Gov. Jeffrey's Message

by Gov. Jeffrey Wolff

Jen and I are expecting our second child at the end of July 2012 and we are overjoyed about that news!  I start my message this month with this information because as parents eagerly anticipating the birth of a child, the ELIMINATE Project strikes particularly close to home for us.  As parents and grandparents could you imagine any more devastating news than to learn that your newborn was stricken with neo-natal tetanus.  You can't hold, speak or comfort the child in any way, because stimuli of any kind makes the baby even more uncomfortable as it endures painful convulsions that eventually lead to death.   You are completely helpless to assist the child.   But the real cruelty is that this never had to be.  Unlike so many diseases we deal with, tetanus is perfectly preventable through a series of three vaccinations costing $1.80 in total and providing the mother and baby with immunity from the disease for ten years.  

Kiwanis International has partnered with UNICEF again, as it did previously when we eradicated Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), but this time to eliminate maternal and neo-natal tetanus (MNT) in the 38 countries where this disease still kills 60,000 babies and a significant number of mothers every year.   In the last 12 years, UNICEF and its partners have immunized nearly 100 million women in 50 countries with two or more doses of the vaccine and have eliminated the disease in 21 countries.   So, we know it can be done and Kiwanis is going to be the organization to raise the needed $110 million dollars by 2015 to fund the remaining push to worldwide elimination.

The heart of my message today is to urge you and your Kiwanis club to join in the fight.   As it relates to fundraising for ELIMINATE, no one is asking your club to give up the projects and worthy charities in your community that you already support.  It is our hope that each Kiwanis club will start at least one new fundraising initiative, solely for the ELIMINATE campaign.    The Capital District was a global leader in the fight against IDD raising $1.4 million dollars and surpassing our goal as a district.   We need to step up and be leaders again and we will!    To date, we have already raised $208,000 for the campaign with 65 out of our 170 clubs participating in some way!  

Individually, you can make a personal donation to the campaign such as the Walter Zeller Fellowship recognition of a $1250.00 contribution to the Kiwanis International Foundation.  This recognition was created solely for the ELIMINATE project and will no longer be available after 2015 when the project is completed.   Most importantly a donation at the Zeller Fellowship level saves at least 694 lives.   Much like the George F. Hixon Fellowship, additional contributions of $1250.00 will be recognized with a Diamond level status as well.   So far, we have 48 Zeller Fellowship members in our District and 8 Diamond Level Zellers, more than any other district in our region.    A couple of our members have even pledged to be Major Donors to the campaign with an incredibly generous pledge of $25,000 or more over five years saving almost 14,000 lives.

As a Kiwanis club, you can pledge to become a Model Club.   A Model Club is a Kiwanis club that agrees to donate at least $750.00 per member (as of your membership at the time you make the pledge) over the five years of the campaign.   Just recently the Kiwanis Club of James River joined the Kiwanis Club of Rockville and the Kiwanis Club of Tysons Corner/McLean as our latest Model Club.   Ideally, I'm hoping that at least one club in each of our 21 divisions agrees to become a Model Club and support this initiative.   For some of our larger clubs, you may want to consider leading the campaign as a 100K Club. These are clubs that pledge to give at least $100,000.00 to the campaign and include many forms of recognition including a presentation on-stage at the next Kiwanis International Convention.  A $100,000 donation is actually less than the Model Club pledge of $750 per member for clubs with 134 members or more. 

Our District Coordinator for ELIMINATE is Past Governor John Tyner.  He and his team of multi-divisional coordinators, division coordinators and club coordinators will be spreading the message this year throughout the district about ELIMINATE and how your clubs can get involved.  Many resources are available to make sure that clubs are successful in their efforts.  

In addition to fundraising efforts, service projects that your club can initiate for ELIMINATE also tie into our Young Children: Priority One campaign.   Your club can promote advocacy and information about tetanus in conjunction with a local hospital or sponsor a immunization day for children in the community.   Our Service Leadership Programs clubs are also joining the fundraising campaign for ELIMINATE and have already raised over $28,000 in 73 clubs, but its even better if you can involve them in your hands-on service initiatives.  

In addition to serving a global need, the ELIMINATE Project is a way for Kiwanis to get better brand recognition.  It is also a great way for your Kiwanis club to promote itself within your community.  What caring citizen would not want to join an organization that is working to save the life of a baby?  Our clubs needs to use this opportunity to not only collect funds but grow their ranks.    Together we can accomplish so much more.   Together we are Increasing our Hands for Service!


In Kiwanis service,
Jeffrey M. Wolff