January 2025

I hope everyone had a magical holiday season! So many clubs have long standing traditions that help make the season brighter for both their communities and members. I loved seeing everything online and through club newsletters as well as getting to see some in person. I also enjoyed getting out to a couple holiday parties and fundraisers. I continue to be in awe of all that our members do, thank you! 

As we ring in the new year it is time to start thinking about the Mid-Winter Conference coming up March 21-23 at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, ME. We are excited to have International President Lee Kuan Yong with us for the weekend! We will also be hearing from Stephanie Feyler from Camp Sunshine at lunch on Saturday as well as a number of educational workshops and a service project. Please be sure to check out the conference page on January 6th to learn more and register!  

We are also excited that International President Lee Kuan Yong will be helping us to build the Kiwanis Club of Mid-Coast Maine the week following Mid-Winter. If you are interested in helping with the build, we need help both before and during the build week, please reach out to either myself or District Membership Chair Bob Willey, membership@newenglandkiwanis.org to learn about how you can help bring Kiwanis to more communities in New England.  

Yours in Kiwanis,

Governor Kristin

AKTION IN HANSON!

The fantastic Hanson Aktion Club holiday and 10th Anniversary meeting was held at Venus III. Great collection for Marine Toys for Tots and recognitions for the 10th Anniversary of their KI charter. Congrats Hanson Action!

LET'S CRUISE

MASHPEE GET'S IN THE SPIRIT!

The always active Mashpee club celebrates the season with awesome events like stuffing and donating stockings, writing letters from Santa, distributing Christmas cheer to the Mashpee Police “Shop with a Cop” event, supporting the Mashpee Fire department, and stopping by their local chamber!

SIGNATURE PROJECT CONTEST:

We are less than one month away from the 2025 Signature Project Contest opening! This is an important club and district event that has been growing each year since it started in 2017. Here are the key details to share with your clubs: 

• The contest opens at 11:59 a.m. EST on Tuesday, January 7, and closes on Thursday, January 30, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
• Entries can only be received by completing the online forms found at www.kiwanis.org/signatureproject. The links will be available and live on January 7.
• When a club submits an entry, a copy will be generated to the club, its district secretary and district governor. 
• The districts will need to submit their top entry for each group by February 28. A link will be provided closer to this date. As a reminder, clubs with fewer than 27 members are Group 1 and clubs with 28 or more members are Group 2. 
• Districts will be notified in early April if either of their club projects have been selected to the Top 10 of each group. 
• The Top 10 are honored at the Signature Project Breakfast during the International Convention. And the Top 3 in each group are awarded US$2,000 for 1st place, $1,500 for 2nd place and $1,000 for 3rd place.  

December 17, 2024

Dear District Secretary:

I Wayne L Spencer, accept the endorsement from the Mashpee and Bourne Wareham clubs for office of Governor Elect for the New England and Bermuda District. I have been an active member of the Kiwanis Family since 2003. Listed below are some notable activities held throughout my tenure:

I served as President Mashpee Club 2005-2006, Lieutenant Governor 2006-2007, Treasurer for the New England and Bermuda District Foundation 2007-2021. In addition, I was given the following awards: Kiwanis Leadership Society-President, Highest Per Capita Annual Club Gift:2005-2006 Paul St. Paul Laurent Unsung Hero Award:2014, Lieutenant Governor Leadership Award:2006-2007.

Yours in Kiwanis,

Wayne Spencer

The Kiwanis Club of Hooksett along with their (6) sponsored Service Leadership Programs (SLP’s) had a working Dinner Meeting and while enjoying a Macaroni and Cheese Dinner, they assembled (30) Jared Boxes. A Jared box is plastic shoe-sized storage box filled with small gifts, toys, games, crayons, coloring books and fun activities. The Jared Box Project was started in 2001 by the children of Our Lady of Victory School in State College, Pennsylvania to honor, Jared, their classmate and friend.

Hooksett also recently hosted their annual Christmas Party/Auction. As part of the auction, 40 gift items were raffled off, including Red Sox tickets, a handmade wooden whirligig, a handmade canoe, and kayak paddles.

Thanks to the generosity of many, the Club raised almost $3,000 which will help defray the costs of the many community initiatives that support the Kiwanis mission of improving the world, one child and one community at a time.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA IN WESTFIELD

Congrats to the Circle K club at Westfield State for a successful breakfast with Santa supported by the Westfield Kiwanis Club. Hundreds of local kids enjoyed breakfast, crafts and of course the Big Man! Governor Kristin also may have had a few requests for Mr. Claus!

Apologies from your humble editor for not posting these important recognitions from Immediate Past Governor Eli in our last issue. Congratulations to all!

GEORGETOWN FILLS THE FOOD PANTRY!

Great job by the Georgetown club stocking Trestle Way with food and personal care staples!

