Greetings, fellow Pennsylvania Kiwanians!
I hope that you all had a wonderful Holiday Season. We have turned the corner on another year, and now look forward to a successful 2025 for the Pennsylvania Kiwanis District.
2025 boasts several significant milestones. On January 17, Kiwanis International will be celebrating its 110th Anniversary. Founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan, Kiwanis has grown to over 170,000 adult members in 85 countries.
Perhaps even more significant is the 100th Anniversary of Key Club International on May 17. Key Club started in 1925 in Sacramento, California and has since grown to over 250,000 members in 45 countries. It is the largest student-led organization in the world. Congratulations, Key Club International!
And, perhaps little known and overlooked is that Kiwanis Builders Clubs will be 50 years old this year! The first Builders Club was chartered in 1975. Today, there are over 23,000 members and 1,100 Builders Clubs in 21 nations.
I would also like to congratulate both Aktion Clubs and K-Kids Clubs for 25 years of service as a member of our Kiwanis family. I was a delegate at the 2000 Kiwanis International Convention in Miami Beach and supported the foundation of those Service Leadership Programs.
Oh, and let’s not forget another cherished member of our Kiwanis family of SLP’s, Circle K Club, which has been providing community service on college campuses for the past 78 years.
Another huge milestone for us is that for the first time in the history of Kiwanis, Pennsylvania will be hosting its International Convention in Pittsburgh, June 25-28! We expect over 2,000 attendees, including at least 100 from our District. Now that the holidays are over, I encourage you to register for the convention. At last report, our District had 6 “early bird” registrations. Things will pick up in the next month or two. We need to support our own Cathy Szymanski, a candidate for KI Vice-President! And volunteers to staff our exhibit area in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
I would also like to encourage all of our members to attend the District Midyear Conference, to be held on Saturday, February 22 from 10 AM to 3 PM at the Holiday Inn in Grantville. Registration is now live on the District website. The theme of the conference is “Ready, Aim, Impact.” Our Keynote Speaker and facilitator in the morning will be Heather Kay, a dynamic speaker from the Philadelphia area. This will be an interactive session with a variety of insightful activities. There will be sessions on membership growth, how to better market Kiwanis in our communities, and how to increase a club’s impact and legacy in in the future. There will also be the presentation of District awards. So please plan to register and join us on February 22!
I will be attending the Kiwanis Americas Governors Conference later this week in Indianapolis. Governors will report on their efforts to boost membership, and to build new clubs. We have established a schedule of new club openings for the balance of the 2024-25 administrative year. We will be working with Regional Trustees, Lt. Governors and our New Club Opening Team, led by Mike Coolbaugh and Cathy Szymanski in planning those events. This month we will be concentrating on finishing up the Penns Valley new club build. And Mike, as District Membership Chair, is coordinating requests for Club Boosts, sharing information on membership growth and retention, and promoting the “Build, Nurture and Retain” initiative of Kiwanis International. I am witnessing a new spirit of enthusiasm and dedication by clubs in the District to growing their membership. New members bring fresh ideas, vitality, and more “hands of service” to our mission. For all of our clubs that are dedicated to increasing membership, keep up the good work!
And, speaking of club growth, next week I plan to announce the winner of my “Rise in Membership” contest for the first quarter of my year as Governor. That club will receive a $100 Sheetz or Wawa gift card (their choice), a $100 donation to their club’s Service Account, and a “Certificate of Recognition” from me. I can’t wait to visit that club and present their award!
So, as far as 2025 Resolutions are concerned, I resolve to:
• Help facilitate the opening of 6 new clubs in the Pennsylvania District
• Support and encourage the development of Service Leadership Programs
• Provide clubs with tools and resources to promote Kiwanis in their communities
• Fill vacant Lt. Governor positions
• Provide assistance to clubs to boost their memberships
• Encourage members to register and to serve as delegates at the Kiwanis International Convention in Pittsburgh
• Have an AMAZING Midyear Conference
• Visit as many clubs as I can, especially those celebrating anniversaries and other special events
• Support our District Leadership Team
• Encourage clubs to support the Kiwanis Children’s Fund and Pennsylvania Kiwanis Foundation
• Promote my Governor’s Project, “Bucks for Babies”
• Be there for YOU when needed
I am sure I missed something, other than a personal goal to lose at least 20 pounds!
Thank you for all that you do for Kiwanis, and the children we serve. Have a Healthy, Happy, and Prosperous New Year. And continue to “Rise and Shine for the Kids!
Best wishes,
Governor Tom
Pennsylvania District Governor
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Last Updated: January 8, 2025 by pennsylvaniakiwanis
New Year’s Resolutions
Greetings, fellow Pennsylvania Kiwanians!
