We are excited about our MidYear Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC and hope you can join us! 

 Below are the rates and deadlines for each option.  

Scroll to the bottom of the page (or click the Register option at the top right of the screen) to register.

MidYear Conference Registration This a Saturday Day event only.  Registration for the conference includes the opening and closing general sessions, the luncheon with our Keynote Speaker and all the forums. The CKI Banquet Saturday night is an extra add- on.

Add-ons:

Friday Club Leadership Education  Clubs who know the President for the 2025-26 Kiwanis year can add this class to their registration, or take it separately and only come for the session on Friday. Incoming Club Officers have an opportunity to attend a workshop, which will prepare them for their upcoming responsibilities. This training is open to all club officers including Membership Chairs. Attendance at CLE is a requirement for Distinguished Club. 

Note: this session does not include Club Secretary or Club Treasurer training. There will be a separate training for incoming Club Secretaries and Treasurers in September.  Lunch is included in this registration price.

Guest Luncheon This year we are offering a discount to full conference registrants to purchase a Saturday Lunch for their guest.  This option does NOT include any other sessions other than Saturday Lunch.  If the guest would like to be part of anything other than lunch, a full conference registration should be purchased.

Saturday Night Circle K Banquet  Circle K will be holding their convention at the same time as our conference and have welcomed those staying over Saturday night to join them at their awards banquet.  The Kiwanis MidYear Conference ends with the afternoon closing session; however, if you are staying over and want to support CKI, you may add on this extra banquet.


Carolinas Kiwanis Refund Policy

Full refunds (minus a $20 processing fee) will be processed for any registration cancelled in writing (mail to Convention Registration Cancellation, 184 N Water St., Suite 24, Boone, NC 28607) postmarked by 1/06/2025. We will not be able to accommodate any refund requests for cancellations for any reason after 1/06/2025. In the event of a last minute emergency, substitutions will be accommodated. You are responsible for cancelling or modifying your own hotel reservations separately.

PLEASE NOTE:  This new software provides the opportunity for you to purchase event insurance (see below) should you wish to be fully covered and is separate from the Carolinas District of Kiwanis.  Should you choose the event insurance, it is your responsibility to contact them per their policies to invoke the insurance.  The Carolinas District has no involvement in that insurance policy.


Location Information

  • Kingston Resorts
  • 9800 Queensway Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC, 29572 US
  • Google, Bing, MapQuest

The conference will take place at the Kingston Resorts in the Brighton Tower.  

Any room cancellations are the responsibility of the registrant and must be made directly with the hotel.

Special Kiwanis Rate for your stay:  $138 per night (+ taxes, $6 parking and $20 resort fee) 


ROOM BLOCK IS NOW CLOSED

IF YOU WERE UNABLE TO SECURE A ROOM, EMAIL THE DISTRICT OFFICE ([email protected]). 

WE MAY HAVE A FEW THAT WE CAN SWITCH TO YOUR NAME.


Hotel Services:

Check-in time is 4:00 PM located at the Embassy Suites and check-out time is 11:00 AM.


The meeting rooms are located in Brighton Tower. All other sleeping rooms are scattered across 153 acres. 

The Lakeview Lodge
Full kitchen and screened porch overlooking the freshwater lake on Kingston Plantation. You'll feel right at home with a fully-equipped kitchen and in-unit washer/dryer, a private bedroom featuring one king-sized or queen-sized bed, plus a sofa bed in the living area allowing this unit to accommodate up to 4 guests.
South Hampton Tower
Private ocean view balcony in a luxury oceanfront high-rise. This beautifully-appointed 400 sq. ft. retreat is best compared to a hotel guest room. Great for a family of 4, this room offers a mini-fridge, microwave and coffeemaker.



Brighton Tower
500 sq. ft. guest room with a private balcony overlooking the ocean. This beautifully-appointed retreat is best compared to a hotel guest room set in a luxury oceanfront high-rise. Ideal for a couple, this guest room features one king-sized or queen-sized bed and offers a mini-fridge, microwave and coffeemaker. 
The Villas
A secluded park or lakeside setting with all the comforts of home. Ideal for a family of 4, each villa is approximately 750 sq. ft. and features a private bedroom (beds vary), a full-sized kitchen, a washer/dryer in the unit, a sofa bed in the living area and a balcony or patio.


