Dave Curry
Vision Two - Our Organization
Adding spices, one TV chef says "let's take it up a
notch". Indeed Kiwanians, let's take it up a notch!
Kiwanis has had a long and storied past, built first on business
association, then community service, and finally sponsored
youth and international efforts (IDD). If you were to ask
any Kiwanian if they are a part of a volunteer organization
they would readily agree. But do we perceive ourselves as
great humanitarians? Not yet. At the Taipei Convention in
2001, I was mesmerized one evening by the thought of how powerful
our organization would be if we considered ourselves to be
just that, great humanitarians. We believe that we belong
to a great humanitarian organization, but what if that was
also our perception of ourselves? What could we accomplish
in future years, what type and how many folks would join us
if that was our focus, if that was the perception of our members
in their hearts and the perception of our organization in
the world?
I did not sleep that night thinking of the impact we could
have in our world, and how enjoyable it would be for others
to join us and serve, if we had a better understanding of
ourselves. I challenge each of you to consider members in
your own club. When you look into their eyes you recognize
the friendship and fellowship, but do those eyes also exude
the excitement and satisfaction of having had a significant
impact on their communities and the world? We need to have
both and we will!
We need to transform some of our club organizations from
ones that focus primarily on fellowship and camaraderie, to
ones that recognize the FACES we serve. One of our most poignant
advertising efforts was our "Serving the Children of
the World" logo that included the face of a hopeful child.
It spoke more about what we are then I could do with three
volumes of "concept letters". I am convinced that
a picture of a child rescued from a street life in Vietnam,
a group being fed through our tsunami efforts, a smiling child
with a safety helmet, a child in a trauma center clutching
a doll, or a joyful Key Club member receiving a scholarship
- all speak volumes about who we are. Our mission must become
our spirit and in that spirit we must join together to implement
that mission.
We have a phenomenal strategic plan - have you seen it? More
importantly, have we lived it? We will!
We must not only walk the walk, we must celebrate our humanitarian
efforts - whether district, international, or personal. What
we have accomplished must take center stage. This includes
our International Foundation efforts, which will serve as
a launching pad toward also promoting the efforts of our District
Foundations.
We must be open to Strategic Partnerships. Whether other
organizations or foundations, we must promote and actively
participate with other organizations focused on humanitarian
efforts at the local and international level. We must be open
to helping, to participating in, efforts of extraordinary
compassion wherever we can.
Lastly, we must also share the wealth. Because of our great
humanitarian focus, we can offer others the opportunity to
join us. This includes both prospective members and external
organizations and foundations. But we cannot share the experience
of being humanitarian's until we perceive that that is what
we are. Then we absolutely need to share that experience with
others; Circle K, Key Club, prospective new members, etc.
The best way to share is through the example of how we are
living.
Like all transitions/adjustments, this will take sacrifice.
By setting the example, educating club leaders, and seeking
strategic partnerships, we can start enhancing our organization.
It is not a new journey, we will simply be defining and enhancing
what we already are. This will not be completed overnight,
but we will succeed, we must try.
For more information contact:
Name: Dave Curry
Address: 1204 W Woolman
 Butte,
MT 59701
Phone: (406) 723-8067
email: Dave
Curry
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