The time has come

As Kiwanis International approaches the threshold of tremendous change, the 2006-07 International President urges Kiwanians to open the door

Story by Dick Isenhour
Photography by Lynn Seeden

In his “Kiwanis Moment,” Nelson Tucker readily admits he would not be a Kiwanian had it not been for one person. But because that one person asked, Kiwanis’ newly elected leader joined the Kiwanis Club of Encino, California, and went on to serve as its president, earning distinguished status. Later, he joined the Northridge, California, Kiwanis club, again earning distinguished recognition as its president. His Kiwanis service includes terms as governor of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District, International Trustee, and International Vice-President/Treasurer and President-Elect. Along the way, he sponsored more than 320 members into Kiwanis proving, he believes, one can make a difference.

“In 1984, I was busy raising a family and building my business,” Nelson recalls. “I had little spare time for anything, though when my church planned a tour to Italy, I somehow found the time to go.

“One afternoon, I was seated on a tour bus next to an elderly man named Clarence Jordan. We had a long and interesting conversation about our lives. After about two hours, he turned to me and asked, ‘Nelson, what service club do you belong to?’ I will never forget the embarrassment I felt as I replied, ‘I don’t belong to a service club.’

“I don’t really think it was my fault. It’s just that no one had ever asked me to join a service club. I guess everyone thought I was too busy.

“Clarence invited me to be his guest at his Kiwanis meeting upon our return home. I accepted, and will always remember entering the meeting room and seeing everyone greeting each other, enjoying each other’s company.

“Then, unexpectedly, the club president rang the gong and everyone became silent. One of the members led us in a flag salute. I was impressed because I hadn’t had the opportunity to pledge allegiance to the flag of my nation since I was in school. Next, we sang a song—off-key. Finally, one of the members asked us to take a moment and reflect on the First Object of Kiwanis as he led us in a nondenominational invocation. I was impressed with the entire opening ceremony!

“I enjoyed a great meal, the guest speaker, and the announcements about activities of the club. When the meeting was over, I couldn’t get out the door because every member made a point to shake my hand and invite me back for the next meeting.

“I returned the next week and submitted my application for membership and never missed a meeting after that. I was not about to let the opportunity to be a part of something so important slip through my hands.

“Prior to leaving for the Italy trip, Clarence’s Kiwanis club had gotten together and decided it needed to grow so it could provide more service to the community. Every member made a personal pledge to invite one prospective member during the month. I guess Clarence felt relieved about the challenge since he was going to be on vacation.

“I am thankful he worked up enough courage to invite me to be his guest. What no one told me about Clarence was that he had been a Kiwanian for more than 28 years and had never sponsored anyone … until then. When we say, ‘One can make a difference,’ I think of Clarence. He only sponsored one, but made a difference in the lives of so many.”

“The time has come to open the door,” Nelson Tucker exclaims, in a booming, bellowing voice that echoes throughout the Centre Bell during this past summer’s International convention in Montréal, Québec. The newly elected International President is well known, but his address to delegates is the first time many of them have met him up close and personal, as up close and personal as center stage in an arena that seats 21,000 people can be. Though he insists, “I am no (2005-06 International President) Steve Siemens,” the man who will lead Kiwanis in 2006-07 is polished, confident, and ready to shepherd the organization across the threshold to the future. He will lead by serving, he stresses, a principle reinforced by many influences on his life, beginning with his father.

“I was born in Fayette, Alabama, in 1946,” notes Nelson. “My father worked for the US Soil and Conservation Service and my mother was a homemaker. When I was 6, we moved to Decatur, Alabama, and my dad raised beef cattle. I lost my mother at an early age, and my dad did his best to raise me. My sister was a little older, and we attended church every week and had every meal together at home.

“My dad taught me some basic, important principles. First, always do what is right; live by the Golden Rule. Second, people judge you on your character, not your status in life. And finally, remember God gave you life; use your time on Earth in a positive way.

“I have tried to instill the same principles in the lives of my children.

“Truthfully, I was not a good student in school. I think I had ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), though there was no such diagnosis at the time. Everyone considered me to be shy and somewhat troubled. I barely made it through high school, yet my dad insisted I go to college. I went, though it was against my will.

“During my first week at college, my roommate convinced me to go to a social event sponsored by Circle K. I didn’t want to go, but went anyway and found myself standing in a corner, alone. I was a tall, skinny kid with thick eyeglasses and funny looking hair. A young man named Earle introduced himself as president of the club. We talked, and Earle convinced me to join. I became active in service projects on campus and in the community. For the first time, I felt important. For the first time, I was doing something good, rather than taking from others.

“Earle had an idea to help me overcome my shyness and develop leadership skills. He convinced me to run for freshman class president. He said I had the same chance as the other candidate since we were both new and nobody knew who to vote for. I lost the election. I lacked self-confidence, so I voted for the other person, and lost by one vote.

“But the good news: I then became even more active in Circle K and in every service project; it gave me faith in myself. The following spring, my club convinced me to run for student body president. They didn’t really think I would win; no one other than a senior had ever become student body president. But I worked hard in the campaign, all the while staying active in performing service. When it was over, I somehow won. I don’t know if it was providence or karma, but it was the start of a life of successes.

“My dad who believe in me, and Earle, who saw potential in me, gave me opportunities that would change my life forever. Each truly made a difference in my life.

