Sam and Joyce Curry

Governor-Elect 2009-2010

Priorities in Governor Elect Year

Support goals of Governor Bill –- One Plus One

Search the District – Recruit team leaders for 2010-11

Research, learn, listen and fine tune goals for coming year

Statement of Vision for T-O District

As stated above, the focus this year will be to fully support and work with Governor Bill Bishop and First Lady Ann Gay to insure success in their plans and programs.  I look forward to traveling the District again this year to serve Bill and Ann in anyway that will serve their goals.  At the same time, a search will be underway to recruit the most passionate of our members in specific areas of recruitment for leadership in the coming Kiwanis year.  Joyce and I also hope to document the sights and sounds of our District on video camera for use in telling the story of a great District in ways and means to be developed in the coming year. 

It is my conclusion that a new focus on each member “stepping up” their commitment to Kiwanis be established.  Plans for enrichment sessions in strategic locations around the District are on the drawing board.  Steps to find lower cost District meetings are in discussion.  Locating and encouraging potential new leadership to “step up” will be an important goal in 2010-2011.  I continue to seek ideas and methods to tell our great story to as many as possible.  I still dream of the day when citizens will seek us out for membership due to all of the intrigue they have heard of our purpose. 

So, in partnership with Bill, I look for great strides in our current year and a great transition to the next year.  Along the way, we invite you to “step up” to the task of adding one new member per Kiwanian and one new club per Division.  In the coming year, watch for introductions to even more methods to build our organization to the greatness it so richly deserves. 

I want to communicate with you.  The means of doing so are included below.  Joyce and I will look forward to seeing many of you throughout Texas and Oklahoma. 

Sam Curry, TX-OK District Kiwanis Governor-Elect

P. O. Box 3: Mineola, TX 75773

sam@tcsmail.com

Home: 903-569-2729 or Cell: 903-850-2120

My Personal Journey

Born in Coleman Texas, in 1943.  School years were spent in Coleman, Haskell, Vernon and Denton, all in Texas.  Graduated from Denton High School in 1961.  Received a BA Degree from University of North Texas in 1965.  Within a two week period in May, 1965, graduated from UNT, married Joyce Ann McClearin and began employment with KRLD Radio-TV in Dallas.  

Working careers included part time radio station announcing (called DJ in those days) in Vernon, Denton and Gainesville.  I spent 3 years with KRLD and WFAA TV as a news reporter, editor, and writer.  In 1968, we purchased a small AM Radio Station in Mineola Texas and spent some 30 years operating and developing the station, adding FM in 1976.  We sold KMOO and retired from a broadcast career in 1998, spending time in real estate and home building for several years.  After 16 years as a volunteer director, I accepted a position of Executive Director for Texas Teenage Baseball and Softball Association in 2000 and retired in 2008 to devote full time to the increasing love and devotion of Kiwanis service. 

The Kiwanis Journey

While spending my high school senior year at Denton High School, I could not help but notice the prestigious Key Club where only boys who were popular and athletic were invited to attend.  I did not connect this organization to Kiwanis at the time.  In 1975, Aubrey Irby of Tyler, a casual acquaintance through broadcasting, asked if I had time for a visit.  At the Mineola Dairy Queen, Aubrey peaked my interest as he talked of a new service club for Mineola that went by the motto of “We Build” and did great service for communities like Mineola.  Feeling it was a perfect fit for Mineola’s time, it was fairly easy for him to persuade me to take a leadership role.  That role would be the club’s charter President and about 20 of us were installed in November of that year at the club’s beginning.  The Kiwanis Club of Mineola went through highs and lows in the 70’s and 80’s and came close to shutting down on two occasions.  But a handful of us persevered and were rewarded as the club turned major corners in the late 80’s, 90’s and is the recognized leading organization in Mineola today with membership approaching 70.  After a second term as President in 1998-1999, I accepted Erby Eikner’s call to serve as the Division 34 Lt. Governor in the following year.  Somewhere during this year of service, a whole new revelation of Kiwanis developed.  I found great satisfaction in attending District and International Conventions and the other enrichment type sessions.  I readily accepted appointments to Long Range Planning and Past Lt. Governors.  I felt Tyler would be a grand location for a T-O Convention and launched a campaign.  Serving as Convention Chair in Tyler in 2005, I witnessed our Division 34 come together for the common cause like I had not seen before.  Gov. Jerry Ward honored me when he appointed me as Communications Chair during his term.  Jimmy Brown and Chuck Rader steered me toward serving as one of the club officer trainers since 2003.  I took great pride in filling out the term of the late Joe Stilwell as President of the PLGA two years ago and used his inspiration and lessons taught to serve that position this past year.  Feeling there was much in my heart and mind to continue service to Kiwanis, I made the decision to run for the position of Governor as last year began.  Traveling extensively through the District last year introduced me to many more Kiwanis clubs, members, and fabulous service projects. With great anticipation, I accept wholeheartedly the challenges ahead. 

