Report on Kiwanis International Foundation District Chair Training

Indianapolis, Indiana
April 14-18

by Scott Zimmerman

The Kiwanis International Foundation and Kiwanis International are partners in service to the Children of the World. Never was it more apparent to me than during the recent KIF training sessions held at the Kiwanis International headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Kiwanis International Board of directors and the Kiwanis International Foundation board met together to continue the job of preparing Kiwanis for a more productive and rewarding future of serving children than ever before.

Kiwanis International President Sylvester Neal, Immediate Past President Paul Paluzolo and President Elect Alan Penn all spoke of the powerful future of Kiwanis and Kiwanians changing the world for the better right here at home as well as all around the world. Kiwanis WILL save lives and Kiwanis WILL change lives for the better! After meeting many of the KIF District Chairs from around the world I am convinced of that.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dick Bills from Kansas whose District has had 100% participation from its clubs in the Kiwanis International Foundation Annual Club Gift Campaign for at least the last 6 years. Not only that, but the average annual gift has been well over $5.00 per member for all of those years…Dick does not even have e-mail…but he recently upgraded his technology to include a fax machine! I also met Jerry Scheuing  who is the District Chair from Illinois/ Eastern Iowa. Jerry is a member of a Kiwanis Next Club…a 3-2-1  e-club (3 parts service, 2 parts fellowship and 1 part meetings)… and he also boasts a better than $5.00 per member average annual gift campaign contribution from all clubs in his district. Imagine that! A Kiwanis culture of philanthropy in the heartland which is being led by a gifted young man whose club meets online.

I also met Ben Osterhout who is 27 years old. Ben is the District Chair from the Pennsylvania District and is in his second year of leadership at the District/International level. Ben was an important part of our training because Ben had the all important Key to room 161 which was the Hospitality Suite where District Chairs, KIF and KI Trustees and Board members met and talked about how we can all serve the children of the world through our relationship with Kiwanis and with our communities.

The ELIMINATE Project WILL save thousands of lives because WE CARE. Our annual gifts to our foundation WILL allow KIF to continue to complete the day to day operations of promoting our Service Leadership Programs and our Annual Club and District Grants.

I left Indianapolis proud to be a Kiwanian and even more proud to be a Kiwanian from THE Capital District! If you are as proud of Kiwanis as I am speak it loudly! Speak about Kiwanis to your friends and neighbors. Show them how Kiwanis helps children right here at home while saving lives and helping children everywhere.

Please show your support today and everyday…and please make an effort to get you club philanthropy through the annual club gift campaign up to the $5.00 per member level or better year after year that our SLP's have the support that they need.

Contact me to learn more about our Kiwanis International Foundation and the impact it makes on behalf of Kiwanis everywhere around the world. The good works of the Kiwanis International Foundation is just another sweet attractant which Kiwanians worldwide can point to as they reach out to recruit even more hands for service in our communities and in your clubs.

P. Scott Zimmerman
Kiwanis International Foundation Chair
Capital District Kiwanis
pscottz@verizon.net
757-592-8567 cell
757-258-5109 home
757-564-0201 business
http://sites.kiwanis.org/Kiwanis/en/Foundation/kif-home.aspx