PNW Kiwanis Builder Winter 2015

Winter 2015

A quarterly resource to help build clubs and communities

PACIFIC NORTHWEST DISTRICT

Kiwanis builder®

Celebrating 100 years of serving the children of the world

One of the most special is the love between a mother and a child.

You can help protect that bond with a gift of love that can save lives

by working to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus.

Last year Americans spent over $130 per person on gifts for Valentine’s Day –

cards, roses, chocolates, stuffed animals and jewelry. This year, your gifts could

make a difference for families worldwide. For the cost of an average Valentine Card,

you could help save the lives of over three mothers and their future babies.

Learn more and make your gift of love at www.TheEliminateProject.org/gift.

Love comesin many forms.

Winter 2015 | PNW Kiwanisbuilder magazine 3

inside the builder | Winter 2015 VOLUME 87, NO. 2

4 Meet Steve, interim secretary

5 Governor’s Message

7 Kiwanis celebrates 100th Anniversary

8 Your PNW Kiwanis Foundation

10 Adventures in Tanzania

13 District Leadership patio project

15 Kiwanians pull together to make a difference in the life of Korean-war veteran

18 Key Club needs Kiwanis

20 News from clubs, divisions, and District programs

__________________________

The KiwanisBuilder magazine is published quarterly by the Pacific Northwest District of Kiwanis International. Standard-class postage paid Portland, OR 97208.

Postmaster: Please send address changes to: PNW District Builder 5427 Glen Echo Avenue Gladstone, OR 97027 USA

Address changes should be submitted to: Kiwanis International Attn: Member Services 3636 Woodview Trace Indianapolis, IN 46268-3196

Submissions guidelines and Advertising rates and requirementscan be found online at kiwanispnw.org.

Publication Schedule Winter January 1 Spring April 1 Summer July 1 Fall October 1

www.kiwanispnw.org

KiwanisBuilder magazine

Robert Munger Governor 2014-15

Pacific Northwest District

Steve Abels Interim Secretary/Treasurer Pacific Northwest District

Victoria Jones Managing Editor

[email protected]

The information in the

KiwanisBuilder magazine is

for illustrative, entertainment,

and discussion purposes

only. It is intended to provide

general information about

the subject matter covered

and is provided with the

understanding that neither

Kiwanis, the contributors nor

the designer are rendering legal,

accounting or tax advice. You

should consult with appropriate

counsel or other advisors on all

matters pertaining to legal, tax

or accounting obligations and

requirements. ©2015

Stock photography ©ThinkStock/jonesy423


Get more information about Kiwanis International and Pacific Northwest District projects:

www.theeliminateproject.org www.kiwanis-kccp.org www.kiwanissign.com

Happy 100th!

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time.

4 PNW Kiwanisbuilder magazine | Winter 2015

Steve Abels has been hired to be our interim District Secretary while we conduct a formal search for a permanent replacement.

Steve is a long-time Kiwanian and is a charter member of the Troutdale Club. His Kiwanis experience includes Lt. Governor, Division 48 (2004-2006), President of the Eugene Club (2001-2002), President of the Historic Downtown Gresham Club (2008-2009), and Secretary of the Troutdale Club (2010-2012).

Steve is an accomplished administrator, career technical education leader, and has senior management experience as a department head. He has additional experience as a small business owner.

Steve will be working at the District Office part time on a weekly basis to assist members and clubs with their programs and projects. He will also be coordinating the efforts of our two staff employees. The Kiwanis International Human Resources department is assisting us in building a formal search package that will go out to active Kiwanis members in the Pacific Northwest District inviting interested and qualified candidates to apply.

Please feel free to contact Steve via either by phone or by e-mail:

Phone: 503-305-7635

E-Mail: [email protected]

As a reminder, the new address for the District Office is: 5427 Glen Echo Avenue Gladstone, Oregon 97027-2627

District Office Update

Meet Steve Abels, interim secretary

Photo:: Gary Beller


A message from Governor Bob

Moving forward into the second centurySince October 1st, the Pacific Northwest District Office has undergone significant change. Most recently, we welcomed our interim secretary, Steve Abels. Steve is settling in well to the duties as District Secretary and already

involved in the planning for our Mid-Winter Board Meeting in February. He can be reached at the District Office by phone: 503-305-7635, or by email: [email protected].

As for how the District Office position will look in the months to come, the executive committee looked at the structure and responsibilities of the combined Executive Director/Secretary/Treasurer. We determined that the District would run more efficiently if the duties of Secretary and Treasurer were separated. We also determined that with those duties separated, the Secretary could more effectively manage the District Office. This would also eliminate the need to hire an Executive Director. We are working with Kiwanis International Human Resources department to develop a formal search package to hire a permanent District Secretary from within our PNW Kiwanis family.

As you might expect, when you move into a new house, you immediately see opportunities to make changes. There were no exceptions here when Steve Abels came to the office. Accumulated stuff dating back several decades stored in the basement became immediate targets for recycle. The same held true for multiple pieces of inoperable or obsolete electronic equipment. We welcome the space freed up for additional storage.

