Alabama Kiwanis Kourier Summer 2014

Alabama Kiwanis Kourier
Summer 2014 Published by Alabama Kiwanis Foundation 24 pages
Building on history
By Patrice Stewart
Kiwanis Kourier editor
Kiwanians attending the Alabama District
Convention in Mobile got a glimpse into the
future of Kiwanis, as well as a look back at the
past as the civic club prepares to celebrate its
100th anniversary in 2015.
The Aug. 1-3 convention, directed by Past
Governor Karla Moons and fellow members of
the Azalea City Kiwanis Club of Mobile, was
held in a historic downtown location, too: the
restored Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel.
They kicked off the weekend with “The Great
Gatsby” theme (and many members in costume)
Friday evening at the History Museum of Mobile.
The Mobile Azalea Trail Maids joined Kiwanians
for Friday and Saturday festivities.
On Saturday, club members from around Alabama
learned about The Formula, a new KI ini-tiative
(see Page 9) and heard from youth mem-bers
of Circle K and Key Club and Key Leader
Alabama District officers who will start their terms Oct. 1 are,
from left, Bill Phillips of Pell City, past governor; Keith Graham of
Mobile, vice governor; Brian Rodgers of Indian Springs (Hoover
Metro Kiwanis Club), governor; and Bob Palys of Cullman, gover-nor-
elect. Phillips has been governor during 2013-14. (See MOBILE, Page 4)
Celebrate 100 years of Kiwanis at the International Convention in Indianapolis June 25-28
1)
By Patrice Stewart
Kiwanis Kourier editor
Circle K in Alabama has pledged to
raise $6,000 this year for the Jean Dean
Reading Is Fundamental program,
and it has created a new fellowship
program to help.
The Joe and Jean Dean RIF
Fellowship was announced at the
Kiwanis District Convention in Mobile
by Circle K Governor Jessica Bloom,
who then presented the first two fel-lowships
to Past Governor Joe Dean
and daughter Cathy Dean Gafford.
Dean, who is almost 92, did not
make the trip to Mobile, so Gafford
accepted for him and took his medal-lion
back to Opelika.
Gafford is executive director of Jean
Dean RIF, which is named for her late
mother, who helped Dean during his
many years of service to Kiwanis and
to young children.
In honoring Dean and Gafford,
Bloom said, “These two individuals
have spent their lives serving the chil-dren
of Alabama, and their love and
dedication to the Jean Dean RIF pro-gram
has been an inspiration.”
Bloom said they hope to put books
in the classroom by raising funds
through this fellowship, which also
offers a way to recognize outstanding
individuals who have contributed in
many ways to Jean Dean Reading Is
Fundamental. The $6,000 is part of a
Cathy Gafford, left, accepts first Joe
and Jean Dean RIF Fellowships from
Circle K Governor Jessica Bloom.
Circle K pledges $6K for RIF
Fellowship program will raise money; Gafford and Dean honored
(See RIF, Page 4)

Looking back with thanks to you
It is tempting to call this my farewell column. But since I
plan to continue in Kiwanis and, God willing, work for its
good for a long time, I prefer to think of this as my thank-you
Alabama Kiwanis Kourier, Summer 2014 2
column, because that is the way both Jean and I feel as
I approach the end of my term as your governor.
Thank you for your support and confi-dence
you have shown in me, thank you
for the welcome we have received all
over our district, and thank you for the
opportunity to serve as your Alabama
District Governor for 2013-14.
Three years ago in Andalusia you hon-ored
me by electing me to be your
District Treasurer, which soon became
District Vice Governor. That started a
three-year journey that has been one of
the most enjoyable times of my life. I
thought I had an idea of what to expect
when I was elected, but one must really
live through it to fully know the enjoy-ment
of preparing to serve and serving
as the Alabama District Governor.
I have had the opportunity to visit
clubs all over our Alabama District and
see old friends, meet new friends, and
work with other Kiwanians who are
serving in leadership capacities, a truly
From the
Governor
By Bill
Phillips Jr.
great experience. I also went to governor-elect training in
Indianapolis and met fellow governor-elects from all over
North America and around the world. There I started
friendships that I expect will last the rest of my life.
Our Alabama District was honored this year to host
Kiwanis International President Gunter Gasser and his
wife, Christiana, for an official visit. We had them for three
full days and visited four cities and four Kiwanis clubs
during their stay. Jean and I had the opportunity to spend
time with them and learn about their home country,
Austria, and their clubs. Gunter and Christiana belong to
different clubs in their hometown of Spittal An Der Drau.
We learned about Gunter’s travels, the work he has been
At the District Convention luncheon in Mobile,
Governor Bill Phillips presented wife Jean a Zeller
medallion in honor of her support and help during his
year as governor of the Alabama District. Later, he was
surprised with a Zeller from the Alabama District.
doing for Kiwanis and some of his plans and hopes for
Kiwanis worldwide. Our new growth program is a natural
result of his thinking and planning. Their visit was another
very enjoyable experience for us.
Measuring results
I started this year with several objectives I hoped to be
able to accomplish; several deal with club and membership
development. Measuring the results of work toward meet-ing
some of these objectives is subjective, and how well we
did toward meeting them may not be
apparent until after this year is over.
How well we are going to do on one of
my main objectives, growing the club,
division and district membership, is
much easier to measure, and the results
are uncertain at this point in the year.
After what I consider to be a very
good start, at the end of December we
were up 49 members for the district.
Now we are down 45 members
through the end of June. The loss of
three clubs accounts for the single larg-est
membership loss to date. Without
the loss of these clubs, we would be
projecting growth in the Alabama
District, something we haven’t experi-
Alabama Kiwanis Kourier
Published by Alabama District Kiwanis Foundation
Address news, photos and other correspondence to:
Patrice W. Stewart, Editor
256-303-1668 n kiwaniskourier@gmail.com
Design and technical assistance by Steve Stewart, assistant professor, Troy University
Bill Phillips Jr., Pell City (phillipsjr@centurytel.net) � Governor
Brian Rodgers, Indian Springs (brianrodgers@gmail.com) � Governor-elect
Bob Palys, Cullman (kiwanianbob@gmail.com) � Vice Governor
Wayne Sisk, Alexandria (wayne.sisk@energen.com) � Past Governor
Pat Manasco (patriciamanasco@bellsouth.net) � District Secretary
DISTRICT OFFICE: 85 Bagby Drive, Suite 206, Birmingham, AL 35209
Phone (205) 945-1334 or (800) 745-1334, Fax (205) 942-5348; alabama.kiwanis.org
(See GOVERNOR, Page 3)
Plan to attend the Alabama District Mid-winter Conference in Prattville Feb. 20-21, 2015

