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KCWPA Annual Banquet

Folks, it has been a tough year.  But even in a tough year, we need to take time out to celebrate our accomplishments and our continued commitment to the Western PA School for Blind Children.  It is my pleasure to announce that the Fifty-eighth Annual Kiwanis Conference of Western PA Banquet will be held on Thursday, May 24, 2012.  Hors d'oeuvres and social hour will begin at 6:00 pm, dinner will follow at approximately 6:30 pm.

We will take this opportunity to celebrate the life and contributions of our late Secretary/Treasurer, James C. Wilson.
In the time honored tradition of Rudy Hoffman – and Jim Wilson – we will accept donations to the School during the Banquet.  Your annual donations to the School or in memory of Jim will be most welcome.

Annual Meeting

Our annual meeting and election of officers presents a special challenge this year.  The leadership of the Conference is an Old Boys' Club.  It has been for as long as I have been involved.  It isn't that I think the Good Ol' Boys don't do a good job or are not dedicated to the Conference and the School. but any organization can benefit from new faces, new viewpoints, new ideas, etc.
I considered not running for re-election this year, simply to force the changes in the organization that I think are needed.  I like my i's dotted and my t's crossed and the prospect of standing at the podium asking for nominations for officers and hearing nothing from the room but the crickets chirping doesn't appeal to me at all.  It is my intention to split the Secretary/Treasurer position into two separate offices.  I don't think anyone out there wants to be elected the new Rudy – or the new Jim.  Currently, I have no prospects for these two positions.  All four officer positions should be considered available.  More information on the various officer's responsibilities will be posted on the Conference website, http://www.kcwpa.org.

Reservations

We will have our usual great dinner, roast beef, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, salad, dessert, iced tea and coffee.  And this feast is only $15 per person!

OK guys, this is new:

• You have to make a reservation.  
• You have to make it by Sunday, May 20.  
• You have to mail me a check for your dinner.  

I realize that making reservations by a certain date is not something that we've been very good at in the past.  Jim never knew who was coming, he made up a number and turned it in for a head count.  I'm not good at guessing games and there is no treasurer to throw money at the night of the Banquet.  I'm going to break the cardinal rule of deadlines and give you my real deadline.  I have to call the School with a head count on Monday, May 21.

I can be reached here for your reservations and checks.  Should you wish to discuss an officer position, declare yourself a candidate for an officer position or volunteer for an officer position I would be delighted to hear from you.  (If you want to volunteer someone else, that would be good too, I'll chase 'em down.)

I look forward to seeing you all on May 24 at our annual banquet!
Sincerely,

Dale L. Brackin, President
Kiwanis Conference of Western PA

KCWPA Offices Available

We have special challenges this year in filling our officers' positions.  I understand that KCWPA has a set of bylaws, but I have never seen them.  They certainly have not seen the light of day for the past fifteen years or so.  Jim did dearly love secrets.

We will hold our officer elections at our annual meeting.  All of the officer positions should be considered available this year.  Normally, the Executive Committee prepares a ballot of candidates for the various positions for the approval of the membership during the election.  This year we have at least two positions that we have no candidates to fill.  These two are Secretary and Treasurer.  In the past these two positions have been combined.  This year I feel it will be easier to fill the open positions with two individuals instead of one.

The Executive Committee (basically the officers) meets about four times per year.  These meetings are held at the School.  They have been held on Tuesday evenings for many years, simply because that evening avoided the officers' club meetings.  There isn't anything sacred about Tuesday nights.  These meetings include discussions and planning of the annual membership drive, the annual banquet, the golf outing and general promotion of the Conference. 

With the exception of the excellent cookies provided by the School at our meetings, Conference officers serve without compensation.  Hey, we've all had jobs in Kiwanis that we've done for less than cookies!  Out of pocket expenses such as copying and mailing expenses are generally reimbursed, travel expenses are not reimbursed.

All officers are expected to act as ambassadors for the Conference.  This involves presenting programs to individual clubs, at Regional meetings and other places that provide an opportunity for promoting the Conference.  In past years almost all of the mailing of correspondence has fallen to one individual.  Looking forward, this needs to change.

All officers are expected to passionately support the Kiwanis Conference of Western PA in its mission to support and serve the Western PA School for Blind Children.  That should probably have been at the top.

The officers' positions include such duties as are usually associated with the respective positions.  The president presides over all meetings including the annual meeting.  The vice president presides in the absence of the president.  The secretary keeps records of each meeting and handles various correspondence for the Conference.  The treasurer disburses funds at the direction of the Executive Committee, deposits receipts and reports the financial position of the Conference at the periodic meetings.

Anyone who is interested in running for an officer position should contact me.  I would be happy to answer any questions that you might have.  If you would like to suggest someone else for an officer position, that would be most welcome as well.