I am proud to report that the New York District currently has 25 Aktion clubs with two more in formation which will bring our total to 27, with over 400 members.
More importantly their calendar year is now identical to the traditional Kiwanis year, October to September. Our Aktion clubs must now submit quarterly reports detailing the number of community service hours, projects they have participated in, fund raising projects and K-Family events. Much like our monthly reporting, those reports are being submitted to Kiwanis International.
For the October, November and December quarter, clubs in the distrct participated in UNICEF collections with the Key club, made both Thanksgiving card and Holiday cards for a soup kitchen, a nursing home and soldiers overseas, participated in the Alzheimer's walk, collected food for needy families during the holidays, did both a car wash and collected soda pull tabs for Ronald McDonald House, collected used clothing for the needy and helped out at many of our Kiwanis events.
Currently, there is a proposal on the floor of Kiwanis International for Aktion club members to hold membership simultaneously in both a traditional Kiwanis club as well as an Aktion club. In order to participate in a Kiwanis club, a member must be 18 years of age, in good standing in their community, may have a sponsor to the Kiwanis club when possible, may hold an officer position in the Kiwanis club, may be a delegate if elected by the Kiwanis club, may attend all conventions, may have voting rights and will pay standard dues to both the Kiwanis club and Aktion club. This proposal will be recommended to the International board at its next meeting this spring.
We are continuing to collect money for Sleeping Children Around the World at a cost of $37 a bed kit.
I urge all of the Kiwanis advisors to the Aktion clubs to have their clubs participate in our scrapbook, speech and poster contest which are all due to me at the District convention in August. All of the contest rules can be found at our newly redesigned web site, www.aktionclub.org. Anyone wishing to start an Aktion club in their club and/or division can either contact me or view the website for more information.
Column Posted on Web Site February 20, 2011
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated