District Secretary

I hope that the holidays brought hope for better times to all.

Administratively there are a number of things going on that need our attention.

Hopefully, if your club has not already done so, it will be making plans to send some members to the Mid-Year Conference (February 22-24 at the Holiday Inn on Wolf Road, Albany).

The registration forms are posted on the district web site, www.kiwanis-ny.org; the schedules for the conference and forums should be published on the web site by the time that you read this. Please go to www.kiwanis-ny.org to get the latest information on this important weekend.

As has been announced a number of times, the Kiwanis International Board has approved a new "Standard Form of Club Bylaws" and clubs will be required to adopt these new bylaws. The new club bylaws present clubs with fewer rules and more options than in the past, plus new club policies that can be adapted to each club. Other benefits of moving this requirement online include time-savings, easier editing, more secure archiving and self-serve access which gives the club the ability to download a copy anytime (once the new version is submitted online). Although it was intended to be operational by December, the online submission process is yet to be completed. In the meantime, go to www.KiwanisOne.org/NewClubBylaws to preview the new copy and consult the updated FAQs. Hopefully, we will be able to offer a forum on this issue at the Mid-Year Conference.

At the time of this publication, the District Office has received two notices of candidacy for the office of Governor Elect for the Kiwanis Administrative Year 2013-14. The announced candidates are: Lt. Governor Eric G. Paul, Kiwanis Club of West Seneca, Niagara Frontier South Division and Immediate Past Lt. Governor Candace Corsaro, Kiwanis Clubs of Niagara Falls and Amherst, Niagara Frontier North Division.

Shortly information supplied by the campaigns will be published on the district web site and both of these candidates will be campaigning at the Mid-Year Conference. Take the time to get to know both as in August we will be picking the next leadership for our District.

Speaking of campaigning the New York District Policies concerning campaigning are available on the district web site.

Column Posted on Web Site January 22, 2013