David Maloney, Editor

April 2006

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It is said that if March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb. My March schedule certainly ushered my month in like a lion, but it never gave in to the lamb. I had another very active month. I attended charter anniversary celebrations for the Kiwanis Clubs of Wheaton, Woodbridge and Ashland on their 55th, 59th and 83rd charter anniversaries, respectively. I attended three Regions’ (Potomac, Mason Dixon, NoVa) very informative Midwinter Conferences, and it was an honor for me to participate as a session presenter at two of the three conferences. I had the pleasure of attending Division Twenty-three Council Meeting which reminded me of a very organized and well attended banquet, rather than a council meeting, which also served as a forum for our two candidates for the position of Governor-elect, Tom Ganse and Art Riley. Several club visits were made during the month; Bayside, Montgomery County/Blacksburg and Winchester just to name a few. The official visits to Divisions 3, 14, 15, 19 and 20 were an enjoyable part of the busy schedule that kept me traveling from one end of the District to the other. No matter how busy my schedule may be, I can always find time to participate in functions involving our youths. I also took advantage of the opportunities to attend Division 9 and Division 10 Sponsored Youth Night Program.

One of the highlights of the month occurred during the DC Metro Young Professional Kiwanis Club Charter Night Dinner/Dance when I presented club President Troy Dibley with the club’s charter. That event will always have a special place in my heart because DCMYP is the first Kiwanis club to be organized and chartered during our Kiwanis administrative year. Another highlight of the month for me was being invited to participate in the Metro Division Circle K Total K Day service project. I never thought the hard labor of cleaning a park that was used as an illegal dump site could be so much FUN and so rewarding. Thank you Metro Division Circle K Lt. Governor, Paula Chrin, for coordinating such a project where ONE CAN (DID) MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Please keep the invitations coming. I will attend as many functions my schedule will permit.

I would like to express a BIG Thank You to:

• PLG Booker McManus for coordinating the traditional Kiwanis Go to Church service at the Annapolis Naval Academy Chapel, followed by a brunch at the Officers’ Club, on Sunday, April 23. Please note that this event does not replace the Regions’ Go to Church events scheduled to be held in each Region on Sunday, May 14.
• Members of Division 23 for the $200 contribution they made in my name to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters for their new transporter for the Hampton Roads Peninsula.
• PLG JR Harris for accepting the Chair’s position for the District’s New Club Building Committee, replacing Tom Ganse.
• Lt. Governors Jim VanHoozier, Kyle Holman, Ed Verburg, Ralph Chinn (and especially his wife, Wilma), PP Ron Kime, Lt. Governor-elect Renee Mackey and all others who played a role in making my official visits such memorable occasions. The informative meetings, the service project, the entertainment, the fellowship, the hospitality, the wonderful gifts, the donations to my Governor’s Project of reading and mentoring of young children, and the time and efforts that went into planning my visits were noted and much appreciated.

Neal Behan, International Foundation District Chairman, indicated in his last report that our District is getting closer to our goal of 100% participation in the Kiwanis International (KI) Annual Gift Campaign. Congratulations to Divisions 9, 13, 17, 22 and Lt. Governors Jim Jacobs, Dot Murray, Gary Boswell and John Buchanan for having 100% of their clubs contributing to the KIF Annual Club Gift Campaign. Divisions 15, 19, 20, 21, 23, and Lt. Governors Ralph Chinn, Kyle Holman, Ed Verburg, Lankford Smith and Al Meadows are to be recognized for having a minimum of 75% of their clubs participating in the Gift Campaign. If your division is not listed above, please consider submitting your check to Kiwanis International Foundation today in the amount of $5 per member for the Annual Gift Campaign. You may be the one club your division needs to get to the 100% club participation level. (DON’T FORGET THE CAPITAL DISTRICT FOUNDATION!)

Forget the worm. Early birds who register for the June 28 – July 2 International Convention in Montreal before April 15 get the best registration rate. Registrations must be postmarked by April to obtain the reduced rate of $150 for members and $100 for guests. After April 15, the rates will increase to $175 for members and $125 for guests. We currently have 119 members and guests registered, 28% of our attendance goal of 402, for Montreal. I have received word that there are some hotels that are already sold out. Don’t risk not getting your first choice; register for the convention and reserve your hotel NOW. Be an early bird and get the best rate!

Can you believe we have just completed the first six months of our Kiwanis administrative year? And what a six months it has been! Many clubs are doing great things - great enough to become a "Distinguished" club. For the 2005-2006 Distinguished Club Criteria, click here.

