Let’s be upbeat!!  We can talk a lot about the problems that we have within our clubs or divisions or our district or even within Kiwanis International, but talk doesn’t get us anything unless that talk results in action.  And that action has to be positive.  So here are some actions that we have been taking in order to get past just the talk stage.

KIWANEWS has been changed to more readily reflect how we communicate.  In today’s world we communicate via the web, not via the mail.  Now I know that that upsets some people, but that is the reason it was changed.  Keeping in mind that we want people to read KIWANEWS, it is now easier to print articles, or the entire issue, which can then be distributed to members at the club level if they do not have access to a computer.  Now all we have to do is get people to read KIWANEWS.

This past February we had our last Mid Winter in its current format. We wanted to get more people to attend and participate in workshops while still having a great experience and having the ability to save money.  Beginning next year we will have 3 Regional Mid-winter Rallies focusing on workshops and club education.  These rallies will be spread across our District and make it easier for people to attend and participate without the expense of an overnight stay or large meals.  Now all we have to do is to get people to attend the Rallies.

Our District Convention was on the verge of being located in only one area of our District.  We decided that that did not fully represent our District and a plan has been implemented to rotate the annual Convention throughout the District; again trying to be in closer contact with our members.  Now all we have to do is get clubs to step up to host the Convention.

Finally we are making a big push to get back into contact with our clubs.  The District Board has decided to take a hard look at the roles of Trustee and Lt. Governor.  At this point, where the discussion will lead is unknown, but hopefully the Board will make a decision at the April Board meeting and we will have something ready to present to clubs in the near future with a recommendation at our Annual Convention in Eau Claire in August.  Now all we have to do is to get you to attend.

And we are not done yet.  Read the latest issue of our Kiwanis International Magazine and see what changes are being made and proposed to Club Bylaws (page 9) and what a new member receives when joining (page 12).  Find out about one of our District members on page 69. 

We might talk about our problems, but we are changing.  As Kiwanians we must change so that we can do continue to change the world one child and one community at a time.