Governor’s Blog: Our Future Looks Bright

April 22, 2024 – In my role as Governor, I’ve had the honor and privilege of attending two service leadership program district conventions recently. If you have never attended one, I strongly encourage Kiwanians to attend just one to get inspired, energized and truly understand why we are Kiwanians!

Circle K District Convention March 22-24, 2024

First up was my trip to the PA Circle K District Convention held at the University of Pitt-Greensburg. It was a refreshing change to have the convention on a university campus, adding the perfect backdrop for a fun filled weekend for this college-level service leadership program. I had a blast addressing the members and guests and sharing my story, along with encouraging them to explore Kiwanis clubs post-graduation.

The weekend included educational forums, social activities, officer elections, service projects, and other enjoyable moments. A big thank you to all Circle K members, especially those from Lock Haven University, with whom I share a special bond from my alma mater. Although I couldn’t stay the entire weekend due to prior commitments, Governor Elect Tom Harp successfully installed District Governor Aisling McShane and the new board members. Expect updates from Governor Aisling on upcoming PA Circle K projects and events. Congratulations to the newly elected PA District Circle K International officers! Many thanks to District Administrator Brett Cutright and the Kiwanis committee for organizing an excellent convention for PA Circle K members.

Key Club District Convention April 5-7, 2024

The next convention I attended was the Key Club District Convention held at The Penn Stater in State College on April 5 – 7, where nearly 200 Key Clubbers gathered, which was fantastic to see! Activities included electing new Lt. Governors and District Officers. One highlight was retiring the current board and district officers, particularly recognizing Governor Joshua Kim’s outstanding service, leadership and dedication to Key Club. He worked extremely well with the Kiwanis District Board and also served on the Kiwanis Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee since its inception in 2021.

Governor-Elect Tom Harp successfully installed new Key Club district officers, including Key Club Governor Lily Kasa from the Key Club of Wyoming Area. Congratulations to all the newly elected Board members and Lt. Governors! Huge thanks to District Administrator Bob Orlando and the entire Key Club committee for making the convention an unforgettable and positive experience for PA Key Club members.

On a personal note, I’m excited about the future of the PA District of Kiwanis, knowing that Circle K and Key Club members may one day become Kiwanians themselves. The future looks bright!

Governor’s Membership KASH Challenge

As a reminder, May is Membership Month. What is your club planning to do during May to promote your club? Or don’t you think that’s necessary? Are you planning an Open House, are you thinking about using the Two for Two program, what about using the ACE Tools? Do you know what ACE means? As you can see, there are many FREE tools available from Kiwanis International to help you grow your club. Check out some NEW and updated tools at https://www.kiwanis.org/members/club-toolbox/.

To boost your club’s membership, I’m offering a special incentive:

For clubs that add at least 5 new members during May, the club will be entered into a drawing for $100.00 donation from me! The only rule is that the new member must be approved by your club’s board and added between May 1-30, 2024. Let’s keep it fair and avoid holding onto membership applications until May 1st to qualify. Who will accept my challenge?

Membership May Education Announcement – May 13, 2024 at 7 pm via Zoom

Join us for a Mini-Membership presentation by James “Jim” Mancuso on Monday, May 13th, at 7:00 PM on Zoom. Jim Mancuso serves as the Membership Coordinator for North America 1 districts, including Pennsylvania. All Pennsylvania District club members and membership chairs are welcome and encouraged to attend. To register for this unique opportunity, go to https://bit.ly/PAVirtualLearning.

A reminder: all clubs should have a membership chair. Currently, only 50 out of 137 clubs in the district have a designated membership chair in the online portal (or Secretary’s Dashboard). This means that 87 clubs in the district do not have a designated membership chair, and this should be a top priority! If your club has a membership chair but they are not listed on the dashboard, please have your club secretary add their name to show our commitment to membership growth in Pennsylvania!

Governor-Elect Tom Harp is actively searching for a District Membership Coordinator for the upcoming 2024-25 administrative year. Your thoughtful consideration could make a significant impact on growing the PA District. Join us in asking someone to step up!

In closing, I thank all of you for reading my comments and wish you all the best as you increase your club’s membership during the month of May. Please consider accepting my challenge and know that Membership isn’t just one person’s responsibility; it’s all of our roles as Kiwanis members to share Kiwanis with others.  Remember more members equals more hands to do service.

Thank you for all you do as Kiwanians in your communities for the kids.

If you missed my other Blog post read them HERE!

Warm Regards,

Governor Conrad
Pennsylvania District Governo
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