Governor
(From Page 2)
enced in a number of years.
But this points out something we
need to remember: Kiwanis is dynam-ic.
Kiwanis membership is dynamic.
Kiwanis clubs are dynamic. We are
always going to have changes in
membership, clubs and our organiza-tion.
One of our goals each year needs
to be making sure these changes are
for the good.
Turning 100
We are about to start our 100th year
as an organization. But during our
99th year, several important changes
and programs have been initiated to
strengthen Kiwanis and prepare us to
move into our next century. The KI
president and board have established
that Key Club and Circle K students,
once reaching their 18th birthdays,
automatically become Associate
Members of Kiwanis.
This change formalizes and
strengthens these students’ ties to
Kiwanis and encourages their contin-ued
participation in our organization
and our work for the children of the
world. These young people are impor-tant
to us and to Kiwanis, and as
President Gasser likes to point out,
“Young people are our future.”
One very important program that
was introduced at the Vancouver KI
Convention last summer is our five-year
growth program, The Formula.
This program, which I hope each of
you is at least somewhat familiar
with, utilizes a team of volunteers at
all levels of Kiwanis to work toward
opening new Kiwanis clubs in every
division of Kiwanis and strengthening
existing clubs everywhere.
The Formula
This is a Kiwanis International ini-tiative,
and Jamie Brabston of
Birmingham is our regionally appoint-ed
leader here in Alabama. We have a
good start toward building our
growth teams in each division, and
Jamie will be working hard to com-plete
these teams so we can have a
unified effort of growth throughout
the Alabama District. And to make its
goals easier to remember, many of the
goals of the KI growth program mir-ror
my objectives for 2013-2014. In
fact, they are amazingly similar, which
only goes to prove great minds think
alike, or perhaps I should say great
engineering minds since Gunter, like
me, is an engineer.
We are nearing the end of our five-year
Eliminate Project, under the lead-ership
here in Alabama of Tammy
Driskill. In Alabama, we still have
work to do to meet our goal, and I
know we will, as
usual, rise to this
challenge.
Our SLP pro-grams
and their
leadership have
been a joy to work
with and watch as
our young people
grow in confidence
and leadership this
year. I am con-vinced
we have
Renewed enthusiasm, dedi-cation,
energy and spirit
suggest that 2014-2015 will
be a year of celebration,
growth and accomplish-ments
for the Alabama
Kiwanis District. Let’s
increase membership in all
clubs and divisions.
some of the best
SLP leadership in Kiwanis, and I
know no district anywhere has finer
young people. If we can keep these
young people in Kiwanis and work-ing,
the Kiwanis future is going to be
bright and the children of the world
can look forward to a better world to
grow up in.
Recognitions
There are so many people I would
like to recognize who have helped me
in many ways, offering encourage-ment
and help. If I tried to recognize
everyone by name, I would likely
leave someone out.
1. The people at Kiwanis International
have been a great help to me
this year, supplying information and
answering questions.
2. Our District Secretary Pat
Manasco has been my true ”Girl
Friday.”
3. I want to give a special thanks to
my lieutenant governors. Some of you
have gone the extra mile in your
efforts to help us reach our objectives
and help build your divisions. In
some cases your efforts have not
reaped the rewards you deserve to
have, but I know what you have done
and I will never forget your hard
work.
4. I would like to thank my District
Chairpersons.
5. I want to thank the Kiwanians
who planned and invited us to visit
your clubs to speak and for
Governor’s Banquets. These events
allowed me to visit your clubs and get
to know your people and area better.
6. And I would like to thank all of
the Kiwanis members in the Huntsville,
Birmingham, Montgomery and
Gadsden clubs for their many hours
of hard work on the receptions and
banquets honoring our International
President and wife. These functions
were wonderful events and well
received by everyone. They left a last-ing
impression on
all of us.
7. I would be
remiss if I didn’t
recognize the
great work of
Karla Moons, her
committee and the
Azalea City
Kiwanis Club for
their fine planning
and work in host-ing
the District
Convention at the Battle House Hotel
in Mobile Aug. 1-3.
The future
When I look at Kiwanis and think
about the future, I see a renewed
enthusiasm and dedication among
many of our members to the task of
growing our organization. I have seen
a willingness on the part of our club
officers and lieutenant governors to
work toward our objectives this year. I
see this same energy and spirit in the
officers who will be taking over Oct 1.
I think this is a good indication of
what we can expect in 2014-2015, a
year of celebration, growth and
accomplishments.
As I complete my year as governor,
my wish is that you will continue to
work toward the objectives we have
had this year to strengthen our clubs,
develop our members to be leaders
and grow our Kiwanis membership in
all clubs and divisions of our great
district. You will have the opportunity
to do this through the growth pro-gram.
I would ask that you give our
incoming Governor Brian Rodgers,
Governor-elect Bob Palys and newly
elected Vice Governor Keith Graham
the same support and help you have
given me this year. I wish for you,
Brian and all of us the very best year
we can possibly have.
I leave you with two parting
thoughts:
“In all you do, have fun” and “I
can’t, you can’t, we can.”
Have questions? Call the Kiwanis District Office in Birmingham at 205-945-1334

wife, Christiana, from Austria were among the most mem-orable
of his year.
‘Renewed enthusiasm’
In what has seemed an up-and-down kind of year,
Phillips said to remember that Kiwanis is “always going to
have changes in membership, clubs and our organization,
but we need to make sure these changes are for the good.”
This year, he has enjoyed seeing “a renewed enthusiasm
and dedication among many of our members to the task of
growing our organization.” He said he sees “this same
energy and spirit in the officers who will be taking
over Oct. 1,” so 2014-2015 should be a year of cele-bration,
growth and accomplishments.
At the Interclub Luncheon, Pat Manasco told
about Indianapolis as the site for the next Kiwanis
International Convention June 25-28, 2015. “There
are many things for families to do in Indianapolis,”
she said, “and we’ve got to have a good delegation
attend because we’re going to ‘Win with Tammy.’”
The 2015 District Convention is scheduled for
Aug. 7-9 in Tuscaloosa. One of the organizers, Betty
Whisenant, said they are planning to celebrate the
Kiwanis 100th anniversary with cake, fellowship,
Tammy Driskill
speeches, special events “and opportunities to learn better
ways to serve children.”
‘Need to be moved to action’
“We need to get every member excited about this year of
celebration,” incoming governor Brian Rodgers said in his
talk at the Interclub Luncheon. He urged everyone to
“dream big” and said, “It will be an exciting year if we
want it to be….”
“As we approach the summit, we can see the past, and
the future is a bright one -- but we need to have everyone
join in,” Rodgers said. “We need to be moved to action.”
Read through this issue of the Kiwanis Kourier online, and you
will spot more information and photos from the Mobile conven-tion,
from awards and fundraisers to the “Great Gatsby” supper
at the History Museum of Mobile and officer installation in a
ballroom at the restored Battle House Hotel.
Remember these
important dates
n K-Family Day
Opelika, Oct. 11, 2014
(work day in
Reading Is Fundamental warehouse)
n Mid-winter Conference
Prattville, Feb. 20-21, 2015
n Kiwanis International Convention
and 100th anniversary celebration
Indianapolis, Indiana
June 25-28, 2015
n Alabama District Convention
Tuscaloosa, Aug. 7-9, 2015
Mobile
(From Page 1)
participants in many convention sessions, along with an
Aktion Club adviser.
Driskill endorsed
The Alabama District Board unanimously approved Past
Governor Tammy Driskill’s plans to run for the Kiwanis
International Board of Trustees, and delegates also
endorsed the idea at the business session. Driskill
won Distinguished Lieutenant Governor honors
and has also headed the Key Leader and Eliminate
programs at the state level. She is a bankruptcy
attorney in Gadsden and member of the Kiwanis
Club of Gadsden.
Also during the business session, delegates elect-ed
Keith Graham, a Certified Public Accountant in
Mobile, as vice governor for 2014-15. He is expect-ed
to move up the officer ladder to become gover-nor
in 2016-17. The two-term distinguished presi-dent
of the Azalea City Kiwanis Club, he is current-ly
completing a term as Division 14 lieutenant gov-ernor.
He is the managing partner of Graham, Brown &
Dutton P.C.
At the Governor’s Banquet Saturday night during this
96th District Convention, officers for 2014-15 were installed
by Bob McCurley, past governor and past KI trustee.
Brian Rodgers of Indian Springs (Hoover Metro Kiwanis
Club), now governor-designate, will take over as governor
Oct. 1, and Bill Phillips of Pell City will move to past gov-ernor.
Bob Palys of Cullman will become governor-elect,
and Keith Graham of Mobile will be vice governor.
Lieutenant governors are listed on Pages 5 and 6. Their
terms will also officially start Oct. 1, 2014. Pat Manasco of
Homewood/
Mountain Brook has been appointed to serve
as district secretary again in 2014-15.
In his farewell speech at the Governor’s Banquet, Phillips
said the four days he and Jean spent showing Alabama
and its Kiwanis projects to KI President Gunter Gasser and
RIF
(From Page 1)
long-term goal of $50,000.
This fellowship requires a
$500 gift, and it will provide
books to two classrooms of 20
children. Fellows also will
receive a medallion and plaque
in recognition of their dedica-tion.
Gafford oversees auctions and
other RIF fundraisers every
year, and she has been especial-ly
touched by Circle K’s willing-ness
to help and pledge funds.
“Special thanks to Alabama
Circle K for establishing the Joe
and Jean Dean RIF Fellowship
to help raise money for the chil-dren
served by Jean Dean RIF,”
Gafford said.
“My dad and I truly appreci-ate
the founding of the
Fellowship and receiving the
first two awards from it. Four
classrooms of at-risk young chil-dren
in Alabama will receive
three books for each child to
take home based on these first
two awards.”
Bloom said, “We hope to
honor many more individuals
through the Joe and Jean Dean
RIF Fellowship.”
For more information, email
Circle K Administrator David
Womack at david.womack@
alabama.circlek.org or Bloom at
jessica.bloom@alabama.circlek
.org.
Email news and photos of club projects to the Kiwanis Kourier, kiwaniskourier@gmail.com

