Cypress Falls Key Club November/December Newsletter

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    Caring Our Way of Life!

    N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 2

    C Y P R E S S F A L L S K E Y C L U

    KEY CLUB PLEDGEpledge on my honor to uphold the objects of Key Club International; To build

    y home, school, and community; To serve my nation and God; and to combat

    ll forces, which tend to undermine these institutions.

    IN THIS ISSUE!

    The Eliminate Project2-3

    52 Key Club Weeks a Year.4

    Doing Whats Right4-5

    The Joy of Winter5-6

    My Key Club Experience.6

    Jacobs Joy6

    The Last Events of 2012..7

    New Years Plans.8

    Volunteers are the only hum

    beings on the face of the earth w

    reflect this nations compassio

    unselfish caring, patience, and

    plain loving one another.

    - Erma Bombeck

    QUOTE OF THE

    MONTH

    CONTACT US

    Cypress Falls Key Club (Group)

    @CypressFallsKeyClub

    www.cyfallskey.me

    DONT

    FORGET:The $110 down

    payment for

    DCON is due onJanuary 18!

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    Our efforts toward

    he Eliminate Project

    A Shot at LifeSanta hats top frowzy mops of hair throughout

    he building. Plates are stacked high with freshly

    ooked pancakes. The crisp winter air teems with the

    ura of hospitability. The Saturday sun is still rising

    rom its sleep, but the teenage volunteers are up and

    bout, serving pancakes to those willing to service the

    00 million women who are affected by

    maternal/neonatal tetanus (MNT) annually. It is the

    012 Eliminate Pancake Breakfast, and each family

    acked into the small Applebees restaurant is there for

    good cause.

    On December 8, the Cypress Falls Key Club held its annual Applebees Eliminate Pancake Breakfast in order t

    radicate maternal/neonatal tetanus from 32 different countries. The student-led organization has spent much of its fa

    emester dedicated to raising money for The Eliminate Project, through the breakfast, car washes, trick-or-treating for

    UNICEF, and bake sales.

    The Eliminate Project is not only a great cause, Sachit Saksena11 said, but its also a necessary one. Tetanus i

    nd has been, a very avoidable disease. A $1.80 vaccine shouldnt stand between the future of a mother and her child.

    The club members welcomed the advent of the 2012-2013 academic year by setting a fundraising goal for The

    liminate Project. In order to raise awareness amidst the school, the officer board decided to present videos about The

    liminate Project at general meetings. The members were touched by the young families hardships and becameetermined to make a change.

    This semester, I watched very dedicated members contribute t

    The Eliminate Project, President Gabi Bradshaw11 said, Whether

    through helping out at car washes, bake sales, or our annual pancake

    breakfast, our members were inspired to help mothers and their future

    babies in third world countries. I couldn't be more proud of our club's

    hard work and perseverance."

    Thanks to the owner of a local Applebees venue, the club

    compiled a majority of its fundraised earnings during the Eliminate

    Pancake Breakfast. Key Club volunteers spent weeks prior to the event

    selling tickets and spreading awareness. On the day of the event, the

    members served as waiters and advertisers; proceeds from the event we

    donated to The Eliminate Project.

    During the Pancake Breakfast, Vice President Ryan

    Thompson12 said, all of our members were extremely flexible and

    willing to do whatever we asked them to do. We were all motivated to

    work hard because of the inspirational Eliminate video, which united

    our efforts to fight MNT.

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    The Eliminate Pancake Breakfast took the Key Club one step closer to its final fundraising objective. District P

    Chair, Saksena, created and slowly filled a poster of a syringe to document growth toward the goals.

    The theme of The Eliminate Project is to provide vaccinations, Saksena said, so it seemed fitting to use the

    medical tool used to administer the vaccinations to represent our progress; the filling of our syringe symbolizes the num

    f vaccines contributed by Cypress Falls. Were able to give children around the world a shot at life.

    With all of the money raised from the fall semester, the Key Club has filled the syringe and achieved its goal.

    Through its efforts, it has raised $1,406 and, in turn, saved 781 lives.

    I am extremely proud of our club, Secretary Maryam Arjomandi12 said, We have fundraised enough to save

    undreds of mothers across the globe. We have worked hard to reach our goal and are excited to have such a large

    ccomplishment, thanks to the hard work of our wonderful officer board and members.

    The club sponsor expressed the same sentiments regarding the attainment of the clubs fundraising goals.

    It is rewarding to work with such a wonderful group of students, Kathie Kiklas said, They are enthusiastic an

    work so hard to make the club a success.

