The Kiwanis Club of Medina

Kiwanis celebrates service, fosters leadership at annual convention

Chris Hayworth — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:49:00 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — More than 5,500 member-volunteers, families and guests from around the world will gather this week in Nashville, Tenn., for Kiwanis International’s 94th annual convention. Members will elect new international officers, celebrate their compassionate commitment to help children and communities, and enhance leadership skills.

Kiwanis International comprises 600,000 adult and youth members in 70 nations who annually give more than six million hours and US$100 million to help change the world one child and one community at a time.

During the June 25-28 convention, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean will welcome members who then will hone their skills working with volunteers, share best practices to go from good to great and discuss recruiting and retaining members. Members also will learn about succession planning and working with youth through Kiwanis programs such as Key Club and Circle K, Kiwanis initiatives on high school and university and college campuses.

“Kiwanis is planning a dynamic program this year, with targeted educational tracks and specialized sessions on topics such as member retention and growth, but we aren’t forgetting the important elements of fun and fellowship,” said Rob Parker, Kiwanis International CEO.

“We kick off the celebration of service with a members’ event in the Nashville Convention Center Thursday, enjoy the sights and sounds of the Grand Ole Opry Friday during Kiwanis Night at the Opry, and then join in the Saturday Night Stampede at the Wildhorse Saloon, where we expect to see a lot of boot-scootin’ Kiwanians on the dance floor.”

Held at the Nashville Convention and Sommet centers, the event will reflect key Kiwanis themes of service and leadership through educational forums and guest speakers such as Judson Laipply, an American motivational speaker and comedian from Bucyrus, Ohio, whose “Evolution of Dance” is among the most viewed videos of all time on YouTube. Jeff Wolf, one of America’s top executive business coaches and author of, Roadmap to Success, with Ken Blanchard and Stephen Covey, will also present at the convention, as will Kent Keith, chief executive of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership and author of The Paradoxical Commandments and The Case for Servant Leadership.

Denver & the Mile High Orchestra, a horn-driven band from Nashville, will also perform for the convention. The group, formed by friends at Nashville’s Belmont University, has performed at churches, conferences, festivals—even the Olympics.

Other highlights of the 94th annual convention include:

Presentation of the Kiwanis International World Service Medal
- The Kiwanis World Service Medal, established in 1985, recognizes individuals who devote a significant part of their lives to meeting the needs of others. One medal is awarded each year and the Kiwanis International Foundation adds a US $10,000 grant to assist the honoree in furthering his or her service work. Winners have included Mother Teresa, Audrey Hepburn and First Ladies Nancy Reagan and Rosalynn Carter.

Election of international officers
- Delegates to the convention from Kiwanis clubs worldwide will elect the new president, president-elect and vice president of the organization. The current president is Don Canaday, of Fishers, Ind.

Presentation of the Robert P. Connelly Medal of Heroism
- The medal honors Robert P. Connelly, 34, a Kiwanis club member from Illinois, who died in 1966 while trying to save a disabled woman who had fallen into the path of an oncoming train. Sadly, both died, but Connelly’s selfless act inspired the Kiwanis International board to establish an award in his honor, marking service “above and beyond the call of duty.”

Surprise announcement
- Kiwanis International will make an announcement during convention of a special project plan. Further information will be available at and after convention.

“This is an exciting time for Kiwanis,” said Parker. “We are proud of the help provided by so many member-volunteers over so many years, but we are excited, too, by the energy, enthusiasm and innovative ideas we are seeing and what it holds for the future – of Kiwanis and for the children we are committed to help everywhere around the world.”

Evolution of Dance’ creator to inspire, entertain Kiwanians

Chris Hayworth — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:48:00 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Judson Laipply, an “inspirational comedian” whose Evolution of Dance has been viewed more than 116 million times on YouTube, is a featured speaker at the Kiwanis International Convention, taking place this week at the Sommet and Nashville Convention centers.

Laipply, who strives to make people laugh and think, will share his humor and wisdom on topics from change to teams to setting goals Wednesday afternoon, and top off his session with a performance of The Evolution of Dance.

In the original video, Laipply dances to a soundtrack that features songs from a range of artists, including Elvis Presley, MC Hammer and Michael Jackson. An updated version also includes songs from artists including James Brown and Soulja Boy.

“We are delighted to have Judson participate in the Kiwanis convention,” said Don Canaday, of Fishers, Ind., Kiwanis International president. “Judson has that rare ability to motivate and to inspire, and at the same time to entertain.

“I believe Kiwanis members who are in Nashville to explore and experience new opportunities for friendship, fellowship and service, and to celebrate the service of the past year, will get a lot from his appearance, especially about issues such as change, making choices, team building, goal setting and leadership.”

For his performance, Laipply draws on his experiences from working on a cruise ship and at a camp in Colorado, being a certified Aerobics instructor, teaching college courses, being a published poet, part- time auctioneer and a weekly columnist.

Kiwanis donates computers to students

Chris Hayworth — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:47:00 +0000

Livonia, Michigan, Hometown Life
http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20090618/NEWS10/906180582

Briann Minter hopes to accelerate her learning even more.

The Riley School fifth-grader, who is in an accelerated reading and writing program, received a laptop computer Monday from the Livonia Kiwanis Club.

The Kiwanis donated four computers to students in four families in Livonia who have come under difficult times. Briann's mother, Jennie Minter, recently lost her job as an assistant manager at a credit union.

Ryan Wagner, vice president of the Kiwanis and one of the coordinators of the computer donations, said the service club contacted city hall's Sharon Sabat, site coordinator for the city's emergency food assistance program, and asked for the names of families that could use some help.

Will Alford, Kiwanis president, said the club also provides dictionaries to students in the Livonia and Clarenceville districts. “We're also giving away four scholarships to high school seniors,” Alford said.

The Kiwanis purchased the computers from Canton Computer on Plymouth Road in Livonia. Wagner appreciated the efforts of store manager Jason Lewkut for his work on pricing. “They gave us far and away the best price on that,” Wagner said.

“That was just the best news to hear,” said Jennie, the single mother of six children ages 3-17. Briann said she was happy to get the computer “It was really cool,” Briann said. “Now I won't have to go to anyone else for computer projects. Now I can just stay at home.”

Mom added: “She called all of her friends as soon as I told her.”

Jennie said the family had purchased a used computer from Thurston High School when they lived in Redford a few years ago.

Briann hopes it will help her with her classes, such as social studies, science and math.
Her reading and writing skills are at a seventh-grade level.

The computer will help her “explore new worlds and new books,” Briann said. “And you can write anything, imaginary or real life.”

Of course, she'll use the computer for fun, too. She likes Webkinz, a Web site that interacts with children about the care for a plush toy pet. She hopes to someday be a pediatrician.

Jennie expects to use the Dell laptop computer, too.

“I may be using it for jobs, for sending out resumes,” she said. “It truly is a blessing what they (the Kiwanis) do for Livonia.”