Hello Mighty Florida District,
My name is Isabella Uncu. I am in 12th grade and I am from Southwest Florida Key Club!
I first became involved with Key Club through my Faculty Advisor. She advertised it a lot in my 1st week at high school and then my friends wanted to go so I ended up attending and fell in love with service!
Leadership Journey
I attended DCON my freshman year and through that I learned about the opportunityof running for higher office. I always wanted to pursue it but the time never felt right and my junior year as the deadline approached I knew that if I didn’t try I would always wonder what could have happened if I ran for it. So I submitted my papers and hoped the opportunity would be just right and it turned out it was!
Being the District Treasurer means having accountability, transparency, and being responsible in making sure that things are done promptly and taking a creative spin to my role to make more people excited about the financial part of Key Club.
My main responsibilities include maintaining and revising financial records, keeping track of district paid dues members, making vouchers, collaborating with our Financial Advisor, and helping make sure that our district financial resources are accessible to clubs. I also work on things like the Money Memo to help clubs better understand the financial resources available to them.
I am most excited about making the financial side of Key Club more accessible and exciting for clubs. I want to make sure clubs know what resources are available to them and feel comfortable using them. I am especially excited about continuing to develop the Money Memo and making FLOF, YOF, more accessible to clubs.
I have learned how important communication and organization are. There are a lot of small details that go into handling finances, and making sure everything is accurate and communicated clearly is extremely important.
My Key Club Journey
I first got involved during my freshman year of high school after my Faculty Advisor advertised Key Club during my first week. Some of my friends wanted to go to a meeting, so I went with them and ended up loving it.
My favorite Key Club experience has probably been DCON. My first DCON freshman year was when I really learned how big Key Club was and that there were opportunities to serve and lead beyond just my home club. It was also what first made me interested in district leadership.
Key Club has taught me that being a leader is more than just having a title. It has taught me how to communicate with different people, take responsibility, solve problems, and most importantly, follow through on the things I say I am going to do.
Key Club also showed me how much of an impact service can have when people come together. What started as me going to a meeting with my friends turned into something I genuinely care about and has made me want to continue serving and taking on leadership opportunities.
Leadership & Growth
One leadership lesson I have learned is that you have to be willing to do the work even when nobody is watching. Having a leadership position is not about the title, it is about the responsibility that comes with it.
My biggest piece of advice would be to get involved even if you do not feel completely ready. You do not have to know everything before you take on a leadership position. A lot of leadership is learning as you go and being willing to improve.
One of my biggest goals is to make the Treasurer position and our financial resources more accessible to clubs. I want to leave behind resources and systems that make it easier for future Treasurers and clubs to understand and manage their finances.
“A quality I believe every successful leader should have is accountability. A good leader needs to be willing to take responsibility for their actions, follow through on their commitments, and admit when they make a mistake.”
Fun Facts
○ I am really interested in law, politics, and human rights.
○ I love traveling and learning about different cultures and languages.
○ I actually really enjoy organizing spreadsheets, which is probably one reason I ended up as Treasurer!
Outside of Key Club, I am interested in law, politics, human rights, writing, advocacy, and traveling. I also enjoy working on creative projects and finding ways to combine my interests with things I care about.
Something people don’t know about me is that I’m a big fan on Pokémon and I love playing games and watching movies in my free time!
Rapid Fire
Food – Truffle parmesan fries
Movie – Book of Life
Song/artist – My music taste changes way too often for me to choose just one!
My dream travel destination is Japan!
One word that describes me is driven.
A Day in the Life
There is not really a completely typical day! Between school, extracurriculars, Key Club, and my responsibilities as Treasurer, my schedule is usually pretty busy. A lot of my Treasurer work happens behind the scenes, whether that is reviewing financial information, responding to messages, working on district resources, or preparing things for clubs. Staying organized is definitely important because there is always something that needs to be done.
Behind the Scenes
There is a lot of work that happens behind the scenes that members may not see. Things like spreadsheets, financial records, emails, meetings, revisions, and planning all go into making sure the final resources and information that clubs receive are accurate and useful.
My favorite part is being able to take a job that might seem rather rudimentary and giving it a spin to make it more appealing to the members!
One thing that has surprised me in my role is how much communication is involved. Even though Treasurer is a financial position, a large part of the job is communicating information, working with other leaders, and making sure people understand what resources are available to them.
Treasurer Tip
Keep good records from the beginning! It is much easier to stay organized throughout the year than to try and figure everything out later. Make sure you know where your money is coming from, where it is going, and what it is being used for.
I wish more people knew that the Treasurer position is not just about numbers. It is about making sure clubs have the financial resources they need to serve their communities. Every dollar can create an opportunity for service.
Key Club Favorites
My favorite service projects are ones that directly provide people with resources they need, especially projects that address basic needs in the community.
DCON will always be one of my favorites because it was the first Key Club event where I really saw how big our organization is.
My Key Club tradition are bringing members from different clubs together reminding us of our mission. My favorite part of serving the district board is getting to work with people with different experiences and perspectives from across the district.
I really enjoy service projects that focus on providing people with basic necessities and expanding access to resources. I think service is most meaningful when it responds directly to what a community needs.
Closing Remarks
I want every Key Club member to know that you do not have to wait until you feel completely ready to get involved. I almost let myself miss the opportunity to run for district office because I was waiting for the right time, but taking that chance completely changed my Key Club experience. Get involved, take chances, and do not be afraid to try something new. You never know where one meeting, one service project, or one application can take you.
I hope members take away that your Key Club journey does not have to look like anyone else’s. You can start by simply going to a meeting with your friends and end up somewhere you never expected. Find something you care about, get involved, and make the most of every opportunity you are given. At the end of the day, the titles and positions may change, but the impact you make through service is what really matters.
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Yours in service, leadership, and friendship,
Isabella Uncu
2026–2027 District Treasurer
Florida District of Key Club International