    The Key Club has reached success for 781 mothers. Their future children. The childrens future children. They

    een saved. The Santa hat-wearing, pancake stack-eating, early-rising group of volunteers has done its part in guarantee

    hot at life for 100 million victims. With continued service to The Eliminate Project, maternal/neonatal tetanus will b

    liminated from the worldone syringe at a time.

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    52 Key Club Weeks aYearWhen I first came into Key Club, I was unaware I was

    oing to be an officer. Im so glad Ive gotten the opportunity to

    e with such an amazing group of people. I love Key Club, and

    he events are so much fun!

    I first wanted to be an officer because I honestly like

    eing in charge. Now, I realize how awesome it is to be involved

    with the community. I loved volunteering at the Beer Creek

    Annual Fall Festival the most because it was an amazing

    xperience. I was able to paint unicorns, flowers, hearts,

    umpkins, and more on little kids faces. I loved seeing their face

    ght up when they saw it. It really warmed my heart.

    For me, every week is Key Club Week. Just being in the

    lub is amazin and Im so roud to sa Im the 2016 Female

    by Gabriela Segura9, 2016 Female Representative

    Representative. I enjoy being at the officer meetings because I feel really important. Also, its fun to be a part of someth

    ke this as a freshman. Its so exciting and a wonderful experience. However, you dont even have to be an officer to h

    reat time in Key Club. Overall, being in the club is amazing.

    Another event I really enjoyed was the Cypress Falls LockIn. It brought the members of the club closer togeth

    rom the dance battles to decorating pillowcases for the army, it was a fun time for everyone involved. That was proba

    ne of my favorite events.

    I really am excited to be the 2016 Female Representative for the next three years; its exhilarating to know that

    he rest of high school, Im going to be in a club with people who are really involved in the community. I feel that even

    hough Im an officer, Im still a freshman. I still take advice from the other club members who arent officers. I like todvice, so I can do the best I can to help out at the current events and heed advice for future events.

    I love each and every week in Key Club. I look forward to the weeks when we have general club and officer mee

    love being a part of the officer group because it makes me feel important and in charge. Plus, I love the friends I have

    hrough Key Club! I think everyone should be in Key Club to help out and be involved with the important things in li

    Doing Whatsby Louis Kirkley11, Web Editor RightThis month, I had the joy of going to C.A.M. to package food for the needy for Thanksgiving. It took me a wh

    o find it among three different C.A.M. buildings in the same location, but once I arrived, the atmosphere in the build

    was awesome and ideal for volunteering. The people there had the heart to serve their own community, and I went the

    oping the other Cypress Falls Key Clubbers and I would do the same. Throughout the event we were having fun whil

    erving the community together, and the experience was awesome. However, some conflicts did arise as we approached

    nd of the event, but we were able to do whats right for the community and for ourselves.

    Upon arriving there, I began to help by organizing different foods by the type of food and their expiration date

    Ex: Corn, 2014). As I was volunteering, I was becoming slightly discouraged. The reason for this was that I was the firerson there until 5-10 minutes after the event started. It seemed that we didnt have many volunteers, but soon

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    fter those people came in, more Key Clubbers were coming. By the time everyone had arrived, there were around 15

    0 volunteers for the event. Im sure the sheer number of volunteers lifted everyones spirits as we volunteered togethe

    o organize the food coming in from packages and a truck. Once everyone got into it and worked together, we made an

    wesome team. We worked so well together that we managed to finish organizing the food an hour early. After being

    ismissed by the people who worked there, we decided to sign out of our event sheet. However, some conflict arose fro

    hat.

    There were a small number of volunteers who were not content that we finished organizing the food an hour

    arly and wanted to be given the full 2 hours they expected to volunteer for. They talked with the officers in charge of

    he event and were wondering if they could still sign out for the two hours. The officers were being honest and said th

    we were still all signing out at the correct time. However, they were being persistent. Those officers and I were able to s

    hat they could only get extra time if they somehow managed to find something to do. In the end, we were able to

    esolve the issue. Overall, the whole experience was great, but we all have to remember to have integrity in what we do

    nd remind ourselves we arent just volunteering for service hours. We are volunteering to serve our community and

    hose around us.

