Newsletter

The Nebraska-Iowa Kiwanis District Foundation

JANUARY, 2006

MARY’S THOUGHTS

Happy new year! This is the first of many newsletters to keep you updated with the work and projects that are going on within the district that are Foundation specific.

We have already completed the first quarter of the administrative year. How is it going? Just a gentle reminder to submit your reports to me by the end of this month. Clark Marshall surprised me with his in December! Remember to keep the yellow portion for your records for tax purposes.

We have almost completed all PTK training and distribution of kits in Nebraska. Iowa still needs clubs and individuals to come forward to purchase kits. Remember, the Foundation will match until March 31, 2006. After that, we will still do the administrative work (ordering kits, setting up the training, keeping track of communities still in need, etc), but will not provide any more Foundation money.

Darrell Nelson shared with me a story of a club which always honors its going president with a gift from the International Foundation. He suggested they make the president a gift of Life Member status through the District Foundation. Something the club had never considered! Now this club is doing just that! Way to go, Darrell! This again, unfortunately shows that a lot of clubs don’t realize we are two distinct Foundations. We all need more education in this area.

The Mid year agenda will be rather long. We will be doing something different at our trustee dinner this year—it will be a working dinner. We will break into our committees and try to get things going at the committee level.

Once again we will do our “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” workshop. I invite each of you to develop two questions, complete with 3 incorrect answers and one correct answer we might be able to use. Please get me your questions by March 15.

Thank you again for all the work you are doing in your divisions to raise the awareness of the District Foundation. Your hard work is reflected in the increasing donations. You are to be commended for your efforts!

Corrections

There was a mistake on the printing of the stationery distributed earlier. It pertains to division 14’s Daryn Hamilton. His home phone is: 641-469-6162.

Larry Ziska has a new business number. Please note his new number: 402-778-1326. His new fax number is: 402-778-1399

Foundation bylaws

The executive committee has been busy working on proposed by law changes. One big change in the bylaws is the split in office of the secretary-treasurer. Don Glenn is running for district treasurer, which means we need to look closely at this office. We also updated the bylaws as a result of our strategic planning sessions which carried various recommendations. Soon you will be able to view these proposed changes on the district foundations’ website. Feel free to print them off. You all received a copy of the original bylaws you can use as a guide. If you can think of any reason we should not change something, or we missed something that should be changed, please bring it up at the Foundation Board meting which will be held on Friday, March 24, 2006; 3:00 – 6:00 PM at the MidYear conference hotel. (Details to follow.)

New district project

We need your help! We need to find a new project for the District Foundation. Our grant committee cannot successfully apply for grants until we have identified a particular project for the Foundation. Please ask around your clubs, communities, new parents, young parents, hospitals, etc. to see what needs are in your community that might be the same district wide.

Once you have come up with one or more ideas for a Foundation project, we need you to do the research. Can or should we partner with others to get the job done. Cost. Availability. We will then ask you to present this at the board meeting in March.

mid winter board of directors agenda

The Foundation Board of Director’s meeting will be held at the Midyear hotel on March 24, 2006 from 3:00 – 6:00 PM.

I. Call to Order

II. Secretaries report

III. Treasurer’s report

IV. Pediatric Trauma Report

V. Proposed Bylaw changes

VI. Proposed Foundation projects

VII. Misc.

VIII. Adjourn

Mid year working dinner

Following our board of directors meeting, we will be having dinner in our meeting room around 7:00 PM. The cost of the meal will be $18 and will be catered in. Because this meeting is during Lent on a Friday night, there will be a non-meat entrée as well as a chicken entrée. When the date approaches, I will ask for a count on the meals.

Please check to see what committee you are assigned. Goals have been outlined for each committee. Please come prepared to share with your committee your insights and thoughts on what can be done to enhance whatever it is your committee is slated to accomplish.

Spouses, partners, friends are also invited to join us for dinner. Sometimes these people are the ones that have the better ideas!

District foundation accepts credit cards

At the district convention in West Des Moines last August, the foundation accepted credit and debit cards for memberships within the district, as well as gifts to the foundation. We collected more than $800 in gifts. The silent auction proceeds were all ear marked for the Foundation, and we collected another $1500 through credit card payments.

At the mid winter, we will once again accept credit and debit cards. Shortly, Don will have on our web site the ability for people to pay on - line with credit cards to become Life and Star Life members, Bartletts, etc. So, when you visit your clubs, please make them aware we are now able to accept their memberships and gifts on line.

District foundation awards

We have some new Bartletts to award at the Midyear convention, which really excites me. If you know of a new Bartlett-elect in your division, please encourage them to attend the Midyear. There, we will have you, as the division trustee,bestow the recognition on that individual. I will be contacting those of you who do have the opportunity to do this honor.

Camp ok

We will be having two booths at the Midyear. One will be the regular Foundation booth with information on all our projects, as well as the number of clubs that have given, the amounts given, brochures, etc. The second booth will be specifically dedicated to Camp OK. Please be sure to stop by and check it out. The cost for a campership will be $300 this year. Camp will be held June 11-16, 2006 at the camp in Gretna, NE. The camp director, as well as some of the camp counselors will be on hand to share their knowledge and experience. Encourage your clubs to stop by—especially those that have never sent a student before!

Governor ray offers a contest to division trustees

Governor Ray has announced a contest for division trustees to win a clock for their efforts. As of the mid year, the division that has the most in club gifts to the district and international foundations will be awarded some of his prized clocks her has been presenting around the district. This will be based on the percentage of clubs participating in each division. So get out there and hustle!

Kiwanis international foundation

And, finally, please do not forget to promote the International Foundation to your clubs. Remember, Key Clubs and Circle K clubs receive scholarships based on the club participation level. The recommended club donation is $5 per member. The money we send into the International Foundation does come back to help the district. As I mentioned, there are scholarships available, but we also received $30,000 in grants from International the past 3 years as well as a percent of money given directly back to the District Foundation to help with training. So, as you can see, by supporting the International Foundation, we all win.