CAPE CORAL KIWANIS CLUB AND FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER Volume 2, Issue 1, January-March 2017

THE PRESIDENT’S CORNERWe have exciting happenings in our Kiwanis

Club of Cape Coral. We welcome all the new members joining us and best of all they want to jump in and get involved. 

In March, we faced difficult challenges with Becki Cole and health issues making running the North Store a drain on her already unstable physical problems and Susan Rolfe desperately needing to get relief after 4 years of the Kiwanis Hall event planning. These ladies have given countless hours to our cause and we cannot thank them enough.

In looking at the Big Picture, we wanted to bridge the gap between our stores and have them work together more to ensure we were utilizing our talents and our donations in the best way possible. To this end we have made the following changes, and so far, it seems to be working out as we had planned with the cooperation of all our wonderfully flexible volunteer staff in the stores and the hall. Becki is now the Event Planner for all happenings at the hall. She will handle the previews for potential customers, man the hotline cell phone for potential renters, make sure the hall is set up for all events, and supervise the clean up after the events. Susan is her assistant and will still "babysit" many of the rental events. We still need others to add to the list of volunteers since we must have a Kiwanian present for all rental events. If you have any spare time, please see Becki for future events and give us a couple

of hours a month. It is always fun to watch the parties of happy folks. To help Becki and Susan please call Becki at 239-478-1971 or email: kiwanis652@gmail.com

We expanded the responsibilities of Beau Bullock to help manage the stores as well as continue to drive our truck for pickups and deliveries along with his wife Brandi who has graciously volunteered to help him when she is not teaching school at Patriot Elementary School. Charlotte and Gary Titensor have taken on the responsibility of training Beau in the store management and are running the North Store. We can better determine what items will sell better in which store and coordinate the donations better with common management. We appreciate all the volunteers who have been working in both stores during this transition to make sure we serve the community and maintain our reputation as a community service organization.

We mailed out a survey to all our members and are holding a Downhill meeting on April 5 to discuss the State of Kiwanis Club of Cape Coral. We will also introduce our candidates for the upcoming election of officers of the club and foundation.

This is an exciting year and we look forward to pushing to new heights in our service and grant levels as the stores and hall increase their fundraising budgets. None of this would be possible without our dedicated volunteers, and we and the Community of Cape Coral thank you.

~ Ann VaughnPresident, Cape Coral Kiwanis 2016-2017

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CLUB OF CAPE CORAL

Our mission: Improving the world,one child and one community at a time

www.mycapecoralkiwanis.orgP.O. Box 100006

Cape Coral, FL 33910

Volume 2, Issue 1January-March 2017

CONSIDER THIS:

One on our Kiwanis Objectives is "To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships."  The Golden Rule is summarized as doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. God's way is all about outgoing concern for others.  We need to be aware of opportunities around us every day to make a difference in someone's life. Extend a helping hand, give an encouraging word or just be an attentive listener.  As we brighten someone's day, we will have a brighter day ourselves!

~ Dave WoodruffSpiritual Values

CAPE CORAL KIWANIS CLUB AND FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER Volume 2, Issue 1, January-March 2017The successful growth of our membership under

Mick Sheldrake’s “Bring in 1 Under 10” project has made us one of the most successful clubs in the state in membership growth. Joining us at our March 1 meeting were new members: Patricia Ann Merchant (Sponsor Lilian Colon) Wendy Ann Thomas (Sponsor Ann Vaughn) Charlene Trudel, realtor (Sponsor Ann Vaughn) Michael Pedersen, Assistant Wrestling Coach at

Mariner High School (Sponsor Mick Sheldrake) David James Phillips, teacher, wrestling coach at

Mariner High School (Sponsor Mick Sheldrake Norman Jones, Community Band member

(Sponsor Bob Day)

COMMUNITY SERVICESCommunity Services Chairman Lilian Colon

volunteered four hours at Bo-Nose, a dog rescue facility located in Cape Coral. Bo-Nose is a dog rescue and behavior training no-kill facility Most of the rescued dogs are surrendered by their owners and face euthanasia. Some may have aggression issues or are diagnosed as dogs that can’t be re-trained. Some of their families simply couldn’t care for them any longer.  Crystal, the owner of Bo-Nose, sees them in another light. She pours her heart and soul into these pets, and Lilian was able to clean, feed, and give love to them. The facility is a 501(c)3 organization which thrives on fund-raising and donations. The small, but well managed facility is being forced to re-locate in the next 90 days. As you know, we Kiwanian’s love our community and pets are part of our “inner circle.” Supporting Bo-Nose is a great way to demonstrate our love for our community!