    Joy ofby Sachit Saksena , District Project

    The Winter

    Christmas spirit and the joy of winter go hand in hand with Key

    Club's main objective: giving. Working with Key Club during December is

    rewarding experience as more Key Club members feel the inevitable desire

    to work harder for joyous causes and to help good people, joining together

    to make the world a better place. I've had the great opportunity this month

    to focus on the ELIMINATE project and really can say that we have had a

    successful month and first semester in regards to this project. The main

    event for our ELIMINATE drive this month was the annual Applebee's

    Pancake Breakfast. My part in this event consisted of organizing, planning

    raising awareness, and raising money in the weeks prior to the event. It allstarted with meeting up with the helpful associates at Applebee's and settinp everything for the breakfast. When everything was set up, we brought it to our school and told EVERYONE about

    Meetings, for me, are truly a way to connect with our vast Key Club and make sure everyone knows what we are workin

    oward. I spoke at meetings about the event and made sure everyone knew the great cause they were supporting when

    hey sold tickets: eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus.

    Being able to speak to massive groups about something as world changing as the ELIMINATE project made m

    ealize the responsibility and honor it is to be a Key Club officer. Knowing that my voice is making an impact

    omewhere in the world made me truly feel like a contributing citizen of the world with Key Club as a medium. All ou

    reparation paid off and, with the help of some local small businesses, we raised about 1,000 dollars to add to our granotal for ELIMINATE. This semester the Cypress Falls Key Club saved 781 mothers, their babies and their future babi

    The fact that I helped make a change of that caliber, along with a fantastic and hard working group of Key Clubbers,

    eally shows how a bunch of teenagers can do something substantial in the world.

    esides the Eliminate project, I participated and took charge of other events like Parents Night Out, where we helped

    ome parents get a break and got to play with some wonderful children, and the wreath laying at Houston National

    Cemetery. Another fantastic cause I was able to help through Key Club is the Children's Miracle Network, by speaking

    ut about the benefits of the drive and helping organize events associated with it.

    For 2013, the Cypress Falls Key Club will surely do more great things and make even more of a monumental

    hange. We plan to raise more money to vaccinate moms around the world against MNT, and continue fighting for

    hildren through the Childrens Miracle Network. I hope to be able to rise to the occasion as an officer and make a

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    ifference in how our club goes about making change during this Christmas and New year season, and effectively help

    make the world a better place, as best I can.

    I signed up for Key Club because it looked good on a college application. I thought it would be an easy way for

    niversities like University of Texas and Texas A&M to notice me. I came in to Key Club not knowing how it would c

    me as a person.

    My first event was a fundraiser for those in need held at the Berry Center. It was an event mainly focused on

    usinesses trying to get their feet off the ground, so it was more of an advertising event. It didnt alter my opinion abou

    Club at all; I still saw it as just a club to get me a good reputation for recognized colleges. It wasnt until the next event

    would see Key Club through a different view.

    My next event was the Heart Walk through the American Heart Association. I almost passed away as an infant

    o a collapsed artery, so this was more of a sentimental event for me. My job was to simply stand and cheer for those wwere in the walk and to give them water. Even though I had such a remedial job, it still felt nice to support the cause.

    Watching family after family run by to support loved ones who had been affected by heart disease, warmed my own he

    makes someone realize how lucky they really are to be healthy and have a working heart and mind.

    After a long day of school, the last thing I want to do is go to a Key Club meeting, which naturally makes sense

    walk around as much as possible before the meeting, trying to clear my mind and reduce the stress built up from the lo

    ay at school. When I enter the Key Club meeting in the teaching theater, theres a negative energy in the room for ob

    easons. Everyone is tired; nobody wants to be there. The President, Gabi Bradshaw, and the other Key Club officers d

    reat job of organizing icebreakers and hyping up the meetings to get everyone in the mood for the various topics to di

    Even though this is my first year in Key Club and I havent done a lot of events or have a lot of experience, it hhanged the way that I see the world. It gives me the opportunity to give back to those who are less fortunate. Key Clu

    made me realize how lucky I really am and how much I take for granted, not just something to help me get recognized

    chools.

