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2007-2008
Florida Kiwanis has arrived! Clubs are getting new officers and
I hope new enthusiasm. Lt. Governors are making the rounds and
encouraging clubs to do more. District Chairs are instructing and
providing resources for new and better service. The Florida Kiwanis
office staff is busy with new projects and initiatives. It is always
an exciting time for Kiwanis. Plans are in place, goals are set,
hopefulness abounds. Sharon and I are honored and humbled to be
leaders for the coming year.
Before we jump
too far into 2007-2008, I want us to look back on 2006-2007. Florida
Kiwanis led the world in many, many categories. Past Governor Phil
Yorston pushed, prodded and encouraged clubs and individuals to do
things they only dreamed possible.
If we were in
competition and this was a youth league baseball game, they would
have called it off due to the mercy rule. Florida led the North
American Kiwanis world in new club building. We built more Kiwanis
Clubs than at any time in many years. We provided over 150,000
dictionaries to elementary students. We implemented Key Leader to
encourage and build leaders. We will have more distinguished clubs
than ever before.
There is one
other category of which I am so, so proud. We built over 100
K-Family Clubs in Florida. No other district is even in this league.
This is Major League. Everyone else is in the A league. I remember
back on my start in the K-family and know that without someone,
somewhere wanting Key Club to be started at North Fort Myers High
School, I would not be who I am today. This emphasis on K–family
Clubs has created a renaissance in several clubs. Clubs that have
not been excited in years are moving and shaking.
We have
momentum. If your club hasn’t felt it, you are sleeping. Wake
up, get off the snooze button. Greet the Day. 2006-2007 was the year
that Florida Kiwanis did what they said could not be done. In
2007-2008, we are going to focus on building our membership by
double digit percentages. If Kiwanis is to be a million members
strong by 2015, then we have to make a huge leap. Let’s make it this
year. |
