Sec/Treas Tom's Message

by Sec./Treas. Tom Varner

We are the end of the calendar year or the beginning of the New Year by the time this is published. The globe and suitcase are symbolic in that Lin and I were in London over the holiday visiting our son who is working there for six months which may become three years. We had an interesting time in a somewhat different culture. Most food goods are fresh - you shop every day or two as they do not use preservatives. We had a good time but it is nice to be back in America.

The District has been doing well in terms of keeping pace with membership losses. As Secretary, I receive notices of deletes and new members that are filed by the clubs. These reports rely on the Club Secretary doing her/his and reporting in a timely manner. However, keeping pace, while good, is not what is needed. I have not seen any new club applications come through. Surely there are areas where we need to plan for clubs. I just finished Steve Jobs biography and one thing he stated was, like in hockey, you do not skate to where the puck or player is - you have to skate to where they will be. We need to build to prepare clubs where the need will be.

Another area is club growth. In Kiwanis we each had a sponsor. Some of our sponsors stayed with us for at least a year directing us to the board meetings, interclubs, service projects, and just generally encouraging us to become active, to give, and to feel the reward. The same thing is true with a new club. For at least a year the sponsors should have a minimum of an interclub at each meeting. They should invite the new club to be co-sponsors in service and fund raising and assist them in their own endeavors. When we are mentored we will be stronger and better.

In our own clubs we need to look at who our leaders are and will be. It is time for the presidents to appoint their nominating committees so they can submit a slate of officers for 2012-2013 to the annual meeting in the April-May time period. For the Divisions, it is time to submit the nominees for Lieutenant Governor and Lieutenant Governor-Elect to the clubs so they can be voted on in the March Division Council meetings. If all clubs and Division will do this, we will have a full slate of officers ready for training in May and June.

Since I am in a new job, I have learned again the lessons of having good training and mentoring. To me education is a life-long journey. If I have nothing more to learn, I will probably be looking up at the roots and not down at the grass. There are any ways to learn, but using the Kiwanis instructors and programs will get everyone started the right direction. Training will be available to the Lieutenant Governors and Club Officers shortly. Take advantage of the information and the chance to meet your peers.

Secretaries, our job only beings when we submit reports. We have a responsibility to our clubs to provide guidance to those who make committee reports, to the other officers to keep them informed, to be up-to-date on the policies and procedures of Kiwanis and in some cases our state laws. Accuracy and timeliness should be sought by every secretary. Your monthly reports are due on the 10^th of the following month. You owe it to your club to report the activities of the club. If you have only ten percent of your members participating, what are the other members doing? Remember, only you see the reports if you do not share them with the officers or members.

It is now January. We are in month four of the Kiwanis year. I encourage every Kiwanian in the Capital District to give what they truly can to making this the best year for you and your club in Kiwanis. Have a great year!

Tom Varner

Secretary/Treasurer