April 2009 - Circle K International!
Transcription
April 2009 - Circle K International!
CKI MAGAZINE www.circlek.org April 2009 A Kiwanis-family publication Meet up in the Magic City Join CKI members at the Circle K International convention in Birmingham inside 2008-09 CKI Board OF REPRESENTATIVES president Kristen Reed Singing CKI’s praises State University of New York, Potsdam [email protected] vice presidnt Ricardo Torres Pennsylvania State University, University Park [email protected] representatives by kristen reed n cki president W marathons to benefit the Six Cents Initiative, hat do you do when you hear your club socials that have built friendships, and favorite song? Maybe you tap your toes, promotion of our motto “Live to Serve, Love sing extremely loud in your car by yourself to Serve” by helping out local causes. or bust out a few select moves on the dance I hope you realize the floor. Whatever avenue of This year has been long-lasting impact CKI has expression suits you best, it is always a happy moment one for the record had on the world, and I sincerely thank you for all your when a favorite song comes books, with more hard work and selflessness on the radio. Let me tell you, the world has heard CKI people every day this year. Please take the time now loud and clear this year. making CKI their to enjoy everything this isWhile serving as Interfavorite song. sue of CKI Magazine has to national President, it has offer. Whether it is learning become very apparent to a new service project idea or gearing up for our me that this year has been one for the record 54th Annual International Convention in the books, with more people every day making “magic” city of Birmingham, this publication CKI their favorite song. Together, we have is sure to leave you dancing with ideas to share grown, adding more and more collegians with your club. whistling the CKI tune of service and catching Thank you again for making CKI your the passion that burns within all of us to help favorite song! Keep tappin’ your toes, groovin’ others and to change the world. to the beat of service. I can’t wait to see you in How, you ask? This year, CKI members Birmingham! have done the extraordinary, through dance What’s happening with CKI Magazine? Even though this is the only issue of CKI Magazine this year, you can still stay in touch with CKI in other ways. Here’s how: Visit often. Log on to www.circlek.org for club and project highlights, updates, convention information, videos, feature stories, tips, tools and more. Put in Face time. Join the Circle K International group on Facebook and interact with CKI members from around the world and Kiwanis International staff. Stay tuned. Announcements about new ways to stay on top of CKI information are coming soon and will be communicated on the official CKI Web site, www.circlek.org, and the official CKI Facebook group page. onthecover CKI members from the University of Alabama, Birmingham show off the city’s Vulcan Park and look forward to the Circle K International convention. They are (clockwise from bottom left) Veerendra Jadhav, club secretary; Patrick Yelding, Alabama District governor; Kelli Boggan and Meredith Pringle. Photo by University of Alabama, Birmingham, student Benjamin Muranaka. 2 April 2009 Tracy Meyer University of Washington [email protected] Sarah Foley Arizona State University [email protected] Tiffany Hansen Wayne State University [email protected] JJ Sadler Illinois College [email protected] Christa Fry Concord University [email protected] Eric Hotchkiss State University of New York, Potsdam [email protected] Kathryn Geiger Clemson University, [email protected] Magazine staff cki director/editor Erin Fischer cki program specialist Kandra Sejas executive editor Amberly Peterson art director Maria Malandrakis contributing editors Jack Brockley Alyssa Chase Dick Isenhour Joedy Isert Kasey Jackson chief marketing officer Carolyn Mosby-Williams CKI Magazine was established to promote the Objects of Circle K International. As its official publication, CKI Magazine includes articles promoting the service initiative of Circle K International and articles of general interest to college students. CKI Magazine (ISSN 0745-1962) is published once a year by Circle K International, 3636 Woodview Trace, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, a collegiate organization incorporated not for profit under the laws of the state of Illinois and representing all Circle K clubs in North America, Colombia, Panama and the Caribbean area. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the editors or Circle K club members. Contents may not be reprinted without written permission. