The Best Part of Kiwanis

by: Beryl Young, Dulles Area Kiwanis President

This past weekend we had a DAK strategic planning meeting at Brendan and my house. It was a very productive discussion about our club growth vision over the next 7 years and how we can attract more members from the local community. At the meeting the members present agreed on one thing: the best part of being in Kiwanis is the connection to our local youth. I love being a part of Kiwanis because it's a family of clubs that start as early as elementary school and can take you all the way to adulthood. Here is a little about each branch of the Kiwanis family:

For Elementary School Students....

Kiwanis K-Kids: Young Leaders Helping Others

K-Kids clubs provide elementary school students with their first opportunity t learn about organizing projects that help others. This program provides opportunities for students to work together in service to school and community, develops basic leadership potential and fosters the development of strong moral character.

For Teens....

Kiwanis Builders Club: Building Leaders

Builders Club allows middle school and junior high students to contribute service to school and community on more than 1,200 campuses in 18 nations. Leadership development and guidance at this critical stage of personal development makes Builders Club an effective contributor to any service-learning cirriculum. Builders Clubs are encouraged to support a service focus supporting children's hospitals.

Key Club International

Key Club International, the largest high school service organization in the world, empowers its members to lead and serve by cultivating leadership skills, developing friendships, and performing community service. Key Club members have a passion for helping others and gain leadership skills they will carry with them for a lifetime.

Currently, the Dulles Area Kiwanis Club sponsors three Key Clubs in Loudoun County: Park View High School, Dominion High School and Potomac Falls High School.

Kiwanis Key Leader

Key Leader is weekend experiential leadership program for today's youth leaders. It focuses on service leadership as the first, most meaningful leadership development experience. By participating in a hands-on, weekend event, Key Leaders learn that leadership comes from helping others succeed. This program is designed to identify and empower emerging student leaders and move them beyond where most other leadership programs end.

For University Students.....

Circle K International

Circle K International is the premiere university service organization in the world, having gotten its start in 1936 at Washington State University. Programming is based upon the three tenents of service, leadership and fellowship with service being the most important of the three.

For Adults Living With Disabilities....

Kiwanis Aktion Club: Serivce in Action

Aktion Club is the only community-service club for these adult citizens. It provides its members an opportunity to develop initiative and leadership skills in serving their communitites, while enabling their integration with society.

These programs bring volunteer service directly into a school and community: involvement increases, student achievement improves, the attitude of an entire school can be postively impaceted.

DAK is proud to be a sponsor of four youth clubs: Key Clubs at Dominion HS and Potomac Falls HS and K-Kids at Guilford ES and Hillside ES. Have you ever been a part of any of the Kiwanis branches? Do you want to get involved with our local students? Why not get connected by attending a DAK meeting or project in the near future!