My Fellow San Diego Kiwanians,

As we conclude this tumultuous year, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for all your efforts in continuing the good work of our club. The Holiday Season is a great time to take stock of life’s many struggles, successes, and inevitable changes. Let us also take a moment to be reflective of our good fortune and have pride in our club for a year of courage, adaptability, and bold community impact. We have all had to lean forward into a headwind that has brought the many changes due to the pandemic, and with that each of you has stood for the Kiwanis object of the Golden Rule and primacy to the human and spiritual, rather than the material values of life.

It has been my great honor to follow in the footsteps of our many great leaders, chief among them Judy Leitner, who swiftly guided our club to a safe harbor in March/April, and to our temporary virtual meeting framework. Let me also acknowledge and thank Karina Sousa, who through her love of this club, and high professional acumen, adapted our on-going club messaging to make for a fun interactive and inspiring platform. Thank you to everyone for responding to the club survey with ideas and suggestions for how best to organize our Teams and efforts for 2021. I speak for myself, the Club, Susan Day, and the Board of Officers, when I say we all look forward to a post COVID-19 reality and getting back to our in-person fun filled meetings! And of course, continuing the good work for our community, as we enter our club’s next century of giving.

Well, they say we are almost through it. We certainly are through most of the uniqueness that was this year, and now we get to enjoy the simplicity of slowing down prior to entry into another journey filled twelve months. I hope everyone can appreciate how much we were able to accomplish in this year. I am reminded of the Community Impact Grants that were just approved by our great Kiwanis Foundation. With $95,000 committed to ten worthy organizations in just this last month alone, we can rest easy knowing kids throughout our Region will have on-going access to much needed resources. And while this year was tragic and difficult for so many, each and every one of you can take solace having played a vital role in our latest cycle of giving. I want to thank each of you and your families for supporting your efforts to serve our members and the greater community. I also would like to share how grateful I am to work with such an incredible group. You make life’s journey all the better.

Before I sign off allow me to draw your attention to our dear Bill Gibb’s and his enduring legacy of giving through the Salvation Army. The Bill Gibb’s Annual Memorial Red Kettle campaign would not be complete without the support of our members. As an Aviation Pioneer, Bill introduced so many to the magic of flight, and many more to the magic of community giving. He was one of our greatest Kiwanians and let us not forget his legacy.

Let's join here with Warm Hearts in Ringing the Red Kettle Bell in Bill’s Memory!

Please enjoy the coming week to refocus and concentrate on your families and loved ones. That is our purpose and why we are successful in the good work we do. Appreciate the simplicity of the time.

Happy Holidays and much gratitude to each of you.

Look forward to bringing in the New Year and helping support Literacy and Mentorship with our friends at “Travelling Stories” during our virtual club luncheon on January 5th, 2021.

With Warm Regards,

Mike Boland

2020-2021 Club President