Region "A" Growth Summit - Nov. 20, 2010 and Regionalization

London, Ontario -
On Saturday, November 20th, Division 3, 4, 5 and 6 clubs came together for the first time for a Growth Summit conducted by PG Chuck McIlravey.  The day was full of information, idea sharing and fellowship.  With regionalization being approved at the last District Convention in St. John, New Brunswick, the LG's of the above divisions decided at convention to put on this summit as a precursor to the reformation into Regions.  We have proven that Kiwanis can change and function more effectively within a region as well as within our own individual divisions.  This is not to say that the divisions will be disbanded - on the contrary.  Divisions will stay intact as they are today with the Division LG being responsible for education, training and support to the clubs.  Regional meetings will be held at various times throughout the year much like the Growth Summit so that information sharing can happen between all divisions in each region.  Many thanks go to LG. Jim Scott of Division 4 who was the major organizer of the summit.  Many positive comments have been received regarding this effort and word is quickly spreading that other "Regions" need to embrace the change and follow our example.

Pictured above are participants of the Growth Summit and PG Chuck.

PG Chuck giving us his words of wisdom.

Even Santa Claus paid us  visit because he was interested in starting a Kiwanis Club at the North Pole.  In this picture Santa and PG Chuck are presenting Gov. Paul Toussaint a gift of Canada mittens and a scarf to keep him warm during his visit to Ontario Clubs.
LG. Sheila Donald

November 5 - 7th Key Leader Event

Hello Fellow Kiwanians!
Between Nov. 5 to 7th, PLG Don Burnard and myself attended the Key Leader weekend at the Circle Square Ranch in Brantford, Ontario.  67 youth attended this event.  I came away from it rejuvenated and full of hope and excitement for our future.  I had a goal for myself for the weekend - to learn about today's youth and to learn to re-connect with them.  I certainly accomplished my goal! 
It was wonderful to see the changes that can happen over just 44 hours.  Youth that were shy when they arrived left as outgoing, smiling people that made new friends, learned how to work as a team, how to take responsibility, how to create a community and learned how to communicate effectively with one another and the people in the world around them.  It is truly amazing how so much can be accomplished in such a short period of time.  4 students attended this event from Sarnia.  Below is a picture of them with PLG Don Burnard and the KI facilitator - Jenny.

Pictured left to right are PLG Don Burnard (Key Leader Advisor) ,Jessica Stevenson, sponsored by the Seaway, Deana Rushon, sponsored by the Sarnia-Lambton Golden K, Facilitator Jenny from KI, Jenny LaFaive, sponsored by the Seaway and Kaitlynn Anderson, sponsored by the Sarnia club. 
Key Leader is a great "value added" program that I would like to see all clubs in Division 3 support.  A commitment to sponsor any number of youth on a yearly basis would be great.  They do not have to be a member of a Key Club.  The sponsored youth can be a neighbour's child, a scout, a guide, a member of your local Boys and Girls club or any other group for youth.  I can't say enough positive things about this program.
The youth of today are the ones that are going to be leading us tomorrow and so it is very important that they learn the skills necessary to fulfill this obligation.  Key Leader is an excellent way for this to be the foundation for them. 
Some examples of true teamwork to get a job done -

Upcoming Events - 
Growth Seminar - London, Ontario - Nov. 20th
Don't forget about the Growth Seminar in London, Ontario on Nov. 20th.  If your club is concerned about sustainability of the club or project then it is extremely important that you send representation to this event.
Information regarding it has been sent to all clubs in Division 3. 

Governor Paul's visit to Division 3 Nov. 21 - 23rd.
The time is fast approaching when Governor Paul and his wife Christiane will be arriving in Division 3.  Let's all do our best to make them feel welcome in our area.  Several meals have been organized during their time with us.  Please make every effort to have your club represented to at least one of these events.  Information regarding all meals has previously been distributed to all clubs via e-mail with the required contact information for each.  Please support me by your presence at one of these events.

Yours in Kiwanis Service,
LG Sheila

October 25-29 Happenings

Good Day Fellow Kiwanians of Division 3!
The installation of club officers is complete.  I did the last club on Oct. 27th.  Now the work begins!  There are several events coming up that will require your participation.

Growth Seminar - London, Ontario - Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010
I have distributed inform regarding this recently via e-mail.  If your club is concerned about sustainability and growth then it is important for your club to be represented at this event.  LG Jim Scott from Division 4 is the organizer behind this event.  Participants are from Division 3,4,5 and 6.  The Kiwanis Foundation of Canada has agreed to cover the cost if we can muster 50 participants so please encourage your club members to participate.
We all know that we need to grow in Division 3 so lets get on the wagon and move forward.

