Feature

Orlando masterpiece

Photos by Marty Grivjack

Orlando magic The experience of the 93rd Annual Kiwanis International Convention is right at your fingertips. The KiwanisOne.org portal includes several resources to help you re-experience the event or catch up on the action. You will find: A slideshow with more than 100 photos, taken by Kiwanians participating in the convention's photography forums. Videos. Forum and workshop materials. Registration to receive regular updates about the 94th Annual Kiwanis celebration.

Piece by piece over the course of four days this past June, the 93rd Annual Kiwanis International Convention magically transformed its host city, Orlando, Florida, into a mosaic of experiences for more than 4,000 members and guests.
It was an event of global fellowship. Hazel Catindig of the Philippines was at her first Kiwanis International convention and met 15-time attendee Christian Nicolai of France who met Yoshiaki Tomita of Japan who met. …

It was a week of education. At a marketing forum, Linda Runnels of California shared suggestions to publicize club activities via cable TV stations. Other workshops and exhibits packed attendees’ heads with ideas and their suitcases with handouts about everything from service to membership development to photography to Aktion Club to. …

It was a convention of inspiration. International President Dave Curry, for example, spoke of his visit with the Kiwanis Club of Equinoccial, de Quito, Ecuador: “They … travel on medical missions to the Amazon basin four times a year to provide free health care. … They asked if there was another Kiwanis club that could join them … not so they would have to raise less money, but so they could do twice as many medical missions. Now that’s a Kiwanis heart.”

It was a time of renewal as delegates changed Kiwanis International’s Bylaws and elected new International leaders.

It was a moment of historical significance. The Kiwanis International Foundation collected more than 150 $1,000 gifts and pledges ($150,000) in less than one hour to kick off its new Ambassadors donor program.

And so much more: International President Dave Curry and Boys & Girls Club chairman Rick Goings signing a partnership agreement. A nomination speech that broke out into song. A young guest sitting high in her father’s arms as pirates, princesses, a stilt-walking cowgirl, and acrobats paraded through the hall to open the Opening Session.

You’ll just have to come to Nashville, Tennessee, next year to get the whole picture.