WAUPUN — One 16-year-old has already experienced the high point of her summer; attending a four-day International Key Club Convention held in Dallas with 1,600 students from around the world.
"It covered everything from how to conduct interviews and take photographs to how to help refugees in Darfur," said Jennifer Day, the Key Club Lieutenant Governor of Division 14 which includes students from Beaver Dam and Waupun high schools. "The seminar on helping refugees in Darfur was the one I enjoyed the most."
Day said the Key Club is a service club for those in high school and is under the direction and guidance of the Kiwanis Club.
"We support things like the recent Relay for Life," said Day. "For that we held fundraisers like car washes and things like that."
In Days district there are about 75 students involved in the organization.
"I joined because of friends, but soon I saw the organization presented an amazing opportunity and provides an experience I cant get elsewhere," she said.
Day said there were 31 Key Club members, plus chaperones, from Wisconsin and upper Michigan that traveled on Amtrak to the affair. The trip took 27 hours.
Jenny's father, Kevin, went along as a chaperone.
During the day, when the students were at the convention, the chaperones were downtown exploring the city and making plans to take the students on field trips at days end.
"We walked every day and scouted areas," said Kevin Day. "We saw the grassy knoll and book depository from where Kennedy was shot. It was my first time in Texas too. It was interesting. We were there for the safety of the kids. There were 31 of them, and three of us. Every time they left the convention center they needed a chaperone."
One of Days favorite memories is when they went to former Dallas Cowboys star Bill Bates' ranch.
"Its a working ranch and it was tons of fun. He has a petting zoo and longhorn cattle, and we went on a hayride, and had a southern meal of brisket and chicken," she said. "It was so good."
Day said she not only enjoys being a member of the Key Club, but she also likes attending regular Kiwanis meetings when she can.
"I attend the Fox Lake and Waupun Kiwanis the most because they meet at a time I'm free, 6 and 6:45 a.m.," she said. "There is nothing else like it. Its a great feeling knowing you can make a difference."
Day's trip was sponsored by the Waupun Kiwanis, Fox Lake Kiwanis, the Beaver Dam Noon Kiwanis and the Waupun Key Club.
"Without them I couldn't go," she said.
Looking back, Day said, "It was great, I made friends from all over the U.S. and Barbados and Aruba. The experience has made me a better club member."
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