President Nelson recognizes the value women and young people bring to the Kiwanis family. He’s also quick to underscore the tremendous difference one woman in particular—his “wife and partner, Elva,” has made in his personal, professional, and Kiwanis lives. First Lady Elva is a 12-year member of the Northridge Kiwanis club—with 12 years of perfect attendance—and a past Kiwanian of the Year. She also is Nelson’s business partner.

“Elva and I met at a Christmas party at her place of work some 20 years ago. I was instantly attracted to her, but she ignored me. I offered to walk her to her car after the party, but she was afraid I had more on my mind.

“A couple of weeks later, I sent her a greeting card that read, ‘Would you like to join me for dinner on Friday night? Please respond by one of the following: Yes, No, Never!’ To my surprise she sent the note back with a ‘Yes.’

“We dated for several years before marriage. She would always say, ‘I know when we get married someday, it will be on a Kiwanis trip.’ She was right! We got married in Hawaii in 1994, while on the California-Nevada-Hawaii governor’s official visit to Hawaii. We planned it there because we couldn’t agree on the number of guests to invite to the wedding and reception if we held the ceremony at home. The governor was my best man.

“Elva and I love to travel. Our friends say we do too much of it. We enjoy golfing together, cooking, snow skiing, and gardening (me more than her). Our favorite two places in the world are Napa Valley, California, where we enjoy time in the wine country, and Italy, where we enjoy time in the wine country.

“We both enjoy working hard in our professions. We share ownership in two companies: a legal support firm and a wine-tasting store. The legal service—Attorney Services of Southern California—assists attorneys with cases outside their jurisdiction with such tasks as international law, investigations, process serving, and legal research.

“Napa In The Valley is a retail wine store with more 1,600 different wines from around the world, a wine-tasting bar, and a dining room for private parties. We started the wine business as a hobby after visiting the wine country so many times and wishing there was something similar to a wine-tasting room in our area. There was a need so we started the business.

“I was fortunate to be successful in business at an early age. I’ve always attributed that to my father, who always said, ‘Any job is a good job as long as it is honorable.’ I also had a solid business foundation by working with a major retail chain. I started my own business at age 24, but the long hours I worked resulted in a breakup of my first marriage. I sold the business and moved to California.

“I retained custody of my children, Brent and April (ages 4 and 2 at the time), and raised them to adulthood.

Elva has a daughter, Corine, from her previous marriage. Corine was 9 years old when we met, and she felt like my own daughter in such a short time. She is a psychologist working with children. She’s also has attended 15 Kiwanis conventions.

When possible, President Nelson begins each day the same way: spending time with his dog Benji. The two-year-old Yorkie is always cheerful and full of energy, both morning and night. He also provides the International President a gentle reminder that every day is a new beginning and a new opportunity to do something positive and meaningful—both as a businessman and a Kiwanian.

“My workday begins at the office answering e-mails and returning phone calls, primarily to Kiwanians. Then after a brief lunch, it’s off to the wine store where I work with employees, vendors, and customers. My wife, Elva, joins me, after working a full day at the office, and we mingle with customers until closing late at night.

“People are always asking, ‘How can you work two jobs and do all you do with Kiwanis?’ It’s easy, really. I just cut out the television and use every available moment to do something worthwhile.

“Because we have so many customers who are interested in wine and travel, we chartered the Kiwanis Club of Napa in the Valley, which meets ever other week in the Vintner’s Dining Room at our store. We begin the meeting with club business, then adjourn and serve cheese and wine. Our guest speakers address issues on wine and travel in this part of our meetings. Though the club operates in a nontraditional way, the goals are the same as for all Kiwanis clubs.

“Our goal is to develop service projects outside our area where we can travel to and work on firsthand. Of course, we are creating service projects in our local area and working with the sponsoring club on their projects too.”

President Nelson does not believe in maintaining the status quo. He’s seen a “boatload of changes” in Kiwanis during his 22 years, but sees the need for a lot more. He envisions an organization that is “strong and growing,” “healthy, and growing,” and “well-known, and growing.”

“When I joined Kiwanis in 1984, it was an all-male organization that focused on local needs. I enjoyed that experience until I soon learned there was a different way of looking at Kiwanis: global, inclusive, forward thinking, mission driven, and result oriented. Kiwanis rapidly is becoming each of those characteristics with a single goal: to attract 1 million members by our 100th birthday in 2015. Why? So we can meet the needs of our world in a way we can only dream of at the present time.

“I have only one basic goal as President: to help members achieve a new level of personal ‘ownership’ in their Kiwanis club. I believe many Kiwanis clubs do not achieve their potential and are not as successful as they could be because they are stuck in a rut … a comfortable groove.

“It’s easier to stay the same than it is to change and be in a position to do more for their community and our world. Many members don’t sponsor others into the club because the club is content with its size and the level of service it provides.

“I believe every level of Kiwanis supports the club and its members, not the other way around. All growth happens at the club level; all successes are a result of the club and its members, and the future of Kiwanis depends on what happens at the club level.

“When we all focus on the club and help every member develop a personal responsibility for the success of the club, we will have strong clubs and a positive future for Kiwanis.

“Kiwanis International will reach its goal of 1 million members by 2015. It is not an option; we must do it in order to meet the needs of our society in just nine short years.

“It will take all Kiwanians working together to dream new dreams, make new plans, and change the way we accomplish goals during the year ahead. We’ve spent far too much time in studying how Kiwanis will fit in tomorrow’s world. The time has come to take action on our dreams and take steps to make Kiwanis a viable positive force in the world. The time has come to open the door to the future of Kiwanis.