Our Centennial CelebrationSo, let’s look to the future and the excitement of the Kiwanis 100 Year Celebration. Clubs that ordered them have begun receiving their Centennial Celebration kits from Kiwanis International. Use this material to put on your own Centennial Celebration in your local area. Invite your friends, neighbors, and other clubs to recognize and celebrate our 100 years of service to our communities. This will be an excellent opportunity to share your excitement about Kiwanis.

On a larger note, PNW will join hands with Kiwanis International President Dr. John Button for our Centennial Celebration. Dr. Button will visit Redmond, Oregon for the ground breaking of our new playground on February 13th. This will be part of a larger playground and park renovation of Sam Johnson Park in Redmond. Dr. Button will then join us for our Mid-Winter Board Meeting at the DoubleTree Hotel in SeaTac, Washington on February 14th and 15th. The climactic event will be the Centennial Celebration Banquet and Party on Saturday evening at the DoubleTree complete with special guests, live music and entertainment. Everyone is welcome. You don’t need to be part of the board meeting to attend. Tickets will be available for $55 per person. We look forward to seeing you there.


Get ideas and information at Kiwanis.org/Kiwanis100.

In 2015, Kiwanis will turn 100. A celebration this important requires preparation. Is your club getting ready? Add your inspiration to our global celebration. Get ideas and information on the 100th anniversary website!

You’re part of our history. Be part of our celebration.

Get ideas and information at Kiwanis.org/Kiwanis100.

In 2015, Kiwanis will turn 100. A celebration this important requires preparation. Is your club getting ready? Add your inspiration to our global celebration. Get ideas and information on the 100th anniversary website!

You’re part of our history. Be part of our celebration.


Kiwanis is celebrating 100 years of service.Kiwanis became a service organization in 1915 in Detroit Michigan. We are celebrating 100 years as a service organization during our 2014/2015 year throughout the world culminating in a huge celebration at our International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 25-28, 2015.

The Pacific Northwest District has been honored to be one of the districts that our International President Dr. John Button will visit. Dr. Button will attend our Mid-Winter meeting in SeaTac at the DoubleTree Hotel, February 13-15th 2015 to help us celebrate this milestone. Dr. Button will be in Redmond Oregon prior to the meeting doing a ground breaking for a new playground supported by the Redmond Kiwanis Club as part of our celebration.

Our District celebration will culminate with a party on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at the Doubletree Hotel at SeaTac, tickets and other information will be out soon. This of course is Valentine’s Day, what better way to celebrate this day than helping us celebrate 100 years as a service organization? Join us and “Show your Love for Service.”

Our Centennial planning team has been working hard to plan a fun evening. Our entertainment includes a comedian, music and much more. There will be other surprises in store so watch for more information from your Lt. Governors in the future.

Save the date, mark your calendars or put it on your phone, February 13-15, 2014, SeaTac DoubleTree Hotel.

We look forward to seeing you and helping Kiwanis celebrate 100 Years of service.

In 1919, Kiwanis “International Headquarters” moved to a more

spacious office in the Mallers Building on Chicago’s Wabash Avenue.


The Pacific Northwest Kiwanis Foundation is pleased to announce grants awarded during the November, 2014 Board meeting in Yakima:

Kiwanis Club of Redmond, Oregon, $2,500; funding to refurbish the Sam Johnson Park as a Kiwanis International Centennial Project. Kiwanis have partnered with the City of Redmond on the construction, maintenance and renovation of this park for more than 25 years. This major project will bring the park new types of equipment and comply with accessibility standards.

Kiwanis Club of East Spokane, $1,000; funding for bicycle helmet purchases and distribution to youth and to encourage the recipients to “Paint a Helmet” personalizing their new helmets. This is a collaborative project with other Division 46 Kiwanis Clubs in Spokane since 1997.

Kiwanis Club of Parksville-Qualicum, B.C. $2,500; for the purpose of helping fund the Qualicum Beach Affordable House Development and to help low income seniors with secure housing. A significant project, sponsored by the Parkville-Qualicum Kiwanis, is a long term solution for housing.

Kiwanis Club of Bridgetown, Portland, Oregon $1,000; partial funding for the purchase of reading supplies for children while mothers and fathers are attending educational classes and support groups held at the Letty Owings Center, Portland.

Grants approved at the August, 2014 meeting of the Foundation included:

• Kiwanis Club of Kent AM, Washington $1,000

• Kiwanis Club of Ilwaco Long Beach, Washington $1,000

• Kiwanis Club of Centralia-Chehalis, Washington $1,000

• Kiwanis Club of West Valley, Yakima, Washington $500

• Kiwanis Club of Lebanon, Oregon $500

To learn more about the Pacific Northwest Kiwanis Foundation and the grant application process, go to www.pnwkiwanisfoundation.org.

Pacific Northwest District Foundation

Helping you help more.



The strength and stability of any great organization is established with a cornerstone placed for direction and purpose just as one is placed for the foundation of a building to secure its ability to weather the effects of time and serve its purpose. With that in mind, the Directors of your PNW Kiwanis Charitable Foundation have established our cornerstone to be a sustainable one million dollar endowment fund placed for a lasting legacy as Kiwanis begins its second century of service to the world.