Community Services also hosted a baby shower for unwed mothers at the Hall this spring and held a fund-raising car show in the Hall’s parking lot.

~ Lillian ColonCommunity Services Chairman

KIWANIS HALLSusan Rolfe, who has voluntarily managed the

rental of the Kiwanis Hall since we purchased it, has handed over the management of the Hall to Becki Cole, but will continue to work with Becki while she becomes familiar with processes Susan has established. The Hall continues to be a popular venue for the community and for Kiwanis members. This quarter’s total gross income from 12 events plus Weight Watchers was $7,995.24.

~ Susan RolfeKiwanis Hall Manager

A VERY BUSY QUARTER FOR OUR SERVICE LEADERSHIP PORGRAM!

Our club added a fourth Builders Club in February with the reactivation under our sponsorship of the Oasis Charter Middle School’s Builders Club. Eric Feichthaler, the club’s Kiwanis advisor, has already organized meetings for the remainder of the school year, with the first meeting having been held in February.

The Providence Christian Academy Builders Club was also busy in February with 12 of their members

engaging in a project at the Fort Myers “Community Café.” Club members spent the day helping prepare food, served meals, and packaged meals for school food programs akin to our own earlier “backpack program” as well as for homeless citizens of our community.

Our new Challenger Middle Builders Club is also busy working on a bicycle safety program. On February 2, the club hosted Lee County Sheriff’s Department deputies who gave a program on bicycle safety and are soliciting the club’s participation in the creation of a bicycle safety video which will be put on “You Tube.”

Not to be outdone, our Trafalgar Middle Builders Club showcased their famous garden on March 25 with their “Tastes of the Garden” event. Well over 300 people attended the event. This Builders Club donates over 10 tons of produce from their garden to food banks and other food programs. Also at this event, more than $300 was raised to assist a family in need of support for their four-year old who has a brain tumor. Trafalgar Builders Club also joined our Key Clubbers at the annual Key Club District Leadership Conference (DCON) in Orlando at the end of March.

Our two AKtion Clubs continue to meet monthly with members being involved in numerous projects, including maintaining the “Kiwanis Park” (near the Hall) and the “butterfly garden,” and working at the City of Cape Coral’s “Pops Café” at City Hall.

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COMMITTEE ACTIVITIESJANUARY – MARCH 2017

CAPE CORAL KIWANIS CLUB AND FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER Volume 2, Issue 1, January-March 2017

High school Key Clubs at Island Coast High School, Oasis Charter High School, and Cape Coral High School also had a very active quarter. These clubs are very involved with our club, and we view them as an integral and important part of our own Cape Coral Kiwanis Club family and community. This was reflected at DCON where the Cape Coral High School Key Club won 1st place for the Florida District in “Kiwanis Family Relations.” The club had over 3000 service hours, of which 600 directly benefited our own fund raising efforts by working in our thrift stores.

On February 1, as part of the Key Club program to foster closer relations, the Oasis High School Key Club ran our club meeting. Earlier, both the Island Coast and Cape Coral clubs ran our meetings. Just a few days later on February 4, all three Key Clubs took part in the

“Zone I Spring Zone Rally” held in Naples. This meeting of all Key Clubs in Zone I (our Division 19 and Division 22 – Collier County) afforded clubs the opportunity to meet with each other, exchange

project ideas and accomplishments, as well as serve as a primary platform for the nominees for Florida District Key Club officers at DCON. At this meeting, one of Cape Coral High School Key Club’s own members, Monica Ruiz, ran for and was elected Lieutenant Governor for Division 19A which encompasses all the Key Clubs in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers. Our club looks forward to working with and supporting Monica this next year.

