K Kids

By Mickie Leamey

Here is an update on Kiwanis K Kids. As of today, the New York District has 67 K Kids clubs; 44 are on active status and 23 are on hiatus due to COVID-19.
Nationally, 54 percent of the clubs are not meeting, 32 percent are meeting virtually, and 14 percent are meeting in person.
While COVID-19 has affected the way we do business, it should not stop us from helping others. Kiwanis International has provided resources to allow our clubs to continue to operate virtually. You can find these resources on the K Kids website. They include a virtual meeting kit including agendas, service ideas, civic engagement, anti-bullying, and hunger. Virtual meetings allow students to understand the issues that are important in the community and give them the opportunity to learn to help others.
Faculty and Kiwanis advisors are encouraged to read the new advisor's guide located on the K Kids Website. It contains information on IDEA, a high-impact service toolkit. IDEA stands for:
Identify the need - choose an activity.
Develop the passion - understand the service need and form a personal connection.
Execute the project - how to plan and carry out the project.
Advance the impact - Review and reflect on the project. Take the time to see what is accomplished.
The concept of IDEA will form the building blocks of our students to be leaders and to preform community service for years to come.

The manual also includes information on the role of an advisor and club officers and how to recruit new members. It is a great resource.
Here are some recommendations for Kiwanis Clubs that sponsor a K Kids club.

1. Make sure that all clubs have a Kiwanis Advisor and that advisor has a cleared background check and has taken the youth protection training. A reminder that this applies to all Kiwanis advisors. Kiwanis club secretaries should update their Kiwanis Advisor in the portal and verify the background check.
2. Each Club that sponsors a K Kids club should notify Kiwanis International if their K Kids club is unable to meet due to school policies. KI has developed a COVID-19 status that places the club on hiatus and there would be no charge to the club for this year. The status can then be reactivated next year without a reactivation fee. If a K Kids club on hiatus is able to be reactivated this school year, just notify KI that the club is now active and have your Kiwanis club pay the dues and the club will resume active status.
3. A reminder that if your K Kids club is active, the yearly dues should be paid.
4. Active K Kids clubs should file their service reports with KI on the portal, so we all know what service has been performed.
5. All the resources to run a K Kids club are available at https://kiwaniskids.org/en/KKids/Home.aspx Kiwanis International has spent a lot of time and money to provide these, so let us use it.

Please feel free to call or email me if you have any questions about K Kids or if you are interested in starting a K Kids Club
We are beginning to turn the corner and are starting to think outside the box. Together we can make a difference.

Column Posted on Web Site January 13, 2021

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