Key Leader

We did it! I would like to thank everyone for working together to create a successful event for 60 students, 11 chaperones, and a dynamic facilitator. The 2012 event this year was held May 4-6 at the lovely Camp Stella Maris in Livonia, NY, which is not far from Rochester. We had students from the surrounding areas and as far away as Queens! Thanks so much to all the Divisions who sent students, expressed interest and sent sponsorships. Every Key Leader event is unique; the students as well as the chaperones are kept engaged in creative, thoughtful activities while honing their Key Leader skills.
Key Leader is a Leadership Training weekend for students between the ages of 14-18 which emphasizes the qualities of a Servant Leader. These students come from a variety of backgrounds, schools, and clubs. Key Leader encourages Kiwanis Clubs to participate, either by sponsoring students from a Key Club or the general student population, volunteering on site or sponsoring snacks for the students. This diversity of students and chaperones is intrinsic in making the Key Leader Program so incredible.
Students arrive Friday afternoon, often shy and uncomfortable with their surroundings, by Sunday morning they are reluctant to leave, have built many, many new friendships. Every Key Leader program is a new and unique experience, so don't be hesitant about sending students an additional time or two. Returning students have the ability to share their experience by acting as a student facilitator who assists the lead facilitator by allowing the larger group to break into smaller groups called neighborhoods.
Within these neighborhoods, they develop concepts like an Ideal Key Leader, and how a community is represented, they discuss ideas, and share in the decision making. These young Key Leaders then share their ideas with all of the other neighborhoods, with each member of the individual neighborhood taking part in the presentation.
While we are working towards a potential autumn Key Leader program in the Long Island Area, we need to hear from more interested students, club leaders and possible chaperones. We will need a strong commitment of 60 interested students for this project to move forward. So if you can spread the word to your schools, Key Clubs, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and Boys and Girls Programs, contact me with your count and we'll get started planning the session for Long Island.
At this time, I strongly encourage clubs to make Key Leader a line item on their budgets for at least two students. As always if you have questions about Key Leader, please contact me at askmj@hvc.rr.com or visit www.key-leader.org
I would like to extend a special thank you to my site coordinators, who truly made it all possible, Dean Beltrano and Ann Holevinski. I also wish to thank Gov. Bill Risbrook and Gov.-Elect Al Norato for their support, guidance and enthusiasm for Key Leader. In addition I extend my thanks to all of the adult chaperones who kept everything running smoothly.
 

Column Posted on Web Site July 28, 2012