Rosemead Kiwanis/K-family/Kiwanis Network

Top Ten Achievements for 2007

 

Below is a 2007 "Top Ten" list of significant Rosemead Kiwanis Club and Foundation/K-Family/and K-Network projects as selected by the RKC Reporter staff.

 

  1. Cool Stuff Project

Our Rosemead Kiwanis funded the Internet aspects and participated in the overall conceptual planning of this project. It gets #1 position because distribution of this book as party of after school and sponsored youth programs has tremendous potential impact. It crosses many boundaries and ultimately may involve literally millions of teens. It was launched from our club.

 

  1. Maryvale Resource Reading Center Development

This program, implemented in coordination with the Book Ends organization and with a major assist from San Gabriel Kiwanis, began with a casual conversation at one of our regular weekly meetings. Instead of just a few books and a study area it has grown to a full scale electronic learning facility. That this has occurred at the modern day site of Los Angeles’s counties second oldest orphanage is miraculous.

       

  1. World in Flight Labs

Implemented at Temple Intermediate in conjunction with the Ian Pappas foundation (and possibly in 2008 at Muscatel) this program gets teenagers involved with science at a personal level.

 

  1. Expansion and Support of RIF

From staffing orientation meetings to supplying readers and book distributors for the thrice annual events at various schools to actual funding, this has been a major RKC project for years. Collectively our RIF related activity probably generates more total service hours than any other RKC function. The 10,000+ books distributed annually speaks for its success, and we now have nearly all schools in our service area participating (including head start).

 

  1. RSD Tutoring and After School program

It began with a meeting of key Rosemead School District and K-family members last February and now we have numerous tutors from the Muscatel Builders Club helping in three schools. We hope to expand this to Tri-Y and KEY Club members in 2008. Other K-Network RSD participation includes volunteer recruiting, non-traditional scouting and possibly Junior Achievement. We of course continue our active support of projects in the Garvey District as well, although our three year direct contract regarding after school activities has concluded.

 

  1. California Mission Inn Cultural Events

Community members and well as residents of the California Mission Inn get to enjoy events presented by local Rosemead school choral and instrumental groups. According to a recent news report, studies have shown that educational exposure to music and the fine arts at pre-college levels correlates directly to enhanced results in college, The Rosemead Kiwanis Club and Foundation has a tradition of fine arts support in Rosemead Schools. We are happy to provide transportation funding for these events as well as co-host the logistical aspects.

 

  1. Systematization of Rosemead Kiwanis Foundation grant process

The RKC and RKF now have a consolidated grant application, brochure and process. Already used for a few situations its designed for consolidated and coordinated use with other K-network groups.  This will facilitate consideration of opportunities and cooperation with other groups.

 

  1. Weekly Email Expansion

Circulation of the weekly email RKC Bulletin now includes many Rosemead Chamber of Commerce members and key persons in Rosemead spiritual groups. Added to our K-family Club members and extensive penetration of the educational community circulation is now approaching 500. This effort has overlapped into two print media outlets, thus helping keep everyone appraised of what is going on.

 

  1. Kiwanis Garden and Rec Room Dedicated

The Rosemead Kiwanis Foundation funded equipment for the Temple Intermediate School recreation  room and it was named in our honor – as was part of an adjacent garden area for which we have helped supply sprinkling equipment, in recognition of our ongoing support of the school.

 

  1. Improved Membership Roster

Although we were too busy to really notice it, our membership roll jumped thirty percent this year. What is better is that most of the newcomers are getting involved in specific areas.  That said, 30% on a small base isn’t that many people. We still have need of 30-40 pairs of additional helping hands to address all the opportunities before us.

 

Honorable mention:

 

In addition to the specific projects above there are numerous ongoing activities worthy of note. These include Kiwanis network support of the Temple Algebra Academy; crochet classes at Garvey and Muscatel Intermediate schools; Kiwanis sponsored youth and physically challenged adults program; farm cities program; Union Station meals for the homeless; neonatal caps; forest tree replanting; Octoberfest in support of Savannah Cemetery; numerous walkathons; Science Olympiad; Special Olympics; Rosemead Kiwanis Foundation grants etc.

 

And of course there are the speakers at our traditional Thursday Club meetings.