’14-15 District officers installed
Photos
by Patrice
Stewart
Alabama District officers and lieutenant governors for 2014-15 were
installed Aug. 2 by Bob McCurley, past governor and international trust-ee.
Shown, front, are Keith Graham, vice governor; Bob Palys, governor-elect;
Brian Rodgers, governor designate; Bill Phillips, who will turn the
duties of governor over to Rodgers on Oct. 1; and Pat Manasco, district
secretary. Behind them are lieutenant governors Charles Jones, Pam
Fleming, Pollyanna Higgs, Betty Whisenant, Colean Black, Armand St.
Raymond, Tammy Driskill, Ben Taylor, Joel Williams, Paul England,
Mark Kellerman and Karla Moons (not pictured, Darrell Parker and
Alan Taylor). These installations will become official Oct. 1, but pins,
gavels and gifts were swapped during the District Convention in
Mobile.
Jean and Bill Phillips Holly and Brian Rodgers Melba and Bob Palys Dee Dee & Keith Graham
Deadline for the fall edition of the online Kiwanis Kourier is Nov. 1, 2014

District officers, lieutenant governors
Incoming and outgoing lieutenant governors mingled during the Aug. 2 Honors
Reception and Governor‘s Banquet at the District Convention and were thanked for
their service by Governor Bill Phillips, whose term will end Sept. 30. Lieutenant gov-ernors
completing the 2013-14 year are Richard Hartz, James Stansell, Pollyanna
Higgs, Betty Whisenant, Owen Bradley, Gerald Ware, James Kendrick, Alan Taylor,
Margaret Murphy, Thomas Lott and Keith Graham. Pat Padgett and Joel Williams
assisted during the year. Past Governor Wayne Sisk was also recognized.
2014-15 officers
Governor
Brian Rodgers
Hoover-Metro
Governor-elect
Bob Palys
Cullman
Vice governor
Keith Graham
Azalea City/Mobile
Immediate past governor
Bill Phillips Jr.
Pell City
District secretary
Pat Manasco
Homewood
Lt. governors for 2014-15
Division 1, Charles Jones, Huntsville
Division 2, Pam Fleming, Sheffield
Division 3, Pollyanna Higgs, Jasper
Division 4, Betty Whisenant, Tuscaloosa
Division 5, Colean Black,
Homewood/Mtn. Brook
Division 6, Armand St. Raymond,
Birmingham
Division 7, Tammy Driskill, Gadsden
Division 8, Darrell Parker, Pell City
Division 9, Alan Taylor, Millbrook-Coosada
Division 10, Ben Taylor, Tallassee
Division 11, Joel Williams, Troy
Division 12, Paul England, Monroeville
Division 13, Mark Kellerman, Fairhope
Division 14, Karla Moons, Azalea City, Mobile

Alabama District
Kiwanis history
Bob McCurley
This is the fifth in a series of articles on Alabama District Kiwanis history compiled by Bob
McCurley, who has served as an Alabama District Kiwanis Governor and as a member of the
boards of Kiwanis International and its foundation.
Ala. sponsored youths
are worldwide leaders
accountant with Newport Industrial Corp. in its chemical
division. Judge White took the lead to promote the devel-opment
of Key Clubs as Key Club administrator. Judge
White was followed by Cullman High School principal
Stanley Johnson as the second Key Club administrator.
Then Bob Bottsford, another high school principal, was the
third administrator, and now George Price is only the
fourth Key Club administrator in more than 60 years of
Key Clubs in Alabama.
The Alabama District of Key Club started with four divi-sions
which at that time were called areas, but within a
year were organized along the same division lines of
Kiwanis, moving first to 7, then to
9 and 14 divisions the same as
Kiwanis. The growth of Key Club
continues; in 2014 there are 20
divisions with 187 clubs and 7,500
members. Alabama is the only dis-trict
with more Key Clubs than
Kiwanis Clubs.
Circle K
In 1955 Kiwanis International
officially recognized Circle K as a
member of the Kiwanis family.
Circle K, or CKI, is the largest college-based civic organiza-tion
in the world, with over 13,000 members in 500 clubs
throughout 17 nations. The Alabama District was officially
organized as the seventh district of Circle K International
on June 30, 1958.
The University of Alabama was the first club built in the
district and the 72nd club organized in Circle K International,
officially chartering on Feb. 26, 1954. About a
year and a half later, Auburn University’s club was orga-nized.
Dr. Walter Jones of the University of Alabama became
the third Kiwanis International Chairman of Circle K. He
was the first Alabamian to be involved in either the district
or International level of Circle K.
(See HISTORY, Page 8)
The Kiwanis youth family is the pride and joy of the
Alabama Kiwanis District: Key Clubs, Circle K, Builders
Clubs and K-Kids, along with Aktion Clubs.
Many have said if Kiwanis did nothing more than spon-sor
youth organizations, it is successful. In fact, our spon-sored
youth organizations are world leaders.
Key Clubs
In 1947 G. Harold Martin, past governor of the Florida
District who is acknowledged by many as the father of Key
Club International, helped organize Alabama Key Clubs in
Decatur, Troy and Huntsville. The following year
Governor Albert Tully appointed
James H. “Shipwreck” Kelly to be
Kiwanis chairman for Key Clubs
in Alabama. He would serve for
the next five years.
To promote Key Clubs in
Alabama, Kelly organized a group
of Key Clubbers known as the
“flying squadron” to talk to
Kiwanis Clubs throughout the
state. This effort was rewarded by
the organization of active clubs.
In 1953, Zeke Fox and John H.
White were appointed chairmen for Key Clubs in the
Alabama District. In just a couple of months, a district
organization was set up, with the first annual convention
held in Montgomery on March 28-29, 1953. At this first
meeting 20 Key Clubs met at the Jefferson Davis Hotel,
where they elected Billy Long of Baldwin County High
School as the first Key Club Governor.
A year later at the second convention, 30 Key Clubs met
at the Battle House Hotel in Mobile. Within two more
years, the Key Club District was publishing the Bama
Bulletin, chronicling the Key Club movement throughout
the district.
John H. White, affectionately called “Judge White,” had
graduated from the University of Georgia Law School but
after the service moved to Bay Minette, where he was an

