My fellow Kiwanians,

Last month I asked the leadership of this Division to complete a survey so
that we might find out what role you (the membership) would like to see
our great Division play in supporting and strengthening our clubs. The
resultswere overwhelming: you would like to see us work more as a team and be
more united as an organization. I look to the survey responses as a positive
step forward in Kiwanis becoming a more productive, and a more prominent,
organization within the San Fernando Valley.

Now that we know our direction, we need a plan to take us there. I have
met with your Strategic Planning Chair, and we have come to see that, one of
the greatest benefits that the Division can bring to the clubs is to help our
members focus on service projects that allow us to make a greater impact
in our communities, bring the passion back to our organization, and empower
our membership to roll up their sleeves, get their hands dirty, and
reestablish relationships with those we serve.

My plan is a simple one. Instead of me telling you what I want, and what
I think we should do, I have decided that I would like you, the members of
the clubs of Division 25, to tell me what is important to you. I would like
for us to search out a couple of focused, high-impact projects, that will both
meet large, persistent, needs in the community and, at the same time, have
the ability to brand the name of Kiwanis in our communities.

Here is but one example: The Northridge Medical Center is building a
Pediatric Trauma unit that will be the only one of its kind in the San
Fernando, Santa Clarita, and Conejo Valleys. They have embarked on a
capital campaign to raise the funds. Once funding is in place, they will
begin the process of upgrading their trauma unit’s level of readiness and
effectiveness.

Soon after that, they will seek what we Kiwanians can offer: volunteers to
identify and assist with the many needs of the children that will be
confined to the hospital beds during their stay; and the needs will be
many.

Serving children in need. That’s what we Kiwanians do best. We could
become the driving force behind meeting this challenge and attach our Kiwanis
banners to this noble effort.

Mind you this is but one example of what we could do. I bet there are
many others – many that we aren’t even yet aware of in our own communities.
So, here is what I propose: I want the leaders of every club – the
Presidents, the Secretaries, the Treasurers, and the Board Members – to
meet with your members, and to begin an honest discussion about the needs in
your community. I challenge you to begin a dialogue with the first-responders
in your community -teachers, police officers, fire fighters, doctors and
nurses, church and temple leaders, food banks and shelters – to re-learn
which needs are going unmet.

Then, I want each President to come up with two (2) high-impact projects
that your club would like to see begun. Don’t worry about how you will
accomplish the project; for now, I just want you to imagine what your
community would be like if that project was underway.

Finally, I want each President to commit to bringing one (1) additional
member (besides your Secretary) to the November DCM; someone who knows,
deep down inside, that Kiwanis can be bigger than what it is today.
At the November DCM we will start on our journey to greatness. This will
be the beginning of our adventure which will ultimately help a much larger
group of people and, at the same time, will establish Kiwanis as a
household name in our beloved San Fernando Valley.

I look forward to seeing you later this month.

Nicolas R Montaño
LTG Division 25
ltgov@cnh25kiwanis.org