We have established a vision of what we want your foundation to look like for the year 2020 and beyond and the services we want to provide. It is called “2020 VISION”. Every Kiwanian in the Pacific Northwest District is a part of the vision because, as a Kiwanian, you are a member of the foundation. In order to have a sustainable $1,000,000 fund and at the same time grow the services we provide to the children, clubs and communities of the Pacific Northwest, we must not stop at one fund goal; but have several levels to reach for. Please take an active part in achieving 2020 VISION for YOUR Foundation.

One way you can participate is to make sure your local club budgets a donation every year to the PNW Foundation. Another way is to make a personal donation every year to the Foundation. We just established a recognition program for individuals who contribute $25.00 or more in any year. It is a beautiful pin that you can display with pride for supporting Foundation efforts. It will change each year so start your collection with the pin pictured below.

Your Foundation Directors are committed to improving communications to the clubs and individual Kiwanians as a part of the overall vision. Please ask for one of the Directors to be a program or give a five minute presentation to your club and Division Council Meeting. Our information flyers and brochures are currently being updated so look for those to be out soon. You can also expect an article in every copy of the Builder informing the District of what is going on with the Foundation. Look for “Foundation Corner.”

Thanks for your past and future support, Roger “Da Rat” Bell Chair, Board Relations and Publications

YOUR PNW FOUNDATION

CORNER

Adventures inTanzaniaby Dr. Andrew Park

10 PNW Kiwanisbuilder magazine

As a chief resident in orthopaedic surgery

at Washington University, I had the unique opportunity to go abroad for 2 weeks for an international elective. After consulting with Dr. Lewis Zirkle of the Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN), I chose to go to Nkoaranga Lutheran Hospital in Arusha, Tanzania to work with Dr. Sam Kiwesa.

I had never been to Africa, and my medical school and residency surgical experiences were all at level 1 trauma centers in the United States, so I had at best a vague idea of what to expect. Before my trip, my thoughts primarily centered on what resources they wouldn’t have—intraoperative fluoroscopy, plates, screws, standard intramedullary nails, reduction tools, and even eye protection. After my two weeks in the OR there, I found that while all the tools I expected to be absent were in fact absent, I was instead filled with admiration for how much they could do with so little.

Arusha is a city of 500,000 people and a major hub for tourism, as it is located between the Serengeti safari circuit and Mount Kilimanjaro. While it has several hospitals, the only one performing orthopaedic surgery is Nkoaranga Lutheran Hospital, an open air, 100 bed hospitals with 1 main operating theater. There are separate wards for male, female, pediatric, and pregnant patients, with

anywhere from 2 to 8 beds per room. They have one x-ray machine, a dark room where x-ray films are developed, and a lab.

Unlike the US, it is the family’s responsibility to bring food to the patients, and accomodations are quite cramped, but none of the patients ever complained. In fact, they were the toughest patients I had ever treated—I saw one man with a floating knee and contralateral distal femur fracture move himself and his unsplinted legs from the stretcher to the OR table. I ran to help him but by the time I got there he had already basically moved himself; it was beyond impressive and unlike anything I had ever seen at home.

At Nkoaranga Lutheran Hospital I worked with Dr. Sam Kiwesa, the only orthopaedic surgeon in the region. Dr. Kiwesa grew up on the grounds of the hospital since his father was the general practioner there, and after he went to medical school and did an orthopaedic surgery residency, he went back home to establish an orthopaedic surgery referral center.

It could not have been easy to obtain the surgical equipment, recruit the OR staff, and essentially build the surgery department from scratch, but it was incredibly fortunate for the people of Arusha that he made the creation

Doctors Kiwesa and ParkWinter 2015 | PNW Kiwanisbuilder magazine 11

of this surgery center his mission because there is an epidemic of long bone fractures there. These fractures are almost entirely sustained while mining tanzanite, falling from trees while cutting firewood, or crashing while riding the piki piki, a small motorcycle that ferries dangerous numbers of unhelmeted passengers and fills the void left by a lack of public transportation.

Dr. Kiwesa’s practice consisted primarily of femur and tibia fractures, but unlike the trauma services I had been part of as a resident in the U.S., there were a disproportionate number of patients with malunions or nonunions that were over a year old, greatly increasing the complexity of the cases.

The windows in the OR served as the light boxes for x-rays, suction tubing was cleaned and re-sterilized, and we used the same bovie pad on all patients until we ran out of bovies in my first week there. All lower extremity fractures were done under spinal anesthesia and upper extremity fractures with ketamine alone. There was no intraoperative fluoroscopy, so fracture reduction and the placement of screws was dependent on feel. Speaking of screws, when we did not have screws of the correct length, we would put in long screws and cut off the prominent ends on the other side of the bone. Given the lack of fluoroscopy, the SIGN nail was truly a game changer. All of these patients would have otherwise been treated with traction, casting, or inferior Kuntscher nails, but thanks to SIGN their crooked bones could be made straight with locked

intramedullary nails. Additionally, the solid nature of the stainless steel SIGN nail enabled it to be used as a very helpful reduction tool in malunion cases. We were able to achieve excellent results in patients with complex injuries despite the limitations of operating without fluoroscopy.

It is my hope that these surgeries that took less than 2 hours will enable the patients to enjoy many productive years once they heal.