History
(From Page 7)
In 58 years, the Alabama District has
produced approximately 35 International
officers.
The following Kiwanians have
served as Alabama’s Kiwanis
Chairman and Circle K Advisor: Dr.
Henry B. Moore, 1958; Doug Wasson,
1959-61; Winning A. Currie, 1961-64;
Tom Lile, Tuscaloosa, 1964-66; Walker
Curry, Tuscaloosa, 1966-73; Steve
Means, Gadsden, 1973-81; David
Womack, Tuscaloosa, 1981-1989; Critt
Snellgrove, Dothan, 1989-91; David
Perkins, Tuscaloosa, 1991-93; Jim
Thomas, Jasper, 1993-2000; and David
Womack, Tuscaloosa 2000 to present.
Builders Clubs
Builders Clubs later became the fast-est
growing member of the Kiwanis
family. This organization for junior
high and middle school boys and girls
became a KI program in 1976.
Builders Clubs remained in its
embryonic state with approximately
six to 10 clubs in the Alabama District
until 1990. That year Past Governor
Andy Chaffin was selected Kiwanis
International Chairman of Builders
Clubs. Almost immediately, the
Alabama District and Kiwanis clubs
around America became aware of the
advantages of Builders Clubs, and
these clubs began to spread like wild-fire.
Within three years, more Builders
Clubs were built in Alabama and
across America than in the prior 15
years altogether. Kiwanis International
proudly added the Builders
Club logo to all its materials, as well
as to the front entrance of the Kiwanis
International building in Indianapolis.
The top Builders Club International
award is named for former Alabama
Governor and Builders Club catalyst
Andy Chaffin.
Builders Clubs are the largest youth
organization for Grades 6 through 8 in
America. The number of clubs has
already surpassed the number of Circle
K clubs. Some divisions now have more
Builders clubs than Kiwanis
clubs.
There are more than 35,000 members
in
1,500 clubs in five countries.
Aktion Clubs
The Aktion Club is the only commu-nity
service club for adults living with
disabilities. An Aktion Club allows
members to develop initiative and
leadership skills in serving their com-munities
while enabling their integra-tion
into society. They learn leadership
skills and how to work as a group and
develop their individual abilities.
The Florida District organized the
first Aktion Club in Putnam County,
Fla., in 1987. The concept quickly
spread across Florida as Kiwanis clubs
embraced working with the disabled.
It was not until Oct. 1, 2000, that
Aktion Clubs became a part of the
Kiwanis family as an official spon-sored
program of Kiwanis
International. There are more than 400
Aktion clubs with over 10,000 mem-bers
in eight nations.
Aktion Clubs began in Alabama in
2002 as an outgrowth of Special
Olympics. Dr. Glenda Selman was
appointed the first administrator for
the Alabama District and continues to
lead the program, which has nine
clubs and 167 members in Alabama.
K-Kids
K-Kids also began as a Florida
District project in 1998 to complement
Key Clubs and Builders Clubs while
focusing on Grades 1-5. It was quickly
adopted by Kiwanis International as
the first K-Kids club was chartered in
Brooksville, Fla., on Oct. 1, 1998.
As soon as K-Kids became a part of
the Kiwanis family, Governor Steve
Cragon appointed Phillip Selman of
Gadsden as district administrator. The
Gadsden club quickly chartered the
first club at the Gadsden Episcopal
Day School. By the end of the Kiwanis
year, two more clubs were chartered.
In the next 10 years under the leader-ship
of Phillip Selman, Alabama has
grown to 17 K-Kids Clubs with over
400 members.
There are many more “Kiwanis stories
waiting to be told.” If you have anecdotes
or stories to include in the Alabama
District history, please send them to me.
Anyone who may have information or
Kiwanis pictures about these early days
should also send them to me, Bob
McCurley,rlmccurley@gmail.com, or
District Secretary Pat Manasco, patricia-manasco@
bellsouth.net) .
The last edition of the Alabama Kiwanis
Kourier during 2014 will include excerpts
about our District leadership. Tlhen
“Alabama District of Kiwanis History,
the First 100 Years” will be published Jan.
21, 2015, to coincide with the 100th birth-day
of Kiwanis International.
Kenneth Alovera
is KI counselor
for Ala. District
Newly elected Kiwanis International
Trustee Kenneth Alovera has been
named counselor to the Alabama
District for 2014-15.
He is a member of
the Roxas City
Kiwanis Club in the
Philippines and was
elected to a three-year
term on the KI
Board of Trustees in
July at the 99th annu-al
Kiwanis International
Convention in
Tokyo-Chiba, Japan.
He was unable to
attend the Alabama District
Convention in Mobile but sent a video
speech and told those attending he
looks forward to visiting Alabama in
the future.
‘Good work’
He congratulated the Alabama
District on its large number of Walter
Zeller Fellows and contributions by
$100K Clubs and Model Clubs to the
worldwide Eliminate Project that is
battling maternal and neonatal teta-nus.
“Keep up the good work, Alabama!”
he told conventioneers via his video.
A member of the Roxas City
Kiwanis Club for 26 years, Alovera
has served as club president, lieuten-ant
Kenneth Alovera
governor and 2011-12 governor of
the Philippine South District.
He also was Kiwanis Asia-Pacific
vice chairman in 2012-13.
Club formation
Alovera spearheaded the formation
of the Kiwanis Clubs of Iloilo City and
Metropolitan Iloilo, where he also
serves as a charter member.
An attorney, he works as a corporate
lawyer in the banking industry. He is
also a law professor at the College of
Law, Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion,
and at the College of Management
and Accounting, University of
Iloilo.
He and his wife Eugenia, also a
Kiwanian, have three children.

Join the Formula Team to share
Kiwanis experience with others
By Jamie Brabston
Alabama District Chairwoman
for The Formula
What is The Formula?
The Formula is a multi-year, mem-ber-
led initiative to strengthen
Kiwanis membership in existing clubs
and expand Kiwanis’ reach to com-munities
that do not yet have the ben-efit
of a Kiwanis club.
The initiative is based on the simple
premise that when members have an
exceptional Kiwanis experience, they
want to share Kiwanis with others.
We all LOVE our clubs, and The
Formula helps us to spread our mes-sage
by sharing Kiwanis with others,
which strengthens our existing clubs
and brings Kiwanis service to more
communities.
We are building a Formula Team in
the Alabama District, and we need
YOU to join us! We need volunteers in
most divisions to help as club openers
and club counselors (training materi-als
and resources will be provided).
Please contact me at (256) 679-6341
or email jamie.m.brabston@gmail.com
if you have ANY interest in finding
out more about how you can become
involved in this mission to share the
Kiwanis experience.
Many of you attended our work-shop
at the District Convention and/
or stopped by our booth to pick up
materials and brochures Thank you
for your interest! Please pass along to
Governor-designate Brian Rodgers and The Formula Chairwoman Jamie
Brabston lead a workshop at the District Convention in Mobile. They were
among those from Alabama who went to Atlanta last spring for a seminar on
The Formula.
your clubs the information you
obtained about The Formula, and con-tact
me if you would like someone on
So, what is The Formula?
It’s this:
1. Take something you
love.
2. Share it with others.
3. Make it a part of your
life.
The Formula team to speak to your
club about this initiative.
LOVE IT. SHARE IT. LIVE IT.
Send 2014-15 club officers, info to District office
Reminder to club leaders around the state: Send the
names and contact information (emails, phones,
addresses
or whatever you have) of your 2014-15 offi-cers
(president, president-elect, secretary, treasurer or
any others in the leadership group of your Kiwanis club).
District Secretary Pat Manasco needs this information
sent to her in the Alabama District of Kiwanis office in
Birmingham as soon as possible so your club can stay
in touch and informed throughout the year. She hopes
to have the District Directory with district and club
leaders listed on the district website (alabama.kiwanis.
org) by mid-October.
You can email your information to her at patricia-manasco@
bellsouth.net. Lists can also be mailed to the
Alabama District Office at 85 Bagby Drive, Suite 206,
Birmingham, AL 35209.
The office phone is 205-945-1334 or 800-745-1334.
Fax info to 205-942-5348.
Manasco reminds all Kiwanians of several important
dates to keep in mind as preparations are made for the
2014-15 club year:
n Mid-winter Conference, Prattville, Feb. 20-21, 2015
n Kiwanis International Convention, Indianapolis,
Indiana, June 25-28, 2015
n Alabama District Convention, Tuscaloosa, Aug. 7-9,
2015

