The Keynote Speaker for the 2013 Kansas Kiwanis District Convention will be Dr. Noel Schulz, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Programs, Paslay Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.

Noel is active in teaching, research and service. She enjoys teaching electrical engineering and power engineering topics to students. In research and graduate studies, she has been very active having graduated 40 MS and 12 PhD students; published 160 papers; and brought in over $10 million in external research through individual and collaborative projects including an U.S. National Science Foundation CAREER award. Her research interests are in the computer applications in power systems including power system operations, shipboard power systems and intelligent system applications. She currently serves as the President of the IEEE Power & Energy Society.

In addition to her administration role at Kansas State University, Noel also serves as the Kansas State University First Lady as her husband, Kirk Schulz (Chemical Engineer) is President of K-State. Noel has been an advocate for women in engineering all her career starting groups for women faculty in engineering at two universities. Since coming to Kansas State University in 2009, she has started an initiative called the "Women of K-State." The Women of K-State Vision is "to make Kansas State University the university of choice for women" and its mission is "to create a structure and support system that helps K-State provide a superlative environment for the growth and advancement of all women." Women of K-State activities include networking and professional development opportunities for all Kansas State University women administrators, faculty, staff and students.

Noel Schulz received her B.S.E.E. and M.S.E.E. degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, VA,  in 1988 and 1990, respectively. She received her Ph.D. in EE from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN, in 1995.  Noel joined the K-State faculty in 2009 in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.  She started as Associate Dean for Engineering in August 2012. Before joining K-State, Dr. Schulz spent eight years at Mississippi State University (MSU) where she was the TVA Endowed Professor in Power Systems Engineering. She has a total of over 19 years of teaching experience including other schools such as Michigan Technological University, University of North Dakota and Virginia Tech.

Noel and her husband, Kirk Schulz, have two sons - Timothy, a 2013 graduate in computer science from Mississippi State; and Andrew, a spring graduate of Manhattan High School who will attend Oklahoma State University in the fall.

Warren Eckelman of the Lawrence Kiwanis Club is seeking election to the office of Vice Governor of the Kansas District of Kiwanis at the upcoming District Convention in Manhattan. Warren is highly endorsed by both the Dodge City and Lawrence Kiwanis clubs in his quest for election to Vice Governor. Both the Dodge City and Lawrence Kiwanis clubs believe Warren has the qualifications, desire, and the Kiwanis heart needed to be a great representative of the Kansas District.

Warren Eckelman joined the Dodge City club on October 20, 1998. He immediately became a very active member, chairing committees, serving on the Board. He served as club president on two occasions, and he served as club secretary for the last eight years. He was Lt. Governor for Division 10 for two terms. He has been awarded the Putnam, Hixson, and Zeller awards. He also has 13 years of perfect attendance. Warren always does more than is required and holds the secret to making great pancakes!

On moving to Lawrence this spring, Warren joined the Lawrence Kiwanis club and has become active by attending Interclubs and helping with service projects. Warren's wife, Linda, is also an active member of the Lawrence club. They have a son, Seth, of whom they are very proud. 

House of Delegates  

The Convention House of Delegates will vote on Treasurer, Vice Governor, Governor-Elect and Governor-Designate. All clubs are urged to send delegates to the Convention. Delegate forms will be emailed to all Lt. Governors for them to distribute later in June. Please be sure to fill them out and send them to the District Office either by email or snail mail by the date indicated on the form.

There are two amendments to the Kansas District Bylaws that require the approval of the 2013 House of Delegates meeting at the District Convention. They update the district by-laws to conform with Kiwanis International. You can view them here - deletions are indicated by strike-over and new wording is underlined.

I recently met with a group of Kiwanians who were considering service to the schools in their community. The service specifically included starting and providing service to programs involving Bring Up Grades in nine elementary schools. The cost for each start up package from Kiwanis International is $85 and the on-going cost for Recognition Certificates, print ink, pencils, magnets, and other recognition items for the first year could exceed  $2,500, to say nothing of the time and talent it would take to have Kiwanians at each Recognition event (nine events twice a year with two adults present). Some of the discussion revolved around lack of funds and lack of manpower to make it happen.

I realize that Kiwanis and Kiwanians can't be involved in every "new deal" that comes down the block and limitations exist on the amount of financial involvement that each club can provide to the children and their communities. HOWEVER, if we want to make a difference in the world, if we want to promote through positive reinforcement the academic achievement of children in elementary schools, if we hope to see this positive achievement reflected in our communities through the betterment of society through a more educated populace, then we better figure out how to get this done and we do it through MEMBERSHIP GROWTH.

As you will hear me say many times throughout the coming year, GROWTH PROMOTES SERVICE, and where better an example than the Club who is struggling to provide service through the BUG program in those nine elementary schools. My recommendation to that Club, and to any other Club that might find itself in a similar quandary, is identify what your needs are and go out and recruit membership to address those needs.

The District Service Project Committee continues to seek ideas from Kiwanians and Clubs in the District for a new project to replace the Victory Junction campaign to build a cabin for the camp for children with chronic medical conditions. Clubs and individuals are urged to submit proposals for a replacement project by June 30 to Vice Governor David Hurrelbrink at dhurrelbrink@kc.rr.com.