I enjoyed a very humbling yet productive 2 weeks in Tanzania with Dr. Kiwesa, and while I hope I helped, I definitely felt that I benefited more from the experience than the patients. I learned how to achieve a great result despite operating in a resource-strapped environment, gained an appreciation for the SIGN nail, and most importantly got to know Dr. Kiwesa and his family, his OR staff, and the Tanzanian people, who are among the friendliest in the world. I couldn’t go down the hallway without people saying “jambo” (hello) or “karibu” (welcome), and Dr. Kiwesa welcomed me into his house for dinner every night. Dr. Kiwesa is a master SIGN surgeon who does it all, including placing the spinal when the anesthetist can’t get it, and it truly was a privilege to work with him and his patients. I had a wonderful time and hope to continue this partnership in the future.

– Andrew Park

“it is incredibly fortunate for the people

of Arusha that Dr. Kiwesa made the creation

of this surgery center his mission”


BRICK ORDER FORMPlease mail the form with your check payable (US Dollars) to PNW Kiwanis

5427 Glen Echo Avenue Gladstone, OR 97027 USA

The bricks will be placed in a patio at the entrance to the new complex

Name: ___________________________________________

Phone:___________________________________________

Email: ___________________________________________

4x8 Brick – $100 each (Red Brick with black block lettering)

Each box below represents a character – Please Print Clearly 14 characters per line, 3 lines maximum (will be centered on brick) Characters include letters, numbers, commas, periods, dashes, spaces etc.

8x8 Brick – $250 each (Gray Brick with black block lettering)

Each box below represents a character – Please Print Clearly 14 characters per line, 5 lines maximum (will be centered on brick) Characters include letters, numbers, commas, periods, dashes, spaces etc.

As part of our landscaping, we are going to make space for a couple of commemorative brick patios that will enhance the grounds.

We are offering to you the opportunity to leave your legacy at this new facility with the purchase of a personal brick that will form part of the patios.

Proceeds from this project will help us maintain the grounds and facility, ensuring that we keep our new face fresh and inviting.

We hope you will want your name to be etched in brick as well!

PNW DISTRICTNEW OFFICE

OCTOBER 2013

GREG & STORMIEHOLLAND

GOVERNOR ANDFIRST LADY2012-2013

12 PNW Kiwanisbuilder magazine


District Leadership Patio ProjectDistrict Leadership Patio ProjectAs current or past leaders in this District I hope each of you will join us in celebrating the new home of the PNW Kiwanis District Office.

At the end of September 2013, the PNW Kiwanis District finalized the purchase of a new office complex in Gladstone, Oregon – just south of Portland and just a short distance off the I205. For those that have visited the current District Office, this is a welcome upgrade that will improve efficiencies, reduce our costs and allow us to host some of our training and meeting needs in the spacious conference/training rooms.

The complex has a wonderful historical building and a newer annex, with plenty of office space for our District Office as well as other revenue producing tenants. As part of our landscaping, we are going to reserve space for an attractive “District Leadership Patio” that will enhance the entry to the office complex. As a current or past District leader, we are offering you this great opportunity to leave your legacy at this new facility with the purchase of a personal commemorative brick that will form a special accent to this patio. The proceeds from this project will help to maintain the grounds and facility, ensuring that we keep our new face fresh and inviting.

Join me in purchasing one or more bricks for this patio. We are offering, for your selection, two sizes of bricks 4x8 (red) and 8x8 (gray), that will fit together in the patio. We hope you will want your name etched in brick.

Greg Holland Pacific Northwest District Governor 2012-2013 [email protected] | (250) 748-4260

Photos this page: Gary Beller

Every year, Kiwanians around the world join

together for one day of global community service.

There are no boundaries.

And there’s no limit to what you and your club

can do for children, for your community, for the

world. In 2015, Kiwanis One Day is April 4.

What will your club do?

Find Kiwanis One Day service ideas and

enter this year’s Kiwanis One Day contest

at www.KiwanisOne.org/oneday APRIL 4, 201514 PNW Kiwanisbuilder magazine | Winter 2015

Troutdale Kiwanis Club organizes volunteers to help Korean War veteran and his wifeby Cari Hachmann | Gresham Outlookgresham, oregon

Sandy and Jack Lowe were coming home on one of those hot summer nights when they decided to stop at the Skyline Pub in Troutdale for a nice cold beer. A man walked by the couple and happened to notice Jack wearing his Korean War veteran’s hat.

Steve Abels, a Troutdale Kiwanis Club member, said it was a polite fluke that he stopped, and shook Jack’s hand, thanking him for his service. Then he asked the 83-year-old veteran how life was going.

It couldn’t have been a better time to ask.

Jack’s health had slipped in June after he went in for a knee replacement surgery and doctors found he had more serious complications in his intestines, requiring him to stay longer at the hospital. He spent a better half of the summer at a care center, having to listen to the 4th of July fireworks from bed.When Jack came home, Sandy said she took him to therapy everyday, with little time or energy to think about anything else.

“Things got set aside,” she said. Sandy also suffers from multiple sclerosis. The 72-year-old has trouble walking. “I keep trying to push on, so I can take care of my husband,” she said.

When Abels asked the couple if they had any other problems, Sandy said, “the yard.” Her 18-year-old grandson helps out as much as he can she said, but even still things had fallen into disrepair.