Jo Ann, Sid Lanier are the first couple
to receive Jean Dean Courage Award
Jo Ann Bartlett Lanier and Sidney Lanier became the first
couple to receive the annual Jean Dean Courage Award
during the District Convention luncheon Aug. 2 in Mobile.
In presenting the honor, Cathy Dean Gafford called them
“two outstanding peas in a pod who for over 50 years have
shared the joys and the trials that life has brought them
with strength and grace.”
The 2014 recipients have long been active in the Alabama
District of Kiwanis and were honored “for their courage
along life’s way,” said Gafford.
They are treasured members of the Wedowee Kiwanis
Club -- Sidney for 30 years and Jo Ann for close to 10, said
Gafford. “Local club members and many of you are famil-iar
with how they’ve worked tirelessly to help the children
of the world through Kiwanis.”
Both have served as president of their club “more than
once” -- and in every other office, as well.
Sidney is a past governor of the Alabama District of
Kiwanis and Jo Ann his “First Lady.” She was also the first
woman to be president of the Wedowee Kiwanis Club -- a
club her own dad had been proud to be a leader in.
Sidney serves on the Alabama Kiwanis Foundation
Board and has served as its president and chairman of the
Jean Dean Reading Is Fundamental Advisory Board.
Both have also served in leadership positions in various
clubs, their alma mater, Auburn University, and their
church, First United Methodist.
Sidney retired from the Air Force as a full colonel after a
30-year career handling logistics in various bases across the
United States and in England and Korea. When he and Jo
Ann moved to Wedowee, he joined Kiwanis. When Jo Ann
retired from teaching English, she became even more
involved in improving her community through member-ship
in the Garden Club, Music Club,
Study Club and Federation of Women’s
Clubs, Gafford said, and then Jo Ann
joined Kiwanis, too.
“Anybody in their club will tell you
… the Laniers are a mighty force for
Wedowee Kiwanis, serving in various
leadership roles and always getting
something done to help someone else
in Kiwanis, in their church, in their
community,” Gafford said.
They have shown courage over their
many years together, whether as a young couple serving
their country in other parts of the world while raising
three daughters, in the classroom or in Kiwanis and com-munity
projects.
“Has life been a cakewalk
for them — did they have
more time and better health
than others to do all of
these things? Absolutely
not.”
— Cathy Dean Gafford,
Jean Dean’s daughter
“They not only have supported all projects in their local
club but also in the district,” said Gafford. “And I mean
ALL projects: RIF, HOBY, Relay for Life, IDD, Eliminate
and more — plus they started their own leadership project
that lasted for many years.
“Has life been a cakewalk for them — did they have more
time and better health than others to do all of these things?
Cathy Dean Gafford, left, presents the Jean Dean
Courage Award to Jo Ann and Sid Lanier of Wedowee.
Absolutely not,” Gafford said. “Jo Ann, with God and
Sidney’s help, has battled cancer several times but continues
to look for ways to help others every day -- as does Sidney,
who has braved several back and leg operations but never
complains. They continue to show courage.”
Fellow club member James Kendrick said, “There is
nobody more deserving of this honor than Jo Ann and
Sidney”, and the Courage Award committee agreed.
“They are two courageous individuals my mother would
have genuinely liked and enjoyed,”
Gafford said.
She and her father, Past Governor Joe
Dean, 91, give the Courage Award
annually in memory of their mother
and wife.
“Courage is a word that defined Jean
Torbert Dean … not just as she faced
her final illness with strength and
grace, but all of her life. A lifelong
asthmatic, she had suffered both a
heart attack and a debilitating stroke
before she was 40 years old, but every day until she was
confined to a wheelchair on oxygen, she got up at her
beloved Danway, looked after her family and looked out
into the world around her to see whom she might help, as
a Sunday school teacher, den mother, Girl Scout leader and
more, Gafford said.
“After she ‘drove herself to the hospital a race horse and
came home a turtle,’ as she put it, she still used her mind
to help Daddy help others through Kiwanis,” Gafford said.
”I believe courage is taking the circumstances God gives
you, and making the best of them.”
Support Reading Is Fundamental with readers and donations for books and other needs

Bob Palys gets Key of Honor
During the 71st Key Club International
Convention in July in Anaheim,
Calif., Robert “Bob” Palys
received the Key Club International
Key of Honor.
Palys has been the advisor to the
Holly Pond High School Key Club
near Cullman for 25 years and a
member of the adult District Board
for Alabama Key Club for 16 years,
serving as advisor representative.
The Alabama District of Kiwanis
elected him vice governor last year,
and he will become governor-elect
Oct. 1. He is expected to serve as
governor in 2015-16.
The Key of Honor is the highest
recognition presented by Key Club
International — to an individual
who has made a lifelong positive
impact upon youth in general and
Key Club specifically, or an organi-zation
honored for a long-term
support of youth and Key Clubs.
No more than two Keys of Honor
can be given in one year. Nominees
are those who have “gone above
and beyond the call of duty” in
dedication to youths.
Palys was recognized for influ-encing
students to always strive for
their best.
Palys said he was “shocked and
surprised” with the award, but also
honored and proud. “It is a dream
come true for me,” he added.
He noted that the Holly Pond
Key Club has been named the out-standing
Key Club in its category
(based on number of members) for
23 consecutive years and the most
outstanding club overall 19 years.
It also has won international recog-nition
for service achievement
three times.
“The Holly Pond Key Club has
been blessed with excellent club
leaders and young adults who are
dedicated to providing service to
make a difference in our Alabama
community,” Palys said.
Key Club Governor Kacie Hines
presented the award to Palys
before his Kiwanis peers at the
District Kiwanis Convention in
Mobile.
In its 62 years of existence, the
Alabama Key Club District has had
six Key of Honor recipients: John
H. “Judge” White (founder of Alabama
District Key Club), Stanley T.
Johnson, Robert L. Bottsford, Clarence
E. Brooker, George L. Price
and Palys.
The presentation of the award to
Palys can be seen on You Tube,
Closing Session 2014 Key Club
International Convention, begin-ning
at the 28 minutes, 18 seconds
point.
The Key of Honor was originally given
to Bob Palys during the Key Club International
Convention in Anaheim, Calif.,
but Key Club Governor Kacie Hines pre-sented
the award to Palys again during the
Kiwanis District Convention in Mobile.
Key Club Administrator George Price, left, gives a Zeller honor to Vice Governor Bob Palys for his work on the Children’s
Hospital project with Key Club, and Jamie Brabston gets a Zeller medallion for her work with Key Leader and
The Formula from Past Governor Pam Fleming, right, center photo. Gordon Ruggles, Alabama Kiwanis Foundation
president, helped George Aiken, right, honor his wife, Kiwanian Allyne Aiken, with a J. Mercer Barnett award for her
contributions to Kiwanis. Also, Jean Phillips (see Page 2) received a Zeller from her husband, Bill, who was surprised
with one from the district. Oxford Golden K received a banner patch for 100 percent contributing to Eliminate.
Put the Alabama District Convention in Tuscaloosa on your calendar: Aug. 7-9, 2015

Memories
in Mobile
Summer convention, Aug. 1-3
Keep up with progress of the KI worldwide service project at www.TheEliminateProject.org

Memories in Mobile
‘Great Gatsby’ theme at museum
Photos
by Patrice
Stewart

Photos
by Patrice
Stewart
2014 District Convention
Battle House Renaissance Hotel, Mobile

2014 District Convention
Photos
by Patrice
Stewart
Send your annual club gift of at least $5 per member to the Kiwanis International Foundation

2014 District
Convention
Photos by Patrice
Stewart
Plan to attend the Alabama District Mid-winter Conference in Prattville Feb. 20-21, 2015

Division 14 tops International
Foundation giving in 2012-13
By Olivia Humphries
Alabama District Chair
Kiwanis International Foundation
In the Alabama District, I have sev-eral
people to recognize with Kiwanis
International Annual Giving Awards
for Kiwanis year 2012-13.
First is the division with the highest
per capita, or per member, giving:
Division 14 and 2012-13 Lt. Governor
Waynetta Black.
In addition to that division, two oth-ers
exceeded $5 per capita giving:
Division 2 with David Beasley, and
Division 10.
Current giving
The 2013-14 KI Foundation report
for the Alabama District shows the
following totals of per capita giving
by division so far:
Division 1, $8.21;
Division 2, 45 cents;
Division 3, $1.53;
Division 4, $2.91;
Division 5, $4.81;
Division 6, $6.33;
Division 7, $5.72;
Division 8, $3.12;
Division 9, $4.73;
Division 10, $6.42;
Division 11, $6.83;
Division 12, $4.17;
Olivia Humphries
Division 13, $3.19; Division 14, $3.19.
Congratulations to the top five divi-sions
so far: Divisions 1, 11, 10, 6 and
7, ranging from $8.21 per member to
$5.72 per member.
A reminder
Note that all contributions going to
the Kiwanis International Foundation
EXCEPT Eliminate funds will be
counted toward our goal of $22,990.
This is the goal that was designated
by Governor Bill Phillips for 2013-14.
We should strive to meet or exceed
KI Foundation Chair Olivia Humphries calls names from the podium as
her husband, Ed Humphries, assists in presenting awards to Waynetta Black
and David Beasley for their divisions’ high Annual Club Giving during 2012-
13.
this goal in order for the Alabama
District to be in contention for
Outstanding District. We are currently
at $17,777, or $4.84 per capita.
Remember, we will not be receiving
any Circle K scholarships this year
unless we are in the top five districts
of Kiwanis International. We can get
there, but each club will have to con-tribute
and also award a good many
straight Hixsons and Tablets of Honor,
which will count toward the district
rankings (but Eliminate Project honors
do not count toward this).
I would like to express my apprecia-tion
to the Alabama District for allow-ing
me to be your district chair for
Kiwanis International Foundation for
the last three years. This has been a
very rewarding time of my life with
Kiwanis.
Past Governor Joel Williams will be
taking over this role, and I wish him
all success to achieve the goals being
set by the International Foundation.
Governor-designate Brian Rodgers
presents a gift to Olivia Humphries
for her three years as Alabama District
chair for the Kiwanis International
Foundation.
Clubs should look at their donations to the Kiwanis International
Foundation because more giving is needed to reach the 2013-14
goal of $22,990 (Eliminate funds do not count toward that goal).

