Ruth Manz

I joined the  Kinsmen Club of Coquitlam back in January 2016.  I did know what Kin was all about as I was born and raised in Saskatchewan and watched  the Telemiracle telethons.  My sister, Margaret  and I  said one day  that we will need to go and sit in the audience to watch the telethons. Well, my sister, Margaret,  actually volunteered at the Telethon and caught the Kin experience.  She has been a member of the Regina and District Kin Club (formerly the Regina Queen City Kinette) club since 2004 and a Life Member since September 2017.   

It took me a little bit longer to join kin since I moved out to BC in 2000.  As I was looking at moving up into leadership positions at work, I was given feedback to look at volunteering to gain the leadership exposure that I needed.  Little did I know that I when joined back in 2016, that I would be put in charge of the registration/selling of tokens for the 2016 Beerfest that the club was planning in August of that year.   That is an experience I will never forget.   Since then I held the Secretary position for 3 years, Vice President for a year and did a 2 year term as President of the club.   I became the first female President in the club's 70 year history.    I have enjoyed helping out at the different club functions, being on planning committee for Kinvention 2019 and taking leading on club projects.   Most of all is getting to go to various Fall Leadership Conferences, District and National Kinventions in various communities and making friends that are life long. 

Last year, I took the leap and became Deputy Governor for the Lower Mainland Fraser and now serving my 2nd term.   This role has given me the opportunity to get to know the clubs in the Zone and see what each of them bring to their communities in serving the greatest need.   Being on District Executive has allowed me to see the bigger picture of how the District operates and how each of us as members can do are part to spread what Kin is all about. 

Personally,  I live in Burnaby,  BC for the past 25 years since growing up in Saskatchewan.  I have been employed with Canada Life Insurance company for the past 29 years and currently work as a Payment Team Manager.  I enjoy reading, doing various puzzles and just hanging out with family and friends.  I currently sit as a Director on the Kinsmen Foundation of BC where I am serving my second two-year term. 

Kin has immensely helped me both personally and professionally.