2025 KIWANIS CONVENTION • JUNE 25-28 • PITTSBURGH 

Join us in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., for the 2025 Kiwanis International Convention. Our own Past Governor Bart Stevens is running for International Trustee so let's get a great turnout to support him!

You’ll be a part of an event that can help you transform your club and its impact in your community. Education. Fellowship. Decision-making. Explore all the ways the Kiwanis International convention can help you forge the future — for your club and for our worldwide organization. 

MIDDLETOWN IS POPPIN!

Members of the Kiwanis Club of Middletown helped the City of Middletown get into the holiday spirit at the Annual Holiday on Main tree lighting. We love helping the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce sell popcorn and pretzels to support their programs throughout the year.

Announcing a new webinar series – Week of January 13 – Everyday at 1 p.m. Eastern



Hosting a membership party – from planning to clean-up

Hosting a membership event is like planning a party that requires meticulous organization, attention to detail, managing multiple tasks, marketing to guests, and ensuring a successful outcome within a set timeframe—all while considering the needs and preferences of your party attendees.

Whether you are conducting a club boost, hosting a guest day or open house, using Two For Two or implementing a reMember campaign, there are five vital components – planning, inviting, closing, following-up and analyzing.

Join us each day at 1 p.m. Eastern, January 13-17, for a 30-minute webinar that explores one of the five elements. The five sessions will be recorded and posted on the Membership Leaders Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/kiwanismembershipandengagement). Not a member? Join now!

Register –

https://kiwanis-org.zoom.us/j/81705604391?pwd=6w6AmT4Dur1KVWhKJNbsFXJkcjvCU9.1

Planning membership events

Monday, January 13 – 1 p.m. Eastern

Inviting prospective members to belong to Kiwanis

Tuesday, January 14 – 1 p.m. Eastern

From prospect to member – closing the deal

Wednesday, January 15 – 1 p.m. Eastern

Follow-up is as important as pre-event planning

Thursday, January 16 – 1 p.m. Eastern

Return on investment in recruiting

Friday, January 17 – 1 p.m. Eastern

THEY'RE COOKIN' IN NEWPORT!

The Newport RI club held their third consecutive Thanksgiving Eve full dinner for about 70 homeless and food insecure in the Newport areas. All planned, prepared, served, and cleaned up by Newport Kiwanis and our Rogers High School Key Club. Nice job Newport!

A GIFT LIVES ON FOREVER

The Kiwanis Club of Scarborough, Maine was left $10,000 from member Tom Kraut after he passed away in 2020. They immediately knew that this money would go to something meaningful for the community. On November 15 they invited Tom’s daughter Jaymie Chamberlin to attend their meeting as they presented the check to Gretchen Johnson from Center for Grieving Children.

Gretchen thought she was just coming to speak on their wonderful organization and had no idea that the club chose them to receive this money.

The donation in Tom’s memory will be used for the center to take an unused outdoor space which will be turned into a space for outdoor meetings and a quiet space for family’s and volunteers to enjoy . We look forward to seeing the end result.

FEEDING FOLKS IS KEY!

The Pembroke Academy Key Club Thanksgiving Dinner was a HUGE success, biggest dinner we've had since Covid. We served around 150 people and only a small percentage of them were to go, so the majority of our guests stayed to eat in our cafe. Our students did an amazing job, as always. The group is on the younger side so for the majority of them, this was their first time doing the dinner. Not only did they pitch in to serve and clean, many volunteered ON THEIR OWN to sit amongst our guests and have a conversation with them, especially ones who were eating alone. Overall, everything went very well. Thank you again to Concord Kiwanis Club for your continued support of our club! Happy holidays!

By Danielle French, Co-Key Club Faculty Advisor

KI YEAR IN REVIEW

Look back at some of the Kiwanis family’s biggest events and highlights this year.

By Sarah Moreland

Can you believe that 2024 is almost over? Before we pull out the party hats and noisemakers to usher in 2025, let’s look back at some of the Kiwanis family’s biggest events and highlights of the past year. 

More service and support

We wouldn’t be Kiwanis without service to kids, and this year, clubs around the world continued to make communities near and far a better place. Just a few examples: 

• The Kiwanis Club of Pakistan built a sustainable water source in a village in Sindh, where villagers previously traveled up to 12 miles for access to clean water.  
• Members of the Kiwanis Club of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo established psychological support programs for children traumatized by violence and natural disasters. 
• The Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S., celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Burning of Zozobra with 65,000 people in attendance — and more than 1.5 million virtually — to raise money for several youth organizations. 
• When students at McMillian Middle School in Florida, U.S., qualified to compete at the World Robotics Championships, the Kiwanis Club of Miami sponsored 20 students to attend. 
• Several clubs turned milestone anniversaries into opportunities for philanthropy, including the Kiwanis Club of Roseville, which commemorated 75 years with a combined donation of US$75,000 to 15 organizations in its California, U.S., community.  