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to CKI Magazine, 3636 Woodview Trace, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268-3196. Copyright 2009 by Circle K International. Printed in USA. CKI job market Give thanks When interviewing, don’t forget the thank-you note. Sending a thank-you letter after your interview is still your best shot when it comes to landing the job. Only 10 percent of job seekers take the time to send notes of appreciation. Doing so makes you really stand out from the crowd. Plus, it: • Shows how much you respect others’ time and energy—most specifically theirs • Provides you an opportunity to remind them of your interest in the position • Demonstrates that you’re a “people person” • Leaves them with a favorable impression of you. — Judy Bailey Ace the test 3 thank-you tips 1. Just do it. E-mail thank-yous have become customary, but traditional mail and phone calls are still acceptable. The important thing is to get it done. 2. Tailor your message. Your tone and style should reflect the company’s philosophy. Where appropriate, send a hand-written note that’s friendly, yet businesslike. If the company is more formal, use a crisp business style on a neatly typed letter that keeps to the point. 3. Keep it simple. Let them know you appreciate their time, remain interested in the position and with your ______ (fill in one or two of your top qualities) and experience with _______ (skills that apply), you believe you’re the best person for the job. How to breeze through pre-employment exams Sorry, but test taking doesn’t always end with college. Many employers require preemployment testing as part of the job-application process. Most pre-employment testing tackles either skills assessment or personality type. The skills assessments measure the test-taker’s knowledge of objective information and skills specific to the job. Personality questionnaires evaluate less tangible traits such as strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, stress factors and character. Either way, preemployment tests help companies dig deeper into the job-seeker’s psyche. When it’s time to take your own test, keep these tips from George Washington University in mind. • Respond to questions honestly. www.circlek.org How to breeze through pre-employment exams • Listen for verbal instructions and read the written directions carefully. • Skim the entire test before you begin. Then you’ll know what to expect. • Don’t hurry. Work at a consistent yet comfortable pace. • Work smart. Answer questions you know first. Then go back and reply to those that require additional thought. — Karen Pyle Trent Steer your career Still need more advice for landing your first job? Visit www.circlek.org for suggestions on turning job fair visits into job offers. Good moves 7 toways nail a job search Looking for a job is as much about what you do wrong as it is about what you do right. Here are seven ways to nail it: 1. Be ambitious. Depend on many sources for job leads. Check out the Internet, newspapers, job boards and always be networking. 2. Take good advice. Listen to people who know what they’re talking about. 3. Treat each job opening differently. Personalize your approach and information to match what the potential employer is seeking. 4. Follow directions. Pay attention to the employer’s instructions when applying for a job. 5. Use spell check. Spelling, grammar and punctuation count on résumés and cover letters. 6. Prep for the interview. Learn everything you can about your potential employer. 7. Dress for success. First impressions are important. Look the part of a true professional. — Karen Pyle Trent April 2009 3 Jeffrey Greenberg indepth (Clockwise from left) Kelli Boggan, Patrick Yelding, Meredith Pringle and Veerendra Jadhav, CKI members from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, visit Vulcan Park, a must-see attraction when you’re in town for convention. photo by benjamin muranaka 4 April 2009 CKI indepth Birmingham, Alabama—known as the “Magic City”—will amaze and delight members who attend this year’s Circle K International convention Plan to attend the 54th Annual Circle K International Convention August 5-9 and let Birmingham cast its spell on you. Historic sites, civil rights landmarks and culinary delights pepper the city. Dana Lackey, Alabama District editor and a member of the University of Alabama, Birmingham is situated in the rolling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. www.circlek.org April 2009 5 photo by jeffrey greenberg Birmingham’s CKI club, told Kimiko Martinez about the city’s Top 10 places to see. Check them out! photo by jeffrey greenberg indepth 1. Iron out the details Vulcan is the one thing you just have to see while in Birmingham! Newly restored in 2003, the world’s largest cast iron statue is of the Roman god of fire and forge. Vulcan Park and Museum is only about five miles from the convention site, and can be reached by public transportation. What it costs: $6 (plus tax) gets you into the museum, but after the museum closes at 6 p.m., you can take the elevator to the observation deck for only $3. See the sunset and views of the city at 7 p.m. during international convention in August. www.visitvulcan.com Did you know? A group of local radio DJs, Beaner & Ken, gave Vulcan a voice and a job humorously forecasting the weather from 1999 to 2006. 