Governor Paul Toussaint's Visit - Nov. 21 - 23, 2010
Gov. Paul and his wife, First Lady Christaine will be arriving in Division 3 on Sunday, Nov. 21st.  First stop is Chatham where a dinner is being planned for that evening.  This is an opportunity to meet the Governor and to hear him speak.  All clubs in the Division are welcome.  Further details of this event will be sent by e-mail to all clubs when they are finalized.
From Chatham we will travel on Monday to Leamington to see the Kiwanis Camp and then onto see Windsor's Sunshine Point Camp.  From there we head to Windsor to see more club projects and to have lunch at Roseland Golf and Curling Club.  Again, this is an opportunity for club members to meet the Governor and hear him speak.  Further details regarding this luncheon will be distributed via e-mail when finalized.
Monday afternoon will find us on the road again heading to Sarnia.  After checking into their hotel, they will have a little down time.  Monday evening finds us once again travelling to Forest to see their project, the Kineto Theatre and to attend their dinner meeting.  Once again, another opportunity for clubs to hear the Governor speak and to also get in an interclub!   Back to Sarnia and for a well deserved rest!
Tuesday we will be very busy - attending the Sarnia-Lambton Golden K meeting in the morning, Seaway meeting at noon (again, more opportunities to meet the Governor and hear him speak and have another interclub!), see the projects in Sarnia for the 3 clubs and then watching Seaway's production of TV Bingo
at Cogeco.  After all of this we will end up at On the Front for a well deserved meal in the #1 visually awesome restaurant around.  Club Executives will be invited to attend this dinner.
A finalized itinerary will be distributed by e-mail once all meals have been finalized.
All in all, this will be a very busy time for the Governor and his wife and I as participating driver and tour guide.  Wednesday, Nov. 24th sees us on the road to Guelph for the hand-off to LG Bruce from Division 10.
And so his journey continues.
Stay tuned! 

I will be contacting each club president on a monthly basis to inquire as to your progress with reaching your goals for the 2010-2011 year that your clubs have set and to see if I can be of any assistance to you.  I would also like to attend another one of your club meetings and a board meeting if possible.  These arrangements will be made on an individual basis with each club.
Keep up your great work for all the children in your local areas and keep in mind the needs of those far away.  The work that you do, not only for the children but for all the citizens, is valuable and very much appreciated.

LG Sheila Donald

Happenings Oct 1 - Oct. 8th, 2010

October 2, 2010 - Divisional Council Meeting
Division 3's first Council meeting for the 2010-2011 year was held at Victoria Ave. United Church in Chatham, Ontario on Saturday, Oct. 2nd.  I am pleased to say that 9 out of the 10 division clubs where represented.  I wish to thank everyone who took the time out of their Saturday to make this day an informative, sharing event. 
The agenda was long but contained a lot of information that needed to be passed on to the clubs.  I am proud to say I only went overtime by 8 minutes!  Minutes will be distributed electronically by Friday, Oct. 8th. 

November 20, 2010 - Growth Seminar
Please make plans to attend a regional Growth Seminar being held on Saturday, Nov. 20th in London.  Information has been sent out electronically regarding this very important event.  This is a joint project of Divisions 3, 4, 5 and 6 and is being conducted by Past Governor, Chuck MacIlravey.  There is no cost to this event and lunch will be provided. 

New YCPO Project for the Chatham-Kent Golden K

On September 25^th the Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent Golden K had a booth at the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit’s Learn Share Grow Day. Club member volunteers gave an age-appropriate, quality literature book to each child or parent/caregiver in attendance with the goal of promoting literacy. Approximately 120 English and French books were given out. There were 210 in attendance at the event, including 95 children, mostly 0-4 years of age.  In total, 14 Club members volunteered in various capacities e.g. selecting and ordering books, putting labels on books to indicate they were compliments of the Club, purchasing a lunch box door prize, decorating and setting up the booth, greeting people and distributing books at the event.

Evaluations indicated that the free book was much appreciated by the children and their parents/caregivers. Tthere were very positive comments about the interaction with the children and the enthusiasm of the Kiwanians. YCPO Chairperson Jean Trudell reported on the project at a club meeting and recommended that the Club support participation in this event next year. 

October 4 - 7th, 2010
I am continuing with the installation of club officers as of today.  Between now and Thursday I will have completed this for 8 clubs as well as for the Chatham-Kent Aktion Club.  I will also be inducting one new member into the Aktion Club!  I would love to do this for all the clubs in the Division so get out there and "Light the Fire" in your friends, neighbours and relatives about Kiwanis and all the great work that we do!
Let's get building our clubs!

November 21-23rd - Governor Paul Toussaint's visit to Division 3
I am currently working on a schedule of events for Governor Paul's visit to our division.  As soon as the timelines are confirmed, I will be posting the schedule on-line and sending it out to all the clubs in Div. 3.
Stay tuned!

