Key Leader

Initially we were trying to host a Key Leader Program in Long Island for November. Unfortunately we were unable to secure a camp that had all the necessary facilities.

We need a camp that has climate controllable cabins, a rope course or team-building exercises, a dining area with kitchen, a meeting area large enough for 80-100 people with work space, and last but not least it should be affordable. Then we will need approximately 10 volunteer men and women to be chaperones. I have two dynamic individuals willing to be site coordinators and they are anxious to get us going. We are now setting our sights on a mid-winter timeframe, perhaps January/February.

Now for the important part - from the Long Island area and its surrounding divisions I will need a guarantee of 60-plus students to attend. What this means is that right now you need to work Key Leader into your budget, commit to sponsoring at least two or more area high school students and contact your lieutenant governors with that information. If you don't have a local high school student to attend we still need your sponsorship for students who can attend but have no Kiwanis Club to support them. I will need the Long Island and surrounding divisions' lieutenant governors to let me know what commitments are being made and which clubs are working with us to achieve our goal of hosting a Key Leader program in their area.

Key Leader is a dynamic leadership experience for high school students 14-18 years of age offering emerging leaders a taste of what service leadership is all about. Our goal is for Kiwanis to be the premier provider of programs that develop competent, knowledgeable and ethical youth and adult leaders. We focus on five key principals: Personal Integrity - doing the right thing, Personal Growth - developing in mind, body and spirit, Respect - Showing consideration for self, others and property, Building Community - Developing relationships to achieve positive goals, Pursuit of Excellence - Expecting and achieving the best.

Here are some reasons why students think it's amazing: friends that will last a lifetime, it teaches how to interact with society, an experience with amazing energy and hands-on activities, a sense of community and building lifelong skills.

For more information on Key Leader, please contact me at askmj@hvc.rr.com or visit the website at www.Key-Leader.org Watch for an event coming your way.

The first weekend in May, May 3-5, there will be a Key Leader Program at Camp Stella Maris, in Livonia, near Rochester. We ask that you start having students register in late February so we can prepare for camp. Enrollment is limited to 80 students, in order to secure this program we will need to reach 60 students to hold the program. We did a great job last May and we are counting on your continued support.

Registration is via www.key-leader.org and the costs are as follows: $200 per student, $175 per Key Club member, $115 per student facilitator (student facilitators will have to fill out extra paperwork and are usually returning students).

Refreshment donations are always appreciated as well.

Column Posted on Web Site October 30, 2012