WE CAN’T CHANGE THE PAST.
WE HOPE WE CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE.
WE WORK IN THE PRESENT.
By John Brown, 2012 - 2013 Utah - Idaho District Governor
Everything we do should be based on the above. The past is gone. We can learn from it, but we cannot change it. Declining attendance at this past Mid Year Conferences tells us that it is not working; therefore for this year we canceled it. It is my recommendation that for the year 2014 we cancel Mid Year and return to area training for CLE and Lieutenant Governors. This is only a recommendation, as Jim Spinelli will be Governor in that year and it is his and the District Board’s decision.
In recent memory attendance at District Convention have had bad years and acceptable years -- but not good years. We want to make District Convention the go-to event in the Utah – Idaho District year. My board and I will work to make this upcoming District Convention something that the members will want to come to and something they will remember and look forward to each year.
In the past we have had a difficult time filling the position of District Governor. Seldom was there actually a contested ballot. In my case, I was appointed to fill the position of Governor-Elect. Thus, I have proposed two by-laws changes. The first will add the position of Vice-Governor, who will be third in line for the position of Governor of the Utah-Idaho District.
The second is a district dues increase of $10 per member per year. Both of these proposals were voted on and approved by the district board to be placed on the ballot for a vote of the House of Delegates.
If you have feelings either for or against these by-law changes, your club needs to send voting delegates to this year’s District Convention. My hope is that by passing these by-law changes at this year’s convention we will see a positive effect on our election process for governor and increase our attendance at our annual Convention.
District Convention is each Kiwanis Club’s chance to let its voice be heard through the ability to vote for or against by-law changes.
Please read the article that addresses these by-law changes in this issue of the U & I Kiwanian.
Other issues that affect our district’s future are sustaining our current clubs and building new clubs. I am asking each member of our Kiwanis family to take a critical look at your club and determine whether or not your club is healthy. I mean by that: Do you look forward to going to meetings? Do you have good speakers? If you were a new member would you feel welcome?
If some or all of the things I have just mentioned do not pertain to your club, then your club may be in trouble, acknowledged or not. If you feel your club needs help, please have your club President or Secretary contact your division Lieutenant Governor and schedule a meeting with him. I am still looking for a Lieutenant Governor for Division 7. The clubs in that division are Cedar City, Santa Clara, and St. George.
There are clubs and divisions that show membership increases. Please see the article entitled:
Utah-Idaho District of Kiwanis Divisions and Clubs that Show Positive Membership Recruitment as of April 30, 2013
We are doing well with our Eliminate Project thanks to the efforts of Revis Turner, the District Coordinator for Eliminate. I cannot thank Revis enough for the time and effort he has put into this worthwhile project.
The District is going to compile a cookbook made up of recipes submitted by Kiwanis members and friends of Kiwanis for sale at the District Convention.
Please see the article entitled:
I thank you for all that you do for Kiwanis, our district and your clubs.