Four hundred and nineteen individuals were invited and joined our Kiwanis family. Unfortunately, for various reasons, we have a net loss of 32 members. But I believe in the growth of our District. I believe in the possibility of reaching 1000 new members this year. Together we can and together we will get the 1000 new members if each of us commits to the plan – each one brings one. We still have six months to make this happen. I BELIEVE! I BELIEVE WE CAN DO IT, HOW ABOUT YOU? DO YOU BELIEVE?

Greetings Capital District Kiwanians! My name is Justin Sanders, and I have the distinct pleasure of serving as Governor of the Capital District of Circle K International for the coming year. I am currently a fourth year Architecture major at Virginia Tech, with a minor in Public and Urban Affairs. I originally hail from Gate City, Virginia. This is my fifth year as a member of the Kiwanis Family, having served on my home club board and the district board for the past two years.

• Sneha Bhat—District Secretary/Treasurer from Mary Baldwin College
• Meredith Wessels—District Editor from James Madison University
• Battlefield Division Lieutenant Governor—Jessica Abramovici from the University of Maryland-College Park
• Metro Division Lieutenant Governor—Brinton Howerton from The George Washington University
• Presidential Division Lieutenant Governor—Katie Smith from The University of Virginia
• Ridgeline Division Lieutenant Governor—Anh Nguyen from The University of Mary Washington
• Susquehanna Division Lieutenant Governor—Liz Wright from Towson University
• Tidewater 64 Division Lieutenant Governor—Lana Borgie from Christopher Newport University
• Valley Division Lieutenant Governor—Dallas Vaught from Emory and Henry College

On behalf of the entire board and our incredible Administrator Jeff Wolff and Assistant Administrator Shannon Zepp, we look forward to another great year with Capital District Kiwanis at our side.

If you have a passion for serving the children of the world (and I know you do); if you have a passion for this global organization of volunteers called Kiwanis (and I know you do); if you have a passion for changing the world (and you know you do), then join me in Montréal, Québec for the 91st Annual Kiwanis International Convention June 28-July 2, 2006. We are going to celebrate like we’ve never celebrated before. We are going to learn new ideas and how to use new tools. We will see old friends and make new friends. We will share and listen to one another’s success stories. We will celebrate our past and plan our future. And we are going to convert our Kiwanis passion into action. Make a difference in your Kiwanis club, your community, your world, and yourself by attending the 2006 Kiwanis International Convention in Montréal. A Kiwanian by Choice & A Kiwanian for Life, Stephen K. Siemens, CSP, International President.

Major Convention events include: Opening Session on Thursday afternoon, June 29 at 1:30 pm; Live On-Stage: Spotlight on Broadway, Thursday evening, June 29 at 8:00 pm; First House of Delegates on Friday afternoon, June 30, at 1:30 pm; Second House of Delegates on Saturday afternoon, July 1, at 1:00 pm; and the Closing Session on Saturday evening, July 1, at 7:00. Our own Dana Cable will be a featured speaker on June 30 at 10:00 am and then again on July 1 at 9:30 am. For the complete KI Convention 2006 Brochure, click here (PDF, 528k).

Attendees should arrive on Wednesday, June 28, or by Thursday morning, June 29, to participate fully in the convention activities. With the exception of those selected to serve on the 2006-07 KI Board of Trustees, departures may be scheduled any time on Sunday, July 2.

Click on www.kiwanis.org/convention to go directly to the International Convention website to check out this year’s selection of great educational opportunities on leadership and motivation, membership growth, service projects, service leadership programs, and club administration.

Other news you'll want to share: two hotels are sold-out--Hotel Nelligan and Marriott Springhill Suites Old Montréal. Others are filling up. Members shouldn't risk losing out on their first choices; register and reserve housing now!

Remember: Registrations must be postmarked by April 15 to obtain the reduced advance rate of US$150 for members and US$100 for guests. Don't wait--April 15 is nearly here! Click here for convention registration form.

The 2006 Capital District Kiwanis Convention Planning Committee is hard at work to make the 88th Annual Capital District Kiwanis Convention an experience you will never forget. Click here for a registration form.

This year's convention will take place August 18-20, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency Reston in Reston, Virginia. The theme for this year's convention will be "Service Takes Center Stage" as we put a spotlight on the basis of Kiwanis International. For the latest information, go to the Convention Web site at www.tysonscornerkiwanis.org/dcon2006. We look forward to seeing each and every one of you in Reston next summer.

The 2006 District Convention Planning Committee is now accepting applications for training workshops to be held during the convention on Saturday, August 19th, 2006. If you are interested in leading a workshop please go to our website (www.tysonscornerkiwanis.org/dcon2006/forms.html) and follow the instructions on the "workshop application form". The deadline to submit workshop proposals is April 15th, 2006.

Please direct any questions related to workshops and training at the convention to Derek Dupuis.