The  committee announced at the Mid Year Conference in Topeka that due to lack of action by the Victory Junction organization to move forward with the camp in Kansas, the committee is ceasing the Victory Junction fundraising project to build a cabin for the camp, and is seeking ideas from Kiwanians and clubs in the District for an alternative District project to carry on the intent of the original VJ project.

" The Victory Junction project has been one of the most successful fund raisers in recent memory," the committee's report to the District stated.  "Not only did we raise over $80,000.00, but, saw participation from all corners of the district.  This project created a vital spirit in the Kansas District.

"After repeated contacts with local Victory Junction officials and finally the CEO of the North Carolina camp, it was learned, there is no firm time line for construction of the Midwest Camp." 

Subsequently, an article appeared in the April 17 edition of the Kansas City Star in which former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, who along with his wife, Pattie, founded the original camp in North Carolina, said the economy has not rebounded sufficiently to pursue donations to build and operate a second camp, which is free of charge for children and their families.

"We decided at our last board meeting in North Carolina to suspend the operations in Kansas City," Petty said. "We have just beat our head against the wall with the economy right now.

"We don't see in the near future we're going to be able to raise $30, $40, $50 million, whatever it costs. Obviously, the price keeps going up on it. We're going to step back. We have not abandoned the idea by any stretch, but instead of just keep dragging it on, we're going to suspend, regroup and focus on when will be the right time and look at it again."

The District Service Project Committee has asked that clubs with designated funds for the VJ project hold these funds with the hope they would go to the new Kansas District project to be announced at the District Convention in Manhattan. VJ funds already turned in to the Kansas Foundation will be made available to individuals and clubs for refund or to support the new Kansas project.  

David Hurrelbrink - Vice Governor

As we near the 63

In September of 2011 the Foundation began the 50^th Anniversary celebration by approving that the proceeds from donations for the 50^th Anniversary Numbered Pins be put in a special fund for scholarships. We currently have almost $10,000 in the fund and the first scholarship will be awarded in 2014. The Foundation encourages everyone to make a donation for the numbered pins as this will increase the fund and allow more scholarships for Kansas' students.

During this year's District Convention the Foundation will have the numbered pins available and the Foundation will be giving a gold presidential dollar (limited supply) to anyone who makes a donation for a numbered pin. Also during the convention the Foundation will auction some of the special numbered pins (50, 63, 500, and 1,000) and maybe others. If you want to order your pin before the convention, there is an application available by clicking here, or going to the Kansas District website. Mail the application with your check for $50 or more to the Kansas Kiwanis Foundation, P.O. Box 524, Colby, KS 67701.

Brittany Bange from Colby, Kansas and an art major at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas created the drawing that the pin was made from.  She also painted a color painting of the pin and we will auction that at the convention.  The Foundation wants to leave the option open that if someone would like to bid on the painting or the numbered pins and will not be able to attend the convention they should contact Kenton Krehbiel at the Foundation.  The painting and pins will be auctioned at either the Saturday luncheon or Governor's Banquet on Saturday evening. You may contact Kenton by email at kkfound@st-tel.net or the Foundation phone - 888-245-0417 - to make arrangements.

Still Time To Apply for Grants, Kiwanian of Year, Achievement Award

The deadline for applications for Grants, Kiwanian of the Year, and R. C. "Pete" Loux Achievement Award is June 15^th, with the announcement of these awards at the District Convention. The forms for these awards can be found on the Kansas Foundation Page of the District website. The Foundation will also have a silent auction with the proceeds from the silent auction going one-half to the Kansas District and other half to Project ELIMINATE.

The Foundation has received funds from anonymous donors for individuals to become life members of the Foundation for half price ($50) and also for individuals to obtain a Putnam Award. The Kansas Kiwanis Foundation will also hold its annual meeting during the convention.

The Kansas Kiwanis Foundation looks forward to seeing everyone in Manhattan, Kansas in August.

Kenton K. Krehbiel

Congratulations to the Kansas District for its generosity in supporting our International Foundation's Annual Club Gift Program. Again this year the deeply embedded altruistic values of Kansas Kiwanis in serving the children of the world stand out as we lead the Foundation in per capita giving. With four months remaining in this year's Kiwanis Calendar over 70% of the clubs in Kansas have made their annual club gift to the Foundation. We deserve to give ourselves a hand but there is still work to be done.

In 1939 the Kiwanis International Foundation was established to assist Kiwanis International in serving the children of the world. Since that time advances in technology and medical research have transformed the lives and standard of living of millions of people across the globe. Still, in spite of this astounding progress, millions of children go to sleep each night with their basic needs unmet. Children who are hungry, abused, and without adequate medical care. But worst of all, children without hope; many of these children in our own communities.

Each year the Kiwanis International Foundation uses these funds collected from the Annual Club Gift Program to help change the lives of these children. In addition to its commitment to eradicate Maternal Neo Natal Tetanus the Foundation also aids the global community in emergency disaster relief as well as providing grants and scholarships to Kiwanis clubs and districts. This past year the Kiwanis Club of Hutchison received one such grant for their Peoples with Disabilities Class at the Kansas State Fair. In addition for reaching our goal of over $5 per member this past fiscal year the Kansas District also received 10 matching college scholarships for deserving Kansas students.