    My Key ClubExperienceby Thomas Middleton10, 2015 Male Representative

    Jacobs Jo 2013. A new year accompanied with new lessons that I learned from the event K2 Academy Parents Night Ou

    olunteers were assigned a child who had a disability of some sort, most were autistic, and we watched over them untilarents returned to pick them up. My childs name was Jacob, and he was a very well behaved, intelligent kid. His two

    avorite activities were jumping on the big trampoline and playing with the plastic food. You see, Jacob was more than

    omeone with a disability. He was a baseball player, an artist, a cook, and, most importantly, a child. Although Jacob n

    ooked me in the eyes or smiled, his concentration and effort showed the pure joy that only a kid gets. Such a rare blis

    pon him that I wished I liked something as much as he enjoyed the high bounce of a trampoline or the careful cooki

    plastic pizza. It made me ecstatic that I could provide such a difficultly attained joy to another human being. This is j

    ne of the examples of how Key Club has allowed me to understand more about the ever changing world and with tha

    omes a deeper understanding about how to truly help the community. In the upcoming year, I want to focus and

    mplement activities that spread the kind of enjoyment that Jacob has. This kind of joy will be the goal for every event

    ecause it is absolutely wonderful and priceless. Although Jacob walked away without a glance or goodbye, his joy has btched into me. Jacobs joy has made a difference in me.

    by Amy Jiang9, Builders Club

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    HEB Thanksgiving

    Day Parad

    ouston National Cemetery

    Wreath-Laying Ceremony

    Spreading Smiles at the

    Texas Childrens Hosp

    The Last Events of 2012

    Early on Thanksgiving morning, Key Club volunt

    traveled downtown to help run the HEB Thanksg

    Day Parade. Members had quite a bit of fun as th

    volunteered right alongside the parade. Not only

    they have a huge impact in helping facilitate a

    successful parade, but they also got to have the su

    experience of being behind the scenes of a parade

    was shown on TVs throughout Houston. Some o

    volunteers even got to be on TV!

    We went to the ceremony not knowing what to expect, but when we got there, we

    ealized how monumental the event was. Organizations and clubs flocked the area

    n a frenzy of organized preparation for the event, and we joined them in this effort.

    As the event time got closer, hordes of people flooded the Houston National

    Ceremony. Walking around the area, we felt one undeniable emotion common to

    veryone: reverence and respect for our fallen heroes. The event was awe-inspiring

    with fly overs and processions and humbling as stories of brave veterans were told.

    When the time came to lay the wreaths, everyone felt a new connection to the fallen

    eterans, and it was amazing to be able to honor them. Im extremely glad that Key

    Club gave me the opportunity to participate in this great event!

    Sachit Saksena11, District Project

    This holiday season, the giving spirit entered our Key Clu

    members souls. On Friday, December 21, a few Key Club

    members visited the Texas Childrens Hospital to donate

    to the patients staying there over the holidays. From the

    beginning of the holiday seasons, Key Clubbers participat

    events in which they decorated gift bags, pillowcases, and

    holiday cards. They filled the gift bags with coloring book

    sets, and various other trinkets. The staff members and p

    at the hospital were certainly appreciative that someonethought of them during the holiday season.

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    2013: New Years Plans

    RememberingMr. Boatright

    After a brave battle with cancer, Mr. Boatright

    passed away on December 31, 2013. Though

    he will no longer roam the halls of our school,

    he will always hold a special place in our

    hearts. Well always remember his incessant

    smile, his passion for the Eagles, and his

    commitment to Cypress Falls since its

    opening in 1992. Well always love him andwill keep him alive through our constant

    memories of his kind heart. Rest in peace, Mr.

    Boatright, and thank you for the lasting

    impact youve left on our lives.

    Dont forget to sign up for

    text updates!Text @keyclubc to (646) 392-8283.

    Dont have a cell phone? Dont have unlimited texts?Sign up for e-mail updates instead.

    E-mal [email protected].(You can leave the subject blank.)

    Stay up to date with whats going on with theCypress Falls Key Club!

    Building a Builders ClubWere starting a Builders Club at Aragon

    Middle School. Its quite similar to Key Club,

    just on a middle school level. Encourage your

    Aragon siblings/friends to join. Just tell them

    to inquire about the next meeting with Ms.

    Kennedy (room 124).

    DCON 13From April 4 to 7, we will travel to Dallas to participate in the annual convention for the entire Texas-Oklahoma

    district. It may seem like theres a long while before April rolls around, but the time will fly. We need to start

    preparing now. All members are encouraged to participate. We will be holding several fundraisers to earn money

    for DCON, including candy sales (dates are to be announced). DCON is an extremely rewarding experience, in

    that we will get to meet fellow Key Clubbers from across Texas and Oklahoma, participate in a multitude of

    workshops, and enjoy ourselves in certain charity events and dances. Moreover, at DCON, we will learn how our

    club ranked in the Texas-Oklahoma district. We were ranked fifth last year and are planning to be first this year!

    Please try to get involved in DCON. Its something you wont ever regret.

    Contact Gabi Bradshaw or Mrs. Kiklas for more information, and dont forget to pay your $110 down payment

    before January 18!