Rekindling a Passion for Kin Leadership – My Deputy Governor Journey

Written by: Julie Melton of the Kinette Club of St. Albert, 2024/25 Deputy Governor & Recipient of the D4 Outstanding Kinette DG Award and Kin Canada's Outstanding Zone Award

Growing up with community-minded parents who were active volunteers, it was a given that I would follow in their paths. My desire to be involved in my community and serve others in meaningful ways is what originally attracted me to Kin Canada, specifically the Kinette Club of St. Albert!

I began actively volunteering with my local Kin Canada club off and on in 1996. I enjoyed helping my friends (who were active Kin members already) with various projects, and offering my assistance whenever possible. Then, in 2011, my best friend convinced me to give the club a try, and that’s when I proudly became a rostered member of the Kinette Club of St Albert.

For the next five years, I regularly attended monthly club meetings and enthusiastically focused my contributions locally – helping with fundraisers, events, and hands-on projects in the community. At this time in my Kin journey, I wasn’t thinking much about Kin travelling or Association conventions.

I then ran for Club President and was elected for 2018/2019. In my president year, I decided to attend National Kinvention in Sarnia, Ontario to represent my club. From that moment on, I had the traveling Kin bug. I attended everything that I could after that incredible experience meeting Kin from all over Canada.

In the peak of that excitement, COVID hit. I could no longer travel and even our club had to do everything differently during lockdowns and physically distancing. By 2022, I was losing my passion and interest. I missed a lot of club meetings, my involvement in club projects was limited, and I was honestly pretty much checked out. I felt spent. I was ready to quit when a fellow Kinette, and dear friend, encouraged me to try being a Deputy Governor for a year. She suggested that, if being a part of my District Executive team didn't rekindle my passion, then I could step away from Kin knowing that I had given it my very best.

I considered her suggestion and agreed. I was then nominated at my Zone’s conference, where I happily accepted the challenge. I was ready to do it, and I made the promise to myself to do my absolute best.

Shortly after my election, in July, my Deputy Governor (DG) partner and I set out our plan. We made a fun introduction poster and sent it to our clubs. I was really fortunate because my DG partner had the same goals as I did - to get the most out of Kin and to make a difference.

I really won the lottery getting the DG partner I did! While some Zones have a Kinette DG and a Kinsmen DG, we decided that our clubs would simply have two DGs. We did not split up the clubs; we wanted to make sure that our clubs knew they always had two of us to go to and, that way, our clubs felt that someone was always reachable. We also decided to do all our club visits and travelling together.

Part of the DG role is travelling to different clubs in our regions to install their Club Executive members. By the end of September we had installed our first two clubs, held an executive seminar, and confirmed our next 5 installations.  

In October we installed four more clubs and we were invited to attend a partners’ night by one of the clubs. Then our final club was installed - right on time - in November. 

Traveling from club to club, hearing about their projects, plus seeing the excitement and passion that these members have made me love being a DG.

As one of their DGs, I was there to assist and support the clubs in our Zone. Having members reach out to me to ask for assistance, support, and even just to “vent” about their frustrations made me feel like what I was doing was making a difference again.

It seemed like every week we were on the road doing a club visit or two and rapidly forming new friendships with members all over our Zone.  Watching our calendar quickly fill up with invitations to Life Membership nights, club anniversary celebrations, various events, and training was really exciting.

Attending these events was rejuvenating and rewarding.  Meeting new members in our Zone and being part of the District Executive team left my heart feeling full.

Receiving all the invitations to attend special events for clubs made me feel wanted, appreciated and useful – feelings that I’d been missing during pandemic lockdowns, isolation, and my disengagement with my club activities around COVID times. 

The only regret that I have about being a DG is waiting so long for this incredible experience. I keep saying that “I should have done this earlier,” yet I know that all things happen for a reason and ,if I would have done it earlier, I may not have had my greatest year in Kin! 

Being a part of the District Executive team is truly an amazing experience. The friendships I made over the year are impactful and lifelong.  I have grown a great deal both personally and professionally from the role. In fact, I feel I learned more in my DG year than I did in many other years of Kin.

I’m so happy that I looked for opportunities beyond my club level!  The DG experience was so rewarding and unforgettable. I loved my experience so much that my DG partner and I have already agreed to do it for a second year!   

For anyone considering the role…do it!  Especially if you’ve been feeling like your passion for Kin has been slipping, There is no better gift you can give yourself in Kin than being a DG or joining your District Executive team!