Kiwanis Club of Colonial Capital has initiated a "member memories" column to share the exceptional and diverse backgrounds of our members. It has proven very popular and is seen as a means of bringing our members into closer friendships as we serve the shared goals of Kiwanis.

Click here to read Gary Rast's memories.

Food-Auction-Jazz made up an evening of entertainment presented by the James Wood Middle School Builders Club to benefit the Winchester Day Nursery. (Shown above right are members of the Builders Club preparing dessert.) The Nursery serves the Winchester/Frederick County area as a day care facility for low income residents and receives very little public funding. The evening kicked off with an Italian dinner with 4 choices of pasta, salad and beverage all for the admission price of $5 which included the auction and concert. Earlier in the day members of the Winchester Kiwanis Club worked in the kitchen of a local restaurant to prepare sauces, pasta and rolls, which were then transported to the school cafeteria. The auction featured items donated by local merchants and provided a wide range for bidding. The James Wood Bulldog Jazz Band opened the concert and the Shenandoah Jazz Ensemble, one of the top ten in the nation, followed as the main feature. The concert concluded when the two bands combined in a great jam session. The Builders had hoped to raise at least $1000 but were rewarded with almost $1600 in proceeds for the nursery. (Lower right, the President of the James Wood Middle School of Winchester Va, Adam Smith, presents a check in the amount of $1700 dollars to Marge Praml, Board of Directors of the Winchester Day Nursery.)

You are invited to join us for the 59th Annual Steak Fry hosted by the three Kiwanis Clubs in Manassas. Since 1947, Capital District Kiwanians have enjoyed this premier event. Mark your calendar for Thursday, May 11th, at the historic venue, the Inn at Vint Hill. A social hour with live entertainment will begin at 5:30PM with dinner being served at 6:30PM. The meal will consist of a grilled steak (or chicken if you prefer), baked potato, tossed salad, dinner roll, dessert, beer, wine, soda and all the Kiwanis fellowship you can enjoy.

An order form is enclosed for your convenience. We will hold tickets at the door. If any questions, feel free to call or e-mail one of us: George Harrington 703-361-0152 (aharington@aol.com) or John Beere 703-369-6162 (johnbeere@hotmail.com).

The March/April 2006 issue of The Inciter is now ready to view at: http://www.kiwanis.org/pr/inciter/. Read about:

• A New Club Newsletter Template
• E-mailing Media
• Popular Women's Blouse Now Available in Pink

As always, your input and views are important. Please send comments and suggestions for this newsletter, plus marketing and public relations success stories to: astilwell@kiwanis.org. Photos and news clippings may be mailed to Alison Stilwell, Marketing Department, Kiwanis International, 3636 Woodview Trace, Indianapolis, IN 46268. If appropriate, these will be posted in one of the next issues of The Inciter.

Governor Yvonne Holley has announced that the annual Capital District Kiwanis Go-To-Church will be observed at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel, Annapolis, Maryland, on Sunday, April 23, 2006, at 11:00 a.m. Brunch will follow at the Officers and Faculty Club, U.S. Naval Academy. The cost for brunch is $25.00 for adults, $12.00 for children six to twelve and $2.00 under five years old. Please remit by Monday, April 17, 2006. Checks payable to Booker McManus.

• All who enter the Yard must have photo identification, e.g., a driver’s license or work place identification.
• Drivers with a Department of Defense decal may enter the Yard.
• Drivers with Handicap stickers may enter the Yard.
• Those who know the area well may park near the Yard and enter through Gate #3.
• All others attending should proceed to the Navy Football stadium and park at parking Lot Blue. A shuttle will be available for your use beginning at 9:30 a.m.

On the heels of the overwhelming success of our Washington Nationals Baseball Game Fundraiser last May, the Kiwanis Club of Tysons Corner is doing it again. We have purchased 250 seats for the 1:05pm game on Sunday, May 7, 2006 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This is a single large block of seats in Section 520 (Infield Upper Reserved) for $16 each.

Governor Yvonne Holley will be joining us for the game, so your club will receive extra points if you bring an Interclub. A portion of the ticket proceeds will go to assist the Kiwanis Club of Tysons Corner with their community service activities. Please feel free to share this invitation with your friends, family and co-workers as well.

To order tickets, visit http://www.tysonscornerkiwanis.org/baseball send e-mail to baseball@tysonscornerkiwanis.org or call Jeffrey Wolff at (703) 615-4477. Come join your fellow Kiwanians from all over the district for a day of Nationals Baseball in Washington DC and help us support our community!

There is far more to be told about the history of Yorktown and York County than just the famous surrender that took place there in 1781, says Bonnie Karwac.