The next thing the couple knew, more than 50 volunteers from five organizations were at their doorstep at 7:30 a.m. sharp Saturday, Aug. 16. Cars piled into the neighborhood, and trucks hauled in tools, supplies and a 40-foot trash bin, later filled to the brim with debris in the Lowe’s driveway.

Volunteers included Troutdale’s Kiwanis Club members and other local Kiwanis clubs, reserves from the Navy Officers Candidate’s School and members of the Navy Construction Battalion (“Seabees”) as well as missionaries from a Latter-day Saints church in Vancouver. Friends, family members and children also tagged along to help out. Home Depot sent two experienced workers involved with the store’s veteran’s assistance program. Troutdale City Councilor Rich Allen also was there.

Shock and awe

When the whole crew showed up, Sandy was dumbfounded. “I offered to fix lunch, but I didn’t know there were going to be 47 people here,” she said. Abels told her not to worry about it, they had it covered. At lunchtime, a former marine and Lions Club member and his father grilled hamburgers for the entire crew. Eager to help, Sandy served water and iced tea to all the strangers, new friends, who chipped in to help her and Jack.

Abels said worldwide the Kiwanis club is typically focused on serving children, but every local club is different. As for the Troutdale Kiwanis, he said they help out wherever they see a need in the community.

— continued next page

PHOTO: CARI HACHMANN

Sandy,72,andJack,83,weresurprisedandthankful

attheoutpouringofcommunitysupport.

Thecouplehasbeenmarried47years.

The next thing they knew, more than

50 volunteers from five organizations

were at their doorstep.


An outpouring of support

Abels took Jack and Sandy’s story back to the club’s board, and from there got in touch with a few people, including a program he heard about at Home Depot that assists veterans with home improvements. After that, “It just multiplied,” Abels said.

Jack’s story

Jack served as an Army medic during the Korean War from 1951 to 1952, and was stationed in Osaka.

Aside from his recent health troubles, the retired long-haul trucker also needs hearing aids. Sandy said the couple was unable to get them from the Portland VA Medical Center because Jack doesn’t have documentation that he suffered hearing loss during the war. She said, “I tried so many times to get him in for his knees, vision and hearing, but I gave up.”

Abels referred Jack to the Gresham Senior Center where he had an appointment and is still waiting to hear back.

The transformation

Sandy offered tours to show the work volunteers had accomplished in one day. People were still stopping by the house to finish odd jobs. First was a wall in the living room, once covered in burlap wallpaper and 20 years worth of kitty scratches. “It’s been like that for four years,” Sandy said. On Saturday, eight young women from the church group sanded the wall down and primed it. The next week someone came by and painted it a fresh coat of “country cream.”

In the backyard, Navy men helped build a new deck, so Jack no longer has to step down to a slab of concrete. They also replaced old, rotted deck boards, and built a step down to the grass. Trees and hedges were trimmed and shaped. A huge mess of blackberry bushes was removed. Garden beds, dead and rotted, were taken out, and the soil was re-tilled.

In the front yard, the church volunteers edged the front lawn with bricks that weren’t being used in the Lowe’s backyard. The couple had quite a bit of extra lumber volunteers used to put up portions of a new fence, while Home Depot covered a majority of other expenses and supplies.

PHOTO: RICH ALLEN

VolunteersfromtheU.S.NavyandHomeDepothelpedbuildJackandSandyLoweanew

deckattheirTroutdalehome.

PHOTO: RICH ALLEN

AvolunteerworkshardintheLowe’sbackyard.


The Navy guys brought the tools. Volunteers cleared brush from along side of the house, which was overgrown with weeds, bushes and dead flowers. Dirty patios were cleaned with a pressure washer. Weed killer was sprayed on the fresh-cut lawn and gravel driveway, and mulch was spread around Sandy’s stone lawn ornaments.

Abels said workers accomplished in four hours what would have taken one person eight hours a day for a whole month to do. “It’s pretty amazing what a community can do if we all work together,” he said, “Separate from the politics and all the nonsense.”

“It’s just wonderful,” Sandy said, teary-eyed as she walked through her neat and tidy backyard. “You don’t hear of people doing stuff like this anymore. We never asked for any of this.” At the end of the day, men from the Navy presented Jack with a Navy flag and an American flag, which is now raised and flying on the side of the Lowe’s house.

Jack, who is walking with a cane, sat in the living room while his wife graciously told their story. He still hasn’t received his hearing aids, but he smiled and chimed in from time to time. Later when I asked him about the whole ordeal, he said, “It was really a surprise. It came at just the right time because we were in need of it.

This story was reprinted with permission, thanks to The Gresham Outlook and Pamplin Media Group.

“You don’t hear of people doing

stuff like this anymore.

We never asked for any of this.”

PHOTO: RICH ALLEN

JackshakeshandswithNavySeabeesattheendofalongdayofwork.

PHOTO: RICH ALLEN

Youngwomenfromachurchgroupsandandprime

anagingwallintheLoweslivingroom.



KEY CLUB District Convention

DCON . . . a truly amazing experience by Brian Le Lieutenant Governor, Division 66 Pacific Northwest District, Key Club International

DCON is an amazing opportunity for your Key Club members to connect with the

Pacific Northwest network as they come together to share ideas, grow as leaders,

become immersed in service, and become passionate for our organization.

