Gov-Elect Tom Varner's Message

by Gov. Elect Tom Varner

COMMITMENT

As I begin this month's article, I like many Capital District Kiwanians have a big empty spot in my life. The passing of Past Governor Warren Kane on Thursday night causes it. I am glad that I got to visit with him a week ago in Manassas. Nevertheless, our friendship ended way too early.

Good things can come out of adversary relationships. Lin and I first met Warren and Dale when we were both running for Governor in 2003. We shared so many times together during that campaign. Warren and Dale stayed at our house and we in theirs. We traveled together throughout the District looking for votes. Warren won but we both were winners in hat we had new friends.

In the past seven, all too shot years, we have continued to share each other's lives and special occasions. Dale and Warren always had four friends when they were at our house. Our two Cotons -Diesel and Mia had friends who would let them sit with them and pay attention to them.

Beyond any personal loss, the Capital District has lost a great leader and champion. Warren was always involved with the service and fund raising projects in the Kiwanis Club of Arlington. He was involved in Division 20 and in the District. I had just appointed him to serve as our Distract Representative to the Kiwanis International Foundation. Warren was looking forward to doing another great job for Kiwanis and the kids. The weekend he was, supposed to go for training was the weekend that he was scheduled for tests that would show the seriousness of his illness.

Warren was committed to Kiwanis. We all will miss his friendly greetings and hard work.

EDUCATION

At several functions I have attended recently, I have continuously heard that Kiwanis has to change. I would like to offer a different approach to this theme. First, I do not believe that we need to change to make grow Kiwanis. Is this heresy? I do not believe it is. Why? Not everyone needs to change. There are many new forms of clubs and ways to do things in Kiwanis.

Change is great for revitalizing clubs and building new ones. However, it is not necessary for the traditional club that is growing, raising money, doing service, and sponsoring Service Leadership Programs. They are doing Kiwanis.

I suggest everyone in Kiwanis needs to have two things, tolerance and acceptance. It may not be your thing, but if it works do not change it. Accept that there are many ways to serve the children of the world. Be tolerant of those who want to who want to try something new.

Sometimes zero tolerance is a good thing. I do not think any of us wants a whole lot of tolerance in the manufacture and inspection of airplanes we are about to fly on. Nevertheless, in Kiwanis we are talking about social engineering. There are many ways to accomplish the same goal - serving the children of the world. Let us practice acceptance and tolerance.

SERVICE LEADERSHIP

Everyone above the club level must practice Servant Leadership in order to insure that our clubs are the best they can be. We need to activate our club support committees so that every club has access to the best ideas the District can offer. There are many vacancies on these committees and some that have 100% regional membership do not have 100% participation.

We need Kiwanians who are committed and who can be accepting and tolerant of new ideas. We need Kiwanians who will take the opportunity to learn. They can attend training/education sessions. They can participate in teleconference and exchange ideas with other committee members throughout the District. They can observe and learn from clubs and Kiwanians who are achieving at a height level.

Are there Capital Distract Kiwanians out there who can do the job? Will they step forward? Will you submit their names so the leadership can approach them about serving? Are there people who want to serve the clubs in their regions? Are their Kiwanians who want to be Servant Leads? If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, please contact me at thomas.varner@comcast.net.