Community Service, Awards and Honors

UIL Oratory Texas State Speaking Competition – 3^rd Place – High School Senior

President, Radio-TV Club & Outstanding Broadcast Student-2 years-U. of North Texas

Mineola City Councilman 1971-1979 – 4 terms

Mineola “Man of the Year” in 1972 by Mineola Chamber of Commerce

Top Radio Community Service Award from Texas Association of Broadcasters

Two different Terms as Board Member of Mineola Youth Foundation

Board Member of Mineola United Fund-Chairman and Drive Chair

Charter Board Member, Chairman, and Current Treasurer Mineola Caring & Sharing

Organizer and Charter President of the Mineola Civic Center 1974

Board Member-President-Wood County Leadership Development

Mineola and Wood County Industrial Commission-Board member-Chairman

Wood County Appraisal Board member-Chairman

Board member for Wood County Crime-stoppers

First United Methodist Church of Mineola-Trustee-Finance-Long Range Planning-Church Council, Chairman-Lay Leader-Head Usher

Humanitarians of the Year, Sam & Joyce Curry-2005

MC-Announcer-Parades, Chamber of Commerce Banquet, Pageants, Festivals

Mineola Lifetime Achievement Award-2006

Member of the Mineola Museum Board-Volunteer guide for museum

Charter President of Kiwanis Club of Mineola-1975-76

Mineola Kiwanian of the Year (3 times)

Coach of Kiwanis Kittens (Girls T-Ball) 1977-1988

Awarded Hixson Award from Mineola Kiwanis Club-1998

Distinguished Club President-1999

Distinguished Lt. Governor, Division 34, 2001

Legion of Honor-25 Kiwanis Service Years-2001

Certified Club Officer Trainer since 2003

Governor’s Achievement Award for 2005 T-O Convention in Tyler

C.T. Bush Award by the Tyler District Convention Committee

Long Range Planning Committee-Chairman of District Convention Manual

Past Lt. Governors Association, Member-Treasurer-President

Member of the Division 34 Chapter of PLGA

Served Mineola Kiwanis as Board Member, Secretary, Treasurer-President

Mineola Club Bulletin Editor-Placed three times in District Competition

District Chairman of Kiwanis Communications-2007-08

Assisted in organization of Kiwanis clubs in Grand Saline, Quitman, Holly Lake and Winnsboro-Re-organized Mineola High School Key Club-1999

Became duel-member of Kiwanis Club of Winnsboro-2009

Elected Texas-Oklahoma Governor-Elect in Rockwall-2009

The Family

Joyce may be looking forward to service to the District as much as me.  While Joyce is not a Kiwanis member, she is devoted to human and community service.  The Mineola Chamber of Commerce has recognized this fact with honoring her as Woman of the Year in 2003 and the Humanitarian of the Year two years later.  As a “super active” member of the Pilot Club, she has served all levels of leadership, including District Governor of the Texas Clubs in 2000-2001, the same year as my service as Lt. Governor.  After graduation from Richardson High School and the University of North Texas and after a 20 year career as an elementary school teacher, Joyce has become full time volunteer and service leader.  Here is just a sketch of this amazing person’s active life:

12 yrs. Training in all areas of dance, twirling

UT Tyler, MA in Early Childhood Education/K Endorsement

Owner/Operator of Joyce Curry Dance Studios, Mineola and Lindale for six years

Organizer/choreographer MHS Jackette Drill team

Experienced pageant judge on local, state, and international levels; pageant director

Owner Angels N Things craft booth

Organizational Leader Mineola 4H Club - Brownie/Girl Scout Leader

Wood Oak Adult GS Leader four city area  - Mineola Community Chest Co-Chair

Manager for Miss Mineola Lake Country, preliminary to Miss Texas Pageant

MHS Band Booster, secretary, President, 2 yrs.

Ladies Guild St. Peter’s Catholic Church, treasurer, president

Charter President Association of Texas Professional Educators, Alba-Golden Chapter

Member of Pilot International, (Service organization with focus on Brain-related

disorders) 38 years   -  Perfect Attendance – 37 years

Served as club director, treasurer, secretary, VP, President (3 yrs)

Regional Lt. Governor, 2 yrs.   -  Governor Elect, Governor of Texas District 2000-2001

      Numerous District appointments  -  Int. Committees; Chair for convention committees

Organized MHS Anchor Club in 1978; serve as Anchor Coordinator to Pilot Club

Organized first Anchor State Convention; Youth Coordinator for 10^th convention

Organizer and President of Wood County Project Lifesaver

Board of Directors, secretary for Circle of Friends and Higher Ground TBI Camps

Mineola Caring & Sharing, Co-Chair Christmas Project 3 yrs., President 3 yrs

Chair Spouses Activities Kiwanis Convention, Tyler

Member of Texas Retired School Personnel, Wood County unit

With all of this amazing activity and finding plenty of time to interact with four daughters and 5 (soon to be 6) grandchildren, Joyce looks forward to serving the T-O District as First Lady.  She is researching a District project dealing with the reading needs of children. 

We were blessed with four wonderful daughters, all Mineola High School graduates and all college graduates.  Melinda is currently working with special needs children in the Lewisville School system and is mother of Lewisville High School Sophomore Kaylee, and fourth grader Ashlyn.   Heather teaches art at the Colony High School and serves as the cheerleader coach and mother of 1^st grader Laurel.  She is expecting a second daughter in February.  Amber resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana working as a clinical psychologist while raising two sons, Peyton, 4, and Drake, 1.  Christa teaches first grade in Lewisville. 

Our family also includes my mother, LaVeta Curry, still living an active life in Dallas and Joyce’s father, Max McClearin, retired and living the good life on Lake Quitman in East Texas.

Our Pride and Joy

Daughters  (L to R) Christa Curry, Heather Jones, Melinda White, Amber Morell