2. Monkey around It started as a small menagerie of exotic animals collected by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Now, Alabama’s most popular attraction, the Birmingham Zoo, draws more than half a million visitors annually Vulcan, the world’s largest cast iron statue, oversees Vulcan Park and Museum high atop Red Mountain. Built as Birmingham’s to view its collection of about 750 animals of 250 species, entry in the 1904 World’s Fair (he won first place), the statue was including sea lions, kangaroos and endangered species cast from Birmingham pig iron in a Birmingham foundry. More from six continents. What it costs: $12 six days a week, but it’s half-price on Tuesdays. It’s open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. www.birminghamzoo.com Did you know? In 2004, the zoo’s older western lowland gorilla, Babec, became the first gorilla to be implanted with a pacemaker due to advanced than 100,000 visitors a year stand on Vulcan’s elevated platform for a panoramic view of the surrounding area. genus, family or group), Gardens of Nature (focusing on native plants of southeastern United States) and Gardens of Culture (featuring a particular design style or aspect of human culture, such the Southern Living heart disease. Garden or the Japanese Garden with a traditionally 3. Page Dr. Green Thumb outdoor sculptures and a two-mile walking/jogging trail You don’t need to know the scientific names of each crafted tea house). It also contains more than 30 original through its gorgeous 67.5-acre grounds of serene paths. tree, shrub and flower to enjoy the beauty of Birming- What it costs: Free. www.bbgardens.org ham Botanical Gardens. Established in 1964, it’s Did you know? The gardens’ logo is a ladybug Alabama’s largest living museum, with more than 10,000 different plants in 25 unique gardens, including Gardens of Collections (focusing on a specific plant 6 April 2009 formed by two mirroring letter Bs (for Birmingham and Botanical) on a leaf. CKI indepth 4. Find inspiration Whether you’re into Renaissance pieces, French classics by Mary Cassatt or contemporary artists who draw outside the lines, you’re bound to discover something you like at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Founded in 1951, it houses more than 17,000 objects from cultures around the world and throughout history, including Asian, European, American, African, preColombian and Native American. What it costs: Another freebie! General admission to the permanent collection is free Tuesdays through Sundays, and it’s within walking distance from the Did you know? The museum boasts one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of Asian art in the southeast. Its Vietnamese ceramics collection is one of the best in the country. 5. Seek adventure Home to Magic City USA theme park and Splash Beach Water Park, Alabama Adventure features more than 200 acres of amusement park rides, attractions, photo courtesy of birmingham convention and visitors bureau hotel. www.artsbma.org roller coasters, waterslides, concerts and more. The Birmingham Museum of Art is one of the area’s finest cultural What it costs: $20 will get you into the park after 4 p.m. blessings. The museum holds the largest collection of Wedgwood on weekends, it’s $18 on weeknights. outside of England, along with impressive African, Asian and www.alabamaadventure.com Did you know? Eleven Alabama cities came together to form the West Jefferson Amusement and Public Park Authority, borrowing $65 million to build Visionland. It opened in 1998, and after declaring bankruptcy in 2002 was sold for $6 million. 