2 Japanese Imperial Family members
greet Kiwanians at Tokyo convention
Button, Petrisin and Erickson will lead Kiwanis International for 2014-15
From Kiwanis International
Prince Akishino and Princess
Kiko of the Japanese Imperial
Family welcomed members and
guests to the 99th annual
Kiwanis International
Convention during opening cer-emonies
in Japan.
Delegates met July 17-20 at
Makuhari Messe Convention
Center in Chiba, outside Tokyo.
During elections, Ridgetown,
Ontario, Kiwanian John R.
Button was confirmed as Kiwanis International president
for 2014-15. His term will begin Oct. 1, 2014.
Susan A. Petrisin of the Michigan District was approved
as president-elect, and Jane M. Erickson of the Nebraska-
Iowa District was elected vice president.
Elected trustees for the United States and Pacific Canada
were Arthur N. Riley of the Capital District, Dewey Smith
of the Georgia District and Barbara Thompson of the
Missouri-Arkansas District.
Kenneth A. Alovera of the Philippine South District won
an at-large seat for the Asia-Pacific Region on the Kiwanis
International Board. Koshiro “Kit” Kitazato of the Japan
District was elected to an at-large seat earlier during the
2014 Asia-Pacific convention in Japan.
The Canada/Caribbean and Europe regions do not have
guaranteed trustee seats open for the 2014-15 administra-tive
year.
John Button Susan Petrisin Jane Erickson
Amendment, resolution
The House of Delegates convened in Japan approved a
bylaws amendment that will establish stronger disciplinary
provisions to help protect the Kiwanis organization and
the youth it serves.
In addition, delegates adopted a resolution directing the
Kiwanis International Board to investigate the use of
online voting on business matters normally conducted at
convention. The resolution
directs the board to initiate the
study, with a report due to the
delegates at the 100th annual
convention scheduled for
Indianapolis June 25-28, 2015.
The following were approved
by the House of Delegates in
Japan:
n To restate the existing
authority and responsibility of
the board to comply with “best
practices” for nonprofit organi-zations.
n To clarify provisions related to filling a vacancy in the
office of Kiwanis International trustee.
n To provide greater flexibility in district operations, in
agreement with proposed revisions to the Standard Form
for District Bylaws.
n To ensure that every Kiwanis club in North America is
protected from liability through affordable directors and
officers insurance coverage (D&O).
Other business
A proposal to provide a two-year waiver of Kiwanis
International dues for persons who have recently served in
the military was withdrawn; it had been submitted by the
Kiwanis Club of Cascadia, Ore.
Referred to committee was a proposal to eliminate the
required separation of subscription funds to allow them to
be applied to various printed, electronic and digital com-munication
vehicles now commonly used by Kiwanis
members.
The September 2014 Kiwanis magazine will include cov-erage
of the Kiwanis International, Circle K International
and Key Club International conventions.
To see the convention through the eyes of your fellow
Kiwanians, search for #ki2014 on Facebook, Twitter or
Instagram, or check out our Storify page for the full scoop.
Birmingham delegate
represents Alabama
Ralph Cook, a lawyer and for-mer
member of the Alabama
Supreme Court, represented the
Alabama District during the
Kiwanis International Convention
in Japan.
He is president-elect of the
Kiwanis Club of Birmingham.
Support Reading Is Fundamental with readers and donations for books and other needs

Team-building exercises and small group activities were all a part of learning about leadership for the eighth-through
12th-graders who attended the Key Leader weekend in April.
High school students learn
leadership in annual retreat
By Jamie Brabston
Key Leader Administrator,
Alabama District
The 2014 Alabama District Key
Leader weekend once again success-fully
provided the opportunity for
students from around the state to
learn and grow as servant leaders,
while having an amazing time and
forming new friendships.
Key Leader 2014 took place at beau-tiful
Camp ASCCA in Jackson’s Gap,
Ala. Our participants came from
Huntsville to Mobile and from all
“walks of life.” It was truly a remark-able
experience for all of us (adults
included).
We appreciate all of the clubs in our
District who support Key Leader and
sponsored many of the youth who
attended this year. We also appreciate
the support of the Key Club
and the Foundation for their
generous scholarships which
helped several students attend
who otherwise may not have
been able to do so. Thank you!
Support, recruitment
Key Leader would not have
been successful without the
dedication of the entire
Alabama District leadership
team, who spread the word about Key
Leader, recruited students to attend
and also provided financial support
for students. Thank you all for your
support!
Kevin Yates has been a dedicated
member of our team since the district
first began participating in the Key
Leader program, and we always
appreciate his presence and, of
course, his photography skills.
Please “follow” Alabama Key
Leader on Instagram to see
photos of our event.
We were also fortunate to
have Sabrina Young return as
our site coordinator, and
Melissa Purdy, teacher at
Alexandria High School,
returned as a chaperone for
the third year in a row. Thank
Jamie Brabston
you also to Ed Courtney from
Huntsville for joining our Alabama
District Key Leader team.
We need more Kiwanians like these
to “step up” and join our team so that
we can continue to recruit youth from
all over the state and ensure there are
(See KEY LEADER, Page 20)
Send your annual club gift of at least $5 per member to the Kiwanis International Foundation

Auctions buy books and save lives
Silent and live auctions held during the Kiwanis
District Convention in Mobile raised funds for Alabama’s
Jean Dean Reading Is Fundamental and the
Eliminate Project to rid the world of maternal/neona-tal
tetanus. Clockwise
from top left are Azalea City
Quilters Guild member Elaine Williams,
who made
the quilt shown, auctioned for $3,000 for RIF, with
Dee Dee Graham and Waynetta Black; Governor-designate
Brian Rodgers offering a lamp and an auto-graphed
Auburn football for live bids; KI Eliminate
Area 2 director Ashley Meruani helping Past
Governor Bob McCurley
show prints of Alabama
coaches Nick Saban and Bear Bryant; and Camille
Maier tallying silent auction proceeds ($1,500 for RIF
and $1,500 for Alabama Kiwanis Foundation).
Key Leader
(From Page 19)
plenty of chaperones next spring. We
promise that you will have a truly fun
and rewarding experience!
Facilitators return
We also appreciate the time and
enthusiasm of the four amazing stu-dent
facilitators: Tucker McCaleb, who
attended Key Leader for the third
time this year, and Dee Tuggle, Emme
Martinez, Tiensae Teshome and Sarah
Brabston, who all attended for the sec-ond
time.
These students exhibited true ser-vant
leadership, which often means
letting others learn to lead as well.
The students in their “neighborhoods”
enjoyed these facilitators and were
rewarded by the leadership of these
outstanding young people.
We are already looking forward to
Key Leader 2015, which will again be
held at Camp ASCCA. The dates are
April 17-19, 2015. Please consider join-ing
the Key Leader team now to help
us market and recruit emerging lead-ers
in your community to make plans
to attend Key Leader next spring.
We must continue this program as it
offers so many benefits to our youth,
and we need the support of the entire
Kiwanis family to make it happen. We
MUST fill all spots (60 to 70) next year,
or we will not be able to continue to
offer this fabulous opportunity to our
kids.
New ambassador
The Key Leader team is excited to
welcome Jeremy Ware, a Key Club
lieutenant governor who has been
appointed by the Key Club to be our
Key Leader Ambassador this year.
I am so excited to work with Jeremy
and the entire Key Club to once again
spread the word about this awesome
opportunity for Key Clubbers and all
of our youth throughout the district.
In case you’re still asking yourself
“What IS Key Leader?” --
Key Leader is Kiwanis
International’s service leadership pro-gram
for students (eighth- to 12th-graders).
It is a fun-filled weekend
event comprised of small and large
group activities, interactive events,
and presentations from a professional
facilitator that focus on servant leader-ship.
It is an incredible opportunity
for “emerging leaders” who need that
extra push to become true leaders in
their schools and communities.
For more information, or to find out
how you can help, please visit www.
key-leader.org or contact me at
jamie.m.brabston@gmail.com or 256-
679-6341.

