NOVA Regional Kiwanis Midwinter Convention: A New Member's Perspective
by Kalonji Samuel, Dulles Area Kiwanis

One of the hallmarks of a great organization can be found in the quality of education and training it avails to its members. Oftentimes, the most effective way for this to occur is through the sharing of ideas and discussion among peers, mentors, and coaches about best practices and lessons-learned throughout the organization. As a new member to the Kiwanis family, and more specifically, to the Dulles Area Kiwanis Club, I was recently able to experience high-quality fellowship through practical education and training by attending my first Mid-Winter Regional Conference.

I arrived at 9am, and as promised by the program guide I received, the conference fulfilled its parallel obligation of being "diverse and entertaining"; replete with reception-area breakfast, lively music, a Kiwanis Store, and a floating Raffle which supported the Capital District Kiwanis Foundation and Children's Pediatric Trauma Centers. As events got underway, Capital District Governor, Tom Ganse highlighted the opening session with a candid presentation on the future growth strategy and the myriad challenges we face as an organization. This established a framework for theoretical discussion that we visited throughout the day in each of the subsequent working sessions that would follow. From discussions on meeting membership challenges, with respect to ongoing cultural shifts, to how to best integrate and leverage technology, we shared, synthesized, and positioned innovative ideas for immediate future action; all with a healthy dose of humor in between.

Each session at the Mid-Winter Regional Conference revealed a striking dynamism not only about the quality of service Kiwanis engenders, but about the quality of people involved as well. From the morning session with the Governor discussing Kiwanis support systems, to 'Kiwanis Bingo' with sweetheart candy for bingo chips, to a lesson in fundraising over lunch, to learning how to save children in Africa, to learning about Kiwanis committee support and involvement, and finally to a capstone closing session with the Raffle event (I'll win something next time), I can easily say that the caliber of fellowship and the level of idea exchange throughout the conference was enriching from start to finish. My single act of attending reinforced in me why the mention of Kiwanis proudly connotes service, leadership, higher ideals, and genuine concern for global citizenship. There is little doubt that all who attended returned home invigorated, recharged, and better prepared to serve. This was indeed a great opportunity to gain the proper footing as one of DAK's newest members.