6. Explore science contemporary collections. The Birmingham Museum of Art is widely respected among the U.S. art museums for its extraordinary exhibitions. challenge a robot or direct your own stop-action animation. The center also has an IMAX theater. What it costs: Museum admission is $11, and a movie at the theater is $10, but a combo ticket is $16. Ever wondered what your face would look like with a www.mcwane.org friend’s features? Have an affinity for brainless ocean Did you know? The Challenger Learning Center was animals? From jellyfish to giant dinosaur jaws, the McWane Science Center features four floors of interactive exhibits that allow visitors to indulge their inner child while celebrating science. Visit a shark hatchery, www.circlek.org created in memory of the Space Shuttle Challenger Flight 51-L crew. The technology-packed environment immerses students and teachers in a unique space mission simulation. April 2009 7 photo by jeffrey greenberg indepth The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is the centerpiece of the city’s Civil Rights District. Also in the district are the 16th Street Baptist Church, site of the infamous 1963 Klan-related bombing that killed four young girls, and historic Kelly Ingram Park, where marchers gathered to organize and pray at the height of the civil rights movement. Kelly Ingram Park also is where police dogs and fire hoses were turned on demonstrators, an image on film shown around the world, leading ultimately to victory for human rights. 7. Relive history 8. Be an athletic supporter It’s sometimes hard to fathom that the civil rights You don’t have to be a jock or an Alabama sports buff movement happened during our parents’ lifetime. Walk through the Barriers Gallery at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to see what segregation looked like just a generation ago, experience the “Bus Ride to Freedom,” and learn how violence during the 1940s, to appreciate the rich history within the 33,000-squarefoot Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame. The 35-year-old institution features six life-size dioramas and interactive audiovisual touch-screen displays. Plus, the facility is home to more than 5,000 sports artifacts and memorabilia, including the Heisman trophies won photo by dilcy windham hilley ’50s and ’60s earned the city the unofficial nickname “Bombingham.” The museum is located in the historic Civil Rights District, surrounded by the 16th Street Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park and by Auburn University’s Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson and University of Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s houndstooth hat. What it costs: $3 for students. Groups of 10 the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. or more get $1 off per person. www.ashof.org What it costs: $5 with college ID. www.bcri.org Did you know? Visitors can touch the cell bars that imprisoned Martin Luther King Jr. as he wrote his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in 1963. 8 April 2009 Did you know? Five of the 15 all-time The Alabama Sports Hall of greatest from ESPN’s list of the Top 100 Fame is a home for heroes, Athletes of the Century are in the ASHOF: displaying memorabilia of Jesse Owens, Hank Aaron, Joe Louis, dozens of famous sports Willie Mays and Carl Lewis. figures with ties to the state. CKI indepth 9. Catch a flick 10. Get out(doors) Movie lovers may leave their hearts behind at the From hiking to mountain biking, backpacking to boat- Alabama Theatre, a beautifully restored movie pal- ing, Oak Mountain State Park offers nearly 10,000 acres ace. Built in 1927, the 2,500-seat building was built by of lush green wilderness for all sorts of recreation. Get Paramount Studios to feature its films and was the first away from city life to camp, picnic, fish, golf, ride horses public building in Alabama to have air conditioning. Big or swim at the lakeside beach. Bertha, a Crawford Special-Publix One Mighty Wurlitzer What it costs: $3 on weekends, $2 on weekdays. pipe organ, once accompanied the silent films featured on the theater’s screen. What it costs: Check the Web site for full schedule and admission prices. The Alabama stages concerts and www.alapark.com/oakmountain Did you know? The nearby Verizon Wireless Music Center was once called Oak Mountain Amphitheater. shows classic movies during the summer. www.alabamatheatre.com Did you know? The theater was home to the largest Mickey Mouse club in the world. Formed in 1933, its membership climbed to 7,000 by 1935 and peaked at more than 18,000 before closing 10 years later. Visit www.circlek.org/convention to register for the 54th Annual Circle K International Convention, catch all the convention details and find out more about Birmingham, including additional hot spots, a shopping directory and fun facts. ow sn K n n pla cle tio — el Cir nven ama v b ra he o e t nd t al C , Ala k Ma atte ation am 09 to tern ingh , 20 In Birm 5-8 in gust Au Make travel plans now to attend convention in Birmingham, Alabama, August 5-8, 2009. Comprehensive