Volume 1, Issue 2 July – August 2015

Service in Seneca The official publication of the Seneca Division of

New York District of Circle K International

Kenji Yeoh (Bronx High School of Science) uses a plate of whipped cream to “pie” Terrell Merritt (Rochester Institute of Technology) in the face during an auction at the Kiwanis Family Picnic. (Credit: New York District Circle K/Twitter)

Table of Contents

Lieutenant Governor’s Message

Service Spotlight

Upcoming District Events

Circle K 101

Club Updates

Kiwanis Family Korner

3

4

5

6

8

10

2

Interact with the Seneca Division on the web:

Website

Facebook Group

Twitter

http://nyckiseneca.weebly.com/

http://facebook.com/groups/nyckiseneca

http://twitter.com/nyckiseneca

In case you’re new, my name is Terrell Merritt and I am serving as the Lieutenant Governor to the Seneca Division for this service year. If you’re new to Circle K, welcome to the world’s largest student-led collegiate service organization! I hope that this organization impacts you the way it has impacted me and many others as you continue to serve your communities alongside thousands of other members from all around the world.

I’m very glad to be back into the swing of things after an event-filled summer. I definitely enjoyed connecting with the Bronx High School of Science Key Club – which I am a former member of – and other Key Clubs in New York City to do a number of service projects together. I also had the opportunity to meet quite a few Circle K members from all over, allowing for me to see how other people serve their communities (and let’s just say I like New Jersey a little bit more now). Speaking of an event-filled summer, let’s all congratulate Josh Hill from the University of Rochester Circle K club for being appointed as the Secretary of the International Analytics Ad-Hoc Committee. You’re going to do great!

Now that school has started up again, it’s time for all of us to get ready for another amazing school year of service, leadership, and fellowship (these are our tenants, after all)! Please keep me updated on all the amazing stuff you guys are doing, and you’ll have plenty of time to do that at our first Divisional meeting, which is in the planning stage.

As always, feel free to email me at terrell.merritt@nycirclek.org if you need anything or have any questions!

Yours in Service, Leadership, & Fellowship,

Terrell Frederick Merritt Seneca Division Lieutenant Governor

New York District of Circle K International

Lieutenant Governor’s Message

3

Welcome to the New School Year!

On Saturday, August 8th, 2015, the 5th Annual New York District Kiwanis Family Picnic was held in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens. This year’s picnic was a huge success, with over 40 clubs from 5 districts in attendance between the various branches of the Kiwanis family. In all, over US$1,000 was raised by the attendees.

I personally ran a Minute to Win It challenge, where participants had to keep two balloons in the air for one minute to win. The wind proved to be a challenge for most participants, and it was quite fun to watch members run across the park trying to catch their balloons, some of which ended up popping in the process.

I was auctioned off to be “pied” with whipped cream, being sold for $16 to Kenji Yeoh. Let’s just say that I could not feel my face for a few days after the impact of that plate of whipped cream. My favorite part of the auction had to be watching Lieutenant Governor Edgar Hu (Stony Brook University) be auctioned off in a wig.

All in all, the event was a great time. We all had the chance to meet other Circle K members, Key Club members, and Kiwanians from all over the area. I personally got to build new relationships with some amazing people, and it was the perfect way for me to end my summer.

Also, I have to say that I was pretty excited to find out that the funds would be going to the Kiwanis

Pediatric Lyme Disease Foundation. As the Circle K chair of that foundation’s Service Leadership Committee, I enjoyed the picnic just that much more after learning that such an amazing organization would be supported.

Shout out to Alumni and Kiwanis Family Relations Committee Chair Jeffrey Cheng (University at Buffalo) for planning an amazing event!

Service Spotlight

Fun Times at the K-Family Picnic

Terrell Merritt, Rochester Institute of Technology

Terrell Merritt leads a Minute to Win It challenge. (Credit: New York District Circle K / Facebook)

Terrell Merritt and David Wu (University at Buffalo) staff the registration table.

(Credit: New York District Circle K / Facebook)

4

The District Large Scale Service Project (DLSSP) is New York District Circle K’s annual district service event, where the members of New York Circle K clubs meet together at one location for a weekend of service. During this weekend, attendees perform a number of service projects at the event site while getting to know other college students dedicated to service. Some details:

• When: Friday September 25th – Sunday September 27th, 2015 • Where: Kamp Kiwanis, 9020 Kiwanis Road, Taberg, NY 13471 • Cost: $10, including all meals, lodging, and activities • Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/712639208869135/

Click on the info link above to access the Facebook page, which has the sign up link and more information on what to expect.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the District Conferences and Conventions Committee Co-Chairs Sandra Chang [sandra.chang@nycirclek.org] and Briana Saur [briana.saur@nycirclek.org] or District Governor Walaa Ahmed [walaa.ahmed@nycircle.org].