Looking for more examples of amazing Kiwanis projects? Meet the winners of the 2024 Kiwanis Signature Project Contest.  

Submissions for the 2025 Signature Project Contest will be accepted beginning in early January.  

More collaboration 

We achieve more together. That’s why Kiwanis members once again teamed up for a week with Lions Clubs International, Optimist International and Rotary International for the fourth annual Celebrate Community. Kiwanians around the world — from India and Mexico to the Philippines and the United States — participated, continuing a tradition of global service and unity. 

More possibilities

The Kiwanis Children’s Fund launched The Possibility Project, the first fundraising campaign that solely supports Kiwanis and the children we serve. More than US$6 million has been raised so far — but there’s still so much work to do to ensure kids everywhere are healthy, happy and successful.

Other highlights from the Children’s Fund in 2024: 

• Meet the seven outstanding Key Club and CKI leaders who received scholarships to continue their education. Students can apply now until February 1, 2025, for the next round of scholarships — including the new US$4,500 Wagner Family Scholarship for Key Club members. 
• The second annual Kiwanis Day of Giving nearly doubled its initial goal, resulting in more than US$130,000 raised for the Children’s Fund! That’s enough to reach more than 57,000 children. Mark your calendars now: Kiwanis Day of Giving returns February 25. 
• UNICEF announced that Mali and Guinea are the latest countries to have achieved maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) elimination. The Children’s Fund continued the Kiwanis family’s support for the fight against MNT with a US$275,000 grant to UNICEF in July. 

More learning and leadership 

Each year, Kiwanis members step up to lead their clubs, districts and the organization as a whole: 

• At the 2024 Kiwanis International Convention in Denver, delegates elected Lee Kuan Yong of the Malaysia District as 2024-25 Kiwanis International president. Michael Mulhaul of the New Jersey District was elected to serve as president-elect, and Hope Markes of the Eastern Canada and Caribbean District as vice president. Dawn Puderbaugh Hodges of the Carolinas District, Jo Schwartz of the Kansas District and Scott Sims of the Alabama District were also elected trustees for the United States and Pacific Canada Region. See the full House of Delegates recap. Start planning for the 2025 Kiwanis International Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 25-28! 
• This year, nearly 600 Kiwanians representing 30 countries completed Kiwanis Amplify, our robust online leadership program featuring interactive modules on topics like communications, diversity and event planning. Read about two Kiwanians’ experiences with the program — and then plan to join the next cohort in early 2025. Registration opens January 6 at kiwanis.org/amplify.  
• Paul Palazzolo became the executive director of Kiwanis International after the retirement of Stan Soderstrom on January 29. Palazzolo served as the 2009-10 Kiwanis International president. He first joined the Kiwanis family in the early 1980s when he joined the Key Club of Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield, Illinois, U.S.  

More student leadership development

The Kiwanis family consists of volunteers of all ages. Our Service Leadership Programs (SLPs) span elementary school through university and include a club for adults with disabilities. Here are a few SLP highlights for 2024: 

Key Club International, our program for high school students, continues to grow — now exceeding 225,000 members worldwide! Key Club members continue to raise money for Start Strong: Zambia, a fundraising campaign with UNICEF to support early childhood education in the southeastern African nation. As of November, members have raised almost US$200,000 for the campaign. At the 2024 Key Club International Convention, attendees developed their skills at leadership workshops and weaved mats out of recycled plastic bags for the host city’s unhoused population. During the convention, delegates elected David Robaina of the Southwest District as 2024-25 Key Club International president. 

Get ready to celebrate! Key Club turns 100 on March 25. Find out how you can get involved. 

Circle K International, our program for university students, held its 2024 convention in Denver in tandem with the Kiwanis International convention. Delegates elected Taylor DiCicco of the Alabama District to serve as 2024-25 Circle K International president. Attendees participated in workshops about CKI projects and initiatives, including Brick x Brick, in partnership with UNICEF USA. CKI has, to date, raised more than US$130,000 for Brick x Brick, which supports sustainability, education and empowerment for families in the African nation of Côte d’Ivoire by building classrooms with recycled materials. CKI has raised enough money to build two classrooms! 

CKI will again join Kiwanis in Pittsburgh in June 2025 for its concurrent convention. 

PRESQUE ISLE READY FOR SANTA

Kiwanis Reindeer Games are for all children and was at the Presque Isle Community Center. This consisted of many games, including the kids decorating gingerbread cookies. The Club gave each child that attended the event a Christmas stocking filled with all kinds of prizes. They also sold cashews and pecans. This is a project Kiwanis has been doing this for several years. Penny McHatten is the chairperson and the nuts come from Georgia right after they are harvested.