In 2010, Key Club International turns 85. The March issue of KEY CLUB magazine highlighted some of the organization’s milestones and accomplishments, including the first club to be chartered, the first magazine, the first Web site and a list of famous Key Club members. Read the entire story and others from the March issue.

One day each year, Kiwanians around the world join together for one day of global community service. There are no boundaries. And there's no limit to what you and your club can do for children, for your community, for the world.   Find Kiwanis One Day service ideas at www.KiwanisOne.org/oneday.

Enter now to see your little idea turned into a BIG Idea! Clifford The Big Red Dog® is looking for individuals and/or community groups doing great things to make a difference in their community.

The BE BIG!TM Campaign is designed to communicate that small, simple actions can make a BIG difference.  The campaign invites everyone, big and small, to take action and raise awareness for how Clifford The Big Red Dog's BIG IDEAS (Share, Play Fair, Have Respect, Work Together, Be Responsible, Be Truthful, Be Kind, Believe in Yourself, Be a Good Friend, Help Others) can make the world a better place.

Clifford welcomes volunteers, schools or community partners to enter for a chance to see their BIG idea win $75,000 in community grants!

Scholastic's "Be Big in Your Community" Contest launched on February 1, 2010 and will continue accepting entries until June 30, 2010. 

30 finalists will be selected by a multi-tiered judging process:

• One entry will be honored with a $25,000 community grant
• Ten entries will be honored with a $2,500 community grant
• Nineteen entries will be honored with a $1315.79 community grant

All projects will be executed with the help of Scholastic, HandsOn Network affiliates and BE BIG's corporate sponsor, American Family Insurance!

Enter Now!

Why is sponsorship of an event at the 95th Annual Kiwanis International Convention good for your business? Sponsorship is a way to focus your marketing dollars while showing that you are an organization that cares about serving the children of the world. Our membership encompasses leaders from all over the world and that represents tremendous purchasing power and influence.

Your company can sponsor signature events and official convention material at the 95th Annual Kiwanis International Convention. Act fast to get your brand and message in front of the single largest global gathering of Kiwanis members this June in Las Vegas. Prime sponsorship spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sponsorship opportunities include:

• Presenting sponsor of the convention (two sponsorships available)

• Internet Café sponsor (two available)

• Official souvenir tote bag sponsor (exclusive opportunity)

• Welcome Reception sponsor (three available)

• Family Lounge sponsor (two available)

• Relaxation Station sponsor (three available)

• Convention program sponsor (exclusive opportunity)

Various budget ranges exist to suit your company's social or civic mission.

Download the Sponsor and Exhibitor Prospectus and complete the application (also part of the booklet). Questions? Contact Al Smith at asmith@kiwanis.org.

Cirque du Soleil will bring adventure to the 95th Annual Kiwanis International Convention with performances from its production of KÀ. An epic confrontation between good and evil, the show combines acrobatic performances, martial arts techniques, dance, puppetry and multimedia to tell the story of twins who embark on a perilous journey.
 
Don't miss your chance to see Cirque du Soleil live in Vegas! This event will sell out. Register today to attend the 2010 Kiwanis convention and choose Cirque du Soleil for an evening of entertainment in the ticketed events section of the registration form.

Promote your club with Kiwanis International's new customizable brochure. The trifold template has space for you to list your club's name, contact information, meeting place and time and service projects and is available in the following languages:

• Chinese
• Dutch
• English (North American version)
• English (world version)
• French
• German
• Italian
• Japanese
• Spanish
  

Members may print the brochures on their personal computers or take them to a print shop.

What does your Kiwanis club do to welcome new members into the fold? No doubt you go out of your way to make them feel special. One way to welcome new Kiwanians is to connect them as soon as possible to all the benefits of a global organization.

When reporting new memberships to Kiwanis International, be sure your club secretary includes the new member's e-mail address. Kiwanis International will then send the member a link to a Web site geared for new Kiwanians. This new-member welcome page provides a ton of information and resources to help members jump-start their year.

And did you know that anyone in your club can download a new member card at www.KiwanisOne.org/membercard? To complement your growth goals, there is also a multi-card template with nine cards per 8 1/2 x 11" page. Download at www.kiwanisone.org/membercards.

Last month, more than 200 Kiwanis Service Leadership program district administrators, chairmen and coordinators met in Denver, Colorado, with Kiwanis International staff from Circle K, Key Club, Key Leader, Builders Club, Kiwanis Kids and Aktion Club to share news and ideas. Keynote speaker Dan Roam, author of The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures put everyone in a creative spirit. The goal of the gathering? To make sure the buzz and ideas energize Service Leadership clubs around the world. Here are a few of the hot topics:

Social media:  Are you using it to communicate with your clubs?  Here are some links to social media resources:

• Twitter in plain English
• Social media in plain English
• How to Sign up for Facebook

Growth:  Did you catch all the new growth materials at www.kiwanis.org/charter? Plus: Support your SLPs with the valuable tools at www.kiwanisone.org/advisor.