On March 25, the Key Club Division 19A’s Division Council Meeting (DCM) was held at Kiwanis Hall. Centrally located in the Cape, our Hall is one of the favorite venues for Key Clubbers to hold their DCMs. Our Hall also serves as a venue for our Builders Clubs and AKtion Clubs meetings and annual awards ceremonies.

Finally, 31 members and advisors of our three Key Clubs went to Orlando on March 30 for the annual Florida District DCON. Our Florida Key Club District is

comprised of more than 400 clubs with over 20,000 members. The Cape Coral Key Club received recognition as one of but eight “Distinguished Clubs – Diamond Level” for the entire state of Florida. We can be proud of them and of the support they receive from our club which was recognized last year as the outstanding supporting Kiwanis Club.)

Congratulations toCape Coral High School Key Club!

~ Richard RolfeService Leadership Program Chairman

LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT MAKES A DIFFERENCEFAR AWAY FROM HOME

Matthew McLain attended North Fort Myers High School where he was the Key Club President for 2 ½ years. During that time, Matt came to know the rewards of volunteer service to others and was determined to put to good use what he had learned from that experience.

In 2012, Matt received a 4-year Cape Coral Kiwanis Scholarship which he used to attend Florida State University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in three years, notified the scholarship chairman that he did not need the fourth year’s tuition money, and

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CAPE CORAL KIWANIS CLUB AND FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER Volume 2, Issue 1, January-March 2017then went on to gain certification as an instructor in English as a Second Language (ESL). He took that training with him to far away Cambodia where he began teaching English to 2nd graders in Phnom Penh. Susan Rolfe, one of our Cape Coral Kiwanians, had visited the Far East and was familiar with what might be lacking in Matt’s classroom, so she contacted him and asked what supplies he might need. Susan was not surprised to learn that Matt’s students had little to none of the most common school supplies, such as crayons, scissors, pencils, and, most importantly, books. She responded to his need and sent several boxes containing elementary-level English language books collected from those donated to our thrift stores and an assortment of school supplies for the children and for Matt.

The following year, Matt met the founder of SuDHiCA, an NGO in Laos, through a website called workaway.com. SuDHiCA’s goal is to teach rural farmers how to farm in an eco-friendly way that doesn’t harm the surrounding rich biodiversity of the Laos Highlands. Matt first started working as a volunteer, teaching two of the staff English and work-related business skills, such as how to write a professional email and how to answer a phone when a foreigner calls the office. He then moved to Pak Lueng, a small town in Northern Laos, and joined the Indiegogo Campaign, a project designed to empower ethnic villagers by teaching them how to ensure food security, maintain proper nutrition, and develop a reliable source of income for their impoverished community. Matt’s duties soon expanded to include being a construction worker, planner, and advisor. He also helped write proposals and grants.

SuDHiCA’s focus is on sustainable development. Farmers are taught how to move away from slash-and-burn agriculture to an eco-friendly permaculture. In addition to being taught about terracing, soil enrichment, and vermicomposting, farmers are taught how to grow western vegetables, such as carrots, lettuce, potatoes, and tomatoes that are then sold to western hotels and restaurants. This enterprise helps boost the economy and the incomes of the rural farmers who rely on farming to provide for their families.

SuDHiCA has also begun some mini projects to serve as models and examples showing villagers how to live a healthier, more sustainable life and how to boost their standard of living. These projects include

starting a sanitation and hygiene program whereby villagers are taught how to make their own homemade soap and when to use it,

building an eco-mud home to show villagers that they can build their own homes from materials sourced right in their own communities, and

using a solar panel and making a biogas container to power a kitchen.

Matt sent our Kiwanis this description of the work in which he was involved and requested a grant to support SuDHiCA and the Indiegogo Campaign in Pak Lueng. Believing that our organization could have a

positive impact on this Laotian Highlands community, its farmers and its children, we awarded a grant to SuDHiCA in the amount of $1500.

