One month into his tenure as the president of Circle K International, senior Alec Macaulay juggles the responsibilities of a full schedule, meetings around the country and the demands of leading the largest collegiate service organization in the world.
In August, representatives of Circle K International-the college version of Kiwanis International-selected Macaulay as the 2006-2007 international president.
The organization, with 13,000 members in 17 countries, works primarily to better the lives of children around the world.
"I'm so passionate about Circle K because I have seen the lives that are touched by people that volunteer their time," Macaulay said.
A former president of Circle K's chapter at Duke, Macaulay is the first from the University to be selected for the international position. Before serving as head of the organization, Macaulay was governor of the Carolina region chapters.
Macaulay said he has spent the first month of school performing a balancing act of his various obligations.
"I missed six of the first eight days of class," Macaulay said. "I will only be at Duke two weekends until Thanksgiving."
As president, he acts as both the public image and the internal leader of the group.
"I serve as the face and the voice of Circle K," he said.
Macaulay said that his professors have been extremely accommodating with his unique schedule-one that requires him to travel often.
"They were really encouraged that there was strong student leadership outside the Duke campus," he said.
Macaulay added, however, that the demanding schedule is always worth the commitment.
"Serving as president never seems like a burden," he said. "It is a privilege to serve the organization and be a Duke student at the same time."
Over his year-long term, Macaulay said he hopes to add an additional 1,000 members and complete a collective 525,600 hours of service.
"There are 525,600 minutes in a year," he said. "If we complete that many hours of service this year that means we will have done 60 years of service to the world."
Macaulay continues to volunteer with Duke's chapter of Circle K when he is not busy with his duties as president. He still accompanies the chapter at their service projects with Habitat for Humanity, the Ronald McDonald Houses and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
"As president I am required to maintain an active membership with my home club," Macaulay said. "When you lose sight of what your home club is doing, you lose sight of what is really going on with the organization."
Duke Circle K had around 50 members last year and is shooting for more than 75 this year. Macaulay said it is the only service organization on campus that is not under the umbrella of the Community Service Center.
"Alec's role as president can only have wonderful effects on Duke Circle K," said sophomore Ami Saheba, president of Duke's chapter of Circle K. "The fact that we have his leadership is amazing."
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.