Governor Delores Lewis
“Passion to Serve, Lead and Excel.”
Fellow Kiwanians, I bring greetings to you for a new Kiwanian year where we will face challenges like no other year in the history of our organization, but one in which I am hopeful that we will continue to serve the children in our communities with even greater enthusiasm than ever before.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic so many new norms had to be established. We faced the cancellation of our May 2020 District Convention in Fredericton, New Brunswick resulting in the use of a virtual platform to conduct the usual business of the district and the training of our Lieutenant Governors.
Our June International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana unfortunately was also cancelled, the first interruption in the annual convention since a Kiwanis International Council meeting was substituted for the convention during World War II and resuming its regular convention in 1946.
Nonetheless, the most important factor is protecting the lives and safety of our members, and their families at this time. I must applaud all the club leaders who continued to inspire and motivate their members using the virtual platform during this pandemic. Many of our members continued their Kiwanis service which was so necessary and were able to do so in many innovative ways.
As we look forward to the 2020–2021 year, our children will need Kiwanis more now than ever before. The aftermath of this pandemic will have a lasting effect on our children and the youth of our communities. The areas where they will most be affected are in Education, Health, Nutrition and Safety and I implore you to concentrate your service this year in those areas. I ask that you be bold, be creative, be imaginative and be innovative in your approach to your service projects as you continue to serve the children in your communities. Be ready as Kiwanians to lead your community in service.
I do wish even in this time of uncertainty, the best year ever, for all our Kiwanis Clubs. We need more now than ever before to open new clubs, to increase our membership, to advance the image of Kiwanis and to expand our SLP and youth Programs , as well as, recognize and identify new and emerging leaders offering them training opportunities so that our district can remain healthy and strong.
For 2020–2021, together, I firmly believe that we will succeed and excel in service and leadership.
We are in this together,
Delores B Lewis, MD
District Governor 2020–2021