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K E Y C L U B hunter edition
Official Newsletter of Hunter Key Club in New York District 11
HAPPY 2011!
In this issue…
LTC Preview ................. 2
Service Profiles ......... 3-4
MEETINGS // Thursday Activities, Room 420
Volume 1 Issue 5 January 2011
All the cheer of winter
vacation and new year
celebrations seems to
disappear with the
onslaught of January work:
midterms, grades and this
year, endless snowfall.
Although community
service may not have been
a first priority in January,
there are still simple ways
to help out, such as
shoveling a neighbor's
sidewalk or helping a
friend with homework.
After all, community
service isn't all about
earning service credit.
Despite the lack of club
meetings this month due
to vacation and snow days,
there are still individuals
who make an active
difference in
their community.
I've decided to profile
these exemplary members
in this issue, in hopes of
inspiring you to also
pursue service outside of
Key Club.
I hope you enjoy this
issue and I look forward
to seeing you once again
at our February meetings!
-Ella Cheng
By Ella Cheng
Leadership Training Conference Preview Emma Cheng, Treasurer and Conference Chair
2 HUNTER KEY CLUB // District 11 Newsletter
Logo / Ella Cheng
With the end of the 2010-2011 service year fast approaching, it’s time to start looking ahead to the 63rd
Leadership Training Conference on April 8-10!
At the annual event, Key Clubbers from all over the New York District will gather together to celebrate their
achievements during the service year and to get an early start preparing for the next year in a collaborative and
communitarian atmosphere. As the culmination of all members’ efforts from 2010 to 2011, the convention will
proudly display all the work and gifts of our district’s members through scheduled events like the talent show and
award ceremonies. In addition to such activities, all attendees will be offered a unique chance to meet and socialize
with Key Clubbers from all over the state during the large dinner gatherings, dances, and even during their free time.
Most importantly, though, leadership training conference truly inspires Key Club members every year, offering them
an in-depth perspective of all the accomplishments of the immense organization and opening their eyes to all the
available opportunities.
As this year’s conference chair, I have already had an exclusive inside look at the arrangements for the 63rd
annual convention. The leadership training conference’s new theme, “Broadway,” is sure to keep a lively, fun
atmosphere. Expect a great line-up of new workshops for attendees to participate, such as improve acting,
professionalism, writing college essays, and even quick dance classes! Meanwhile, other more customary workshops,
like successful fundraising, making meetings move, and creating service ideas will undoubtedly continue to help Key
Clubbers prepare for a new, productive year of service and leadership.
While last year’s conference was held in Kutsher's Country Club in Monticello, New York, this year’s locale
has changed to a Holiday Inn in Albany. Having already visited the location, I am proud to say that the hotel is
definitely a step up from all of the previous convention sites. With comfortable rooms, new facilities, and great open
spaces to socialize in, this year’s leadership training conference is most certainly going to be a success, so get excited
as you’re counting down the days!
Ella Cheng
I first came across this organization at a Key Club
divisional in the spring of 2010, in which Mr. Fifer,
the founder of the organization introduced Helping is
Easy and its cause to the Key Clubbers of Division 11
and asking for interest in interning.
A month later, I was an online intern for Helping is
Easy, providing feedback on the website,
helpingiseasy.org, and communicating with other
service organizations or groups about creating
accounts and participating in various projects.
Helping is Easy is also undertaking numerous
painting projects at the Metropolitan Hospital. Over
the summer, I attended a painting project.
I have continued to work for Helping is Easy
through the summer and the school year, preparing
the website for its upcoming launch and spreading the
word about simple projects such as holiday cards and
Valentine's Day hearts.
I am extremely excited for the website's launch but
the launch won't be the end of the story. The website
will continue to be revised and improved and
publicity will always be necessary. Helping is Easy is
still recruiting interns, so if you're interested in
working with this organization as an online intern,
you can e-mail me at [email protected] It's a
great cause and you'll gain some valuable experiences!
Sera Kwon
I started volunteering at Street Squash during 9th grade,
the same year I joined Key Club. Some recruiters from the
organization came to a club meeting one day, and I got
hooked on it after the first couple of times I went there.
Street Squash is a Harlem-based nonprofit youth
organization. Students in the program receive free
academic tutoring and squash instruction, in addition to
college prep and mentoring.
Something that I think sets Street Squash apart from
other urban enrichment programs is the relationship
between the staff and the students. Staff members in the
classrooms are regularly updated on students’ schoolwork
and progress in both squash and academics. This
information facilitates conversation between staff and
students. It always impresses me that every staff member
remembers each student’s name.
Another thing that makes Street Squash awesome is its
snacks. I love string cheese.
During the school year I usually volunteer at Street
Squash once or twice a week, as a tutor for middle school
students. Lately I’ve been helping 8th graders study for an
upcoming biology test by drawing horrible diagrams on a
board and asking kids to guess the name of the blobs I’m
pointing to. For the past two summers, I’ve also
volunteered as an academic counselor. The curriculum for
Street Squash’s Summer Discovery program is pretty
different from what you’d see during the school year—some
of the topics we’ve covered are how to use the subway,
dining etiquette, and the New York immigration
experience at Ellis Island.
The time I’ve spent at Street Squash has changed me in
a lot of ways. I’m definitely a lot more confident, and
hopefully more patient with others and myself. Street
Squash is definitely a commitment that I want to continue
in the future, and hopefully one that others will want to
start.
3
Service Profiles
K E Y C L U B
Belinda Zhou
Every Sunday I volunteer at the Lower East Side
Preparatory School in Manhattan with an organization called
Chinatown Youth Initiatives. I am part of a program called
Chinatown Literacy Project (CLP) with around thirty other high
school students in the city, and our goal is to teach Chinese
immigrants English as well as learn more about how we can
better the Chinatown community. Although I go there to help
others learn English, I have also become more knowledgeable
about the history of Chinatown and the issues affecting the
people of the community through weekly workshops.
When I first applied to the program, I thought that I would
spend all my time just teaching people how to speak, write, and
read in English. However, after a few weeks, I was surprised to
find that I really came to understand the people I teach—not just
in terms of language, but also in terms of culture and their own
personal stories. I became more aware of the hardships of
immigrating from China and how debilitating not knowing
English could be for some of these people. It was hard to go on
in daily life, living in New York but not being able to speak
English—they all had a hard time with transportation, going to
the hospital, and buying food in the supermarket. Not knowing
English limited many of them to living in Chinatown or other
areas where they were surrounded by a Chinese community,
because they really could not effectively communicate their ideas
in English. Being a part of CLP really made me realize the
importance of language and the impact the classes could have on
the lives of people I teach.
Service Profiles
Find more information at:
6 keyclub.org or nydkc.org
TTHHEE BBOOAARRDD
Nancy Zhang International Trustee
Ben Flikshteyn President
Irek Habrylo Vice President
Sera Kwon Secretary
Emma Cheng Treasurer
Ella Cheng Editor