MAL CORNER
A Message from our Vice President:
We have MALs all over the country!
A Message from our Vice-president:
MAL CORNER — OCTOBER 2026
Hello, Members at Large!
The Kiwi Club National Board recently held its first meeting in Nashville, and what a productive—and exciting—meeting it was! We accomplished a great deal as we worked through both old and current business, but perhaps the most fun came from discussing some pretty wonderful NEW business!
We’re daring to go where we haven’t gone before…into the many faces of social media! We’re looking forward to expanding our presence on Instagram, while also making our private and public Facebook pages more active, interesting and engaging. Our goal is simple: to make The Kiwi Club and all that we do more visible to people who may not yet know about our wonderful organization.
To help make that happen, we’re delighted to welcome two new members to our National Support Staff. Julie Griffen Haley, Golden Gate Newsletter Editor, has stepped up as our new Social Media Manager, and Gladys Kupper, Golden Gate Secretary, will partner with Julie as our new Social Media Monitor. We are so grateful for their willingness to serve and excited to see what these two can accomplish together!
Another important—and very worthwhile—subject discussed in Nashville was finding a more precise way to keep track of individual WINGS donations. Many chapters have WINGS as one of their charities, and most chapters also participate in the National Endeavor in November of odd-numbered years. As you know, that Endeavor is WINGS. (For our Members at Large, a letter will be sent prior to November 2027 with instructions for mailing your donations to WINGS.)
But if you would like to make a recurring donation—or simply send a one-time, unsolicited gift—we encourage you to use Network for Good. It’s an easy online way to make your donation without writing a check, finding a stamp (and these days, those stamps aren’t exactly cheap!), and making sure it gets into the mail. Even better, using Network for Good will allow us to maintain a more accurate record of individual Kiwi donations. You can reach Network for Good here: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/wingsfoundation
And every donation truly does make a difference! WINGS is always grateful for whatever amount you are able to give. In fact, we are now less than $200,000 away from reaching our goal of $1 MILLION in cumulative Kiwi donations to WINGS by Convention 2028! That is an amazing milestone—and one we can reach together. We certainly have lots to look forward to between now and the Palms Springs Convention 2028!
Here in Southern California, we’re right in the middle of the hottest days forecast for the entire summer. We hit 94 degrees today—with a little humidity thrown in for good measure! But I’m not complaining. I actually prayed really hard last spring for a normal, really warm summer. Apparently, my prayers were heard!
And finally, if you’re celebrating a birthday in October, I hope your special day is filled with fun, joy and wonderful memories. Happy Birthday!
Until next month, stay well, enjoy these last lovely tidbits of a glorious season—and keep being the wonderful Kiwis you are!
Kiwi Hugs!
Linda
Why Flight Attendants Never Really Retire
Most people retire from a job.
Flight attendants retire from a schedule.
Flying leaves a permanent imprint. Years of irregular hours, shared responsibility, and constant decision-making create instincts that don’t shut off when the uniform comes off. Staying calm, reading a room, adapting quickly, and trusting the people around you become second nature. That’s why flight attendants don’t drift quietly into retirement. They stay curious. They stay connected. And they stay alert to the world around them.
For Members at Large, connection may not look like monthly meetings or luncheons—but it’s no less real. Reading familiar updates, recognizing shared experiences, and speaking the same language creates community. You don’t have to be in the same room to understand one another.
The airline industry has changed. Routes, rules, and aircraft come and go. What hasn’t changed is the bond formed by doing a demanding job well, often under pressure, always as a team. That bond doesn’t expire.
It’s why retired flight attendants still recognize one another instantly. Conversations pick up without explanation. And staying connected—through stories, shared history, and familiar voices—still matters long after the last flight.
If you’re reading this on your own, far from a chapter meeting, know this:
You’re still part of the crew.
Kiwi Club Biennual Dues
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Dues ($50) are due and payable after September 1st and before November 30th each even-numbered year.
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Complete information is on the "Membership Renewal" page that is located under the "MEMBERSHIP" tab.
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Or, if you are ready to pay, simply click on the link here and get started!
Starting a Chapter
If you know of other flight attendants in your area and would like to start a chapter, all it takes is five!
You can find information on the Forms page with details on How to Start a Chapter or contact our VP Linda Hessler Radke for information.
Airline Memorabilia? Don't toss it... Donate it!
If you come across any memorabilia or uniforms from your flying days, and you’re wondering what to do with these items, consider sending your items now to one of our Support Staff members listed below.
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Uniform Donations - Please contact Chris Strommer Moeckel: cgmatlga@gmail.com
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Historical/Collectible Items - Please contact: Mary Richter Thrasher: thekiwiclub@comcast.net
If you know of someone who is eligible to join The Kiwi Club, but has never joined, please consider surprising him or her with the gift of a Kiwi membership!
You’ll find the Gift Membership Form on the Forms page of this website.