eBuilder - The Online Newsletter of the Capital District of Kiwanis International

May 2010

David Maloney, Editor

May 2010 eBuilder Front Page

Hampton Roads Had Its 5th Mid-Year K-Family Reunion...Finally!

by H.L. Marks, PLG, Div. 16 (photos by Larry Brown)

This was the year of having to make things work. We were all set to have our Mid-Year K-Family Reunion (Mid-Winter) at Old Dominion University on January 30th, 2010 when the BIG snow storm struck. Prudently, we canceled. To do otherwise, would have put a lot of brave souls in danger. We'd sold about three hundred-fifty tickets to the event and expected to sell more at the door. You can't imagine the feeling of working so hard for over six months and then...goodbye.

Now that we'd cancelled, ODU didn't have any other dates open for us to reschedule. They were totally booked. So, scampering we went. We checked other universities, high schools, meeting halls, auditoriums, etc., all to no avail. Finally, Judy Pantlides, the hero PLG of Div. 13 came up with Phoebus High School. The Principal, Mr. Robert Johnson and the Assistant Principal, Mr. Kevin Davis were open, friendly and very helpful. So now, we had a venue.

At ODU, we purchased the food through their kitchen, but this time we wanted to do special something for our fellow Kiwanian's. Those of you who know Bobby Flay's TV show, "Throw-Down," on the Food Channel, had challenged Wood Chicks BBQ in Chesapeake to a Throw-Down. Well, Lee Ann Whippen, the owner, beat the socks off Bobby with her tasty BBQ. She was the Virginia State BBQ Champion in 2009. So we talked with Lee Ann and she made us a deal we couldn't refuse. So now, we had a home and chow.

Reluctantly, we tossed out 400 programs and started over. We changed our flyers to reflect the new location and in the flyer's we told everyone they could have a refund if they wished, or they could use their ODU tickets for Phoebus. After all was said and done, the new location reduced our sales to, two hundred and seventy-one Kiwanian's, guests and SLP's.

When it rains, it pours. Now more challenges came our way! The day before the event, Governor Don Dudey's wife, Jan, had to go to the hospital so naturally our Governor had to cancel. (Thank goodness it wasn't as serious as initially thought.) So, at the last minute our Hampton Roads Trustee, Doc Thrush, stepped in and did yeoman service that would have made the Governor proud. Then, the night before, our event Chair, Jim Wool, LTG, Div. 13, had a very serious diabetes attack, so he had to bow out because he couldn't walk or stand without pain. (He's fine now.) So, at the eleventh hour, Amy Thorstad, LGE Div. 13, filled in and very professionally handled his audience chores.

Our raffle for the CDKF (Capital District Kiwanis Foundation,) after prizes, raised over $2,300.00 for the seven pediatric hospitals here in the Capital District.
We then raised over $2,000.00 in clothing, food and money for the Salvation Army. In fact, we filled up over two truck loads.
The SLP Service Project went extremely well. The kids made many dozens of Thank You Cards for our Veteran's.
We also had great reviews on the Presidents Training class this year.
During lunch, "The Three Jolly Coachmen" performed as we sang along with fond memories of yesteryear.

Following is a summary of the evaluations for the conference:

90% of the attendees agreed the conference would be useful to them in their Kiwanis activities.
82% thought the location worked well.
56% thought the exhibits were of interest to them.
75% felt the general sessions were of value to them.
80% felt the breakfast and lunch were a good value.

We had our 'Final Wrap-Up Session' six days later while everything was still fresh on our minds. A report was given by each member of the committee outlining the positives and negatives of the event as they saw it. We charged Kiwanian's $30.00 per person and SLP's $20.00. (We lose money on the SLP's with the cost of food and because we give each SLP a "K-Family Reunion" tee shirt.) But, we made enough money on the event to purchase a few additional signs and send a small plaque with a letter of thanks to our non-Kiwanian friends who ran sessions. We also send a thank you letter to our fellow Kiwanian's who ran sessions. There was even six hundred-eighty-five dollars left over to donate back to the CapDist.

As the Capital District's Meetings Representative for Hampton Roads, I'd like to thank the following people who worked very hard on our Planning Committee to create a truly successful event: The four current LTG's. Jim Wool, Div. 13; Deborah Hundley, Div. 16; Peter Stephenson, Div. 21 and Scott Zimmerman, Div. 23. Also, due for thanks are Doc Thrush, HR Trustee, Floyd Brown, Immediate Past HR Trustee; Brian Wilson, PLG - Div. 23; Our Treasurer, Frank Dulong, PLG, Div. 13; Judy Pantelides, PLG, Div. 13; Amy Thorstad, LGE, Div. 13; Rick Gonzales, LGE, Div 21 and Tim Meyer, LGE, Div. 23.

For the most part, the entire event went smoothly and when it didn't, we all laughed. But the main thing was that everybody learned a lot, ate well and had a lot of fun. A happy conclusion to great K-Family Reunion. And in a few months, we start planning our sixth K-Family Reunion for 2011.

(Anyone wanting more details of the event, from copies of program, flyers, workshop and round-table evaluation survey's, financial records, final committee report, etc., let me know and I'll give you everything. My email is: hl@hlmarks.com)

(Above) Some members of the Phoebus Key Club with the Salvation Army man helping load the truck. Key Club members pitched in all day.

(Above) Peter Stephenson, LTG Div 21 and Doc Thrush, HR Trustee, honor Linda Smith, IPLG, Div. 21, with a Hixson from her Division for meritorious LTG service last year.