 Any room cancellations are the responsibility of the registrant and must be made directly with the hotel.

Special Kiwanis Rate for your stay:  $138 per night (+ taxes, $6 parking and $20 resort fee) 


ROOM BLOCK IS NOW CLOSED

IF YOU WERE UNABLE TO SECURE A ROOM, EMAIL THE DISTRICT OFFICE ([email protected]). 

WE MAY HAVE A FEW THAT WE CAN SWITCH TO YOUR NAME.


Hotel Services:

Check-in time is 4:00 PM located at the Embassy Suites and check-out time is 11:00 AM.

Friday, February 7

10:00 am - 5:00 pmConference Registration Check-in

Upon arrival at the resort, please inform gate security that you are attending the Kiwanis Conference. Proceed to park at the Brighton Tower parking garage. Once parked, enter Brighton Tower where your conference registration and all meetings will take place. Directions to your room reservation registration will be given at conference registration.
You will receive your convention materials, including a name badge. Please remember that your name badge serves as your credentials for attendance. It must be worn at all times during meetings, forums, and sessions, as it acts as your ticket to the event. Your name badge is essential for entry into all sessions and confirms your official registration for the conference.

11:00 - 5:00 pmClub Leadership Education

Incoming Club Officers have an opportunity to attend a workshop, which will prepare them for their upcoming responsibilities. Note: this session does not include Club Secretary or Club Treasurer training. There will be a separate training for incoming Club Secretaries and Treasurers in September. This session includes lunch and requires a separate add-on fee to the MidYear Conference Rate.

12:30 - 1:30 pmDistrict Board & Lt. Governors Luncheon

Current District Executive Board, District Trustees and Lt. Governors

1:30 - 3:30 pmDistrict Team Meeting

Current District Executive Board, District Trustees and Lt. Governors

Saturday, February 8

8:00 -11:30 amConference Registration Check-in

When you arrive at the hotel, come through to the Kiwanis registration area . You will be given your convention materials, including a name badge. Please note that your name badge also serves as your credentials as an attendee, and needs to be worn for all meetings, including forums and all sessions for admission; please think of your name badge as a ticket to an event. Your name badge will be required to enter all sessions starting Friday, and shows that you are officially registered for the conference.

It is best to come to our conference registration first, before checking in for your room reservations as room check-in is 4 pm.

9:00 - 10:15 amOpening Session

Hear from Myrtle Beach Mayor Bethune, Key Club Governor Sample-Kietrys and celebrate club accolades from the 2023-24 Kiwanis year.

10:25 - 11:10 amForum Sessions 1

1) reMember:
Join District Membership Chair Art Keinath in exploring how to change the trend of approximately 27,000 members being removed from Kiwanis club rosters each year.
With reMember recruitment, your club can reconnect with them — and with current members you haven’t seen in a while. Learn how.

2) NEW Carolinas Kiwanis-CKI Mentorship Program
Interested in mentoring college students and strengthening our community? District Administrator Jennifer Hethcox invites you to learn about an exciting new pilot program connecting Kiwanis and CKI members. Discover how to participate, share this opportunity with your club, and support our college leaders.

3) Collaborative Carousel: Come discuss, share ideas, and get new ideas
Join your fellow attendees for an engaging discussion where you can share ideas
and gather inspiration. Come prepared with questions and thoughts on Service, Fundraising, Leadership Development, and Building Connections within the Kiwanis Family as we embark on a dynamic "Collaborative Carousel" together.

4) Generative AI for Everyday Use: Boost Your Club’s Efficiency with AI Tools
Ready to jump into Generative AI? Learn how to harness the power of user-friendly AI tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft CoPilot and Suno to revolutionize your club’s projects, events, and daily operations. With live demonstrations and interactive tasks, this session will show you practical ways to immediately make your work easier, more creative, and productive.

11:20 - 12:05 pmForum Session 2

1) Membership Chair Training: Creating & Utilizing Effective Teams
In today’s fast-paced and competitive world, building strong, cohesive teams is essential for success.‍ Learn how to build and cultivate a positive, cohesive membership team. This forum also welcomes new ideas and success stories.

