Team Kiwanis:

 

We have just finished the most inspiring convention that I have ever attended. It was truly a great event.

 

While we did have a little unpleasantness on the political side of the house, the convention and its speakers were the most inspiring I have seen at any convention, including international. They clearly showed us that the only limits we have are those which we put on ourselves. As Brett, the man with no arms and legs, pointed out right after he threw a football with a perfect spiral about 20 yards, all you have to do is decide to do it, and then be willing to DO THE WORK to get it done!

 

There were awesome seminars full of useful information and ideas to help us serve our community better.

 

I also had the privilege of attending and speaking at the Key Club DCM that was held on the convention site. This was an awesome and inspiring meeting and demonstrates the four San Diego Divisions continued commitment to fully integrate our Service Leadership Programs into the K-Family.

 

Most importantly, I was able to see and renew friendships with fellow Kiwanians that I only get to see a few times a year!

 

The Kiwanis Club of Spring Valley, and Trina Falvey as its 2007/2008 president received a District award for all of the great work they continue to do in their community. Trina’s club honored her with a Dunlap Award for all her efforts in helping them achieve this award. Congratulations to Spring Valley and Trina!

 

The unpleasant politics arose when the current governor, Greg Mason, publicly censured the former governor, Dan Connolly, at the behest of the Board of Trustees, for his role in the mailing related to George Francis’s candidacy for international trustee at the international convention in Nashville earlier this year. This action was not well received by many in the audience. The Kiwanis Club of Lake Murray, through me with their approval, introduced a Resolution that reminds the Cal-Nev-Ha leadership and all Kiwanians to abide by The Objects of Kiwanis. The resolution asked that they treat everyone fairly rather than engaging in the type of politics exhibited in censuring Dan Connolly. Although it's non-binding, it's on the record and received an almost unanimous vote of approval by the delegates.

 

During the House of Delegate session on Saturday, 565 delegates from 260+ Kiwanis clubs in the Cal-Nev-Ha District were also involved in the election of the governor, governor-elect and an endorsed candidate for the position of International Trustee. Roy Talley was elected Governor by acclamation and Tom Millham was elected Governor-elect, also by acclamation. They were the only candidates for those positions. The candidates for International Trustee were Mark McDonald, a member of the Kiwanis Club of San Diego, and Oscar Knight, a member of the Kiwanis Club of La Mesa. The winner by a wide margin was Oscar Knight, who will be the endorsed candidate to become an International Trustee at the next international convention in Las Vegas in 2010. The Two Proposed Amendments to the Bylaws passed and the Resolution to provide financial support to District candidates who seek international office was withdrawn by the Oceanside club.

 

I want to personally thank each and every one of you who attended this event. I especially want to thank all of those who help with the planning and work in making this event a success. I literally saw hundreds of you working in various jobs around the site and I think you really made our guests feel welcome. So THANK YOU for a job well done!

 

Now the year isn’t done; the race is not finished and our communities, especially the kids, still needs us, so let’s all get to work and finish this year with a loud bang!