Looking forward to seeing you at Kamp Kiwanis!

Upcoming District Events

5

You may have heard this already, but Circle K International (CKI) is the world’s largest student-led collegiate service organization. But what does that mean, and what exactly is Circle K? Are there leadership opportunities in this organization? How do you get the most out of your membership in this amazing organization? Well, keep reading and hopefully you’ll be on the start to knowing the answers.

When we say that Circle K is student-led, we’re not kidding. There are levels to this:

Club Level [President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, Committee Chairs, etc.]

This is where every member of CKI lies (you are all members of a club based on what school you attend). There are a few opportunities to lead on this level, as listed above. These opportunities give you a chance to take part in the workings of Circle K on your campus. Want to be involved on this level? Contact your current club president or check out the Handbooks on the district website’s resources page here: http://nycirclek.org/resources!

Division Level [Lieutenant Governor, etc.]

A “division” is a group of Circle K clubs near you. You are members of the Seneca Division, consisting of clubs near the Rochester area. Each division is led by a Lieutenant Governor, a member of one of the division’s clubs, who assists the clubs of the division in their work and relays information to the clubs from the District level (see next level). The Lieutenant Governor may choose to elect other officers to assist them with their work. Want to be involved on this level? Contact your current Lieutenant Governor, Terrell Merritt, whose contact information is available here: http://nyckiseneca.weebly.com/divisional-officers.html!

Note: Smaller districts may not have divisions, and the Lieutenant Governor role is replaced with a council of the presidents of each Circle K club in the district.

Circle K 101

What is Circle K?

6

The Circle K Hierarchy

District Level [Governor, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, Committee Chairs, etc.]

A “district” is a collection of divisions (when existing) that typically coincides with a state, number of states, or similarly-sized geographical region. You are members of the New York District, made up of clubs/divisions in the state of New York. A district is led by a District Board, typically consisting of the above listed officers (in addition to the aforementioned Lieutenant Governors). These officers help with the administrative efforts of every club in the district and support them throughout the year. Want to be involved on this level? Contact the District Board, whose contact information is available here: http://nycirclek.org/board.

International Level [President, Vice President, Trustees, Committee Members, etc.]

The entirety of CKI is led by this level. The International President and Vice President oversee the success of every Circle K club in existence. Trustees serve a group of districts (called a subregion) and ensure the communication of information from the International level to the other levels. You are members of Subregion F. Committees and Task Forces also exist on this level to help the International Board with their work. Want to be involved on this level? Contact the current International Board, whose contact information is available here: http://www.circlek.org/Leadership/InternationalBoard.aspx.

Now that you know the various levels, interact with all of the levels on Facebook!

“NYCKI Seneca Division” group: [ http://facebook.com/groups/NYCKISeneca ]

“New York District of Circle K International” page: [ http://facebook.com/nycirclek ]

“CKI Subregion F” page: [ http://facebook.com/CKISubregionF ]

“Circle K International” page: [ http://facebook.com/circlekintnl ]

Not satisfied with knowledge yet? Stay tuned to the next issue for the next class, Circle K 202! (You think I’m kidding, just you wait.)

7

Circle K 101

What is Circle K?

Over the summer, SUNY Geneseo Circle K has been up to a bit. They:

• Started their own Twitter account: @GeneseoCKI (you should follow it!) • Began to administer a Facebook group for its members • Will be getting ready for a successful year, hopefully reaching their goal of 50

members!

Woo, Geneseo! Check them out here: http://facebook.com/geneseocirclek

The University of Rochester Circle K (URCKI) has been doing pretty well. Here’s a message from President Charles Hunter:

With school resuming at the University of Rochester in the coming week, UR Circle K is excited to take on another year of service. We're hitting the ground running as we co-hosted the Community Service Network Fair on August 27th from 3-8pm! Going into the new year, we have a few other projects in the works including a collaboration with RIT! Happy new (academic) year, K-Family. #ServiceOnFleek

Go URCKI! Check them out on Facebook here: http://facebook.com/uofrcirclek

Club Updates

What Have Our Clubs Been Up To?

8

SUNY Geneseo Circle K

University of Rochester Circle K

SUNY Brockport Circle K is also pretty goal-oriented for the upcoming year. They’re:

• Hoping to have 30 members by the end of the service year • Planning on fundraising at least US$2,500 • Hoping to make it to lager events this year!