2) Developing a Club Signature Event
Discover the key steps to planning and executing a successful signature service event that leaves a lasting impact. This interactive workshop will guide you through
the process of selecting a meaningful project, securing resources, and engaging your community to maximize participation and success.

3) Leveraging Social Media: Boosting Community Engagement, Recruitment,
Fundraising, and Visibility
Learn about the importance of social media and how Kiwanians can leverage social media to enhance their community engagement, member recruitment, fundraising
efforts, and overall visibility. Social media platforms are an effective way to reach a wide audience who may not be aware of Kiwanis' mission and work. Hear how other clubs use social media and come away with some tips and tricks.

4) Unlocking Digital Fundraising: Leveraging Effective Online Fundraising
Transform your club’s fundraising efforts with hands-on guidance on using popular digital platforms like Facebook, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle and Zeffe. Through live demonstrations and interactive vignettes, you’ll learn how to seamlessly integrate these tools into your club’s website and social media, maximizing your reach and impact in the community. Get ready to modernize and turbocharge your fundraising
strategy!

12:15 pm - 2:00 pmLuncheon with Speaker Howie Franklin

Our luncheon will highlight our District Foundation, CKI Governor Litvan and keynote speaker Howie Franklin.

2:10 - 3:00 pmForum Sessions 3

1) SLPs Post COVID: Tips and Relationships
This workshop will include a quick and easy review of KI “Best Practices” for starting or restarting an SLP. Brian and Celia will also share tips learned through experiences in building K family relationships with schools and the community. Participants will also be invited/encouraged to share their “Secrets for Success.”

2) Unlocking Your Potential & Empowering Your Community
This presentation highlights the essential roles of both leaders and followers. Attendees are encouraged to recognize their own leadership potential and get
involved in their club, sharing a vision, and supporting fellow members. Both leaders and followers play pivotal roles in creating a thriving club. Together, we can make a lasting impact in our communities through collaboration, innovation, and service.

3) Service Project: Books for Pawleys Island Literacy Project
In 2017, the Kiwanis Club of Pawleys Island began a literacy initiative that has seen great success. Partnering with the Kiwanis Children’s Fund, Scholastic, and the Brunelle Foundation, KCPI distributes books to the nine elementary schools in Georgetown County so that every student at each school receives three books. At this forum, we will unpack/unwrap the books, sort them by grade and by age then affix a Kiwanis stamp to each book and repackage them for student delivery.

4) Cybersecurity Essentials: Protecting Your Club
Step into the world of cybersecurity with this engaging course designed to arm you with the knowledge and tools to keep your personal and club data safe. Through real-world scenarios and interactive demonstrations, you’ll learn how to identify and defend against today’s most common online threats. Safeguard yourself and your club's reputation and privacy with skills that every member needs.

3:10 - 4:00 pmClosing Session

Learn more about our upcoming International Convention in Pittsburgh, hear more about the Kiwanis Children's Fund Impossibility Project and come away inspired by Governor Chiesa.

Speakers

Brenda Bethune Mayor, Myrtle Beach

Mayor Brenda Bethune is a native of Myrtle Beach who has always had a sincere passion to serve her community. She owns BJ Investments, a property investment, development and rental company, as well as Magnolia Row Shopping Centre. She is a graduate of the Riley Mayors’ Design Fellowship through Clemson University and she serves on the Board of Directors of the Municipal Association of South Carolina. Even though she has served on many local and state boards, her pride is in giving back to her community to make it a better place for generations to come. Brenda Bethune was first elected in 2017 and was the first female Mayor of Myrtle Beach. Her term expires in January 2026.

John Chiesa District Governor

John retired in 2011 and moved to Murrells Inlet, SC and lives with his partner Pegge, the Secretary of the Pawleys Island Kiwanis Club. He became a member of the Kiwanis Club Medford (Massachusetts) in 1997, making him a Kiwanian now for over 27 years. Over the years he served as Vice President, President-Elect, President and Secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Medford. Upon moving to Murrells Inlet, he joined The Pawleys Island Kiwanis Club and has served as President. In addition, he served as a Distinguished Lt. Governor of Division 24, a District Trustee, and Chair of the District Education Committee. As Lt. Governor, he helped open the Kiwanis Club of Georgetown. John lives in Murrells Inlet, SC. He enjoys traveling abroad to different countries, exploring the United States, reading, swimming, and, especially, working out with kettlebells.

