations, participating in PA Reads, initiating new and relevant service projects, attending Division Council and the upcoming regional meetings and adding people to your club roster who are worthy of being Kiwanians. Make them as proud of you as I am of them by continuing to “Share Our Story” and change the world.