Let’s go Brockport! Check them out here: http://twitter.com/bport_circlek

The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Circle K will do great things this upcoming year. Here are updates from President Katey Sackett:

• Summer was focused on "cyber-service" and how we can all make a difference, even in the few minutes we have online

• Currently working to collaborate on a project with University of Rochester. • RIT Circle K would like to ask that clubs reach out to their Be the Match

representatives and see if they can hold a bone marrow drive (they can contact me for details)

• We have been working on personal service projects, some of our members have been working with local Kiwanis family clubs, and we have been organizing for the returning students.

Looking good, RIT! Check them out here: http://facebook.com/ritcirclek

Club Updates

What Have Our Clubs Been Up To?

9

SUNY Brockport Circle K

Rochester Institute of Technology Circle K

Circle K is the college level of a group of community service organizations under the umbrella of Kiwanis International. Kiwanians are our greatest resource, and do much of what we do on an adult/professional level. As the Seneca Division of New York District Circle K, we have two corresponding Kiwanis divisions and one corresponding Key Club division. Over the year, you will be introduced to and hopefully work with all three of these divisions and their officers.

In this issue, you’ll hear a bit about one of the Kiwanis divisions – the Genesee Division – and its Lieutenant Governor Designate, Anne Kelly. She will be working with us from October 1st throughout the end of my term. Here’s what she has to say to you all:

The Genesee Division of Kiwanis is comprised of 18 clubs. We hope to be able to serve our communities together with you this year. To do this, we plan to invite you to our events (service and social) and hope that you will consider asking us to assist you with community projects. Please just ask us. Here's hoping for a successful relationship among our clubs as we serve!

Lieutenant Governor Designate Anne Kelly

Kiwanis Club of Southwest Rochester

If you’re looking to work with Kiwanians in the future, please get in touch with your sponsoring Kiwanis Club(s). If you do not have contact with them OR you

want to reach out to anybody else in the Kiwanis family, feel free to reach out to me at terrell.merritt@nycirclek.org and I’ll get you connected.

10

Kiwanis Family Korner

Introduction to Kiwanians Introducing Lieutenant Governor Designate Anne Kelly & the Genesee Division of New York District Kiwanis

One of the other organizations under the Kiwanis umbrella is Key Club International. Key Club is the high school branch of our organization, with over 270,000 members all around the world dedicated to their motto – “Caring – Our Way of Life”. Try to reach out to a nearby Key Club and either work with them or at least keep in touch with them. If you’re not sure why you should be doing this, here’s a few reasons from people touched by Key Club and the Kiwanis family:

“Key Clubs represent a vast pool of untapped potential. Cooperating with Key Clubs can make way to additional volunteers, participants, and opportunities through service events and fundraisers, while also opening the door to future Circle K members.”

– Divisional Secretary ’15-’16 Kenji Yeoh, The Bronx High School of Science Key Club

“It's important to see how other branches of the Kiwanis Family operate. They can compare what works in their respective clubs and the bigger the network, the more chances of interclub events happening.”

– Club President ’12-’13 Gabrielle Coe, Marlboro High School Key Club

“Working with Key Clubs is a great way to extend your reach in the community, help to inspire new leaders within high school youth, and even learn new service project ideas or local opportunities.”

– Club President ’12-’13 Jerry Cimo, Columbia High School Key Club

“Key Clubbers are a bunch of passionate high school students dedicated to the call of service. Don’t think they’re passionate? Just ask them how they feel. Take the chance to channel some of their passions into your efforts to better the community.”

– Distinguished Senior Member ’13-’14 Terrell Merritt, The Bronx High School of Science Key Club

Definitely try to at least keep in touch and hear about what a nearby Key Club is up to. Check out the New York District Key Club website here:

http://nydkc.org/ to read up on their work and to find contact information!

Kiwanis Family Korner

Working with Key Club

11

Look forward for the release of the next issue for a recap on the first district event, information about the second district event, updates from Seneca

Division clubs on the first few months of the school year, and more!

Published by Seneca Division Lieutenant Governor Terrell Frederick Merritt.

Thank you to the following individuals for your contribution to this issue: Jerry Cimo, Gabrielle Coe, Charles Hunter, Anne Kelly, Katey Sackett, and Kenji Yeoh.

To contribute, email Lieutenant Governor Terrell at terrell.merritt@nycirclek.org!

Thanks for Reading!

Gabrielle Coe, Timmy Zhu (Bronx High School of Science), and Terrell Merritt pose for a “selfie” during the Kiwanis Family Picnic. (Credit: Terrell Merritt)