Travel Management Services including convention airline discounts 33 Years of Travel Management Experience Air • Tours • Cruises • Hotels • Cars • Worldwide www.circlek.org Litwack Travel Service, Inc. 58 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue Livingston, New Jersey 07039 Monday-Friday 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. EST 973-992-4141 Fax: 973-992-6674 877-LITWACK (877-548-9225) April 2009 9 indepth Parlez-vous A CKI member gains new perspective on service in France By Amberly Peterson When she was choosing a college, 21-year-old CKI member Andrea Matz knew she wanted to study abroad. Currently, Matz, a member of the Elizabethtown College Circle K Club in Pennsylvania, is living her dream and spending her junior year studying political science and French in Strasbourg, France. But she didn’t leave CKI behind. “Helping has always been a part of my life,” Matz says. “I didn’t see living in a foreign country as an excuse to not find some way to help out. Plus, I made a promise to my home CKI club that I would do my best to continue to be as involved as possible.” During a trip to Salzburg, Austria, Matz was visiting the daily markets with her friends when the group came upon a stall sponsored by Kiwanis. “I was excited, to say the least, much to the surprise of my friends, who really had no idea what Kiwanis was,” she says. “That also gave me the opportunity to tell them all about it.” Energized and back home in Strasbourg, Matz enlisted the help of the Kiwanis International Web site (www. kiwanis.org). Through some research, she was able to find several Kiwanis clubs in the city. “The Kiwanis International Web site became my best friend,” Matz says. “I spent several hours on that site looking up clubs and sending people e-mails.” Before choosing to attend a meeting 10 April 2009 with the Strasbourg, Kléber Kiwanis Club, Matz was slightly apprehensive. During her research, she looked on the club’s Web site and realized all of the members are men. That’s when she called her father, a Kiwanian, for advice. “It was his job to call Kiwanis directly and find out if Kiwanis France is co-ed,” she says. “It sounds silly, but I didn’t want to get to the meeting and be told I was at the wrong meeting, or something equally ridiculous.” Even after being reassured that Kiwanis was open to women, Matz was still nervous. “I had to take several deep breaths before I had the courage to enter,” she says. “But I was welcomed immediately.” Since there are no CKI clubs in France, and because of the language barrier, it took some explaining for Matz to CKI Kiwanis? indepth While on a day trip to Austria, CKI member Andrea Matz visited a market with friends and came upon this Kiwanis booth (left). She is spending her junior year in Strasbourg, France, where she attended a Strasbourg, Kieber Kiwanis Club meeting and met these Kiwanians. get the group to understand why she was there and that she was a CKI member and not a Kiwanis member. The meeting involved a special presentation and lasted four hours, which Matz says would take some getting used to. All in all, she says her experience with the Kiwanians was a good one. During the Christmas season, she helped the Kléber club complete its fair share of a larger service project—running www.circlek.org an ice rink in the city of Strasbourg—with all the Kiwanis clubs in the North Alsace Division. “I had the opportunity to help the Kléber club for two days, which meant about 24 hours of work,” Matz says. “It was tiring, but so much fun, since I hadn’t given my time in that way since I’d come to France. I’m planning to continue to help the club in whatever events or socials they have while I’m here.” Additionally, Matz remains in contact with five other Kiwanis clubs. “They’re all aware that I’m still learning French, so they make that extra effort to make sure I understand everything and will go out of their way to help me,” she says. After graduation, Matz plans to join a Kiwanis club in the United States. “Both my father and my grandfather are past presidents of the Hazleton (Pennsylvania) Kiwanis Club, and my grandmother currently is on the board of directors,” she says. “Kiwanis is in my blood.” Check out Matz’s blog at http://euroadventures-andrea.blogspot. com/ to read more about her adventures in France. And log on to www.circlek.org to read a Belgian college student’s winning essay about how young people feel about Kiwanis. April 2009 11 spotlight Proud to be partners CKI is proud of its partnerships with March of Dimes, UNICEF, Better World Books and Students Team Up to Fight Hunger (STUFH). By pairing with these powerful organizations, CKI members reach more