I hope that you all had a wonderful Holiday Season. We have turned the corner on another year, and now look forward to a successful 2025 for the Pennsylvania Kiwanis District.
2025 boasts several significant milestones. On January 17, Kiwanis International will be celebrating its 110th Anniversary. Founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan, Kiwanis has grown to over 170,000 adult members in 85 countries.
Perhaps even more significant is the 100th Anniversary of Key Club International on May 17. Key Club started in 1925 in Sacramento, California and has since grown to over 250,000 members in 45 countries. It is the largest student-led organization in the world. Congratulations, Key Club International!
And, perhaps little known and overlooked is that Kiwanis Builders Clubs will be 50 years old this year! The first Builders Club was chartered in 1975. Today, there are over 23,000 members and 1,100 Builders Clubs in 21 nations.
I would also like to congratulate both Aktion Clubs and K-Kids Clubs for 25 years of service as a member of our Kiwanis family. I was a delegate at the 2000 Kiwanis International Convention in Miami Beach and supported the foundation of those Service Leadership Programs.
Oh, and let’s not forget another cherished member of our Kiwanis family of SLP’s, Circle K Club, which has been providing community service on college campuses for the past 78 years.
Another huge milestone for us is that for the first time in the history of Kiwanis, Pennsylvania will be hosting its International Convention in Pittsburgh, June 25-28! We expect over 2,000 attendees, including at least 100 from our District. Now that the holidays are over, I encourage you to register for the convention. At last report, our District had 6 “early bird” registrations. Things will pick up in the next month or two. We need to support our own Cathy Szymanski, a candidate for KI Vice-President! And volunteers to staff our exhibit area in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
I would also like to encourage all of our members to attend the District Midyear Conference, to be held on Saturday, February 22 from 10 AM to 3 PM at the Holiday Inn in Grantville. Registration is now live on the District website. The theme of the conference is “Ready, Aim, Impact.” Our Keynote Speaker and facilitator in the morning will be Heather Kay, a dynamic speaker from the Philadelphia area. This will be an interactive session with a variety of insightful activities. There will be sessions on membership growth, how to better market Kiwanis in our communities, and how to increase a club’s impact and legacy in in the future. There will also be the presentation of District awards. So please plan to register and join us on February 22!
I will be attending the Kiwanis Americas Governors Conference later this week in Indianapolis. Governors will report on their efforts to boost membership, and to build new clubs. We have established a schedule of new club openings for the balance of the 2024-25 administrative year. We will be working with Regional Trustees, Lt. Governors and our New Club Opening Team, led by Mike Coolbaugh and Cathy Szymanski in planning those events. This month we will be concentrating on finishing up the Penns Valley new club build. And Mike, as District Membership Chair, is coordinating requests for Club Boosts, sharing information on membership growth and retention, and promoting the “Build, Nurture and Retain” initiative of Kiwanis International. I am witnessing a new spirit of enthusiasm and dedication by clubs in the District to growing their membership. New members bring fresh ideas, vitality, and more “hands of service” to our mission. For all of our clubs that are dedicated to increasing membership, keep up the good work!
And, speaking of club growth, next week I plan to announce the winner of my “Rise in Membership” contest for the first quarter of my year as Governor. That club will receive a $100 Sheetz or Wawa gift card (their choice), a $100 donation to their club’s Service Account, and a “Certificate of Recognition” from me. I can’t wait to visit that club and present their award!
So, as far as 2025 Resolutions are concerned, I resolve to:
• Help facilitate the opening of 6 new clubs in the Pennsylvania District
• Support and encourage the development of Service Leadership Programs
• Provide clubs with tools and resources to promote Kiwanis in their communities
• Fill vacant Lt. Governor positions
• Provide assistance to clubs to boost their memberships
• Encourage members to register and to serve as delegates at the Kiwanis International Convention in Pittsburgh
• Have an AMAZING Midyear Conference
• Visit as many clubs as I can, especially those celebrating anniversaries and other special events
• Support our District Leadership Team
• Encourage clubs to support the Kiwanis Children’s Fund and Pennsylvania Kiwanis Foundation
• Promote my Governor’s Project, “Bucks for Babies”
• Be there for YOU when needed
I am sure I missed something, other than a personal goal to lose at least 20 pounds!
Thank you for all that you do for Kiwanis, and the children we serve. Have a Healthy, Happy, and Prosperous New Year. And continue to “Rise and Shine for the Kids!
Best wishes,
Governor Tom
Pennsylvania District Governor
Category: Governor Blog
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