The 66th Annual District Convention – DCON 2015 – will take place on March 13th to March 15th at the Washington State Convention Center and Seattle Sheraton Hotel in

Seattle, Washington. Since it is t, Division 66 will just have to have a great turn out! :)

CONVENTION INFORMATION – registrations are due by January 24th

Convention packets are available online at http://pnwkeyclub.weebly.com/dcon.html

If you are planning to attend DCON this year, please note that you

must fill out an Authorization Form and submit it with the Key Club

you will attend with. Also, please note that you will need to get

background-checked with the school district you are chaperoning

for. The cost for registration and lodging is $345 per person in a

double and $565 per person in a single. Paperwork is sent in as a

CLUB, not as individuals.

Even if you are not attending, please support your Key Club

members as they fill out their registrations, as this is the first time for

many clubs attending DCON.

KIWANIS SUPPORT . . . key to Key Clubs

There are many ways your Kiwanis club can help your Key Clubs to attend. The most

important, yet difficult, part of going to DCON are the financial issues.

> Have scholarships available for your Key Clubbers. Any amount to help decrease

the cost for members to attend is extremely helpful. Talk to your Key Club officers

to help get these scholarships out! Some Kiwanis Clubs pay the registration fees for

their Key Club officers, for example.

> Support with transportation. Transportation is the most difficult aspect of this trip,

especially since most Divisions have clubs from many different school districts. For

example, in our area there has been a high demand for a divisional bus, but in

order to get a divisional bus, we must resort to a private company. Last year, a

bus cost about $2000 PLUS money to lodge the bus driver PLUS money to pay for

parking. These expenses add up extremely quickly. If there is any way Kiwanis clubs

can support on transportation, Key Club members would be aided tremendously.


MY STORYSo this entire article, I have shot you with a

lot of requests and dry information; however,

I would like to take a moment to make this

DCON experience more personal to me.

During my sophomore year, I was elected

Secretary of Clackamas Key Club. No

other underclassman had signed up for

DCON, but I took the risk of going alongside

upperclassmen I barely knew. It became the

best decision I ever made. Coming from this

experience, I came back with countless ideas

and passion to better my club and expand

our sphere of influence in our communities.

Had I not gone to DCON that year, I would

not be writing this to you as the Lieutenant

Governor for my DIvision. This experience

absolutely transformed my view of Key Club

and Kiwanis. I was able to network with

members from far and near and met amazing

support, like our very own Kiwanis advisor, Ms.

Laura Parsons.

This DCON experience means so much to

me, and if we are able to get more clubs

and members up to convention, I guarantee

that we will have a surge in activity and Key

Club membership in the years to come for our

great District.

THANK YOU

With that said, I would like to thank you for

your time. As always, I would not be able to

do what I do without your support. I’m asking

you all now to support not only me, but an

entire District of hardworking Key Clubbers in

any way, shape, or form possible.

Yours In Caring Service,

Brian


Key Club DCON 2015March 13-15Seattle, WA

Key Club DCON 2015March 13-15Seattle, WA


Back to school, but remembering Camp Caseywhidby island, washington

There is a chill in the air and the days are getting shorter. School buses are back on the roads and the sounds of children laughing on the playgrounds can be heard all around. Yes, school has started for another year.

However, to a group of about 90 children in the Greater Puget Sound Area, the smiles are still on their faces and the love is still felt in their hearts from the experience they had at “camp.”

These are the kids of Kiwanis Camp Casey. This camp is a special place for children with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spin bifida, congenital limb disorders or childhood spinal cord injuries.

These children between the ages of 6-17 have the opportunity to spend a week with other kids with disabilities, being able to “just be themselves” and make friends that will last a lifetime. For them, it is a week to engage in typical summer activities – something many of these kids don’t have the opportunity to do except at this camp.

There are counselors assigned to assist the campers and there is always a lot of one-on-one time and attention given to any special needs of these kids. These counselors are young people ages 16–25. Many of them have chosen their lifetime careers based on the experiences they have had at Camp Casey.

Some of them return year after year to be part of this heartwarming experience. After hearing the campers and the volunteers talk about camp, it is easy to see what a truly amazing adventure this is for everyone. Some of the campers have attended numerous times and they tell how this camp has changed their lives and how they look forward to it all year. It is staffed with nurses, counselors, cooks and other volunteers – all donating their time to be with these kids during their week at camp.

Barb Williams has been the director of Camp Casey for six years and is also a member of North Central Kiwanis Club. She does an amazing job of overseeing all aspects of the camp organization and administration. She first volunteered at Camp Casey in her teen years through her high school Key Club.

She met her husband, Paul, while volunteering and they both give credit to Camp Casey for helping them select their career paths. Both of their children were counselors in their teens and now volunteer each year.

Williams said, “We work under the auspice of the Kiwanis International Mission Statement: ‘Serving the Children of the World’ and Kiwanis Camp Casey exemplifies the very best of Kiwanis. It provides an incredible, life changing week for the campers and their families. Most of our campers are not able to experience typical overnight camps. Kiwanis Camp Casey allows an incredibly fun, life changing experience and along the way our campers learn confidence, independence, improved communications and make lifelong friends. Parents are given a much needed respite and the opportunity to watch their child bloom as a result of the Camp Casey experience.”