children. Clip these short descriptions and stick them on your mini-fridge for easy reference. Find more information about all of CKI’s service partners by visiting www.circlek.org and clicking on the Service link. 6777777777777777777777777777777 What it is This nonprofit organization is dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. What you can do Register for March for Babies, the fundraiser typically staged in late April. Contact your local March of Dimes chapter for support, resources and contact information. To find your local chapter, visit marchofdimes.com/youth. November is Prematurity Awareness Month. If you have questions Visit the Team Youth Web site at marchofdimes.com/youth and click on “National Youth Council” or contact the National Youth Program staff at [email protected]. You can also check out the March of Dimes Service Partner Activity Book at www.circlek.org. What it is Better World Books (BWB) is a global bookstore that partners with more than 900 libraries and 1,600 college campuses across the United States and Canada, collecting unwanted textbooks and library discards in support of nonprofit literacy programs. What you can do Raise money for CKI by running a BWB campus textbook drive. This can be a great fundraiser for your club and you can get a discount on your books. Use discount code: CKI_2009. If you have questions Visit www.circlek.org and click on Service, or go to www.betterworldbooks.com. What it is UNICEF works in more than 150 countries and territories—supported entirely with voluntary contributions. Through Saving Lives: The Six Cents Initiative, CKI members can provide safe drinking water to children. A little cash goes a long way—6 cents can provide one packet of oral rehydration salts to treat severe dehydration and diarrhea, a leading cause of death among young children. What you can do Set up a fundraising team using the online fundraising tool at unicefusa.org/circlek. If you have questions Visit unicefusa.org/circlek and unicefusa.org/sixcentsonline or contact Kristi Burnham at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF at 404-881-2700, ext 203 or [email protected]. What it is Students Team Up To Fight Hunger (STUFH) is a U.S. food drive organization, which partners colleges and universities with local food banks to collect food for the hungry in their communities. What you can do Conduct a food drive on campus. Or plan a “food fight” competition to see who can donate the most food. Other food drive ideas include Halloween Trick or Eat and online food drives. If you have questions Visit www.stufh.org to join forces and help feed the hungry in your area. 12 April 2009 CKI spotlight Clean-up crew At least twice a year, for the fall and spring leadership training conferences, CKI’s Wisconsin-Upper Michigan (WUM) District comes together at Easter Seals Camp Wawbeek in the Wisconsin Dells to spruce up the camp. The camp shuts down each winter and needs to be set up again before summer activities can begin. That’s when the district steps in and Kiwanians and CKI members get involved. “The project is so fun that sometimes you have to stop and remind yourself that you’re here for the children and adults that Easter Seals Camp Wawbeek serves,” says James Pouliot, governor for the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District and Michigan Tech University CKI member. “Though this camp is intended to make people with physical and cognitive disabilities forget their worries, it essentially does the same for us.” Pouliot believes the project is successful because of its many social aspects. “Most people love going to Camp Wawbeek,” he says. “Our club members drive about 10 hours just to get to the camp. Each year, it’s a tradition to go around the dining hall and state how many times you’ve visited. Some people have been coming year after year, first as a Circle K member, and then as a Kiwanis member.” The Wisconsin Dells community welcomes CKI and Kiwanis members with open arms. Local businesses are very willing to provide donations to help feed volunteers because of the camp’s great reputation for serving area families. In addition to being a popular service project, the district also uses the opportunity as a fundraiser for the camp. It raises money through various auctions and “mini events,” such as the annual Mr. WUM Pageant, a competition that celebrates the district’s low male membership. Clubs also are encouraged to raise money for Easter Seals Camp Wawbeek all year long. “This year alone we’ve www.circlek.org Wisconsin-Upper Michigan CKI District tidies up a camp Members of CKI’s Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District complete a variety of clean-up