Teamwork: How's it working for your club? Get tips, share ideas and find resources at Kiwanisteambuilding.wikispaces.com

Next year's SLP district administrator's conference be January 21-23 (that's 2011).

Paul G. Palazzolo, Kiwanis International President and Elmer Austermann Jr., Kiwanis International Foundation President call for support of the Kiwanis International Disaster Relief Fund. Read the letter.

INDIANAPOLIS—Kiwanis International is pleased to announce that Matthew Morris has joined the Kiwanis International Foundation as its chief fundraising officer.

In this role, Morris is focusing on guiding the New Beginning Campaign—a fundraising campaign where Kiwanis International will match all gifts up to a total of $750,000—and fundraising for Kiwanis’ next Worldwide Service Project, which will be announced at the Kiwanis International Convention in Las Vegas, NV, in June. The Worldwide Service Project campaign is expected to secure approximately $100 million for a global health initiative. Visit www.kiwanis.org/wsp for more information.

“Matt’s experience securing major gifts is impressive,” said the foundation’s Chief Operating Officer Linda Brimmer. “He will be a tremendous asset to our organization and will help us reach our fundraising goals.”

Morris is responsible for the strategic direction and creation of successful major gift campaigns, providing quality and efficient donor services to members and non-members, ensuring all donor communication and information needs are implemented and serving as an advocate for the vision, mission and values of the organization and the Kiwanis International Foundation.

Morris previously served as senior development director at Indiana University Foundation, where he supported major gifts fundraising in Central Indiana, Greater Cincinnati and Washington, DC; participated on the principal gifts team, securing lead gifts for Indiana University; managed the major gifts portfolios of more than 100 individuals; and oversaw major gifts fundraising for the IU School of Journalism, during which more than $6 million was raised as part of the campus’ Matching the Promise Campaign.

A graduate of the Indiana University School of Journalism and an avid runner, Morris lives in Fishers with his wife and two daughters.

About Kiwanis International
Founded in 1915, Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Kiwanis International and its service leadership programs for young people, including Circle K International, Key Club International, Key Leader, Builders Club, Kiwanis Kids, Kiwanis Junior and Aktion Club dedicate more than 19 million volunteer hours and invest US$100 million to strengthen communities and serve children annually. The Kiwanis International family comprises 600,000 adult and youth members in 70 countries and geographic areas. For more information about Kiwanis International, please visit www.kiwanis.org.

It may still feel like winter, but the sap is running in the trees. It's that time of year. Time to prepare for new beginnings, fresh starts and warm vibes. Make it happen in your club-and make it happen with a teen in your community. Start making plans to sponsor a Key Leader participant today!  Check out this spring's offerings. 

The Kiwanis International Foundation (KIF) has awarded a $10,000 grant from its Disaster Relief Fund to Sleeping Children Around the World to provide bed kits for children in Haiti. The grant was requested by Aktion Club, which adopted Sleeping Children Around the World as its service initiative about three years ago.

A massive earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, reducing most of its capital and the surrounding area to rubble. This most recent grant brings the amount of money the foundation has earmarked for disaster relief there to more than $40,000.

Founded in 1970, Sleeping Children Around the World has been providing bed kits to children in need around the world, mostly in underdeveloped and developing countries. Each bed kit includes a mat or mattress, pillow, sheet, blanket, mosquito net (if needed), clothes outfit, towel and school supplies. The foundation grant will be enough to provide about 300 bed kits to kids with the most needs in Haiti.

Since partnering with Sleeping Children Around the World, Aktion Clubs have raised more than $50,000, including matching funds from the foundation.

Why sponsor, exhibit or advertise at the 95th Annual Kiwanis International Convention? With nearly 6,000 attendees, your investment has the potential to see a significant return. Kiwanians have tremendous purchasing power and our membership encompasses leaders from throughout the world. Don't miss this opportunity to market to the single largest gathering of your peers!

Download the Sponsor and Exhibitor Prospectus and discover the unique opportunities to participate.

Sponsorship options include convention presenting sponsor, Internet Café, official souvenir tote bag, welcome reception, relaxation station, family lounge and the official convention program. Various budget ranges exist to suit your company's social or civic mission. Sponsorship spots are available on a first come, first served basis. Submit your interest as soon as possible for prime sponsorship spots.

Sponsorship questions? Contact Al Smith at asmith@kiwanis.org.

