Dear New York District Kiwanians, another Kamping season is done and although all the numbers aren't in as of yet, everything points to a very good season for the Kamp. Last year, with your help, we were able to send 620 challenged and underprivileged children to Kamp Kiwanis, this year in the 2010 season we did a lot better, with your help again, we were able to serve 656 kids at Kamp Kiwanis.
This is great for two reasons, firstly, the more we fill the Kamp, the more that we will be financially stable, but more importantly we were able to give 656 children an outdoor experience that they would otherwise never experience. We gave 656 challenged and underprivileged children a chance to make new friends, play games on grass fields, and overall for one week forget that they are challenged or disadvantaged and just be themselves.
We gave 656 children a camping experience and on the way changed their lives for the better. If that's not the true meaning of Kiwanis, I don’t know what is.
There are a great many people to thank for the great season we had at Kamp Kiwanis and if I did, I would probably need a few more pages of this publication, but I would be remiss if I don't mention Gov. Dave Booker and his board of "Bookers Builders". Gov. Dave made a commitment to Kamp Kiwanis and kept his word, he promoted the Kamp wherever he went and with his example, the rest of Bookers Builders followed through. Not only did they send 3 kampers, but at the August 19th district board meeting, they decided to make a donation to the foundation to help us with our debt. On behalf of the New York District Kiwanis Foundation members, from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.
Now that I’ve told you the good news, let me temper my remarks by telling you that we must keep it going, we can't allow this feeling to be lost, and we must not become complacent, because that is our worst enemy. We must continue our efforts to fill the Kamp next year, we must continue the "One More Kamper" program so that next year we can say that we changed the lives of 720 or more children, we can do it. Two years ago it might have seemed impossible to some, but not to us. We knew that when the New York District Kiwanians are called to help they never let anyone down. Thank you again.
Column Posted on Web Site November 9, 2010
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated