IMG_0885.JPG=Governor Rachael Slotter receives a standing ovation from her Board and all those in attendance at this Key Club District Leadership Conference.
IMG_0685.JPG=The Fishburne Military School Color Guard stands at attention for the ‘Pledge of Allegiance” and singing of the United States National Anthem followed by the Invocation in the Kiwanis Family tradition of opening a meeting.  It was very respectful of our flag and our nation.   It’s even more to be proud of by Key Club.
IMG_0820.JPG=On Sunday morning at the Farewell Session Breakfast and as a part of the Year’s Special Awards, outstanding club and individual attainment is recognized.  The District’s Key Club of the Year is awarded to the Harrisonburg High School Key Club, Virginia.  Accepting the club’s award from Governor Rachael is Marwah Bani Hani, Distinguished Club Vice President. Key Club Administrator is announcing the awards as Governor Rachael presents the plaques.
IMG_0691.JPG=Navy Rifle Drill Team stands at attention and executes “Present Arms”.
IMG_0700.JPG=The Key Note Speaker was Craig Melvin who is the NBC4 TV news anchor at 6 and 11 PM weekends in Washington.  He is well known in our area and has another important distinction as well.  Craig was the Key Club International President in 1996-1997 having been elected at the 1996 Miami Beach ICON.  He served as LG in the Carolina’s District.  He strongly encourages members to step up to leadership opportunities in clubs, divisions and the district to learn how to led and manage.  His personal achievements were very well received and motivational to attendees … both Key Clubbers and Kiwanians.  Thank you, Craig.
IMG_0851.JPG=The Outstanding Capital District Key Club Board Member of the Year is Lieutenant Governor Carter Black, Division 19, by Key Club District Administrator Mr. Joe Stankus.
IMG_0781.JPG=The presentation at the banquet of the Key Club Executive Board and Lieutenant Governors is always a highlight of the convention. While we can’t show all, here are some of the officers.  LG Division 16 Grace Mezzy and her escort.
IMG_0875.JPG=Capital District Kiwanis Key Club Governor Rachael Slotter gives her ‘Farewell Message’ to her team, all Key Club members, Kiwanians and friends. She thanked all for the support given to her on her journey in this exciting organization which always does so much for school and community.  It has been a wonderful experience with wonderful people.  Her address was well presented and touched on may personal experiences, friends and events during the 2010-2011 Key Club Year. Thanks YOU, Rachael, for your Service to our Kiwanis Family!
IMG_0652.JPG=They just keep running past and yelling.  The black shirts state “It’s no fun doing it alone: VOLUNTEER !”
IMG_0709.JPG=The General Session, as the term implies, brings all attendees together for the business meetings of the DCON.  One of the traditional events at all annual K-Family conventions is the presence of the K-Family itself, bringing Kiwanis Family Greetings.  This shows how the Kiwanis organizations now flow from the youngest time called K-Kids, those in elementary school.  K-Family experiences provide the advantages of learning how working together helps to accomplish more meaningful community service. Key Club LG Carter Black introduced K-Kids Representative Jesse Pasierb. It was impressive to hear his message and see his composure.  Neeta Singh, Representative of Builder’s Clubs, and CKI Governor Brian Cofrancesco (picture shown earlier) give message of support to Key Clubs for their leadership in the K-Family in their addresses to the DCON.
IMG_0847.JPG=The Outstanding Club Member title and the “Above and Beyond Award” is given to Harris Fitzgerel of Annandale High School by Governor Rachael and Mr Joe Stankus.
IMG_0852.JPG=Capital District Key Club Administrator Mr. Joe Stankus personally presented the Outstanding District Key Club Lieutenant Governor Award to Kun Lang, Division 12.  Congratulation’s Kun!
IMG_0861.JPG=While service is our mission in the K-Family, the Capital District Kiwanis Foundation presents five scholarship for $1,000 each and one additional scholar ship for $2,000 after a detailed thorough review by the Scholarship Committee of the many applications for the awards.  The funds come from the earnings from the Endowment Investment Account of the CDFK earned from contributions by Kiwanians and friends to Life Foundation Memberships Awards, Memorials, and to the Founder’s Society.  Please make a 501c3 tax deductible donation to your Foundation so we can award even more scholarship next year.
IMG_0797.JPG=Here is a view of the main runway to the stage during dinner to get an idea of the layout.  There are 500 people to the left and 500 people to the right.  It’s a BIG SHOW folks.  Make sure YOUR sponsored Key Club has delegates at DCON next year.  Same place, date TBA
IMG_0704.JPG=Accompanying Craig was Lindsay Czarniak, TV Sportscaster on NBC4 Washington, sitting with Kiwanis Governor Tom Varner and CKI Governor Brian Cofrancesco.  And thank you, Lindsay, for being at the Leadership Conference.
IMG_0775.JPG=Saturday night brings the long awaited semi-formal/formal “Awards Banquet Dinner”.  It is the opportunity for all 1,000+ (Can you believe it?  Believe it.) attendees to gather in the Regency Ball Room. So, put on your best and let’s go!  The Potomac Kiwanis Club sponsors the Winston Churchill Key Club in Potomac, Maryland.  Left to right is Key Club Advisor and President Nancy Cressy, Key Club President Cindy Zheng, Cindy Yiin, Hannah Sur, Adrianna Lee, and Key Club Advisor PG Bob Cressy (Potomac Club Secretary).  Ladies, you all look lovely.  Bob … well …
IMG_0918.JPG=Kiwanis Governor Elect Jeff Wolff, Key Club Governor Caroline Morris and Key Club Administrator Joe Stankus pose with the Capital District Crab mascot.  Get ready for ACTION!
IMG_0786.JPG=Key Club District Treasurer Alex Burkard, Fishburne Military School and his escort Zone Administrator Debbie Todd
IMG_0911.JPG=Governor Elect Jeff Wolff installs the new 2011-2012 Key Club Governor Caroline Morris, the Key Club Board and Division Lieutenant Governors. We wish you the Best of Luck and success in meeting your challenges.  We are all with you, Caroline. Congratulations to you and your team!
IMG_0759.JPG=Patrick Mitchell campaigned for District Editor … and later was elected at the House of Delegates session on Sunday.
IMG_0859.JPG=While service is our mission in the K-Family, the Capital District Kiwanis Foundation presents five scholarship for $1,000 each and one additional scholar ship for $2,000 after a detailed thorough review by the Scholarship Committee of the many applications for the awards.  The funds come from the earnings from the Endowment Investment Account of the CDFK earned from contributions by Kiwanians and friends to Life Foundation Memberships Awards, Memorials, and to the Founder’s Society.  Please make a 501c3 tax deductible donation to your Foundation so we can award even more scholarship next year.
IMG_0887.JPG=District Key Club Administrator Joe Stankus presents the crystal Symbol of Thanks to Governor Rachael Slotter for her dedicated, faithful and outstanding service to Capital District Key Club and to Capital District Kiwanis for the Year 2010-2011.  Thank you and well done!
IMG_0894.JPG=Kiwanis Governor Tom Varner and Administrator Joe Stankus thank the Key Club Board for their dedication and retire the 2010-11 Key Club Team.
IMG_0788.JPG=Headlining the honored arrivals, none other that your Key Club Capital District Governor Rachael Slotter, escorted by her brother!  Congratulations!
IMG_0776.JPG=The Bel Air High School Key Club is sponsored by … well, the Bel Air Kiwanis Club of course.  Kiwanians, aren’t you proud to sponsor the young leaders of the K-Family?   Good for you!
IMG_0728.JPG=Governor Tom Varner brings his ‘Remarks and Greetings from Kiwanis International and the Capital District’.  He shared in the appreciation of Key Clubs hard work and success in putting together this conference and in the support given by Kiwanis Club Advisors and Faculty Advisors.  He said all the Family ahs similar opportunities to serve and challenges in encouraging others to join with us in ‘changing the world’ for the better.
IMG_0793.JPG=Behind all the smooth flowing organization and audio/video technology is the DCON producers & directors.  Here they are at work now.  Thanks!
IMG_0744.JPG=Division Caucuses were held in the afternoon with all candidates for office rotating from division to division to tell why they are the best candidate for office.  Caroline Morris, LG Division 10B speaks at the Division 17 Caucus.  Each speech is moderated for time, followed by a Q’s from the delegates and A’s from the office seekers.  Caroline was elected on Sunday however at the time of this photo she was still a candidate.
IMG_0648.JPG=Capital District Key Club District Convention 2011:  “Just Serve It”.    This is the logo of the 62nd Annual Leadership Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia, March 25-27, 2011.  Key Club International: A Kiwanis Family Member
IMG_0649.JPG=The Opening Session, even before the Key Club Bell was rung, was already ‘in session’ with inter-divisional High Spirit seeing which division is the loudest, most choreographed, best team dressed … or, screamers of the 1,000+ Key Clubbers.   Here’s Division 22, Southern Maryland, and there-a-screaming!
IMG_0675.JPG=Opening Session began 7:30 PM, Friday Night, with Matt Harper, Key Club International Trustee introducing the District Key Club Board, with Governor Rachael Slotter the highlight.
IMG_0835.JPG=Outstanding Key Club Editor goes to Division 17’s Montgomery Blair High School, Julia Lauer, Club Editor.