LG Sheila

Week of September 27 thru October 1st Happenings

Sept 28th - At the Seaway Kiwanis meeting held on Tuesday, a cheque for $5000.00 was presented to Joanne Klauke-LeBelle, Executive Director of Harmony for Youth to help support this very worthwhile organization.
Harmony is an International organization of volunteers dedicated to serving the youth of our community and helping them build self-esteem, through the vehicle of the arts.  Harmony was founded in 1995 by Joanne as a way to give back to the youth in her community.  It gained Registered charitable status in 2001.  More information on this group can be found at www.harmonyforyouth.org

                                    Pictured above is Joanne and Seaway President Cindy Scholten.
The funds were raised by Seaway's TVCOGECO Bingo.
Thank you to the members of Seaway Kiwanis for supporting the youth in our community.
LG. Sheila 

September 20-24th, 2010 Happenings

HUGS AND KISSES BEARS - OH MY!
On September 22nd, LG Sheila and President Allan McPhee from the Kiwanis Club of Sarnia, Inc. made a donation of 3 Hugs and Kisses Bears and 2 giant story/colouring books to the Paediatric Unit of Bluewater Health in Sarnia, Ontario.  The Hugs and Kisses bear were part of a Kiwanis International fundraiser done during the convention in Las Vegas.   Kiwanians purchased 2 bears - 1 was kept and donated to a Paediatric Hospital and the other you got to take home to donate.  Each bear was lovingly dressed and came with a "one of a kind" certificate.  The giant story/colouring books will give a child the opportunity to have a distraction during their hospital stay. 

Pictured left to right are LG Sheila Donald, Maternal Infant Child Program Manager Kelly Ross, Nurse Cathy Butler and President Allan McPhee.

LG BANNER TRANSFER AND INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS
On Thursday, Sept. 23rd, PLG Don Burnard and President Cindy Scholten from the Seaway Kiwanis attended a dinner meeting held by the Kiwanis Club of Sarnia, Inc at the Honey and Locust Cafe.
This was the official transfer of the Lt. Governor banner from Seaway to the Sarnia Club which designates the Home Club of the LG.  PLG Don summarized his 2 years as LG and thanked club members for their continued work for the good of Kiwanis and the children of the world. 

Pictured left to right - Cindy Scholten, President of Seaway Kiwanis, PLG Don Burnard, President Allan McPhee of Sarnia Kiwanis and LG Sheila Donald.
Following the banner transfer, LG Sheila installed the incoming officers of the Kiwanis Club of Sarnia, Inc.
Allan McPhee continues as President and Wayne Scarrow takes on the role of Secretary/Treasurer.
I wish to thank all past board members and club executive that have served our club over the past year.
After many years of service, Eldon Tomlinson, past Treasurer and Margaret Bradley, past Secretary have passed along their duties.

On a more personal note, after 32 years of dedicated service as an employee of Bluewater Health I have decided to retire.  Wednesday, Sept. 29th is my last official day of work!  I am excited to be turning this page in my life and to the future and all that it holds for me.  I look forward to my term as your LG for the next 2 years and will try to meet and exceed your expectations.  I cannot do this job alone and hope that, as a team, we can LIGHT THE FIRE within Kiwanis and make the future bright.

LG Sheila

Local Sarnia Club Happenings - Week of Sept. 13 - 17th

DONATION MADE
On Friday, Sept. 17th, Jennifer McCullough from the Seaway Kiwanis Club made a $1000.00 cheque presentation to Jason Morningstar, a local fellow who has twice participated in the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride.  This event occurs yearly and participants ride their bicycles across Canada to raise funds for Kids Cancer Programs.  Jason has made the trip TWICE!   This is the second year that Seaway Kiwanis has donated money in support of this very worthy cause.  CONGRATULATIONS to Seaway Kiwanis.

The Seaway Kiwanis also donated $500.00 to the Kiwanis/Staples Back to School drive which provides 7 south Sarnia schools and Kinwood School in Forest much needed school supplies for children who are less fortunate.  Thanks again to Seaway for supporting this cause.

NEW KIWANIS ROAD SIGNS
Thanks to the Economic Development Department, Peter Hungerford and the City Works Department for installing the new KIWANIS ROAD SIGNS.  One is at the corner of Exmouth and Front Street and the other is on the City of Sarnia sign as you come into town on the River Road.  I ordered the signs as a way of improving our branding and notoriety  within the city and area.  In order to keep Kiwanis clubs visible, we have to do the promotion. 

 KIWANIS/STAPLES BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE
The Kiwanis Club of Sarnia has been leading the charge for this event for the past 8 years, 5 with the current Manager, Lynn Faubert, at our local Staples store in Sarnia.   Every year has proven to be a winner for the children of  south Sarnia and Forest schools.  This year Staples did things a bit different.  Customers could either purchase a pre-made kit of supplies or could just make a monetary donation.  Monetary donations equaled approximately $5418.00 which as split equally between 8 schools that responded to Lynn at Staples with their "wish lists".  The supplies were delivered on Wednesday, Sept. 15th by members of the Kiwanis Club of Sarnia and Sarnia/Lambton Golden K.  Receiving schools were very pleased that they were able to submit their requirements to more closely match their actual needs within each school.  Thank you to the schools that participated this year.  We hope that our service to you is valuable!  Pictured below is LG. Sheila and Principal Beth Wilbur-Smith at Kinwood Central School in Forest.

Purchased  pre-developed kits were donated by Staples to the Inn of the Good Shepherd.  Myles Vanni, Executive Director, will ensure that those children that really need the help will receive it. 

Stay tuned for more exciting news in the weeks ahead!   LG Sheila Donald