In the midst of all the excitement at “camp” you will find members of the Kiwanis Club of Kirkland as part of the volunteer family. The club has participated at the camp for the past

seven years doing a variety of volunteer jobs. There are about eight volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of Kirkland that help out each year. Mark Shinstrom, past president of the Kiwanis Club of Kirkland says, “It is a wonderful experience to interact with these kids, because that is what it is all about – the kids.”

Kiwanis Camp Casey is located on Whidbey Island and is owned by Seattle Pacific University. It is sponsored and partially funded by the North Central Kiwanis Club, Seattle which also oversees all fundraising. This camp is fully funded so it is free of charge to these kids and has been for 75 years. This is due to the generosity of the North Central Kiwanis Club, Seattle, its donors, foundation grants and employee matching funds.

The camp leadership team is responsible for raising an average of $45,000 annually to keep the camp running. This covers renting the facility from SPU, food, transportation, insurance for that year, along with other expenses.

In addition to the funds the club receives from its community, they also sponsor a yearly dinner/auction. For more information about the dinner/auction, volunteering or how to make a donation to Camp Casey, visit www.campcasey.org.

– Bonni Sundberg Kiwanis Club of Kirkland

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Design plans for playground unveiledissaquah, washington

Design plans for a new all-accessible playground at Lake Sammamish State Park were unveiled on Dec. 9 during an open house hosted by Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park at Gibson Hall in Issaquah.

Currently there are two playgrounds at the park, both of which are outdated, uninspiring and not up to current standards for safety or accessibility. The new planned playground will be accessible for all ages and abilities.

The playground will have challenging play structures that encourage climbing and imagination, water features, a zip line, and some environmental education components. A giant heron, representing the park’s well-known heron rookery, is being designed to trigger a spray of water when children walk by. Picnic tables and benches will be included.

The new playground will be closer to the new bathhouse currently under construction, and will add to landscaping and walkways designed to further redevelopment of the main beach at the state park.

In addition to the bathhouse, new sand is planned for Sunset Beach, and a sand box for children will be built along with new volleyball pits. The park has also received funding for fishing/boating docks at Sunset Beach.

“We hope the playground will be the best in King County, if not the state,” said Debbie Berto, board member of Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park. “It will be a true destination for families.”

The next step will be fundraising to make the playground a reality. Early estimates are up to $700,000 for the playground and the necessary site work.

The playground design work was paid for by a $20,000 grant from the Kiwanis Club of Issaquah.

BradyRitter

Olympia Kiwanians honor local studentolympia, washington

Olympia High School Principal, and Olympia Kiwanian Matt Grant introduced the club to November’s Achieving by Believing student - Brady Ritter at the November 24, 2014, meeting of the Olympia Kiwanis Club.

Together with OHS English teacher Deb England, Brady was described as:

“Persistent, resilient, and a student who represents Olympia High School in the best way. Brady has worked hard to become a part of Olympia High School. He is the team manger of the Women’s Basketball Team. He is hardworking and persisted, well organized and honest. He is committed to the process of learning and has overcome the symptoms of autism. Brady is a senior this year and has been accepted to Arizona State University.”

Grateful student thanks Kiwanians for support

October 29, 2014

Dear Kiwanis Club of Olympia:

I wish to send a special thanks to all who were involved with the purchase of the HP Pavillion Smart Touch Laptop. Thanks to you, I have all the necessary skills and materials for acacemic success.

As you have said, “Pay it Forward”. That’s exactly what I am going to do. The idea of helping someone, as you have helped me, is something that I really look forward to. So, thank you for giving and inspiring me to help out in my community.

One of the biggest things that I wanted to work on was getting back all my credits and keeping up with my classes this year. Now it’s going to be easier. I am now able to work on APEX from home to gain credits that I lost in my previous high school years. I am also able to do all my online work at home for my classes this year.

Also, I am going to be able to finish my Washington State history credit, that I lost my 8th grade year. So thank you so much and I can’t wait to pay it forward.

Sincerely, Teah Christensen

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Kiwanis Club of West Valley funds local parkyakima, washington

The Kiwanis Club of West Valley recently presented a $1,000 check to the Yakima City Parks and Recreation Department to help fund significant improvements to Randle Park.

The donation was presented to Janese Sanders, Parks and Recreation Executive Assistant, by Community Service Committee members Gary McLaren and Roger Lewis. The award was made possible through club service funds and a grant from the PNW Kiwanis Foundation.

PNW Kiwanis Foundation institutes Disaster Relief FundIn response to recent PNW District disasters, the PNW Kiwanis Foundation has found that we can provide significant service to our local clubs. We have committed to doing that through a ‘designated account’ for response efforts.

PNW Foundation Disaster Relief Fund is a dedicated account/line item to support clubs and communities in the Pacific Northwest District who have experienced a disaster and need help. The Foundation is now accepting donations from clubs and individuals to build the fund. The Board is working on draft guidelines to be reviewed in February, 2015 with adoption as soon as possible.

