A Message from Candidate for Gov.-Elect, Don Dudey
by Don Dudey

This is the second article regarding my candidacy and I would like to talk about what I believe is my vision for the Capital District during my term as Governor.

The Capital District is functioning well in the new regional structure and this should remain in place. The regions have become a very effective way of working with the divisions and the individual clubs. Having only three or four divisions allows both the District Trustee and LTG's within that region to work as a coordinated team to help their individual clubs. I want to continue this regional concept and work to improve the effectiveness of each region and their support to their individual clubs.

When the Capital District implemented the reshaping initiative, we restructured the District Committees so that they would and could be an effective resource to each division and club. We are in our third year and I would like your opinion(s) on whether or not these committees are working effectively and what you think needs to be accomplished to make them more effective.

In my opinion, the development of the Club Support and District Support Committees has been a work in progress over the past three years. The concept is good, but the execution and implementation of the committees working with each division and club needs to improve. Kiwanis is about helping others and this can be to Kiwanians as well as to those who are not Kiwanians. Having Club Support Committees within each region can be a tremendous resource to LTGs and to the individual clubs. These Committees have the expertise and resources to help any club in need and should be utilized to there fullest. I want to make these Club Support Committees a resource that is valuable and useful, not just words. There is "tons" of information available from these committees, if we just utilize them properly. This will be one of my main goals.

Kiwanis is an international organization in 96 countries which represent many races, nationalities and religions. Within our own Capital District there are similar races, nationalities and religions and we as Kiwanians need to work to bring more of these individuals into our individual clubs. Once in our clubs we all have to work hard in making these new Kiwanians feel a part of our membership. Different nationalities and religions bring new dimensions that a club may have to perform. Prayers, diet, dress and habits are just a few aspects that need to be addressed. Everyone needs to be "on board" with these differences when these new members join our clubs.

I would like to increase diversity within each club by 10% each year for the next six years so that each club reflects the governing diversity of their communities. The potential is everywhere we just have to go out and actively address it. We have the Diversity Enhancement Committee willing and able to work with any club who asks for assistance. Let's make the Capital District a model District in this endeavor.

At our District Convention this August, you are going to be asked to approve a Strategic Plan developed by governor-elect Tom Ganse and approved by the Capital District Board that emphasizes five goals the District will strive to achieve over the next six (6) years. Within each goal there are milestones on what needs to be accomplished within a given year by each club. The five goals are Service Hours, Fund Expended, Service Leadership Programs, Membership and Operating Environment. The District has not had a Strategic Plan like this for years, and I believe it is time that we map out where we, the Capital District, want to go in the years to come. Kiwanis International has set a goal of 1 million members by 2015 - Kiwanis' 100th anniversary. The Capital District's part in this goal is to increase our membership size also, and the Strategic Plan, if implemented would help reach our membership goal of 20,000 members by 2015.

I can not, in one year as Governor, accomplish these goals set forth in the Strategic Plan, but I can build from the past governor's plans and processes that will help the Capital District accomplish this 20,000 membership goal. Membership is really the final outcome of this Strategic Plan, if we increase service hours, increase funds expended, increase our service leadership programs we will need additional members to accomplish these tasks. There are many unfilled needs in all of our communities that we can fulfill. Find the needs, recruit potential members to work on the project, promote other service projects and before you know it your club has grown two perhaps three fold. Service to our communities and our youth within these communities are just waiting for us to help them, we just have to find them and perform our "magic".

I have some ideas on how we can accomplish this Strategic Plan, but I would like to hear your thoughts on how we can accomplish this Strategic Plan. In addition tell your LTG, LTG-designate and Trustee your thoughts, we are all in this together. I can't do it alone, nor cans the District Board, the District Trustees or LTG's. There needs to be a District effort at the club level and your ideas are just as important, if not more so than mine. We are in this together, and together we can move mountains so, let me hear you opinions and ideas regarding the above.

My email address is ddudey@verizon.net and my telephone number is 443-794-1112.

Thank you for reading this article and I look forward in hearing your opinions and ideas.