projects at Easter Seals Camp Wawbeek in the Wisconsin Dells. The district teams up with Kiwanians to shut down the camp each winter and to spruce it up before summer activities begin. raised $6,532, which is 128 percent of the goal we set for ourselves in April,” Pouliot says. “I think that any club, district or single person could learn the value of establishing a long-term relationship with an organization like Easter Seals,” Pouliot says. “Because the relationship goes back so far, there’s a trust that has formed. We know that Camp Wawbeek will be there to help support our many training efforts, and they know they can count on us to be consistent in our efforts.” Share your club or district’s success story and you may be included on www.circlek.org. E-mail [email protected] with the details. April 2009 13 photo by james wells spotlight More than 250 CKI, Kiwanis and Key Club members kicked off their shoes to dance for a good cause at Holiday Embrace—the Illinois-Eastern Iowa Districts’ annual dinner dance fundraiser for the Spastic Paralysis Research Foundation. Embracing a good cause A district-hosted Kiwanis-family event is successful for 30 years On January 10, more than US$6,000 was raised and about 250 people attended Holiday Embrace—the CKI IllinoisEastern Iowa District’s annual fundraiser for the Spastic Paralysis & Allied Diseases of the Central Nervous System Research Foundation. Holiday Embrace, which includes dinner and dancing, is one of the largest 14 April 2009 district-hosted Kiwanis-family events. For 30 years, the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District has hosted the event to benefit the foundation’s focus on spastic paralysis, spina bifida, fragile X syndrome, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s and other diseases. Holiday Embrace is a chance for the district to join Kiwanis and Key Club in supporting this cause. “We have people attend from all branches of the Kiwanis family,”says Ashley Schwalenberg, District secretary and Aurora University CKI member. “Many of the attendants are from the IllinoisEastern Iowa District, but we also get attendance from neighboring districts. And friends from districts all across the United States fly in to share a night of fun and memories with their friends here in the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District of Circle K,” Schwalenberg says. The event is open to the public, but most of those attending have a current or past connection to the Kiwanis family. Schwalenberg offers these words of advice to other districts and clubs looking to start or grow an event: “Start planning early and share the work,” she says. “Talk with others who have done big events and ask them to help or guide you. Be flexible—things will not always go as planned. And on the night of the event make sure you have a good time and enjoy your work.” CKI Annual Report Circle K International presents its 2007-08 financial statement. For a copy of the audit report, send your written request to Kiwanis International, Attn: Audit Report, 3636 Woodview Trace, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, or e-mail your request to finance@ kiwanis.org. Paid membership Paid Clubs 12,288 2002 475 12,819 2003 494 12,263 2004 485 13,533 2005 522 13,331 2006 512 13,274 2007 507 12,438 2008 484 1.2%Since 2002 1.9% -6.3%Since 2007 -4.5% www.circlek.org Circle K International Statements of Financial Position Assets Cash and equivalents Other assets Total assets Liabilities & Net Deficiency Due to Kiwanis International Other liabilities Net deficiency Total liabilities and net deficiency Years ended September 30 2008 2007 $71,971 2,260 $74,231 $78,269 18,333 $96,602 $106,692 40,396 (72,857) $74,231 $139,959 20,078 (63,435) $96,602 Statements of activities 2008 Revenues Membership dues $259,685 Convention fees 74,359 Investment income — Subsidies from Kiwanis International 235,643 Grants, advertising and other 55,247 Total revenues $624,934 2007 $280,550 81,164 15,535 292,828 52,544 $722,621 Expenses Governance $50,325 Convention 85,563 Leadership, education and development 124,823 Magazine 29,553 Membership services 28,700 Marketing 1,458 General and administrative 313,934 Total expenses $634,356 Surplus (Deficit) $(9,422) $66,752 78,523 138,386 30,251 37,239 11,320 362,288 $724,759 $(2,138) NOTE: All Amounts are US dollars. April 2009 15 . m a h g n i Birm . e r e h t e B Get down with other CKI members from around the world at the 54th Annual Circle K International Convention, August 5-8, in Birmingham, Alabama. www.circlek.org/convention CKI members bonded with others who are committed to service and leadership at last year’s international convention.