Circle K is focusing on 3 areas:
Rebuilding, Relations and RIF
By Jessica Bloom
Circle K District Governor
This is an exciting year for the Alabama
District of Circle K International.
In 2014-2015 we are focusing
on three areas: Rebuilding, Relations
and RIF.
First is rebuilding. There are current-ly
more than 300 members in Circle K
clubs on 10 college and university cam-puses
across Alabama: Alabama
Southern Community College in
Monroeville, Auburn University, Central
Alabama Community College
(Alexander City and Childersburg
campuses), Gadsden State Community
College, Jacksonville State University,
University of Alabama, University
of
Alabama at Birmingham, University of
North Alabama, University
of South
Alabama and Wallace State
Community College in Hanceville.
In the past year, these members
have completed over 6,000 hours of
service. We wish to spread the oppor-tunity
for service, fellowship and
leadership to college students
throughout Alabama by focusing on
membership this year. Our goal is to
build six new clubs within the district
while also aiding
membership recruit-ment
at our current
active campuses. Our
overall membership
goal is to reach 500
members.
Next is relations.
The Alabama District
of Circle K wishes to
increase the interac-tion
between the
branches of the
Jessica Bloom
K-Family. One way that we are doing
this is by reinstating our Keys to
College program. This is a program
where Circle K members visit a Key
Club to encourage them to continue
their education past high school while
remaining an active student leader.
Through this program we are increas-ing
the Kiwanis Family bond and also
seeking to ease the transition between
college and high school.
Twenty-eight Circle K members representing eight clubs around the
Alabama District attended the Circle K International Convention in
Nashville June 17-22.
Increase communication
Circle K also wants to increase our
communication with Kiwanis
throughout the year. We are requiring
each Circle K club to meet with its
sponsoring Kiwanis board in order to
plan opportunities for interaction and
discuss expectations for the year.
Circle K believes that serving the chil-dren
of Alabama is a group effort, and
when we work together we can
accomplish great things.
So how can you and your Kiwanis
club become involved with Circle K?
There are two simple ways that you
can do this. First, you can sponsor a
Circle K club. We are always seeking
to expand the Kiwanis Family within
the Alabama District, and we would
love to help you charter a Circle K in
your community.
Please contact our District
Administrator David Womack at
david.womack@alabama.circlek.org or
me at jessica.bloom@alabama.circlek.
org, and we would love to provide
you with help and resources for the
chartering process.
The second way that you can
become involved with Circle K is to
integrate Circle K into your Kiwanis
club. Invite us to your meetings, plan
projects with us and include us in
your club publication. The ways that
you can integrate Circle K are limit-less.
One Spark
The third area that we are focusing
on in 2014-2015 is Reading Is
Fundamental (RIF). The Alabama
Circle K District Project is One Spark.
This is a campaign to raise $50,000 for
Jean Dean RIF. We believe that it takes
one spark to ignite a flame -- one
spark to inspire a lifetime of learning.
We encourage the Alabama District of
Kiwanis to join with us to be that one
spark.
Circle K in Alabama has pledged to
raise $6,000 this year for Jean Dean
RIF. We hope to accomplish this in
part by creating a means of recogniz-ing
outstanding individuals who have
contributed to Jean Dean Reading Is
(See CIRCLE K, Page 22)
Keep up with progress of the KI worldwide service project at www.TheEliminateProject.org

Circle K
(From Page 21)
Fundamental, so we have created the Joe and Jean Dean
RIF Fellowship (see story, Page 1).
For 2014-15, I am serving on the Circle K District Board
with Secretary Megan Krewsky, University of Alabama;
Treasurer Amy Traylor, University of South Alabama;
Communications Officer Shefa Suhaila, University of
Alabama at Birmingham; Capitol Lt. Governor Savannah
Tidwell, Auburn University; Foothills Lt. Governor Travis
Eberhardt, Jacksonville State University;
Plains Lt. Governor Stacey Tome,
Auburn University; Valley Lt. Governor
Daniel Crooks, University of
North Alabama; Vulcan Lt. Governor
Kristin Blanchard, University
of
Alabama at Birmingham;
Warrior Lt.
Governor Sarah Kidwell, University
of Alabama; and Wiregrass Lt. Governor
Danielle Hamilton, Troy University.
CKI convention, awards
Many of us attended the Circle K
International convention in Nashville
June 17-22. It was combined with the
Large Scale Service Project (LSSP) to
create the ultimate six-day CKI expe-rience!
The Alabama District was well
represented with 28 attendees from eight clubs.
Attendees took in the full experience of the event by vol-unteering
during the service project, serving on convention
committees, attending workshops and meeting fellow
Circle K’ers. The Alabama delegation also participated in
the House of Delegates to elect the 2014-2015 International
Board.
The convention also recognized clubs and individuals
from across the globe with a variety of awards, and the
2013-14 Alabama District Board was recognized for its
hard work. Congratulations to the following, and thank
you for your service in 2013-2014:
n Zach Nolen (UAB), Distinguished Governor
n Meggie Hall (UA), Distinguished Secretary
n Haley Greathouse (Troy), Distinguished Lt. Governor
n University of Alabama, Club Achievement Award,
third place (Gold Division)
n University of Alabama, Growth Enhances Membership
Award (Emerald Division)
n University of Alabama, Service
Partners Award, third place
n Jacksonville State University,
Growth Enhances Membership
Award (Sapphire Division)
n Jessica Bloom and Kristin
Blanchard, chosen for Talent
Showcase.
Thank you for all that you and your
Kiwanis clubs do to support the
Alabama District of Circle K. You
make it possible for us to serve the
children of Alabama. Live to Serve.
Love to Serve.
Jessica Bloom is a senior at Auburn
University majoring in psychology and
pursuing a career in cognitive linguis-tics.
She is a member and freshman advi-sor
of the Auburn University Marching Band and vice president
of service for Kappa Kappa Psi, the national honorary band ser-vice
fraternity. Jessica has been in the Kiwanis Family for more
than seven years. She started as a member of the Winston
County High School Key Club where she served as club editor,
president, and Division 7 lieutenant governor. Her Circle K roles
include club vice president, president, lieutenant governor and
governor.
Past Governor J.W. Sales Jr. dies at 81
Past Governor John Wesley
Sales Jr. of Monroeville, 81,
died July 31, 2014, at his home.
He followed Joe Dean of
Opelika and the late John
Maddox of Mobile to lead
Alabama District Kiwanis
clubs for 1992-93.
Governor Sales, known as
J.W., was a member and officer
of the Monroeville Kiwanis
Club first. Later he was elected
to serve on the Kiwanis International
Board of Trustees. Kiwanians were
honorary pallbearers at his funeral,
and the family requested memorials
be made to the Monroeville Kiwanis
Club, along with other charities.
The funeral service was held at 11
a.m. Aug. 4 at First Baptist Church of
Monroeville, where he was a
member and held many
church posts through the
years, along with being active
in the music program.
Officiating were Dr. Thomas
Lane Butts, Rev. Micah Gandy
and Rev. Glen Eubanks.
Johnson Funeral Home was in
charge, and burial followed in
Pineville Cemetery.
Mr. Sales grew up in the
J.W. Sales Jr.
Flomaton-Century area of Escambia
County and began his career in the
automobile business in 1954, selling
Plymouths and Desotos in Mobile. He
started J.W. Sales Inc., a used-car busi-ness
in Century, Fla., in 1962. He pur-chased
Sales Ford Inc. in Monroeville
in 1966, and in 2002 bought a second
dealership, Sales Ford Lincoln-
Mercury Inc., in Grove Hill.
His family recalled his belief that
selling was an attitude, and that you
must have the right attitude to achieve
success. He always tried to incorpo-rate
a strong pride in church, family,
community and country into his busi-ness.
He and the former Willean
Bondurant were married for 59 years.
He is also survived by two sons, John
Wesley Sales III and James William
Sales Sr., both of Monroeville; two
daughters, Janiece Sales Brewer of
Huntsville and Diane Sales Lindsey of
Gulf Breeze, Fla.; 14 grandchildren; six
great-grandchildren and four step-great-
grandchildren; one sister and
two brothers.
Put the Alabama District Convention in Tuscaloosa on your calendar: Aug. 7-9, 2015

