2012-13 Lieutenant Governor Glenna Bloemen with Cal-Nev-Ha Governor Gary Jander

We are half way through another fabulous year of community service and serving the children of our communities.  Service is the pivotal focus of any community.  It is what makes our lives richer and our communities better places to live.

This year, we were honored to have the Kiwanis International President Tom DeJulio and his wife Dr. Rosemary DeJulio visit our Division.  They attended the Kiwanis Club of Alpine’s monthly Saturday meeting on January 5, 2013.  President DeJulio shared with attending members the importance of service and the impact our community service hours are doing.  Kiwanis International Eliminate Program Chair Randy Delay and his wife Dreu Delay joined the couple and shared with us the progress of the Eliminate Program in the world to eliminate maternal/neonatal tetanus.  Following the meeting, members of the Kiwanis Club of Alpine dedicated new tiles honoring veterans to the Alpine Veterans Wall of Honor.  Our very own Cal-Nev-Ha Governor, Gary Jander, was honored.  His tile is proudly displayed on the wall.

Service is important to President DeJulio so leaders of Region 1 hosted a luncheon for the residents of the Ronald McDonald House.  Following a tour of Rady’s neonatal unit at the hospital, the members were treated to a lunch and presentation by President DeJulio.

Servant leadership is the core of Kiwanis. This is a concept developed by Robert Greenleaf in the 1950’s to assist managers and leaders.  Leading from the middle is what servant leadership is all about.  Kiwanis has adopted this model in providing service to the community. 

Key leaders are born when ordinary people do extraordinary things.  The five aspects of key leadership - growth, integrity, community, respect and excellence - are vital components of the program.   In this Division 31 of Kiwanians, there are numerous acts of unseen kindness and generosity that occur every day.  Over the Division, the region, the state, the district, the nation and across the world, Kiwanis is the heart and soul of a community rich in resources, talents, skills and heart.

It is you, the Kiwanian who is willing to give back to your communities as leaders in your clubs that symbolize the very core of our organization that takes one child and one community at a time in an effort to improve their lives of that child and that community.

Yes, we have seen great leadership in this division in times of adversity and of prosperity.  Our leaders are great teachers and mentors who have led from the middle to get what was needed done.  Kiwanians are willing to reach out into the community by stepping up to the plate with the intent of hitting that home run.

And boy have you hit a home run time and time again.  Every community has its own heartbeat and personality.  Every individual in that community comprises an important aspect of that community.  It is the club members and their officers and boards that make Kiwanis as effective as it is.

I have had the privilege to travel around the division over the past few months.  I have seen the heart and soul of your clubs.  Each club has its own vitality, spirit and personality.  You are truly demonstrating the spirit of servant leadership.

The experience of Kiwanis is so much more than giving back to the community.  Kiwanis is a way of life.  It is a part of every member who reaches out into the community with a helping hand.

Division 31 is a strong diverse division.  Keep up the great Kiwanis work.

Glenna Bloemen, Division 31 Lieutenant Governor 2012-2013