Working Together
to Make Our Communities Better
Examples of successful club projects:
The Power of One to Change The World
Carolina’s District Builder’s Club Retreat
Spring, 2006
The Kiwanis Carolinas District has just started a new tradition... our annual Builders Club Retreat. In April a group of Builders Club members representing three middle schools came out to Camp Kantata to meet new friends and celebrate being a part of the K Family. With outstanding support from our local Circle K clubs and the CKI District Board, we had opportunities for our middle schoolers to learn by example about service and caring. NC State University and Meredith CKI clubs of the Capitol Division hosted activities for the event, and our District Board led in a Training session on club meetings. Wakefield Key Club of Raleigh also participated in making the K Family sessions complete and sponsored officer training for the event. Add to that local Kiwanians from Highwoods and Wake Forest Kiwanis clubs along our youthful District Secretary and incoming Governor and you can see why this was truly a K Family happening. It is an event that we hope to duplicate in the coming years with increased participation from more Builders Clubs.
The Builders Club members experienced a low ropes challenge course which helps youth to develop problem solving and team building skills. They faced the challenge and worked out how to overcome the obstacles they faced, learned to plan and to communicate the plan, and to encourage each other. These are all skills that will help them to be effective leaders in the future; oh, and did I mention, they had a great time. The afternoon, along with a brief rain, included fellowship time in canoes on the lake, playing basketball and bingo, as well as decorating T-shirts as souvenirs.
This event was planned to give Builders Clubbers an opportunity to learn about Kiwanis beyond their individual club level and see the world as their responsibility. Our Friday night kickoff included motivation from Wayne Adams, Kiwanis District Secretary, Susan Watson, CKI Governor, and David Gillespie, Wakefield Key Club President. Past Circle K Governor Alec McCauley closed the event with the challenge to the youth to know that they have our world in their hands, presenting each Builders Club member with a small globe representing their opportunity to change the world. Our survey results show that we met our goals of having a highly interactive event where the students became better leaders and sharpened their sights on making the world a better place through the K Family organization.
If you are working with a Builders Club in your District, consider if a district event might be a possibility in 2007. It is not too early to plant the seed for this being a major activity for your Builders Club committee using local host Kiwanis clubs for sponsoring and carrying out the activity. Getting Circle K and Key Clubs involved gives them an opportunity for service hours as well as building up the Kiwanis Family. Middle School kids very readily want to emulate high school and college students. They are more likely to pursue these organizations when they are older after meeting and getting to know Key Club and Circle K members personally at a great event like this. Whatever you can do to encourage your students will pay off dividends in the future for them as individuals and for our community. Builders Club members are loaded with talent and energy that they can bring to service. Thanks for getting involved with your Builders Club.
Boyd Dimmock
Carolinas District Builders Club
Westmount Community School, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
- "SPLIT"
The Builders Club has started a project called "Schools Plant Legacy
in Trees" (SPLIT) to educate the children on the value of trees and
improving the environment.
Antioch Upper Grade School
The Builders Club worked on an awesome event this school year raising
over $12,000 for a former AUGS student battling cancer. The event was
great! Many students considered it the highlight of the year. AUGS has
24 students in Builders Club and did a ton of work to help Rusty.
A Special Thank You to AUGS
Builders Club!
Romeo Middle School's "Blanket Day Project"
Last year, a 6th grade student organized and event called "Blanket Day".
Blanket day is where our club at Romeo Middle school partners up with
the American Red Cross, and collects blankets for the less fortuneate.
This information is being sent in hopes that you can spread the word about
Blanket day. It isnt hard to put on a blanket day, all you need is for
someone to take charge and get it done. Thank you, a member of the Romeo
Middle School Builders Club of Romeo MI
Gulf Middle School's "I Make A Difference Day Project"
 For
three weeks in September, the Gulf Middle School's Kiwanis Builders Club
held a Yankee Candle Fundraiser. The proceeds of this project would go
to The Nathaniel J. Allen "Hold Me Near" Foundation Inc. Mrs. Erica Allen
and her husband Jason started the Foundation following the death of her
infant son Nathaniel. Mrs. Allen missed the feeling of holding her son
near to her so she started making pillows so she and other mothers who
lose a baby or child, could hold something near to their hearts. She gave
pillows away to moms in her area thru the local hospitals when she heard
of their losses. The word traveled quickly and soon she was receiving
requests from all over the United States for her pillows. Up to this point,
she was supplying the material, making the pillows by hand and sending
them off to whoever needed them. This project has grown immensely to where
she needs help with this project. With the proceeds from the candle sale,
the Builders Club was able to present the Foundation with $800 for I Make
A Difference Day on Saturday, October 25, 2003, during the Cape Coral
Kid's Festival that was held in Cape Coral, Florida.
During the day at the Kid's Festival, the Builders Club collected can
goods from the people (estimated attendance was over 15,000 people) coming
into the Festival as no admission was charged. A truck full of canned
goods was donated to the Cape Coral Caring Center. The members also did
face painting on little children and were able to collect an additional
$200 for I.M.A.D.D. |