Donnie Ellis Immediate Past Governor

Donnie became a member of the Kiwanis Club of Norwood, Knoxville in 1985 making him a Kiwanian for 39 years. Over the years he served in every position the club had including twice as president (once as Distinguished). He served as Distinguished Lt Governor of Division 5 in the Kentucky-Tennessee (K-T) District in 2000-2001 and formed 3 new clubs in the Division that year. He also had the pleasure of being the Home Lt Governor of Kiwanis International President Bo Shafer. Donnie served as the first K-Kids Administrator of the K-T District in 2001. He served on the K-T District Foundation Board for five years – once as president. After moving to Nashville in 2009 he joined the Cool Springs Club and became Lt Governor of Division 18 in 2011-2012. He helped form a new club in Franklin, Tn and became its charter president in 2013 and still does its newsletter today. He also attends its meetings by Zoom. When Donnie moved to the Charlotte area in 2015 he sought out a Kiwanis club and joined Lake Norman. He has served as their president twice (once Distinguished) and Lt Governor of Division 7 for two years (one Distinguished). He was named Kiwanian of the Year in 2009 and 2020.

Howie Franklin

Chief Master Sergeant Howie Franklin spent 18 years on Airforce One and has over 300 stories in his book, Yes Sir! Mr. President. He will be speaking at lunch and will be available to sign his book, which will be available for purchase on site.

Maddie Litvan Carolinas CKI Governor

Maddie Litvan is a Senior at High Point University studying Data Analytics and Statistics. As a former Key Club member, she has been in the Kiwanis Family for over 8 years. She started her CKI journey in 2021 where she served as the High Point CKI Vice President. She served as Carolinas District Lt. Governor in 2023 and is currently the 2024-25 District Governor. She is passionate about the fundraising and fellowship opportunities offered through CKI. Most notably, her CKI home club, High Point University, has raised over $71,000 for the CKI-UNICEF collaboration, Brick by Brick project. When she is not busy managing the district,

Maddie loves running and just finished her first marathon!

Aleksei Sample-Kietrys Carolinas Key Club Governor

Aleksei Sample-Kietrys is the District Governor for the Carolinas District of Key Club International. Aleksei served as the Lt. Governor for Division 7A his Sophomore year, and he served as District Secretary his Junior year. Aleksei is a Senior at Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina.

He is a member of his school’s orchestra and cross country team. In his free time, Aleksei enjoys running, reading, and being with his friends and family. He also likes spending time in nature, going on hikes, and doing wildlife photography.

During the Midyear Conference we will be collecting books for the Pawley's Island Literacy project to distribute books to area elementary schools.

Beginning in 2017, Kiwanis Club of Pawley’s Island began a literacy initiative that has seen uncommon success. Partnering with the Kiwanis Children’s Fund, Scholastic and the Brunelle Foundation, KCPI has distributed 25,000 books to the nine elementary schools in Georgetown County: Waccamaw, Pleasant Hill, Kensington, Sampit, Plantersville, Browns Ferry, Andrews, Maryville, and McDonald. Every student at each school receives three books.

At the Kiwanis Midyear Conference the Carolinas District Service Committee is asking clubs and individual attendees to contribute as many books as possible to KCPI’s initiative. Please review the following requirements for books:

  • Brand new books are preferred
  • Excellent condition used books are acceptable
  • Books should be clearly published and marked as elementary school grades or ages
  • Books may be in either English or Spanish

During the Conference, attendees will unpack books, then sort them by grade and by age. Once sorted, attendees will stamp each book and repackage them for student delivery. 

Become a Title Sponsor:

If you are not attending Midyear or want to contribute to the project monetarily, please email [email protected] for details. Contributions of $200 or more are considered title sponsors and will be featured with their Club/Organization Name throughout the conference.

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