For the first time in club history, a student from San Benito
High School’s Key Club holds the position of lieutenant governor
for the club’s division spreading from Carmel Valley to San Lorenzo
Valley.
SBHS junior Natasha Flores was appointed to the position in
October. It is the highest position possible in the division. The
governor presides over the district which includes California,
Nevada and Hawaii.
For the first time in club history, a student from San Benito High School’s Key Club holds the position of lieutenant governor for the club’s division spreading from Carmel Valley to San Lorenzo Valley.
SBHS junior Natasha Flores was appointed to the position in October. It is the highest position possible in the division. The governor presides over the district which includes California, Nevada and Hawaii.
“It was utter excitement and enthusiasm (when I heard I was chosen),” Flores said. “Usually, our district’s lieutenant governor comes from Santa Cruz or Scotts Valley.”
There are 55 divisions in the tri-state district. Flores oversees Division 43 which contains 10 clubs.
Key Club is an international, nonprofit “student-led organization which provides its members with opportunities to provide service, build character and develop leadership,” according to its Web site. Members participate in volunteer activities.
SBHS’s Key Club, with its 19 active members, started in 1990. It’s the high-school complement to the Kiwanis Club.
Kiwanis Club advisor to SBHS’s Key Club Jim Hart said he’s proud of the club for growing and being so active for such a small club – which makes having a lieutenant governor at the school so much more meaningful.
“To be a lieutenant governor means being the head of a Key Club division,” he said. “In the past, our lieutenant governors have come from more active clubs. This is a reflection on our club. The last three years, it’s been a good, active club without which Natasha wouldn’t have been able to obtain the position.”
Flores decided to join the club last school year.
“I really enjoy Key Club and the whole idea of it – it’s about caring,” Flores said.
As lieutenant governor, Flores’ responsibilities include organizing division conference meetings, writing a monthly newsletter, keeping in contact with other Key Clubs, making a budget for the division, serving on district committees, reporting to the governor and being accessible to members of other clubs. Flores just finished her first newsletter and serves on the district project committee.
Hart said Flores will be a good lieutenant governor because she is a good student, well organized and takes her responsibilities seriously.
“She has a good chance of bringing together the division,” Hart said. “There’s a lot of disarray. Natasha hopes to reverse that.”
The challenges have come from the lieutenant governor Flores is taking over for. He had too many things on his plate and had to step down, Hart said. Even though she was appointed to the vacancy, Flores plans on running for the position next year, she said.
In addition to her course load, Flores said she spends five to 10 hours a week working as lieutenant governor.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned how to do is organization – basic time management,” she said.
Along with community service, building leadership skills is an integral part of Key Club.
“It’s difficult to find leaders, people who will step up and keep things going,” Hart said. “It’s hard to find new student leaders every year, even for us as a club.”
Key Club meets every Monday at SBHS in room 265.