Kiwanis Family honors tradition
while developing next generation
By Kacie Hines
Key Club Governor
My term as Key Club governor is
already halfway over, and I’ve had the
opportunity to meet so many wonder-ful
people representing Key Club,
Kiwanis and Circle K as I’ve been
doing quite a bit of traveling.
I made one non-Key Club trip this
summer when I went
with my family to
New York City. I was
in awe of that city! It
was so interesting to
me how the city is
such a seamless mix
of old versus new. It
is an established city,
but there is new
development every-where.
The city is
bustling with life,
Kacie Hines
both long-lived and full of youth.
It reminded me of the Kiwanis
Family. The established traditions and
legacy of the past are honored and
continued by Kiwanians at the same
time that the next generation of
Kiwanians
are being developed
through Key Club, Builders Clubs,
K-Kids and Circle K.
Thriving as a family
The future of our Kiwanis Family is
being built every day, and we manage
to find the perfect ways to incorporate
that into our already thriving family
and to enhance the group as a whole.
We are all Kiwanians. We may be
the Kiwanians rich in tradition and
full in experience, or we may be the
Kiwanians in the beginning stages of
development. But we are all part of a
Kiwanis Family that is truly amazing.
I can see why people visit New York
and never leave. I hope that people
see that same type of passion, com-mitment
and love of Kiwanis through
all of us, regardless of what category
of Kiwanis we find ourselves.
If New York is the Big Apple, then
Kiwanis is the Big Pancake, and I
don’t want to leave!
Alabamian Livingston is elected
to Key Club International board
Alabama continued its legacy of
leadership with the election of an
Alabama representative to the Key
Club International Board.
Rip Livingston from Homewood
High School was elected one of 11
international
trustees. He is work-ing
with the Indiana, Carolinas and
Kentucky-
Tennessee districts.
Key Club Governor Kacie Hines, a
junior at Vestavia Hills High School,
reported that 63 from Alabama,
including 42 Key Clubbers, attend-ed
the Key Club International
Convention in Anaheim, Calif., in
July, where Holly Pond adviser Bob
Palys was presented the Key of
Honor (see story, Page 11).
As governor, Hines is assisted by
Alabama District Key Club Secretary
Brianna Farley of Evangel
Christian School and Board Specialist
Laura Owen of Baldwin
County High School.
Here are the Key Club lieutenant
governors and the schools they
attend: Denisse Moreno, New
Century Technology High School;
Levi Bevis, Central High of
Florence; Madison Williams,
Winston County High; Griffin
Stephens, Holly Pond High; Shayla
Millwood, Coosa Christian High;
Kasey Gamble, Alexandria High;
Service update
I want to give you all an update on
the state of Alabama Key Club, the
future of our Kiwanis Family.
We are continuing our commitment
to serving the children of our world
through our new district project, sup-porting
three very important groups
both financially and in service hours:
Children’s Hospital of Alabama,
Reading is Fundamental, and, of
Rip Livingston, left, in Mobile
with Kiwanis Governor-designate
Brian Rodgers.
Olivia Harrison, Vestavia Hills
High; Mackenzie Johnson,
Northridge High; Lexey Monceaux,
Evangel Christian School; Darden
Walton, Elmore County High; Ross
Herring-Opelika High; Morgan Tew,
Elmore County High; Derek Kelly;
EmilyAnne Hart, Cottonwood
High; Kalyn DelVecchio, Cottonwood
High; Taran Carrasco, Andalusia
High; Gabby Bohannon, J.U.
Blacksher High; Milin Vira, Bayside
Academy; and Jacob Dennis, Alabama
School of Math and Science.
course, the Eliminate Project.
We are finding new ways to recruit
and retain members through special-ized
committees and committee work.
We are targeting for possible club
growth both public and private
schools in Alabama that do not have
Key Clubs. There are currently 589
high schools in Alabama,
and we have
Key Clubs in 188 of those.
(See KEY CLUBS, Page 24)

Convention’s events raised thousands
for children; more fundraisers coming
By Cathy Gafford
Executive director
Jean Dean Reading Is Fundamental
Many thanks to Kiwanians for their
support at the District Convention in
Mobile.
I appreciate your bringing auction
items, buying tickets and supporting
the Reading Is Fundamental quilt
fundraiser.
The Alabama Kiwanis
Foundation
auction netted $1,500 for
RIF and $1,500 for Alabama Foundation
projects.
The wonderful quilted wall hanging
featuring books and toys on a child’s
bookcase, made by Azalea City Master
Quilter Elaine Williams, made $3,000
for children served by Jean Dean RIF.
Special thanks to Pam Fleming, who
won the item and then gave it back to
be live-auctioned. This raised the prof-it
Key Clubs
(From Page 23)
We are reaching out better to all our
members in meaningful and effective
ways, which of course with teenagers
means texts and social media.
We are encouraging high schoolers,
even in schools without Key Clubs, to
attend Key Leader events so they can
get leadership training.
We are highly encouraging atten-dance
at Kiwanis Family Conference
in Black Mountain, N.C.; Key Club
District Convention in Mobile in
March; and the 100th birthday party
celebration at our joint Kiwanis
Family International Convention in
Indianapolis next June.
We are building leadership skills
through members of our District
Board, which had to grow this year by
two lieutenant governors to accommo-date
club growth throughout the state.
Adding to the legacy
We are continuing Alabama’s legacy
of leadership at the international level
with a newly elected International
Trustee, Rip Livingston from Homewood
High School.
And of course, we want to continue
from $2,300 to $3,000, and
Larry Mooney took home this
unique handmade item.
You may want to mark these
dates on your calendars for
our annual RIF workday and
fundraisers, all in Opelika:
n Oct. 11, 2014, K-Family
RIF Day (Tri-K Day)
Your help is needed for this
annual fall event in the Jean
Dean RIF Warehouse, 1105
Fitzpatrick Avenue in Opelika (direc-tions
Cathy Gafford
on www.jeandeanrif.org), from 9
to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Give
whatever time you can; Kiwanians,
Golden K and Circle K members, Key
Clubbers and others share fun and fel-lowship
doing this every year while
inventorying and labeling thousands
Governor-designate Brian Rodgers with two sponsored youth leaders: Circle
K Governor Jessica Bloom of Auburn University and Key Club Governor
Kacie Hines, right, of Vestavia Hills High School.
to grow in our relationships within
our Kiwanis Family. We don’t want
Key Club to just be that thing in high
school, but a part of each member’s
life forever.
By supporting Key Clubs, you are
investing in the future of Kiwanis, and
of books to get them ready to
ship to reading sites. Bring
items for our warehouse
shower, and take home some
silent auction items. Make
lunch reservations by Oct. 1 at
5 p.m. by calling me at 334-
750-9974 or e-mailing jeande-anrif@
gmail.com. More infor-mation
will be posted on the
RIF website.
n Nov. 1, 2014, Run to Read.
Participate in this 5K, 10K and 1.5-
mile Fun Walk and help Jean Jean RIF.
Watch for online registration forms at
jeandeanrif.org.
n June 6, 2015, Ride to Read.
Watch for more details; all cycles
welcome.
we thank you with full hearts for that
commitment.
Without Kiwanis, there would be no
Key Club, and we Key Clubbers
would like to say thanks for the sup-port
you show us and for being mod-els
of caring and responsible citizens.

Alabama Kiwanis Kourier Summer 2014

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Alabama Kiwanis Kourier Summer 2014