Booths in the exhibit hall will put your programs, services and products front and center to thousands of browsing Kiwanians over the convention's four exhibiting days (Wednesday-Saturday). Booth space must be reserved via signed contract by May 3. Space goes fast - submit your application today.

Advertising space in the official convention program sells out quickly. Reserve your ad space early (no later than April 16) to ensure your message makes it into the hands of every attendee in June. The power of your message doesn't fade at the end of convention-programs travel home with Kiwanians and are shared with club members unable to make the trip to Las Vegas.

Booth or advertising questions? Contact Kim Stephenson at advertise@kiwanis.org.

Reminder to U.S. clubs: February 15 is the date the United States Internal Revenue Service requires U.S. Kiwanis clubs to submit Form 990. Visit www.irs.gov/charities to learn more. See your state tax requirements (select your state from the drop-down list) and download club financial documents at www.KiwanisOne.org under Club Leader Tools, Treasurer.

Kiwanis International is searching for its next Worldwide Service Project, and its International Board of Trustees heard proposals this week from issue experts and advocates on four potential projects: malaria, maternal and neonatal tetanus, tropical diseases, and education and literacy.

Advocates for each cause delivered 30-minute presentations to the International Board of Trustees, Kiwanis International Past-Presidents, the Kiwanis International Foundation Board and Kiwanis staff members. Advocates included Malaria No More, UNICEF and the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Kiwanis International is scheduled to announce the official finalists later this month. The next Worldwide Service Project will be announced in June at the Kiwanis International Convention in Las Vegas, NV.

What is a Worldwide Service Project?
Children and communities worldwide have diverse needs-access to healthcare, clean water, safe shelter, safety from slavery, access to education and so many others. A Worldwide Service Project is a directed program that engages all 600,000 youth and adult Kiwanis family members to make a positive difference in the world by helping children in need.

Kiwanis successfully completed its first Worldwide Service Project, virtually eliminating iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Kiwanis raised more than $100 million, which today is at work in more than 89 nations. The number of households estimated to be consuming iodized salt has jumped from 20 percent in 1990 to more than 70 percent, and the effort has been heralded as one of the most successful health initiatives in the world.

The Kiwanis International Foundation has provided a grant from its disaster relief fund to UNICEF to help in its effort to provide relief aid to Haiti. Contributions currently are being accepted by the foundation for its disaster relief fund, or you can send your contributions directly to UNICEF.

To contribute to the foundation, go to www.kiwanis.org/foundation and click on the "Give Now" button.

To contribute directly to UNICEF, go to www.unicef.org.

PHOTO CAPTION: January 2010: Wounded people lie in a make-shift shelter in the parking lot of the general hospital after an earthquake measuring 7 plus on the Richter scale rocked Port-au-Prince, Haiti on Tuesday, January 12. Credit: ©UN Photo/Logan Abassi

Kiwanis International Foundation is in the running to win US$1 million as part of an online contest through Chase Community Giving. After receiving enough votes to make the top 100 charities list, the foundation won US$25,000 in the first round of voting.

But to win the US$1 million, we need your help.

Starting January 15, you can vote for Kiwanis International Foundation to win the cash. Follow these simple steps to vote and spread the word:

• Go to www.facebook.com/kiwanis. Voting is through Facebook only.
• If you don't have a Facebook account, please sign up. It's easy and FREE.
• Vote ONCE for Kiwanis International Foundation. Spreading your votes can cancel out your other votes. Make your vote count and VOTE ONE TIME ONLY and vote for Kiwanis International Foundation.
• Voting begins January 15 and ends January 22.
• Use other social media outlets to spread the word as well-and don't forget to include the link to vote!

Thank you for your support as we vote for Kiwanis International Foundation to win US$1 million!

Early-bird rates for the 95th Annual Kiwanis International Convention in Las Vegas end January 31. Meet the deadline and save US$55!

You don't want to miss this year's convention, full of amazing entertainment, speakers, sessions, workshops and fun. For a rundown of the schedule, ideas on what to do for fun, registration forms, hotel information and more, check out our special convention site at www.KiwanisOne.org/convention.

The convention runs June 24-27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

We'll see YOU in Las Vegas!

Kiwanis International is accepting nominations for the 2010 World Service Medal until February 1. Kiwanis clubs, past medal recipients and organizations with the endorsement of a Kiwanis club may nominate an individual, organization, or agency that enhances the quality of life for many people in a significant way.

Past International Presidents of Kiwanis International will select the recipient and present the medal during the Kiwanis International Convention in June 2010 in Las Vegas, NV.

More information and the nomination form can be found at www.kiwanis.org/wsm.

Director of a shelter for teens and young adults in California shares her Kiwanis story on the latest feature to hit Center Stage. Read her story and check out the online photo gallery today!