February LG Address

My Fellow Kiwanians:

Superstars, those individuals who consistently step forward and give of themselves are rare in our world.  However, Kiwanians are blessed to know and count many of them as friends and family.

Whether it is hardship and financial crisis at home or the devastation of the earthquakes in Haiti, our family is coming forward to help.  Our dedication and impact reflects in every Kiwanian and there is no finer representative of Kiwanis that I can think of than our esteemed Celia Earle.

We know her as a Kiwanian, a Past Lt. Governor and a District Chair.  Most often, we recognize her as one of the driving forces behind our Christmas in July (CIJ), which each year raises more than $30,000 for the homeless children of Broward County.

The children CIJ helps have already experienced a depth of sadness and despair that many adults cannot imagine.  The gift of our one day in July gives them the chance to regain their carefree childhood for a few hours and assures that they have clothes and supplies to help them through the next school year.

Anyone who works with Celia knows that within twenty-four hours of our annual event she starts planning and collecting donations for the next year.  She knows that each year there are more children to worry about and help.  Thanks to Celia and her faithful friends, the CIJ warehouse is already loaded with clothes and supplies before their first committee meeting in January.

This year, while the needs of our local children are still so high, devastation struck on a much larger scale.

Haiti.

Celia recognized what had to be done.  The already growing collection of donations sitting in the CIJ warehouse would be redirected.  There were others with a more desperate need.  The warehouse is empty and another shipment is making its way to Haiti.

How can such a small amount of shirts or sneakers make a difference when looking at the larger picture?  That is the theme of Kiwanis Governor Donna Parton’s year – the year of the starfish.  One person seeing thousands of starfish floundering in the sand started throwing them one at a time back into the ocean.  When asked, “Why bother when so many of the starfish are going to die?  What difference will it make?”  The person having just thrown a starfish back turned to the critic and pointed to the starfish he just saved and said, “To that one, it made a difference."

Celia, not only are you a true Kiwanian at heart, but you humble all of us by living all of the Objects of Kiwanis.  Your actions inspire us to be so much more then we are and do so much more than we do.  I pledge to you, that come July, we will replenish the CIJ coffers; the homeless children of Broward will receive the bounty they deserve.

We begin now by asking every club in our Division to triple their efforts.  Have representatives work on the CIJ committee, not just promise to work on the committee.  Have special fundraisers so club gifts for the CIJ project can be greater than ever before.  Seek out new donations and partnerships within our communities.

We are Kiwanians because we care.  We rise to meet the challenge because we know what must be done.  Our dedication helps the children in Broward, the families in Haiti, the senior citizens who need us, as well as the charities we take to heart.  We will do it because we share Celia's passion.  We will do it because we are Kiwanis!

Very truly yours
in Kiwanis Fellowship

Richard C Entin,
Lt. Governor
Division 23