This is our Foundation; working together there is nothing that we can't accomplish. We have the power to change the world by using our time and resources to serve the children of the world. Please work with me in helping to assure that again this year every club in the district contributes at a participating level.  So please go back to your club and ask the simple question; are we one of the 70% of clubs who have already given their club gift or do we need to take action. 

This August at our Annual Convention in Manhattan I will be holding a breakout session from 1:30 - 2:30 on Saturday afternoon on the International Foundation. I will be presenting new and exciting information on our Foundation and new opportunities. The topic will be "Our Foundation, Today, Tomorrow and Forever. I would like to personally extend an invitation to  all clubs in the district to attend and bring any questions that they might have. I will look forward to seeing you there.

William J. Donegan, Jr. - Kiwanis International Foundation District Chair  

The Kansas District as of May 16 has donated  total gifts and pledges of $164,818.04 and has saved over 91,566 lives. This seems a lot but it is still only 14% of our total District Goal. Therefore more efforts need to be made in this area for the Kansas District. Worldwide we have raised over $30,495,345.66 and saved over 16,941,803 lives.

The Kansas District Eliminate team's goals need to be focused on three major areas before the  next Worldwide report period. First is the need to increase the number of Model Clubs; second, to work on finding Major and Lead Givers; and third, increase the number of fundraisers in each Division. With all of us working together as a team it helps lower the club's individual required total commitment. A thank you goes out to everyone who helped make our Worldwide Report Day a success.

Dot Leakey, Eliminate Project District Chair

Kansas Kiwanians will gather at the Kiwanis Building in Kiwanis Park in Wichita on Friday, June 7, to greet "Bob the Eliminator" as he rides his motorcycle across the continental U.S. to raise awareness for the Kiwanis Interantional Eliminate Project.

A member of the La Canada Kiwanis Club, Robert "Bob the Eliminator" Burlison, is riding his motorcycle to a Kiwanis Club meeting in each of the 48 states in the continental U.S. The ride will exceed 12,000 miles. At the time this writing, Bob had just completed a 454-mile ride from Orem, UT, to Cheyenne, WY. He was then going to Denver for a big picnic in the park with Kiwanians from around the Rocky Mountain District.

In Wichita, Bob will be feted at an interclub meeting complete with grilled hamburgers at the Kiwanis Park, 5101 West 2nd St. North, on Friday, June 7, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. American Legion riders with Gov. Mary Hammond on board will escort Bob to the park.

Kiwanis Club members are asked to bring the funds they have raised for Eliminate to the event to give to District Eliminate Chair Dot Leakey who will be present to give your club credit. Kiwanians are being asked to pay $20 for the event, $2 for the meal and $18 for the Eliminate Project.

Kiwanians from across the state are invited to this one-of-a-kind celebration to greet Bob and help raise awareness and funds for the Eliminate Project.

Hello Kiwanians!

As many of you already know I, Amber Zvolanek, was elected as the 2013-14 CKI Kansas District Governor. I attended GATC (Governor and Administrator Training Conference) April 11th-14th. It was a great learning experience; I was able to gain some great insight about Circle K and my role as governor. Not only did I learn a lot, but I met many great fellow governors!

Coming up in June the CKI Kansas District Board will be having our DOTC (District Officer Training Conference) at Fort Hays State University! We will be discussing goals for the next year, and planning events that we would like to have this fall.

Also coming up in June we will have 18 students from the Circle K Kansas District attending ICON in Vancouver. Six of these students are also attending LSSP. This is a great number of students attending considering the membership we have and the cost of traveling to another country.

I look forward to keeping the Kansas Kiwanis members up to date on what's happening in Circle K throughout the next year!

Amber Zvolanek - Governor, Kansas District of Circle K

Division 4 - Junction City South - Alma G. Jones.

Division 5 - Council Grove - Donald L Cole; Emporia - Melvin N. Hartig.

Division 8 - Ellsworth - Kenneth G. Jarvis.

Division 9 - Johnson County - Margery Postlethwait: Leawood - Peggy Tingle. Overland Park - Millie 

Storment.

Division 11 - Sabetha - Russell A. Crawford, Justin H. Sallman.

Division 12 - Russell Sunrise - Jan M. Dyer, Jerry Ross, John Stannard, Judy Larson; Thomas County, Colby - Megan Roemer.

As most of you should know by now, the District is no longer printing and mailing hard copies of the Kansas Kiwanian. Beginning with this issue, the District newsletter will be emailed to all members for whom we have email addresses. We put out a call to club secretaries for email address lists and so far have received responses from about a third of the clubs. For the clubs which have not responded, we are using email addresses obtained from a Kiwanis International report.

The newsletter is also posted to the Kansas District website under the News tab. We are asking club secretaries (and members) who have access to email or the internet to print out hard copies for members who do not have electronic access.

Steve Russell, Editor, Kansas Kiwanian - stever45@everestkc.net.