In February, Matt indicated that he is returning to Cambodia to once again teach ESL classes to elementary students in Phnom Penh. We wish him well in his endeavors to help the children in this far away community.

~ Lynne KemperPublic Relations Chairman

2016 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT WINS POSTER COMPETITION Arielle Rosier, a 2016 scholarship recipient and Mariner High School

graduate, created the winning design for a poster representing the theme of the Dr. Talbot Spivak Holocaust Memorial Week held at Florida Southwestern State College. Her design, titled Resistance, was featured on the cover of the program of events and on posters displayed at the college. The 5-day event took place from March 27 to March 31 and included presentations by several survivors of the Holocaust.

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CAPE CORAL KIWANIS CLUB AND FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER Volume 2, Issue 1, January-March 2017SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY

THROUGH GRANTS:During the first quarter of 2017, grants given to

organizations in Cape Coral by our Kiwanis Foundation totaled $38,325. These grants support education, health and wellness of community members with revenue from our two thrift stores, rental property, and the Kiwanis Hall.

The Health Services Committee awarded $9000 in grants. A grant of $3000 was given to The Lighthouse of Southwest Florida in January.  This organization helps those with vision problems including several babies in our community.  In February, we awarded a grant of $4000 to Partners for Breast Cancer. Hundreds of needy women are helped by this group.  We awarded a grant of $2000 to Southeastern Guide Dogs in March. These amazing animals are a virtual lifeline to those who cannot move about freely due to several difficulties. Training these dogs is expensive, and we are glad to help. 

~ Betty Nelson, ChairpersonHealth Services Committee

Rich Rolfe presented a $3000 check to the Model UN at Oasis High School to assist them in their travels to debates. This year they traveled to Duke University in early March to participate in this wonderful learning experience.

Mick Sheldrake presented a check in the amount of $2400.00 to the Mariner High School Wrestling Team to assist needy students who wish to participate in the camps and matches which are not held within the Lee County area. These funds also help with training equipment the school may need but budget restraints limit. Coaches Mike Petersen and Dave Phillips described the program and the successes of the team members during our January dinner meeting. The results of the program show that this is a wonderful discipline for these young, talented students.

In January, the International Committee contributed $7,500 to Project Eliminate, and in February, the Community Services Committee gave $1800 to ECHO which aids gardeners around the world.

The Youth and Student Services Committee, however, made the largest contributions totaling $9325. The committee awarded:

$1000-$1200 each to 7 elementary school Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Programs for a total of $7200;

a $5000 grant to the Quality of Life Center for its after school program;

$625 to the Kappa Alpha Psi Educational Foundation, an international organization that sponsors programs providing community service, social welfare and academic scholarship; and

$1500 to the PEO (Philanthropic Educational

Organization) Chapter DF/FL Scholarship Fund that provides educational opportunities for female students worldwide who need financial assistance to pursue their educations.

~ Beth ElaineYoung Children Priority One & Youth Services Chairman

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE BEGINS RECIPIENT SELECTIONS

Fifty-five applications for our 4-year scholarships have been received from graduating high school seniors living in Cape Coral. Members of the scholarship committee have reviewed and evaluated the applications and will announce the recipients of 20 scholarships at the awards dinner to be held on Wednesday, May 24, in the Kiwanis Hall. Recipients, their family members, and Kiwanis members are invited to attend the dinner. Del Sawyer, committee member and volunteer at the South Thrift Store, has once again selected books donated to the thrift stores for scholarship recipients to take to build their personal libraries.

~ Ron KemperScholarship Committee Chairman

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!New to our quarterly newsletter is the opportunity for individuals, companies and organizations, to

purchase business-card-size advertising space for a nominal fee: $10/quarter or $30/year.

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CAPE CORAL KIWANIS CLUB AND FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER Volume 2, Issue 1, January-March 2017

If interested in placing an ad in our newsletter, contact Lynne Kemper at pr@mycapecoralkiwanis.org.

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