IMG_0729.JPG=Governor Tom also cited the coincidence of seeing approximately twenty heroes of the United States staying in the same hotel Friday night.  They are military personnel who in different past conflicts over the years have been awarded our country’s highest award, the “Congressional Medal of Honor”.  They had just returned by motor coach from the White House where they were honored by the President of the United States.  A number of DCON attendees lucky to be just outside the hotel when the men returned gave the honorees a most deserved ‘standing ovation and applause’ as they went into the hotel.  Governor Tom, a decorated Vietnam veteran, said they have earned our country’s greatest respect for their bravery and heroics.  Indeed they have.  Thanks, Tom.
IMG_0680.JPG=Capital District Key Club Governor Rachael Slotter, Stephen Decatur High School, races into the ballroom to cheers in her field hockey ‘Just Serve It’ uniform.  She races on stage … brings the Lieutenant Governors on stage and gavels the session to order.
IMG_0690.JPG=Governor Rachael remains very, very still as the Navy Junior ROTC rifle drill team does manual of arms behind her.  Good Job … both of you.
IMG_0765.JPG=Richard Gallo, LG 11A, campaigned for District Treasurer … and won, in the next day’s delegate session.
IMG_0893.JPG=District Key Club Administrator Joe Stankus thank all Key Club and Kiwanis members, the team that put on this convention and the Hyatt Regency Hotel for their expertise in making this a successful Convention.  Thank you, Joe.  You know we admire your dedication, skills and love of your Kiwanis family.  And thanks to your wife Brenda for being your most able and caring assistant in this success.
IMG_0782.JPG=LG Division 17 Tripti Soni and Key Club Advisor Past President Jeanne Smith.
IMG_0862.JPG=The Robert H, Turner Memorial Award is awarded to the top winning candidate.  The 2010-2011 $2,000 Scholarship  Award goes to Past Governor Samah McGona of Varina High School.  The Scholarships are all awarded on the written criteria submitted in the categories of academic attainment, service to their school and to their community, an applicant essay, and three letters of recommendation all evaluated against each other applicant submission.  Congratulations, Samah!  And thanks to all who support your Capital District Kiwanis Foundation !
IMG_0849.JPG=The very prestigious Scott Hunter Key Leadership Award for Outstanding Service to Capital District Key Club goes to … Debbie Todd, Zone Administrator.  Among those taking part in the presentation of the engraved plaque with golden clock is Governor Rachael and District Treasurer Alex Burkard.  WOW !
IMG_0697.JPG=CKI Governor Brian Cofrancesco, brings greetings and the Kiwanis Family International Project “The Eliminate Project” to eliminate the disease tetanus by the end of 2015.   2015 is also the 100tth Anniversary of Kiwanis International.  Key Club International was founded in 1924.
IMG_0785.JPG=LG Division 20C Nichole Tardif and her escort
IMG_0657.JPG=On kept up the yelling and of the blue shirts, white, black, jade, and more  … the WINNER by the decibel meter is … DIVISION 22 – Southern Maryland, who managed to out yell Division 17.  Their shirts say, “Division 22 – We’re more FUN than you!”   It’s crazy FUN!
IMG_0843.JPG=The Outstanding Key Club President in the District is awarded to Cordelia Hao, Dulaney High School, Division 12.
IMG_0660.JPG=Division 17 Montgomery County, Maryland, cheerleaders are the new 17A LG Hailey Klein and 17B LG Kidest Fikremariam and lead the charge of the blue shirted screamers (there’s a bunch more unseen).  It’s a real contest!
IMG_0747.JPG=Caucus sessions where moderated.  In Division 17 (I could not go to all and all candidates came to each so it worked) District Secretary Michelle Haney and Division 17 LG Trite Soni conscientiously keep the time and the rules with Kiwanian Bill Hand, former Key
IMG_0770.JPG=Governor candidate Bowden Saunders, Lieutenant Governor from Division 1, campaigned at the Division 17 Caucus.  All candidates for district offices are the top of the class and willing to seek high leadership roles.
IMG_0732.JPG=The Saturday morning session included opportunities for club members to attend various workshops and educational training.  Eunice Ko, Division 20B LG, and Nicole Tardif, Division 20C LG, announced the workshop session available.  They range from presentation of The Eliminate Project, Children’s Miracle Network, the ‘Impact of Volunteering’, Fundraising Ideas and Techniques, to classes and helpful tips for club officers, editors, The Kiwanis Family, and even ‘Key Club Basics’ and ‘Club Excellence’.  One of the best ways to take advantage of these is to have different club members go to different session then have a class back with your club passing the ideas along.  These were good programs with very good attendance and busy sessions.
IMG_0656.JPG=Governor Rachael calls for the “Presentation of the Colors” by the Fishburne Military School Color Guard, which also has a Key Club.  They are very good and militarily polished, as you would expect.  Well done!