Builders Club

Where can I go to get help starting a Builders Club or help with a question or problem my Builders Club is having? by Joanne Underwood

My family gets a great deal of pleasure "camping" on my lack of knowledge of the computer and the internet. Don't get me wrong, I think computers are a true blessing - I haven't used a typewriter since I learned that I don't have to erase (thus getting a hole in my paper and having to start over again) when I use the computer. And, equally as exciting for me is that genius "spell checker" that computers have. After all, it was usually a spelling mistake that I was trying to erase when I put the hole in my typing paper! (But I digress.) I just find the Internet to be frustrating! Just today I tried to go to Kiwanisone.org to get some new information and every time I clicked on a new page, it told me "error" and when I tried again I got a "cute" page that told me "we don't have all our ducks in a row, as there's nothing here". In desperation, I went to my husband (Justin) who is a whiz with computers, for help. He said, "Let's see what the problem is" and went to the same webpage I had been on, and everything worked perfectly! It's frustrating! I'm sure the computer hates me and loves Justin. There is no other acceptable explanation!

Now why did I take up so much space telling you all of that? Because I know some of you "Gentle Kiwanian readers" feel the same way! If that's the case you can still get all the information you need to start a Builders Club or to help make your Builders Club everything it wants to be - by just contacting me! It's easy, and all the information you need to reach me is in the district directory or you can save this article and have the same information here. My phone number is (585) 342-7657 and we have an answering machine if we're not home. My e-mail address is hjoanne202@aol.com. I tend to delete any e-mail from an address I don't recognize, so in the "subject box" please put Builders Club. You could even mail a note to me at 91 Jewel Street, Rochester NY, 14621.
 
As the NY District Builders Club Administrator, I often get calls or e-mails from people who don't know how to start a Builders Club or need help with some particular question or problem that their Builders Club has. That's a major reason I am here, and I encourage all of you to call or e-mail me when you have any question at all about a Builders Club. You can also give my contact information to your Kiwanis and Faculty Builders Club advisors. There is a great deal of things that Kiwanis has to offer our Builders Clubs that I don't think many people know about. For example, do you know that each year there are several Kiwanis sponsored contests that Builders Clubs and their individual members can take part in? There's a Scrap Book competition, an Essay contest, a Speech contest, and a Leadership Award (where each district has a winner who gets a $200 savings bond). I'd like to have entries from each of our Builders clubs, but the most I've ever gotten for any of these awards are seven (7)! Right now we're working on getting all of the SLP's involved in the EliMiNaTe project. There's so much going on, if you need help in ANY way, please contact me.

My goal is to have one new Builders Club in each of our 27 Divisions this year. Congratulations to the Baldwin Middle School Builders Club chartered October 3, and their sponsor the Baldwin Kiwanis Club (Long Island Southwest division); to the Albany Academy for Girls Builders Club chartered Nov. 11, and their sponsor the Delmar Kiwanis Club (Capital division); and to the East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School chartered Dec. 6, and its sponsor the East Rockaway Kiwanis Club (Long Island Southwest division). These new Builders Club members are on their way to developing leadership skills and real self esteem; and their communities are already a better place, because they exist. Isn't it time your community has a Builders Club? Contact me! I can help you get one started and you will be so glad you did!

Column Posted on Web Site February 3, 2012