As director of the York County Historical Museum in Yorktown village, Karwac’s mission is to ensure that visitors to the area get a full picture of the colorful, busy history that extends hundreds of years before Washington and Cornwallis were even born, and more than 200 years after the Revolutionary War ended.

Karwac said she was told the Chiskiak Watch Artifact Collection, given to the museum following the excavation for the Chiskiak Watch housing development, contained about 130 boxes of pottery shards, vases, and other paraphernalia.

“Two hundred and seventy boxes later, we’re still going through and cataloguing items,” Karwac said. “One of the most interesting things about our museum is that you can find volunteers helping to sort, clean and catalog the items on any given visit. We encourage visitors to become volunteers themselves – it’s a great way to get really close to the history of our area. And we also hope that locals will share their memories with us.”

The museum exhibits, located in the basement of York Hall, 301 Main Street in Yorktown, explore what life might have been like before Europeans arrived on the shores of the York River; the Civil War era in which Yorktown played a significant part; and other pioneer events and people that shaped modern York County. (Upper left: Museum Director Bonnie Karwac displays two pieces believed to be about 1,000 years old. Upper right: Kiwanian Tom Carnevale, Associate Metro Director of the YMCA, inspects pottery shards from the York County Historical Museum’s Chiskiak Watch Artifact Collection.)

I want to thank the Kiwanis clubs that participated in the interclub contest. All clubs are asked to have at least one interclub meeting per month. The clubs that take the interclub challenge are meeting other Kiwanians and guests while sharing information about their club's activities. And they're having fun, too! To calculate the most points, visit the sponsored clubs, Governor's visits, and support our leadership activities.

From the reports that I received the Capital District Interclub contest winners for 2004-2005 are:

• Gold (101+ Members): Ocean Pines, Winner; Winchester, Honorable Mention
• Silver (71 to 100 Members): Arlington, Winner; Leisure World, Honorable Mention
• Orange (46 to 70 Members) : Waldorf, Winner; Wheaton, Honorable Mention
• Blue (31 to 45 Members): Chester, Winner; Hampton, Honorable Mention
• White (30 or fewer Members): Kiln Creek, Winner; North Central Richmond, Honorable Mention

The Inter-club contest reports and scoring matrix for 2005-06 is located on the District Web Page.

The Alexandria Kiwanis Club on March 26, 2006 presented the National Symphony Orchestra Brass Principals Quintet Concert and a performance by the John Adams Elementary School Orff Ensemble. The Concert and Performance were given at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Auditorium.

This was our 7th Annual NSO Fund Raiser. All of the proceeds from the Concert go to non-profit and charitable organization in the Alexandria Community. This year we had a new addition to our program. The John Adams Elementary School Orff Ensemble. The John Adams School was adopted by our Club ten years ago and has since then been supported by our Club...read more

Six Charlottesville Kiwanians traveled over Afton Mountain on a beautiful Saturday morning in March in support of the Waynesboro Virginia Club's third annual benefit pancake breakfast held at First Baptist Church. Pictured on the left side of the table are President-Elect and pancake chairman Philip Day, and Judy Mentzinger and her husband, current president Bob Mentzinger. On the right side of the table are First Vice President Lee Graves, Chuck Harris, last year's Kiwanis rookie of the year, past president and kitchen chief Tony Hastoglis, and Waynesboro Club president Bill Pfost. Diners were ably served by Key Clubbers from Stuarts Draft and Waynesboro High Schools and from Fishburne Military Academy. The Charlottesville Kiwanians learned quite a bit from the Waynesboro event and invited them to come to their own event scheduled for Saturday, April 22, at First Presbyterian Church on Park Street. This will be the second annual Dogwood Pancake Breakfast, occurring on the same morning as the 56th annual Dogwood Festival parade, and will benefit Children, Youth & Family Services, Inc.

Remarks made by Charles “Tony” Gee, Alexandria/Arlington Kiwanis Clubs, Chairperson of Diversity Capitol District 20th Division at the Northern Virginia Regional Conference 10th and 20th Division on March 11, 2006:

"Diversity is an attitude; it’s people showing other people that favor of goodwill which may be mutually beneficial. As the face of America has changed, diversity is applicable. I came across these words several years ago that arrested my attention and in resounding tone beckon to the cultural conditions of our day and to all ethnicities. They are not mine–I wish they were–but they are the utterance of one who has been gifted with an unusually enlightened mind; whose experiences of life have enriched his wisdom; and one of keen insight into the human condition, when he gave birth to these words: “its not your environment. Its you–the quality of your mind, the integrity of your soul, and the determination of your will, will decide your destiny, and shape your life!” (Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, Former President of Morehouse College)...read more