March 23

Attending: Lisa Carlson, Andrea Gunner, Wanda Promes, Carla Cooey, Bill Zortman, Mike Tolzin, Carlos Cabos, Jack Stengel, Tracy Vik, Marlys Fisher, Lisa Carlson, Nichole Anderson, Kathy Caldwell, Kimberly Stockinger, Juan Bonilla, Vanessa Lopez, Emily Steinhoff, Elizabeth Duffy, Stephanie Amiotte, and Guest Susan Stinson

President Lisa Carlson called the meeting to order on Tuesday March 23rd at the Original Pancake House at 41st and Kiwanis.

Carla Cooey who chaired the Guatemala shoe project reported that those that agreed to pick up shoes at the Court House, IPS, and Tell Drug as well as other locations should pick them up by the end of March. Packing will be at Carla's house on April 25th with shipping to begin in May. Toileteries will be stuffed in shoes to help those we are serving in Guatemala. It looks like we will need 5 or 6 boxes to handle it all this year. Special thanks to Carla and all the volunteers for their hard work.

Mike Tolzin reported that there were 35 enteries in the March Madness Bracket buster. $175 of the money will go to the Club for the shoes shipping and the other $175 split among 4 winners. Special thanks to Mike and the Vik's for putting the bracket on-line and keeping it running smoothly. Very few picked Northern Iowa, Washington, Cornell, St. Mary's, or Purdue to make the Sweet 16.

Bill Zortman thanked the members that worked with Sioux Falls Daybreak on the Bull Riding Event. The work by the club will get them a spinoza bear that will be shipped to Guatemala. A bear was delivered in 2009 as well.

Special thanks to Emily Steinhoff for working the Festival of Giving at the Mall with other Kiwanis Clubs. President Carlson asked that we have more members help in 2011.

In our first meeting in March -- packets to be sent to Haiti were prepared for send off. One hundred or so bags were prepared with pens, pencils, rulers, protracters, erasers and calculators. Thanks to all that donated.

Lisa Carlson and Tracy Vik attended a Spanish Speaking and NAACP forum at the Multi Cultural Center. Both returned with compliments to Juan Bonilla and others of bringing cultures together. The next meeting is scheduled for April 1st at 5:30 at Multi-Cultural location. The Mayoral Candidates appeared at a function with 89 attending. KDLT attended and the candidates were introduced to the cultures often missed in Sioux Falls. Juan was still waiting for information to be included in La Voz newspaper and Lisa Carlson was going to resent after the meeting today.

Vice President and Original Founding Member Wanda Promes provided an excellent history of what our club has done, how it fits into the Kiwanis world, and what it means to be able to help one child at a time.

The Diversity Kiwanis Club is a one of a kind organization and after a rocky start now has 37 members. The club doesnt sing, meets twice a month, and spends much more time working projects than just signing checks. The energy in the Diversity Kiwanis Club is unlike anything you see in other clubs in the Minnesota-Dakota District, the Nation, or the World. The young business leaders and their just a bit older counter parts are making a difference. Those that move to Sioux Falls choose Diversity because of the media attention and the projects that glow.

As Wanda pointed out Project Warm-up, Guatemala shoes, Haiti crayons, bill-goats to Latin American countries, trees planted at Jane Adams School, sporting equipment to Rosebud, warm coats to Lutheran Social Services, and fund raising with circus acts, Jazz Fest, Bull Riding, and a big New Years party this year give this club a chance to grow and glow.

Wanda asked for members to get involved with the Committees, consider running for an office, a Board position, and bringing new cultures to the club. She suggested attending the District Convention in Fargo in August or the National Convention this summer in Las Vegas. Others have spoken to clubs on time away in Mississippi and one is planned in Amarillo, Texas this next week.

Vanessa Lopez brought a special carved beach Pelican from trip south of the border. It will be used for the Lutheran Social Service Auction.