Salmon Days dinner in Issaquah proves to be tasty and profitable!issaquah, washington

Issaquah is a wonderful community! Thanks to everyone who came to the Kiwanis Salmon Dinner at Salmon Days. More than 2,000 of us enjoyed the delicious salmon meal – and by coming donated more than $20,000 that Kiwanis will be donating back to non-profits in the Issaquah area.

A special thanks to Trident Seafood who donated the delicious, bone-free salmon to Kiwanis this year and to Erik Nelson, the Issaquah High Key Clubber who asked Trident to make the donation. We received many compliments on the tasty fish – the best ever.

More than 100 Key Clubbers and Builder’s Club students donated part of their weekend to help and make the Kiwanis Salmon Dinner the magnificent party it was. These students at our Issaquah area schools are amazing people and wonderful citizens.

Your 2014-2015 Convention Committee is looking for a team of volunteers!You would be asked year after year to devote some of your time for each convention. Some areas needed for long-term are as follows:

1. Grunts: Develop a team who want to volunteer long-term to help set up the Wednesday prior to convention and tear down and load up the following Sunday.

2. Administrative: Develop a team who want to volunteer long-term to dedicate hours to registration and credentials.

3. Sgt. of Arms: Develop a team who wants to volunteer long-term to dedicate hours to the job of Sgt. of Arms and work alongside the famous Donna Kelso.

4. Exhibit Hall: One long-term volunteer, someone with energy; to manage, market and promote this educational experience.

5. Floaters: We need a couple of long-term volunteers who can just be floaters, who may go in and out of the above jobs.

If you are interested in volunteering and being part of this dynamic team please email your enthusiastic response to the following:

Steve Emhoff: [email protected] Cindy Crowther: [email protected]

Key Club and Circle K Scholarship applications are due to the PNW Kiwanis Foundation no later than February 1, 2015. Applications and information can be found on the PNW Kiwanis Foundation website: pnwkiwanisfoundation.org. Please be sure to mail applications to the new Foundation address— 5427 Glen Echo Avenue, Gladstone, OR 97027.

Kiwanis Club of Bridgetown and the PNW Foundation team up to help addicted mothers and their familiesportland, oregon

The Kiwanis Club of Bridgetown recently became involved with the Letty Owings Center in Portland, Oregon. LOC is a residential treatment center for addicted mothers and pregnant women who need a safe place to live with their children while obtaining treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. It is the only such treatment facility in Portland that allows children under the age of 5 to stay with their mothers.

While at the Letty Owings Center, mothers are surrounded by staff who model appropriate behavior and

teach the tools each mother will need to be successful in her recovery and self-sufficient in raising her children. Mothers learn essential life and parenting skills – things most of us take for granted, such as how to shop and prepare healthy meals, how often to feed and bathe children, and how to play.

Our club has identified many projects to support LOC and provide one-on-one services to the mothers and children that reside at the facility. One such activity is play-group and reading times with the children while the mothers are either receiving services through the facility.

We were awarded a grant from our PNW Kiwanis Foundation to help fund the activities we will be providing at the Center. Specifically these funds will be used to purchase supplies to establish a garden, provide cooking classes and

in the play-group sessions – including puppets, hands-on educational toys and books to help the young mothers learn how to engage in age-appropriate play with their children.

Future projects we have discussed include baby showers for new mothers, an annual “birthday” party for the children, and tutoring in math and language skills for mothers working on their GED.

Bridgetown is excited to partner with the Letty Owings Center to provide education and support to mothers and children. With the help of LOC, mothers are supported in achieving sobriety and avoid having their children placed in foster care during this process.

Once the mothers graduate from the Letty Owings Center, they enter transitional housing and are provided with a box of basic supplies to support them in their new living environment. The boxes include dishes, cookware, bed linens and baby furniture.

We intend to use additional funds to give each child a book or mother a cookbook in celebration as they graduate from the Center.


HAVE YOU MOVED?If you have moved, or are planning to move, please print your name and new address:

Name ____________________________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________________

City _____________________________ St/Prov_______ Postal/Zip Code____________

Send this form, with the address label from the back cover, to:

Member Services Department Kiwanis International 3636 Woodview Trace Fax: 317-879-0204 Indianapolis, IN 46268 Email: [email protected]

HAVE YOU MOVED?If you have moved, or are planning to move, please print your name and new address:

Name ____________________________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________________

City _____________________________ St/Prov_______ Postal/Zip Code____________

Send this form, with the address label from the back cover, to:

Member Services Department Kiwanis International 3636 Woodview Trace Fax: 317-879-0204 Indianapolis, IN 46268 Email: [email protected]



Kiwanis International5427 Glen Echo AvenueGladstone, OR 97027 USA

www.kiwanispnw.org/kiwanis100.htmlwww.kiwanispnw.org/kiwanis100.html

Pass it On! When finished reading this magazine, cover the address printed at right with a label indicating your club name, meeting time/location, and contact information. Then give it to a prospective member or leave it in a waiting room.

SAVE THE DATES

The CentennialCelebration is coming!The 100th anniversary of Kiwanis International is a worldwide celebration—and it’s coming to us! Join Kiwanis President John Button in our district as we kick off the next 100 years.

FEBRUARY 13TH, 2015 REDMOND, OREGON

FEBRUARY 14TH, 2015 SEATAC, WASHINGTON

PNW Kiwanis Builder Winter 2015

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